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American Express suspends Membership Rewards transfers to Starwood Preferred Guest

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American Express Membership Rewards has suspended transfers into Starwood Preferred Guest until 8th August.

This is inconvenient if you were hoping to pick up a Marriott Travel Package before they shoot up in price on 18th August, or indeed book a redemption at a property which is going up in cost on the same date.

8th August is an odd choice of date.  I would have expected transfers to be suspended until 18th August, to ensure that there is no confusion over the ratio.

I am expecting the transfer rate to move from 2:1 to 2:3 on 18th August in line with the 1:3 alignment of Starwood Preferred Guest with ‘new Marriott’ although this has not been confirmed.


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Comments (96)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Dave says:

    I have saved a Hilton offer to my Amex Platinum Card to spend £500 by 18/10/18 in a number of European hotels from a specified list. This will reward me with 7,000 membership rewards points.

    I wonder whether this offer includes cumulative spend or must be in one transaction. Any ideas anyone?

    I am looking to spend this amount anyway, as I have a number of stays to book shortly, but not sure whether I have to stay at the same hotel and pay in one transaction.

    • Pangolin says:

      The Hilton offers I’ve received have always been triggered on cumulative spend, even when the T&Cs made it sound like it had to be a single transaction, so you’re probably OK.

  • Roger says:

    Is there any way to force transfer of less than 1000 SPG points in an account?

    • Genghis says:

      From Amex, min 400 MR->200 SPG. From Marriott ->SPG min 1k Marriott. From SPG->Marriott min 1k SPG. So potential to transfer Marriott->SPG SPG->Marriott, but doesn’t make a difference post 18 Aug.

  • Roberto says:

    Regarding Starwood… I have still not got my (Starwood) Amex points due from my latest statement spend.

    They were automatically swept over on the 14th as in previous months but have yet to appear.. Both Amex and Starwood have blamed each other.

    Others are in the same boat…

    • E says:

      My SPG Amex points were also due to be swept over on the 14th. They left my SPG Amex but didn’t arrive in my SPG account. Have got Amex to open a case to investigate as really want them in by the 18th for bookings then.

  • ChrisA says:

    Congratulations, Randall.

  • Mr Dee says:

    What about account to account transfers?

  • SM says:

    OT: Can anyone help please, do you need to be targeted with an email to receive the 5k MR bonus for applying for a Platinum Supplementary Card? Or is automatic? Thanks

    • Mark2 says:

      I have always reived the bonus without being targeted. But you only get one free supplementary then they cost £170.

    • Optimus Prime says:

      No, you don’t need the email. Just apply once you’ve activated your platinum card.

    • Rob says:

      When it is running, it seems to be running for everyone. It should show online for you even if you didn’t get an email.

      • SM says:

        Thanks all, with me nothing showed online when I did the application, but the bonus was received within the hour. Thanks again.

  • xcalx says:

    The MOS fails to mention that IB stated that accounts would go into a negative balance on Dec 1st if Avios were not used from the IB account. Did you not mention this to them Rob. Never let the facts get in the way of a dramatic story.

  • Genghis says:

    OT. 1,050 avios posted this morning for the £12 sub.

    • Rob says:

      Result. Just took mine out over the weekend so lets see how long that takes. Bunch of kids in Mansion House this morning trying to sell people the ’12 for £12′ deal but with no Avios!

    • Guesswho2000 says:

      Thanks Genghis, me too. Weirdly posted as two separate transactions of 350 and 700, but not complaining!

    • Simon says:

      Me too. 350 plus 700. DD now cancelled.

    • Genghis says:

      Should have said that this is The Economist…
      (DD cancelled and email sent to CS so I can then sign up again in a few months’ time. I like the physical mag but refuse to pay more than £1 a copy)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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