Marriott SPG loyalty program changes - which actions and cards now?

[Midwestgardener]

Marriott has announced changes to its loyalty programs which now include SPG and Ritz. The changes extend to participation, how loyalty programs and points are earned, and to the participating credit cards (Chase and Amex).

 

I'd like to get the collective wisdom of CB pros to understand the right plays and actions to take for greatest advantage. I've seen other related posts on this topic, but there is not one that seems to gather in all items; if I've missed a topic thread that already does so, please let me know.

 

We travel now (mostly domestic, with 1-3 annual trips internationally), and will be doing more travel in the future.

 

Goals for us are to:

- Get value and rewards (cash and or points) for our spend and travel behavior / loyalty.

- Get lounge access during trips

 

Our CRA scores are all over 800, and there is not an issue meeting the spend requirements for premium cards.

 

Currently, wife and I are both Marriott members (10 years), with gold elite status, and are both members of the SPG program. Our related CCs include:

 

Chase Marriott

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Costco Visa

Amex Blue Cash Preferred

 

Questions:

Which card(s) to get to leverage the changes and benefits:

SPG card

Ritz card

Amex Platinum

Chase Sapphire Reserve

 

Thanks for your help.

 

 

[mec]

Some of the details are still unknown. What is known is that, on August 1st, the Marriott card(s) will begin earning more on regular spending and the SPG card(s) will begin earning less. On August 1st the programs will combine, all SPG points will be transferred into the new rewards program at 1:3 and all Marriott points will transfer at 1:1 The redemption values haven't been published for most properties in the program yet.

 

What makes sense for you depends on several factors.What value have you gotten from Marriott points in the past, where do you spend on credit cards and how much spend... determines what you will get the most return from.

 

Is your Marriott gold from stays or is it matched from SPG? The new program will require 50 nights (stays not factored) for Platinum status which is the rough equivalent of the old Gold status.

 

The new Chase and Amex Marriott cards will come with an annual free night (after the first anniversary). What they are worth and what they are worth to you is yet to be determined. It's not even known what the Ritz Sign up bonus will be valued at after August 1st. since the Ritz tiers will be going away at that point. Also the current SPG personal card doesn't seem to have a sign up bonus, and the business card has a statement credit instead of points... but I imagine that will change sometime before years end.

 

If you stay at a lot of Marriott/SPG hotels, one or more of the Marriott cards may work for you going down the road, but it's hard to say for sure at this point.

Edited April 24, 2018 by mec

[Midwestgardener]

Some of the details are still unknown. What is known is that, on August 1st, the Marriott card(s) will begin earning more on regular spending and the SPG card(s) will begin earning less. On August 1st the programs will combine, all SPG points will be transferred into the new rewards program at 1:3 and all Marriott points will transfer at 1:1 The redemption values haven't been published for most properties in the program yet.

 

What makes sense for you depends on several factors.What value have you gotten from Marriott points in the past, where do you spend on credit cards and how much spend... determines what you will get the most return from.

 

Is your Marriott gold from stays or is it matched from SPG? The new program will require 50 nights (stays not factored) for Platinum status which is the rough equivalent of the old Gold status.

 

The new Chase and Amex Marriott cards will come with an annual free night (after the first anniversary). What they are worth and what they are worth to you is yet to be determined. It's not even known what the Ritz Sign up bonus will be valued at after August 1st. since the Ritz tiers will be going away at that point. Also the current SPG personal card doesn't seem to have a sign up bonus, and the business card has a statement credit instead of points... but I imagine that will change sometime before years end.

 

If you stay at a lot of Marriott/SPG hotels, one or more of the Marriott cards may work for you going down the road, but it's hard to say for sure at this point.

Thanks MEC, I know it's early...trying to get an early jump.

 

Bottom line is that we spend a lot, and are finally getting something tangible (points, perks and cash back) for our spend. Now we're trying to maximize our value, and willing to run through behavioral card math (my term) to make that happen.

 

Appreciate your insights and remarks.

[mec]

You should start by breaking down your spending into existing categories, then determining what you can do with cash back.

 

You can evaluate rewards cards by picking a few redemptions that appeal to you and backwards calculating the point value and the earning rate. Just because some might redeem Hyatt points or SPG points for 0.04 doesn't mean that's what you will end up with.

 

Obviously your highest reward return will come on your highest volume of spending (modified by the earning rate). The big exception being sign up bonuses.

 

If you are under 5/24 you may want to look at the Freedom Unlimited offer for 3ppd in the first year. It's a card worth keeping long term when it reverts to 1.5ppd and if you spend more than 10k on it in the first year you will be doing better than the sign up bonus offer.

Edited April 25, 2018 by mec

[PhoenixDown]

Any mention of them raising the annual fee for the AMEX SPG?

[mec]

Any mention of them raising the annual fee for the AMEX SPG?

I think the current 2 cards keep the existing fee(s) and they are releasing a new card August 1st that will carry a $450 fee. It is implied in some commentary that Amex may be selling/ transferring the personal consumer level cards (read as the $95 fee personal cards) to Chase sometime in 2019, but may try to run up some applications after August to increase the value of the transferred portfolio.

[PhoenixDown]

I may try to increase my SPG limit then (my BCP is 35k so been hesitant)but it would be nice if that moved to chase and I moved the CL over to my CSR.

[Rorer_714]

Just because some might redeem Hyatt points or SPG points for 0.04 doesn't mean that's what you will end up with.

 

If anyone is doing this please PM me and I will offer you way more!!!

[mec]

 

Just because some might redeem Hyatt points or SPG points for 0.04 doesn't mean that's what you will end up with.

 

If anyone is doing this please PM me and I will offer you way more!!!

If I ever book a room at Andaz Tokyo in April, I'll let you know.

[Rorer_714]

 

 

Just because some might redeem Hyatt points or SPG points for 0.04 doesn't mean that's what you will end up with.

 

If anyone is doing this please PM me and I will offer you way more!!!

If I ever book a room at Andaz Tokyo in April, I'll let you know.

 

Sorry I read your post wrong. I guess you mean 4cpp?

[mec]

 

 

 

Just because some might redeem Hyatt points or SPG points for 0.04 doesn't mean that's what you will end up with.

 

If anyone is doing this please PM me and I will offer you way more!!!

If I ever book a room at Andaz Tokyo in April, I'll let you know.

Sorry I read your post wrong. I guess you mean 4cpp?

Yes. There in theory, but pretty rare in practice.

[Konrad2012]

 

Just because some might redeem Hyatt points or SPG points for 0.04 doesn't mean that's what you will end up with.

 

If anyone is doing this please PM me and I will offer you way more!!!

 

 

Way more than $0.04? I'm game. 300K I'll take $15K

[Rorer_714]

 

 

Just because some might redeem Hyatt points or SPG points for 0.04 doesn't mean that's what you will end up with.

 

If anyone is doing this please PM me and I will offer you way more!!!

 

 

Way more than $0.04? I'm game. 300K I'll take $15K

 

The only problem is 0.04 is not 4cpp in the points/miles game and you know it.

I guess 1.37 is $1.37 per WF point?

[PhoenixDown]

I think the current 2 cards keep the existing fee(s) and they are releasing a new card August 1st that will carry a $450 fee. It is implied in some commentary that Amex may be selling/ transferring the personal consumer level cards (read as the $95 fee personal cards) to Chase sometime in 2019, but may try to run up some applications after August to increase the value of the transferred portfolio.

 

 

I may take a shot and ask AMEX for a CLI on my SPG card so when it goes over to Chase, I can combine limits and close it out.

 

My AMEX BCP has 28k and SPG has 13k so I'm a bit afraid of spooking amex.

[mec]

There has been some talk on FT that on August 1st unused Marriott Nights & Flights certs may be cancelled and the some number of points returned to the member's account. This could be an opportunity to get a really good rate for the miles. (Perhaps 1:1)

 

I'm not convinced that they will redeposit the points into the member's general points pool and not issue new points based certs or I would do it. Something to keep an eye on though as August draws near.

[Chris58]

 

I think the current 2 cards keep the existing fee(s) and they are releasing a new card August 1st that will carry a $450 fee. It is implied in some commentary that Amex may be selling/ transferring the personal consumer level cards (read as the $95 fee personal cards) to Chase sometime in 2019, but may try to run up some applications after August to increase the value of the transferred portfolio.

 

 

 

Hi Mec, just saw this tonight.

 

My 3 year old SPG personal is D* to 1984, (so NO WAY I'd want this account sold/transferred to Chase).

 

Even though I think I'm at Max-Exposure with Chase, I couldn't care less about the CL transfer to Chase.

 

Can you recommend an AMEX CC product I might PC this card to before the transition? My only interest is the reported account age.

 

If I want to pursue Marriot Points I'll just open a Marriot card with Chase.

[mec]

 

 

I think the current 2 cards keep the existing fee(s) and they are releasing a new card August 1st that will carry a $450 fee. It is implied in some commentary that Amex may be selling/ transferring the personal consumer level cards (read as the $95 fee personal cards) to Chase sometime in 2019, but may try to run up some applications after August to increase the value of the transferred portfolio.

 

 

 

Hi Mec, just saw this tonight.

 

My 3 year old SPG personal is D* to 1984, (so NO WAY I'd want this account sold/transferred to Chase).

 

Even though I think I'm at Max-Exposure with Chase, I couldn't care less about the CL transfer to Chase.

 

Can you recommend an AMEX CC product I might PC this card to before the transition? My only interest is the reported account age.

 

If I want to pursue Marriot Points I'll just open a Marriot card with Chase.

I haven't seen anything in the manner of official pronouncements on this, and I'm not sure the accounts will be transferred.

 

If the card doesn't interest you after the benefits change, you may be able to PC it but I wouldn't rush to until their is some official statement as it would be very unusual if they didn't announced it in advance.

[mec]

"American Express will launch the SPG Luxury card on August 1st, we don’t know what the sign up bonus will be (although we have made some educated guesses). Unfortunately it looks like most readers will be ineligible as American Express plans to exclude anybody who has received a sign up or upgrade bonus on any Ritz-Carlton/Marriott credit card in the past 24 months (including Marriott business). You will also be excluded if you currently hold or have recently held the Ritz-Carlton card. Interestingly they won’t look at whether you’ve had an SPG personal/business card."

 

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/rumor-american-express-chase-to-team-up-limit-marriott-spg-bonuses/