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Application link: Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express
If you’ve been putting off the application for the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express, you’re almost out of time. In order to get the special 35,000 sign-up bonus, you must apply for the card by Wednesday, November 1.
Sign-Up Bonus
Here’s how the limited-time offer is structured: You’ll earn 25,000 Starpoints after you spend $6,000 on the card in the first three months from account opening. To maximize the bonus, you’ll need to spend another $4,000 in the first six months to earn an additional 10,000 Starpoints. That means you’ll need to spend $10,000 for 35,000 points total.
In a time when 50,000-point sign-up bonuses seem to be the new minimum, 35,000 points may sound a little low, especially for $10,000 in spending. But at 2.7 cents per point, Starpoints are the most valuable currency on TPG’s points/miles valuation list. That means the 35,000-point sign-up bonus is worth around $945.
Thanks to the 1:3 transfer ratio between Starwood and Marriott, you can also think of this sign-up bonus as 105,000 Marriott points — which puts you even closer to those super valuable Hotel + Air packages that get you a 7-night hotel stay plus airline miles.
While the $10,000 combined spending requirement is steep, this card offers a solid return on non-bonus spending. Based on TPG valuations, onlythe Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express offers a better return on general spending. Even if you spend all $10,000 on non-bonus spending, you’ll end up with more than a 12% return: 45,000 points (worth $1,215) from $10,000 spending.
Card Features and Benefits
This card earns you two Starpoints per dollar at Starwood (and now Marriott) properties and one point per dollar everywhere else. There’s a $95 annual fee that’s waived the first year, plus no foreign transaction fees. Also, this card offers Sheraton Club access with eligible rates and discounts with FedEx, Hertz and more through the Amex OPEN Savings program.
Not to mention the boost toward Starwood Preferred Guest elite status. If you spend $30,000 in a calendar year, you’ll be upgraded to Starwood Preferred Guest gold status. If you do earn SPG status, make sure to match it to Marriott Rewards to enjoy perks across both programs.
Source: thepointsguy.com