AMEX - SPG Transfer option after August 2018

[wxxnxs]

I'm thinking of doing the same. Nowhere have they officially informed me what the transfer rate to Marriott points will be, and the rate in the MR portal still says 1000MR:500SPG. I only have 40,000 MR points and don't want to keep the card, plus it isn't much use in any of the other programs, really what is the risk with trying and then making a complaint should the points come through at 3:2.

My advice is take the screen shot with the ratio it shows currently, and put the time log into it, and meanwhile also put the time log when you do the transfer, just in case if something goes funny afterwards.

 

[kkl]

Tried transferring via amex app for accent points
Doesn't work

 

[potm]

My SPG points balance was multiplied by 3 on the 18th, before any merger of accounts. Doesn’t matter what you call the points. You won’t get it multiplied by 3 and all redemption rates have increased to Marriott rates.

 

[robbo135]

I'm wondering if we can transfer 3amex to 2spg?

As an unmerged spg account has not been multiplied by 3

All spg accounts whether linked/merged have had their points balances multiplied by 3 automatically. There is no arbitrage available, so no point even discussing the possibility.

 

[blacksultan]

I'm thinking of doing the same. Nowhere have they officially informed me what the transfer rate to Marriott points will be, and the rate in the MR portal still says 1000MR:500SPG. I only have 40,000 MR points and don't want to keep the card, plus it isn't much use in any of the other programs, really what is the risk with trying and then making a complaint should the points come through at 3:2.

any update?

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

And what Account # will we now link to : Old SPG , Old Marriott ...or new combined account #! the dramas!

 

[rock86]

any update?

Haven't tried, since I wrote that been inundated with work and haven't even given it a second thought - will look to give it a try over this weekend.

 

[rock86]

any update?

Haven't tried, since I wrote that been inundated with work and haven't even given it a second thought - will look to give it a try over this weekend.

No luck transferring over the weekend (Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning attempts) online, it kept posting an error for me. Checked back this morning, and AMEX MR Gateway is now showing the new transfer rate. One which has been reported but never confirmed and has not been communicated to its members at all, AMEX have ballsed this completely up.

While the changeover hasn't really effected me as I transferred out pretty much all of my points (only had a referral bonus in there that I received the day they locked everything out) and I have enough Marriott points for the trip I am planning, it still leaves a sour taste in my mouth has this has all been handled.

 

[thatsthatmattressman]

Anyone that has attempted this ...are you using the new Combined Account #? or your old Marriott #?

 

[potm]

Anyone that has attempted this ...are you using the new Combined Account #? or your old Marriott #?

When you combine your account you choose which number to keep. If you combined successfully, you should only have one number now.

 

[liuyz]

No luck transferring over the weekend (Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning attempts) online, it kept posting an error for me. Checked back this morning, and AMEX MR Gateway is now showing the new transfer rate. One which has been reported but never confirmed and has not been communicated to its members at all, AMEX have ballsed this completely up.

While the changeover hasn't really effected me as I transferred out pretty much all of my points (only had a referral bonus in there that I received the day they locked everything out) and I have enough Marriott points for the trip I am planning, it still leaves a sour taste in my mouth has this has all been handled.

View attachment 134944

The transfer rate has been there for Ascent Premium for a couple of days already. The only detail that kept changing over the last week was the minimum transfer amount. The last change was from 500 pt to 600 pt. Seems it is still half cooked, after about 1 week of roasting.

 

[JFi]

Like so many here, I’ve been very disappointed at the way this was handled. Unlike some here, I received no official announcement in my statements or anywhere else notifying me of the changes and they suddenly took away the option to transfer I think a bit over two weeks before the programs were merged. Looking at the Amex MR T&Cs, it says “We may vary the number of points required to purchase a specific reward at any time without giving you prior notice. However, we will give you at least 60 days notice if we choose to significantly increase the number of points required to redeem rewards as a whole unless this increase is as a result of an increase in the cost to us in providing such rewards”

I would classify a 125% devaluation as “significantly increase the number of points…” so would expect at least 60 days notice but reading further, even if the cost to Amex increased by 0.0000001%, they still don’t need to provide any notice because there’s no definition of what the “increase” needs to be? Is that what it means? I wonder if there’s a way to get Amex to reveal if the costs has increased. It does also make me wonder whether the cost has actually decreased so Amex was deliberate in stopping any transfers as the new program would cost them less? Not that complaining would change anything now…

I think there would’ve been less disappointment if people were given notice so they could make an informed decision to transfer or not. Customer expectations should’ve been managed. This is just another example of a very poorly managed implementation and unfortunately it’s always the customers that lose out.

 

[adamonline]

Like so many here, I’ve been very disappointed at the way this was handled.

It really is just about keeping customers informed. Amex has really failed in this respect and I encourage you to let your thoughts be known to Amex directly at the following address. I have and are awaiting their response.

American Express Executive Correspondence
GPO Box 1582
Sydney, NSW 2001

You might find this quote from American Express's Commitment to Australia helpful

American Express is guided by a value system that ensures we are personally accountable for delivering on our commitments. This includes our commitment to complying with all Australian legislation, tax laws and regulations, and conducting business with the highest levels of ethics, transparency and integrity.

 

[andye]

I was looking at a UK site and note that the SPG Amex there earns at a rate of 3 Marriott points per GBP
In general we get a better deal with points/$ earn from Amex but this is now one partner where we are now a long way behind
I wonder if SPG/Amex will reconsider as the transfers dry up?

 

[potm]

I was looking at a UK site and note that the SPG Amex there earns at a rate of 3 Marriott points per GBP
In general we get a better deal with points/$ earn from Amex but this is now one partner where we are now a long way behind
I wonder if SPG/Amex will reconsider as the transfers dry up?

It was always an anomoly that we got a 2:1 rate to SPG while the USA was 3:1. It’s been balanced but in the process made it a terrible transfer rate, as hotel transfer options usually are. With our tanking AUD, I would expect any changes to be a devaluation.

 

[Dr Ralph]

As I currently dont have an Amex I haven't been paying complete attention. I know about the significant devaluation of SPG points but was there a similar change to the Hilton transfer ratio?

 

[blueythecat]

No change to the Hilton transfer rate that I’ve seen. Just the new terrible rate for Marriott

 

[Kremmen]

It really is just about keeping customers informed. Amex has really failed in this respect and I encourage you to let your thoughts be known to Amex directly at the following address. I have and are awaiting their response.

Did you receive any response yet?

I tried phoning American Express and was told that the new earnings rate is an improvement and therefore they didn't need to inform users of the change. Furthermore, they assert that it was up to Marriott to inform American Express users of the change to the American Express redemption rate!

 

[adamonline]

I did have a favourable response from American Express who confirmed that they would honour my points transfer request at the old rate (with the 3x SPG->Marriott uplift) but it has taken a long time to get that happening. It would appear that they are making Marriott wear the cost of the change as they have been working with Marriott to credit the points manually. So far they have been doing it in blocks and I've got 75% of the expected points with the remainder to post this week hopefully.

Unfortunately, the redemption I did have in mind for the points was last month. I'll need to come up with a new plan to use them now.

 

[kkl]

Hopefully they realised they screwed the rate up and improve it asap