AMEX - SPG Transfer option after August 2018

[andye]

there goes the last option for decent SPG earn in Australia!

what are the options running now? Is Diners still doing SPG conversion? I remember their general earn was hammered earlier this year.

What about Citi prestige conversion to SPG?

The SPG programme will disappear in August so will have to wait to see if Diners offers Marriott as a new ransfer option. I dont have high hopes but could be a way of Diners regaining an advantage over Amex

 

[rock86]

I'm tempted to get the DJ card too as a last ditch attempt to load up on SPG points.

However I am almost 1 year into my AMEX sentence and assume getting the DJ card would reset it back to a 18 month wait for a non-DJ AMEX.

1 year into the holiday, hmm tough decision. Was easy for me as we only just cancelled our Amex QF Ultimate cards, so looking to (hopefully) cash in before August on some SPG points - if they aren't slack on approval time!

 

[tharaka]

The SPG programme will disappear in August so will have to wait to see if Diners offers Marriott as a new ransfer option. I dont have high hopes but could be a way of Diners regaining an advantage over Amex

Of course, it will! So the assumption is that those partnerships will transfer to be new Marriot program. It's not like SPG is going out of business right?!

 

[andye]

I wouldn't assume anything with Diners but not impossible it will be a reasonable rate

 

[potm]

With the new Marriott chart published and the new rate changes mostly favourable for me, I’ll be transferring a lot of my Amex points over.

I hope we don’t see any significant devaluations of the Marriott program in the next couple of years.

 

[kamchatsky]

That's horrendous! To go from 2:3 to 3:2 is woeful!

Out of interest, I lookrd at what a top 7 night cert and miles package will cost.. brace yourself.

Old tier 5 + 120k miles = 540,000 marriott points = 180,000 SPG = 360,000 Amex points

New Cat 8 + 100k miles = 750,000 Marriott points = 1,125,000 Amex points

!!

That's a 312% devaluation with 20k less miles!! I'm glad I told Mrs tizey to enjoy her week at the RC Tokyo cos we were unlikely to ever see it again - this confirms it!!!!

Yes the major devaluation is actually on the Amex transfer rate side, rather than the new TP rate from Marriott. It would affect us less if we either buy points directly or earn them via hotel stays.

You can always transfer all the MR points now to SPG-> Marriott and then redeem on Travel Packages on new rate when you need your 7 night hotel stays .....

 

[potm]

The AMEX transfer rate is definitely the more brutal change but the TP changes is not a small devaluation either.

330k Marriott points for the lowest category I believe.
That’s 60k extra Marriott or 40k extra Amex under current transfer rates.
Combined with the reduction in miles from 120 to 100k, it’s a pretty sigificant devluation as well. It’s actually not as bad for RC properties since those were not as good value under existing TPs.

 

[albyd]

I usually don’t make speculative transfers (also usually get best value for me from airline transfers but need somewhere to stay when I get there) but may transfer most of my MR this month to lock in one last hurrah with SPG.

Amex had 50% transfer bonus for Hilton earlier this year which made it more palatable. I’m thinking this might be where my preference shifts in future once I run down my Marriott balances.

Agree the lower and falling AUD will likely have an impact on all MR transfer rates to other points currencies. With the current gap with MC & Visa, Amex has some room to move and still remain competitive. Hopefully will maintain the status quo. One constant in this is that it’s changing all the time.

 

[rock86]

I usually don’t make speculative transfers (also usually get best value for me from airline transfers but need somewhere to stay when I get there) but may transfer most of my MR this month to lock in one last hurrah with SPG.

Amex had 50% transfer bonus for Hilton earlier this year which made it more palatable. I’m thinking this might be where my preference shifts in future once I run down my Marriott balances.

Agree the lower and falling AUD will likely have an impact on all MR transfer rates to other points currencies. With the current gap with MC & Visa, Amex has some room to move and still remain competitive. Hopefully will maintain the status quo. One constant in this is that it’s changing all the time.

I'm sure they will have transfer bonus' ad hoc for Marriott like they did Hilton, but the 'normal' period transfer now really doesn't look worth it - although still may be worthwhile in situations where you're going to use the 5th night free point stay.

 

[tharaka]

I'm sure they will have transfer bonus' ad hoc for Marriott like they did Hilton, but the 'normal' period transfer now really doesn't look worth it - although still may be worthwhile in situations where you're going to use the 5th night free point stay.

agree! at this rate for it to be appealing in the future, they'll have to offer a bonus above 100%. I'd rather speculatively transfer now than hope for a 100%+ bonus

 

[mrtupperware]

Accoring to Point Hacks, Amex announced the new transfer rate and it is TERRIBLE

From 2:1, it's going to be 3:2

How the merger of SPG and Marriott Rewards will affect you - Point Hacks

Did anyone get an email or similar?

So under the old program, a hotel that was 20,000 SPG (or 40,000 Amex) will now be 60,000 Marriott (or 90,000 Amex)

 

[hossein_au]

Accoring to Point Hacks, Amex announced the new transfer rate and it is TERRIBLE

From 2:1, it's going to be 3:2

How the merger of SPG and Marriott Rewards will affect you - Point Hacks

Did anyone get an email or similar?

So under the old program, a hotel that was 20,000 SPG (or 40,000 Amex) will now be 60,000 Marriott (or 90,000 Amex)

It would have been an improvement if it went from 2:1 (2 AmEx to 1 SPG: 50%) to 3:2 (3 AmEx to 2 SPG: 66%). It is actually going from 1:1.5 (1 AmEx to 1.5 Marriott) to 3:2 (3 AmEx to 2 Marriott). In other words, 3 AmEx currently gets you 4.5 Marriott but it'll get you 2 Marriott after the devaluation (cut to less than half).

 

[burmans]

So the general feeling is to transfer before the change?

 

[rock86]

How long does SPG usually take to confirm your account with AMEX? I'm pretty certain I should have some bonus points posting in the next few days and the MR site still says SPG account verification pending (I haven't yet transferred to SPG).

 

[potm]

How long does SPG usually take to confirm your account with AMEX? I'm pretty certain I should have some bonus points posting in the next few days and the MR site still says SPG account verification pending (I haven't yet transferred to SPG).

Give Amex a call, they should be able to confirm it on the spot.

 

[rock86]

Give Amex a call, they should be able to confirm it on the spot.

Woke up this morning and checked, it is now active (confirmed) so a little over a day to confirm. Just need to wait for the bonus points to post, hopefully today/tomorrow, and I will make the transfer - does it usually take the 3 business days they state?

Also further to the August transfer devaluation, what do you think will happen if you initiate a transfer from AMEX on the 31 July, so the MR points have left your account, but most likely won't post in the SPG account till August. Will you get the 'old' 1 MR:0.5 SPG (1.5 Marriott), or the terrible new rate?

 

[potm]

Points should be in your account this evening.

 

[opusman]

Still not received any communication from Amex about this.

 

[HTG2016]

Just another week until August . Looking at empty my 200K MR points balance to SPG-Marriott . Just want to check-in and see what everyone strategy with MR balances

 

[tizey]

Just another week until August . Looking at empty my 200K MR points balance to SPG-Marriott . Just want to check-in and see what everyone strategy with MR balances

I saw there were system maintenance on Amex Membership Rewards websites in the next few days. I wouldnt leave it to last minute.

My strategy was to redeem specifically - eg. Sept 2018 and April 2019 trips are now locked in (1 booking is pending the Marriott reclassification down).