The SPG American Express is now longer, but you can get the Marriott American express. Marriott and American Express is now offering card members who refer additional card holders a bonus of 7,500 SPG points per referral instead of the typical 5,000 points. The addition 50% bonus is American Express attempt to bring more SPG American Express card holders into their program before Marriott and SPG merge loyalty programs in 2018.
Refer to Earn Bonus Points
The SPG referral bonus is the largest referral I have ever seen. Often credit cards will offer bonus points for referrals, but only intermittently. American express has been offering bonus for some time now. Yet, the increase to 7,500 bonus points is a fantastic perk as SPG award nights start as low as 3,000 points! With this promotion, each referral is good for up to 2 award nights at a category 1 property or one night at a category two or three.
SPG refer a friend points only are credited to accounts if your friend gets accepted for the card. If the applicants’ application is denied, then no bonus points. The SPG American Express referral bonus is capping the annual bonus at 55,000 points. Since the bonus is increased, only the first seven people will earn maximum points. As American Express didn’t raise the annual bonus limit nor thought about the fact that 55,000 is not equally divisible by 7,500. If you figure out how to refer a third of a person, please let me know. 😉
Why Have the SPG American Express
The SPG Amex is not the best card in the market, but the SPG American Express referral bonus is a good reason to refer a friend. Besides the bonus of 25,000 points after spending $3,000 in three months, the SPG Amex benefits are very average. The card earns 1 point per dollar everywhere and 2 points per dollar at SPG and Marriott properties.
The SPG program also has some fantastic perk such the ability to transfer points to air miles with a 20% bonus. Every 20,000 SPG points which are transferred to airline partners earn a 20% bonus. This means 20,000 SPG points are worth 25,000 airline miles! In addition, SPG is the only partner which transfers to unique partners like Alaska Airlines. By earning SPG points every day, you are earning a loyalty currency which is actually good on over 20 airlines and two different hotel program! See my in-depth look at the SPG program from when the card had a bonus of 35,000 points.
As far as earning 1 point per dollar, the SPG earns more versatile and valuable points than most credit cards. Even American Express own Membership reward program transfers to SPG at a rate of 0.33. Thus meaning, that even American Express values SPG points more than their own Membership Rewards.
SPG Points are More Valuable than Marriott
The final take away on the SPG American Express is that SPG points are more valuable that Marriott points. SPG points transfer to Marriott at a rate of 1:3. By earning 1 point per dollar with the SPG American Express, you are actually earning 3 Marriott points per dollar. Of course, this is only if you choose to transfer the points to Marriott.
The Chase Marriott credit card only earns 1 Marriott point per dollar everywhere or 0.33 SPG points. At Marriott hotels, the card earns 5 points per dollar, but that’s only 1.66 SPG points. The SPG Amex earns 2 SPG or 6 Marriott points at hotels. The only benefit of the Chase Marriott card is that it earns 2 points per dollar on airline tickets, restaurants, and car rentals. However, even at two Marriott points per dollar, that is less than the SPG Amex 1 point per dollar which is really 3 Marriott points.
Even if you do not like Starwood hotels, earning miles through the SPG American Express is a good way to top off accounts and earn points faster.
Maximize Your Referrals
The current SPG Amex referral bonus of 7,500 is valid through 10/28/2017. All referrals must be made and approved before then to earn the bonus referral. Currently, the SPG bonus is for new card holders is 25,000 miles, this is a typical sign up bonus. Rarely does the SPG referral bonus go above 30,000 miles.
If you are considering this card and would like a referral, please feel free to email me. Or use this link! We at Travel Codex always appreciate your support by using referrals. Many thanks, and be sure to get your bonus if your friends or family want this card!
