AMEX - SPG Transfer option after August 2018

[liuyz]

How long to family transfers take between SPG accounts? We initiated a transfer from my wife's account to mine last Wednesday & received confirmation, but no points have been transferred across accounts - should I follow this up?

Done this a couple of times recently. 3 business days in my case.

 

[blacksultan]

How long to family transfers take between SPG accounts? We initiated a transfer from my wife's account to mine last Wednesday & received confirmation, but no points have been transferred across accounts - should I follow this up?

2-3 days .although in my most recent case It took 10-15 days as for some reason the points were not deducted so i had to do it 4-5 times.
check the sending account to see if it is actually debited.

 

[rock86]

There has been delays to about 10 days

Done this a couple of times recently. 3 business days in my case.

2-3 days .although in my most recent case It took 10-15 days as for some reason the points were not deducted so i had to do it 4-5 times.
check the sending account to see if it is actually debited.

Points have not been debited from my wife's account, so looks like it's worth a call then - put it on the list for tonight.

 

[liuyz]

Points have not been debited from my wife's account, so looks like it's worth a call then - put it on the list for tonight.

Definitely.

Suggest to call the loyalty program customer center in Singapore. All Aus points transfer requests are handled there. (Found this from recent experience.)

 

[citrusb]

rang Amex this evening and said that on-line transfer to SPG had vanished as an option and whether they could assist over the phone to complete transfer.....I told them that I knew SPG was changing on 18/8 but would like to redeem at old rates...ie 2 for 1....."I can help with that....how many to transfer sir....200k ..thats = 100k SPG. ok" thank you ..." all gone through" s/be in account 2 - 3 days...
Seemed too easy after reading all the posts...I will definitely report back.....

Had further call from Amex this morning confirming how many MR to transfer ? this was account exec...
Rang back 10 minutes later to give story... No can do since 27th July !!!! I advised very disappointed, he said he'll see if there's anything he can do.....Just got email saying NO !! Didn't ring this time, a bit sheepish I think.... The game goes on.....

 

[rock86]

Definitely.

Suggest to call the loyalty program customer center in Singapore. All Aus points transfer requests are handled there. (Found this from recent experience.)

Will do, thanks for the info!

 

[NM]

I have only been using my SPG account as a laundering process between Amex MR and AAdvantage. With the devaluation of transfers to SPG/Marriott, and yes I know some Amex customer service agents are suggesting the new rates have not yet been defined, it seems that previous laundered rate of $1 spend on Amex (at major supermarket for 3:1 earning) to earn 1.875 AAdvantage Mile in blocks of 40,000 MR points, will be reduced to earning 0.833 AAdvantage miles for the same $1 spent and needing to transfer 90,000 MR to earn the 5000 bonus miles.

This new rate means I am seriously looking for a reason to remain an Amex card carrier, I have been an Amex member since 1991 and for the first time in that 27 years I am struggling to find value from the product. Unless someone can suggest a reasonable value use of MR points (I earn 40,000 MR points about every 3-4 months), I expect my Amex relationship is about to end.

While I have both Velocity and AsiaMiles accounts, both are dormant with zero points/miles. I rarely use any SPG/Marriott properties, and have not been a regular at Hilton since dropping from Diamond about 6 years ago and moving almost all of my accommodation to Intercontinental group. I have two Visa cards with direct QFF earning that give me 5000+ QFF points each month.

So can anyone suggest why I should hold onto my Amex card?

 

[tizey]

What airlines do you target using AAdvantage?

 

[lilkid28]

I have only been using my SPG account as a laundering process between Amex MR and AAdvantage. With the devaluation of transfers to SPG/Marriott, and yes I know some Amex customer service agents are suggesting the new rates have not yet been defined, it seems that previous laundered rate of $1 spend on Amex (at major supermarket for 3:1 earning) to earn 1.875 AAdvantage Mile in blocks of 40,000 MR points, will be reduced to earning 0.833 AAdvantage miles for the same $1 spent and needing to transfer 90,000 MR to earn the 5000 bonus miles.

This new rate means I am seriously looking for a reason to remain an Amex card carrier, I have been an Amex member since 1991 and for the first time in that 27 years I am struggling to find value from the product. Unless someone can suggest a reasonable value use of MR points (I earn 40,000 MR points about every 3-4 months), I expect my Amex relationship is about to end.

While I have both Velocity and AsiaMiles accounts, both are dormant with zero points/miles. I rarely use any SPG/Marriott properties, and have not been a regular at Hilton since dropping from Diamond about 6 years ago and moving almost all of my accommodation to Intercontinental group. I have two Visa cards with direct QFF earning that give me 5000+ QFF points each month.

So can anyone suggest why I should hold onto my Amex card?

Explorer/Plat Edge/Ascent Program ($695 annual fee, $400 & $200 Travel Credit) , yields 2 Krisflyer or 2 Asia Miles per $ spent. For me this is still very good value. Those who have this combo, I believe will agree too.

 

[NM]

What airlines do you target using AAdvantage?

I have redeemed AAdvantage miles for flights on QF, AA, JL, CX, MH, BA in the past - mostly long-haul international in all cabins.

 

[Saltywings]

Explorer/Plat Edge/Ascent Program ($695 annual fee, $400 & $200 Travel Credit) , yields 2 Krisflyer or 2 Asia Miles per $ spent. For me this is still very good value. Those who have this combo, I believe will agree too.

Yep. It's a bit of a stretch for me personally to argue that Amex has become functionally worthless just because one (albeit valuable) partner program was devalued.

I can't think of another rewards program in Australia that compares with MR. None from the banks, credit unions, supermarkets or any other institution.

Of course, 'tis all dependent on the use case. I earn a healthy supply of QF points via other means/programs, so most of what NM has said in the comment above this one wouldn't apply to me. I've got most bases covered across MR, QF and VA. Sucks to lose SPG, but it's not like another program has now by default become better than MR (Edge+Exp Ascent combo).

And I haven't even started on the gorging I've done over the years with 3PPD @ Supermarkets with the PE (and my my, them 5% off gift cards!)

 

[rock86]

Yep. It's a bit of a stretch for me personally to argue that Amex has become functionally worthless just because one (albeit valuable) partner program was devalued.

I can't think of another rewards program in Australia that compares with MR. None from the banks, credit unions, supermarkets or any other institution.

Of course, 'tis all dependent on the use case. I earn a healthy supply of QF points via other means/programs, so most of what NM has said in the comment above this one wouldn't apply to me. I've got most bases covered across MR, QF and VA. Sucks to lose SPG, but it's not like another program has now by default become better than MR (Edge+Exp Ascent combo).

And I haven't even started on the gorging I've done over the years with 3PPD @ Supermarkets with the PE (and my my, them 5% off gift cards!)

For bigger spenders, then there definitely is no other program in Aus that comes close with it's flexibility and partnerships - but if you're not putting much through the cards then the value in the program is lost, and churning becomes a better option.

We aren't spoilt for choice in Australia like they are in the US, if one of the banks in Aus had a program like Chase I think you'd find AMEX being more aggressive - but that won't happen with the interchange fee cap.

 

[Saltywings]

For bigger spenders, then there definitely is no other program in Aus that comes close with it's flexibility and partnerships - but if you're not putting much through the cards then the value in the program is lost, and churning becomes a better option.

I think there's a bit of conflation going on with MR being a good program in and of itself and versus other programs, as opposed to the opportunity cost of churning instead of remaining loyal to MR.

I partially agree in that yes, if your spend is low, churning an Amex-issued card every 18 months may the right way to go. But I would claim with some degree of confidence that there are enough sources of churn from other card-issuing institutions such that you'd run into credit enquiry issues before you needed to 'go back' and churn Amex, as this assumes you've already churned everything else out there. I imagine this is rare even among AFFers. Or maybe I'm considered lazy relative to those people.

Besides, this is actually irrelevant in deciding to drop MR because SPG got devalued: churning your Amex-issued Amex is no better an option because you're earning MR either way - the same MR that is now devalued post-SPG changes. So my original (and slightly rhetorical Q) is still valid: sure, SPG got devalued, but is there now a markedly superior rewards program that one would sign up to in lieu of MR?

(To your second para - I do wish we had more competition like in the US).

 

[robbo135]

So can anyone suggest why I should hold onto my Amex card?

Excluding any sign up bonuses, Amex remains one of the most productive ways to earn FF miles. Yes the Visa/mastercard products out there also earn FF miles of various airlines but either have poor earning rates and/or have earning caps. Yes they have the advantage of wider acceptance, but Amex is still king. The RBA interchange all but neutered the non-Amex credit cards out there.

IMO, the best use of MR going forward is Krisflyer. Probably the program which best balances reward availability and fees/surcharges.

 

[NM]

Yep. It's a bit of a stretch for me personally to argue that Amex has become functionally worthless just because one (albeit valuable) partner program was devalued.

But the one that is being devalued is the ONLY one that I ever use. The only other partner for a program which I have any points balance is Hilton. I hold not points/miles in any of the airline partners, so would be starting from scratch with no other earning opportunities in those programs. I used SPG to launder to AAdvantage as a top-up in addition to miles earned through flying (now that is a novel idea) and other means.

The only FF programs I am currently accumulating with are QFF and AAdvantage. I hold reasonable status in both (Lifetime Gold) and steadily approaching Lifetime Platinum with AAdvantage. I hold no status in any other airline FF program.

And I haven't even started on the gorging I've done over the years with 3PPD @ Supermarkets with the PE (and my my, them 5% off gift cards!)

I estimate that 90% of my Amex points come from buying 5% discounted Wish Cards. I do not put any business or company spend through it, so it is only what I and my family spend using Wish cards that is my source of points. So really not much more than 10,000 MR points perm month. Even without Amex 3:1 earning on the purchase, I will still buy Wish cards just for the 5% discount on grocery, fuel, booze etc.

For bigger spenders, then there definitely is no other program in Aus that comes close with it's flexibility and partnerships - but if you're not putting much through the cards then the value in the program is lost, and churning becomes a better option.

Unfortunately, I do not fall into the big spender category. It is only personal/household spending. I do not have the opportunity to syphon large company accounts through a credit card. My employer is very strict that all company expenses must be on the corporate credit card and that card is barred from any points earning programs. A policy which I respect and with which I always comply.

Excluding any sign up bonuses, Amex remains one of the most productive ways to earn FF miles. Yes the Visa/mastercard products out there also earn FF miles of various airlines but either have poor earning rates and/or have earning caps. Yes they have the advantage of wider acceptance, but Amex is still king. The RBA interchange all but neutered the non-Amex credit cards out there.

IMO, the best use of MR going forward is Krisflyer. Probably the program which best balances reward availability and fees/surcharges.

I will look into the viability of Krisflyer (without any status or prospective paid flying) for future redemptions. I do ok with QFF points earning from other opportunities. I do not churn regularly, but when I become dissatisfied with changes to a card/program, I will look elsewhere for opportunities including sign-up boni.

I just wish I could continue the regular laundering of 40,000 MR points to 20,000 SPG to 25,000 AAdvantage miles every few months. It was a nice little earner while it lasted. RIP SPG.

 

[blacksultan]

Had further call from Amex this morning confirming how many MR to transfer ? this was account exec...
Rang back 10 minutes later to give story... No can do since 27th July !!!! I advised very disappointed, he said he'll see if there's anything he can do.....Just got email saying NO !! Didn't ring this time, a bit sheepish I think.... The game goes on.....

Called today to try and transfer my upgrade bonus. said he would try then came back and informed me of situation. asked for manual transfer. said he would send spg an email and ask if it can be done .said he should get back by tues.

 

[lilkid28]

The only FF programs I am currently accumulating with are QFF and AAdvantage. I hold reasonable status in both (Lifetime Gold) and steadily approaching Lifetime Platinum with AAdvantage. I hold no status in any other airline FF program.

As you have LT Gold/OW Sapphire, Asia Miles is a program you could consider, even if you have zero miles now. Their redemption rates are still more than reasonable.

 

[potm]

I just wish I could continue the regular laundering of 40,000 MR points to 20,000 SPG to 25,000 AAdvantage miles every few months. It was a nice little earner while it lasted. RIP SPG.

It’s probably too late now but you could have converted 180k MR to 90k SPG to 270k Marriott to a travel package giving 120k AA and 7 nights accom. Even if you throw away the 7 nights, it’s still a better rate than 40k MR to 25k AA.

 

[NM]

It’s probably too late now but you could have converted 180k MR to 90k SPG to 270k Marriott to a travel package giving 120k AA and 7 nights accom. Even if you throw away the 7 nights, it’s still a better rate than 40k MR to 25k AA.

yes, but I never earn enough MR points to accumulate a the 180K needed. That would take me about 2 years to accumulate. For those earning enough MR and/or SPG points, the travel packages could represent great value. I was not willing to risk unannounced changes diluting the value, so each time I reached 40K MR points they went to SPG and immediately to AA.

I did empty my MR account at the end of July, even though I didn't have the 40K points needed to achieve the SPG 5K bonus when transferring to AAdvantage. So I have a bit over 16K SPG points that will migrate to become about 49K of the merged SPG/Marriott points. So I will likely still make one more MR -> Marriott transfer even at the diluted rates to get to the 60K points needed for one last 25K miles transfer to AAdvantage. Then its time to see if there is anything I want to use MR points for, or if I cancel the card and take a sign-up bonus for another card of some sort?

 

[NM]

As you have LT Gold/OW Sapphire, Asia Miles is a program you could consider, even if you have zero miles now. Their redemption rates are still more than reasonable.

Yes, it appears the teo options are to start accumulating in Asia Mile or Krisflyer. I'll have to work the numbers to see how long it will take me to accumulate enough points/miles is either program for a redemption that may be of interest to me.