SPG AMEX with 35K Starpoints bonus

[DeniseM]

Thought this might be of interest to some - http://milestalk.com/spg-business-amex-35000-starpoint-signup-bonus-you-want-this/

*According to the writer of this article, 35K is the highest bonus SPG ever offers.

 

[okwiater]

Beware the massive $10K spend requirement. If you have a bunch of Vistana MFs to pay, this could be very worthwhile though! That would be 55,000 Starpoints for $10,000 in spending which, if you value SPs at 2 cents like I do, is an 11% return.

 

[DeniseM]

Good point - with Christmas and maintenance fees coming up, plus your regular spending, $10K in 6 months should be pretty doable.

 

[MOXJO7282]

So what constitutes a business? I am running a business so to speak and do declare taxes but not listed as a business anyway so do we know how one qualify as a business?

 

[rovitm]

So what constitutes a business? I am running a business so to speak and do declare taxes but not listed as a business anyway so do we know how one qualify as a business?

You can use your SSN number rather than an EIN number for a business card. You can state your business as rental real estate, and as long as you have some income you will not have an issue being approved.

 

[Helios]

Also, use Sole Proprietorship as the Biz entity type.

One thing to keep in mind, Amex states biz cards are meant for business expenses. So, you should not put your personal charges on them. Will they enforce this...I am not sure.

My wife has an Amex Biz Plat that she got using her SS and she was approved instantaneously. She got it as a referral from my Amex Biz Plat. I would get this CC but I am waiting to reset my 5/24 clock for other Chase CCs.

Keep in mind, the min spend is high for the points you get IMO.

 

[duke]

You do not have Consumer Protections on Business Cards. That is why they offer better bonus.
For example, the Consumer Rights to deny a charge for unsatisfactory products is NOT included on business cards.....

 

[Helios]

Is this with all Biz cards.

 

[Helios]

You do not have Consumer Protections on Business Cards. That is why they offer better bonus.
For example, the Consumer Rights to deny a charge for unsatisfactory products is NOT included on business cards.....

Is this applicable to some biz cards?

Per Amex CR, Amex cards have the same benefits (biz and personal). I was told this today. I have the Amex Plat Biz and Plat Personal and I was told all Amex cards have the same benefits. I am just passing this along...Perhaps other companies are different.

 

[okwiater]

Is this with all Biz cards.

I believe DeniseM is referring to consumer protections codified in federal law, but of course any CC company is permitted to offer benefits that are better than the minimum set.

 

[Helios]

That would make sense since the Amex Plat is their top product not including the Amex Centurion.

 

[farsighted99]

I suppose there are some differences. I've had my Amex Business Plat for a long time; mostly use it for travel however, business or otherwise. I don't actually use it that much anymore since Chase offers more points and travel benefits. I do like the Hilton Gold and SPG gold it offers though, and the Delta airline lounges (though haven't been flying DL much). The nonsense of having to sign up for one airline in January when I don't know where I'm traveling yet is annoying. This year I ended up on United 80% of the time and luckily I had United as my chosen airline, so got 35% back on a trip to Asia.

If they raise the price to $550 I'll probably close it. They keep limiting it or making it harder to take advantage of the perks and I get better value from Chase Preferred Reserve without the hassle. Used to be able to use it in most airline lounges and now just Delta and Priority Pass (which other cards have).

Also, the Amex Offers haven't been very good lately.

 

[bnoble]

One perk I recently discovered in the AMEX Plat business: free GoGo Air passes. I'm thinking of switching my personal account to a business one.

 

[farsighted99]

One perk I recently discovered in the AMEX Plat business: free GoGo Air passes. I'm thinking of switching my personal account to a business one.

well, United isn't using go-go, they have their own internet thing. So that feature is pretty useless for me until I change airlines. Maybe AA or DL still have it.

 

[farsighted99]

Re: the SPG Card. My husband and I each have one. Love this card. However, not sure what's going to happen to it. Marriott bought SPG, as you know, and so not sure how long it's going to be around. Will Amex keep this card or get the Marriott account? Or will Chase just beef up their Marriott card? Just in case, we got a Chase Marriott business card recently for the bonus. You can move those 80K Marriott points to SPG (just divide by 3).

Tired of all these hotel cards changing to other banks. I lost my Fairmont card (which I really liked) and now have some other Chase card I didn't want, and looks like my Citi Hilton card is going to Amex in January. Meh.

So you might as well grab this SPG card with this higher bonus while you can. Plus you can pay your Vistana maintenance fee with it and that takes care of a chunk of the spend. And get double points to boot.

 

[Helios]

I suppose there are some differences. I've had my Amex Business Plat for a long time; mostly use it for travel however, business or otherwise. I don't actually use it that much anymore since Chase offers more points and travel benefits. I do like the Hilton Gold and SPG gold it offers though, and the Delta airline lounges (though haven't been flying DL much). The nonsense of having to sign up for one airline in January when I don't know where I'm traveling yet is annoying. This year I ended up on United 80% of the time and luckily I had United as my chosen airline, so got 35% back on a trip to Asia.

If they raise the price to $550 I'll probably close it. They keep limiting it or making it harder to take advantage of the perks and I get better value from Chase Preferred Reserve without the hassle. Used to be able to use it in most airline lounges and now just Delta and Priority Pass (which other cards have).

Also, the Amex Offers haven't been very good lately.

Yeah, I find the need to select an airline in advance annoying.

 

[Helios]

One perk I recently discovered in the AMEX Plat business: free GoGo Air passes. I'm thinking of switching my personal account to a business one.

I find this benefit marginal. I really dislike that gogo doesn’t let you use two passes during the same flight. Not good when traveling with companions.

 

[Helios]

well, United isn't using go-go, they have their own internet thing. So that feature is pretty useless for me until I change airlines. Maybe AA or DL still have it.

I really wish all airlines used the same system. Is united using Panasonic?

 

[farsighted99]

I really wish all airlines used the same system. Is united using Panasonic?

Not exactly sure what it is. I'm off to Austin on UA next week, so I'll pay more attention.