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Record-High 35,000 Welcome Bonus
This time, the welcome bonus on the SPG Business credit card has been raised from the usual 25,000 points to 35,000 points, and the offer ends on March 28.
The 35,000-point offer also appeared last year in February and October, and each time it lasted only 1 month. Since Marriott is about to complete its merger with SPG, this card will very likely become history, and this may be the last chance to get the 35,000 offer. It is also worth mentioning that SPG points can be transferred to Marriott points at a 1: 3 ratio, so this welcome bonus is effectively 105,000 Marriott points, which is higher than the welcome bonus on any Marriott card (usually between 75,000-100,000).
Quite a few of my friends have this SPG business credit card, so I interviewed several representative cardholders in hopes that their application and usage experiences will be helpful to everyone.
Cardholder Interviews
Originally, I planned to ask cardholders a few questions, but later realized that approach was not specific enough. So I changed it into more of a conversation and followed each cardholder's train of thought step by step. Instead of using a Q&A format, I’ll directly summarize the key points for everyone below. The summaries are written in the first person from each cardholder’s perspective.
Cardholder A
- Background: Previously had the personal SPG version (now closed). Currently has had the SPG business credit card for 1 year, and in this round also applied for an SPG business credit card for LD. Has a small business and an EIN. Personal credit score is 750+. Travels frequently and is not loyal to any particular hotel brand.
The main reason I applied for both the personal and business versions of the SPG card was the welcome bonus. SPG points are usually very hard to earn in large quantities, so the 35,000-point welcome bonus is the best way to build up a meaningful balance. So after applying for the personal version, I quickly went on to apply for the SPG business version as well. During the application, I entered my company’s EIN and listed business revenue as $30,000. I did not need to call AMEX afterward, and the application was approved smoothly.
The SPG points I earned from the welcome bonus and everyday spending were used up on two Marriott travel packages and several hotel stays. For the travel package miles, I transferred to UA (because there was a 10% extra j bonus and there was also a transfer promotion at the time), which I used for two round-trip tickets to Australia; the 7-night Free Night was used in Spain and delivered about $1,200 in value. Overall, SPG points are extremely valuable, especially now that they can be transferred freely with Marriott points. Using them for travel packages feels amazing.
I have never used the complimentary Sheraton lounge access that comes with the SPG business version, since there are so many hotel options and I rarely happen to stay at a Sheraton. The main reason I keep the SPG card is that SPG points are valuable. For purchases that do not fall into a bonus category, I generally put them on the SPG business card. In addition, the AMEX Offer deals on the SPG business card are especially strong, such as offers at Office Depot, Staples, and Sam's Club, which are not available on the personal SPG version. At one point, Sam's Club had an offer to spend $1,000 and get $250 back. I directly bought two Master gift cards, then went to the grocery store to buy MO for cash-out, and made nearly $250 in one shot. At a time when AMEX Offer deals are generally not as strong as before, the business version still sometimes gets excellent offers.
After applying for the SPG business card for LD, I also plan to keep my own SPG business card. The benefits do overlap, but because of the Marriott-SPG merger, this business version of the SPG card may soon be discontinued. So I plan to keep paying the $95 annual fee for now and wait to see how AMEX ultimately handles this card before making a final decision.
- My Take: There are actually quite a lot of cardholders like A. They are not necessarily SPG hotel enthusiasts; what they care about is the high value and flexibility of SPG points. After getting the card, they keep it if the value justifies the annual fee, and close it if it does not. In terms of redemptions, the flexibility of SPG points allows you to book flights and hotels in multiple destinations, making this a great fit for people with a real interest in travel and a certain standard for quality.
Cardholder B
- Background: Previously had the personal SPG card, then reopened it after closing it once. Has currently held the SPG business credit card for 2 years, and applied using his own SSN. Does not travel often and is not loyal to any particular hotel brand. Has especially high spending on credit cards.
I originally applied for the personal SPG card, then closed it because I felt the annual fee was a little high. Later, I reopened the personal SPG card and newly opened the SPG business card because I felt SPG points were extremely valuable. When I use my cards, the SPG credit card is my first choice. The reason I hold both the personal and business versions is that having both gives me two separate credit lines, so the amount I can spend is effectively doubled. I also hope to continue increasing the limits on both cards in the future. During the application, I used my own SSN and applied as a Sole Proprietor, listing $200,000 in business revenue.
All of the SPG points I earned through spending were converted to Marriott points at a 1: 3 ratio, and then used for several Marriott travel packages. I transferred the miles from those travel packages to Alaska Airline and Japan Airlines for my own travel, and so far I have already redeemed two JAL first class tickets. I sold the 7-night Cat 1-5 Free Night certificates to friends. In my view, Marriott travel packages are the best way to maximize the value of SPG points.
Another reason I hold the SPG business credit card is that spending $30,000 on the card earns SPG Gold. Although SPG Gold does not include breakfast, SPG Gold can be directly matched to Marriott Gold, and Marriott Gold members do get breakfast. In the US, that breakfast benefit is nothing special, since the continental breakfast often includes only cold bread and fruit. But at Marriott properties in China, breakfast is a real buffet and very substantial. I once had the breakfast buffet at the JW Marriott Beijing, and it was excellent!
- My Take: There probably are not many people in a situation like B’s. The standout feature is simply very high spending. Since SPG points are among the most valuable points currencies out there, it is no surprise they are especially attractive. After all, once your spending gets high enough, your credit limit becomes the real constraint. The higher the credit limit on a card that earns valuable points, the better. And once you have enough points, redeeming them becomes straightforward and powerful: premium-cabin travel all the way.
Cardholder C
- Background: Has held the SPG business credit card for nearly a year, and during that time closed a personal SPG card that had been held for three years. Applied using an EIN. Travels relatively infrequently. Has a fair amount of credit card spending.
I also applied for the SPG business credit card during the previous record-high 35,000 offer. At the time, there were already rumors that this card would be discontinued after Marriott acquired SPG (and you bloggers kept loudly declaring it would disappear, yet here we are almost a year later and it still hadn’t disappeared). This time, the merger has entered a more concrete stage and implementation has begun step by step, so I believe this card really is about to be discontinued. When I applied, I used my company’s EIN and applied as a Corporation.
The main reason I closed the personal SPG card and chose the business SPG card instead is that the SPG business credit card does not appear on personal credit reports. In other words, the Balance and Higest Balance on this business card do not affect your personal credit report. So even if there is a lot of spending on the business card, your credit score is not affected. I am planning to apply for a mortgage soon, so the cleaner my credit report is, the higher my credit score can be. Also, during the mortgage process, the bank may ask about those high-spending credit cards on your credit report and require explanations, which can be a hassle.
- My Take: I believe quite a few readers are like C—once they hear that a card may be discontinued or that it has hit a record-high bonus, they rush to apply. But in general, the cards recommended by this blog are all fairly worthwhile and are accompanied by detailed analysis, so even if you apply somewhat “blindly,” you probably will not regret it later.
Cardholder D
- Background: Has long held both the personal and business SPG cards. A frequent traveler for both leisure and work, with a particular enthusiasm for SPG hotels and the loyalty program. SPG Platinum elite member.
The main reason I hold both SPG co-branded cards is that the 2 stays and 5 nights that each SPG card gives every year can be stacked. With two cards, that becomes 4 Stays and 10 Nights. This is very helpful for requalifying for Platinum. Even though I travel frequently for both work and leisure, there are still years when I fall short by just a few Nights or Stays, and having that 4/10 cushion takes a lot of pressure off. SPG Platinum status also has a major advantage when it comes to room upgrades, with a high chance of getting upgraded to a suite. Complimentary lounge access is also nice—you can easily pass the time there eating and drinking. With SPG about to merge with Marriott, I do not know what will happen to these two cards. But as a hardcore SPG fan, I will continue to keep both of them.
- My Take: As a blogger who spends a lot of time at home, it is hard for me to imagine what it feels like to stay in hotels for more than 200 days a year. Personally, I feel like SPG credit cards were designed for exactly these people...
Summary
Because of my own status situation, I personally did not take the risk of applying for the SPG business credit card. I also hope everyone will carefully understand the characteristics of business credit cards before applying. If you have not yet applied for the personal SPG card, now is also a good time to do so. Even though 25,000 is not a record high, it is still better than waiting forever and missing out on the card entirely.
- AMEX SPG credit card (25,000 SPG points as a welcome bonus)
If, after reading the interviews above, you have become interested in the SPG business credit card, then my advice is simple: apply first and think later—if it passes by, do not let it pass you by!
After applying, feel free to read the materials below to help you get the maximum value from your SPG business credit card.