UPDATE: Offer now expired.
Through Labor Day 2013, Starwood was offering an enhanced sign-up bonus on its Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card and Business Card from American Express.
Starwood points are great for booking Starwood hotel properties, but they are also a valuable means to top up your mileage balances in 30 airline loyalty programs, including many not reached by American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards.
| Frequent Flyer Program | Exchange Ratio (Starpoints : Miles) |
|---|---|
| Aeromexico | 1:1 |
| Aeroplan/Air Canada | 1:1 |
| Air Berlin | 1:1 |
| Air China Companion | 1:1 |
| Air New Zealand & Air Points | 65:1 |
| Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan | 1:1 |
| Alitalia MilleMiglia | 1:1 |
| All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club | 1:1 |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | 1:1 |
| Asia Miles | 1:1 |
| Asiana Airlines | 1:1 |
| British Airways Executive Club | 1:1 |
| China Eastern Airlines | 1:1 |
| China Southern Airlines’ Sky Pearl Club | 1:1 |
| Delta Air Lines SkyMiles | 1:1 |
| Emirates Skywards | 1:1 |
| Etihad Airways | 1:1 |
| Flying Blue | 1:1 |
| Gol Smiles | 2:1 |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 1:1 |
| Japan Airlines (JAL) Mileage Bank | 1:1 |
| LAN Airlines LANPASS Kms | 1:1.5 |
| Miles and More | 1:1 |
| Qatar Airways | 1:1 |
| Saudi Arabian Airlines Alfursan | 1:1 |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | 1:1 |
| Thai Airways International Royal Orchid Plus | 1:1 |
| US Airways Dividend Miles | 1:1 |
| United Mileage Plus | 2:1 |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 1:1 |
I’ve never owned a Starwood Preferred credit card, but I signed up for this one because it remains the card with the most options, even with the typical transfer delay (more on that in an upcoming post).
Note to that for every 20,000 Starpoints transferred, a 5,000 bonus is awarded, such that you are essentially getting 1.25 airline points per dollar you put on the Starwood (with the exceptions noted on the chart above). This is not a card to use if you are collecting only United points, but if you have a US Airways Barclays MasterCard or Lufthansa Miles&More World MasterCard, this is a nice card that can top up either account.
I’ll explore some specific redemption opportunities before this offer expires, but if you do not have this card and your credit is good, I would recommend that you add it to your portfolio.
Here’s some more detail about the card and the present bonus offer–
- Starpoints® bonus: earn up to 25,000 bonus points: 10,000 after your first purchase and another 15,000 after you spend $5,000 within the first 6 months of Cardmembership
- Earn 1 Starpoint® for each dollar of eligible purchases
- Earn more Starpoints for hotel stays (up to 5 Starpoints per dollar)
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $65
Can I sign up for both cards?
Yes, as long as you have not had the card in the last 12 months, you can take advantage of this sign-up offer. Even if you hold a Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Card now you can sign up for the personal card, or vice-versa.
The Business Card App., requires a TIN not a social security number. I don’t think you can apply without a TIN. Wish I were wrong, can you tell me?