As reported by Doctor of Credit, the SPG Luxury Card is now available for applications. The good news is that the 3 day window of opportunity that I’ve mentioned previously is working. The bad news is that Amex is offering only a 100K welcome bonus. We were expecting 125K.
For full details about this card, including the signup bonus link, please visit our dedicated page:
Starwood Preferred Guest Luxury Card from American Express
About the 3 Day Window
The SPG Lux card application page shows the following restriction:
Effective 8/26, welcome offer not available to applicants who (i) have or have had The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card from JP Morgan in the last 30 days, (ii) have acquired The Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, The Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase, or The Marriott Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days, or (iii) received a welcome or upgrade offer for The Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, The Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase, or The Marriott Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card from Chase in the last 24 months.
In short, starting on 8/26, if you have received a welcome bonus or upgrade bonus on any Chase Marriott card in the past 24 months, or have acquired a Chase Marriott card in the past 90 days, you won’t be eligible for the SPG Lux welcome bonus. Same if you currently have the Ritz credit card or have cancelled it less than 30 days ago.
The 3 day window of opportunity begins right now: It is not yet the 26th, so it is possible to sign up for the Luxury card now to qualify for the welcome bonus even if you won’t be able to as of the 26th. Note that you do not have to be approved before the 26th, you just have to submit your application before then. Be careful not to submit an application late on the 25th, though, as those applications are sometimes recorded as having come in the next day.
Recommendation: If you won’t be limited by the new rules anyway, then there’s no reason to rush to get this card. Maybe we’ll see a better offer in November (this offer is good through the end of October).
Other Options
I’ll follow up this post shortly with more information, but it’s important to note that other SPG and Marriott cards will also fall under restrictions similar to the ones shown above as of 8/26. And, for many of us, there are other SPG and Marriott cards that offer better first year value. Most notable is the SPG Business Card with its 100K bonus and waived first year fee (click through to our dedicated SPG Business Card page for up to date welcome bonus details).
Please also see: Navigating Marriott’s Byzantine Credit Card Rules.
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Just offered 125k.
Greg, am I reading the terms wrong? The $300 statement credit comes after the one year anniversary, or do we get on immediately and then another at the one year anniversary ?
it’s pretty much $300 after you pay the annual fee. So first year and after your anniversary
You get the credit every year. The benefit terms are explicit: “Your first reward year begins on your account opening date.”
What a completely underwelming offer for a “premium card”. Makes me wonder if this is being used as some kind of tease by Amex to catch the churners who go after the points and then cancel the card, because really, why would one want to keep this card after getting the points posted– there’s no compelling value after you get your (Ridiculously low) 100k of smarriot points (300 forced spend at marriot still leaves 150 for a free night where other cards are $95 for the same) I may be missing something (and if I am, I am happy to be wrong about this), but this “offer” has a bad smell to it.
The Lux card has a free night in higher category hotels (50k max as opposed to say 35k max for standard SPG card). Also gold elite instead of silver elite for status. The Lux card also comes with some Global Entry/TSA credits, but that isn’t useful for everyone.
Thanks, I missed that first point. From my POV that brings this “premium card” up from awful to ignorable, but your response is helpful Curtis, thanks.
How can you tell which Chase Marriott card you have? Ours has been open for well over 5 years. Is this one that would prevent us from getting the SPG Lux Card once the window closes?
As long as you haven’t upgraded the card recently, you’ll be fine. The rules only affect those who received a Marriott card signup bonus or upgrade bonus within the past 24 months
Blah card with high annual fee not waived and low value bonus points. I’m eligble but will happily pass on this offer. I already moved my business over to other brands. If they offer much better bonuses or much smaller fees than maybe I’ll reconsider.
Greg can you please clarify—if you are disqualified on 8/26 (I recently opened Marriott cards) are you disqualified for 24 months or permanently? I’m disappointed with the welcome offer and would be willing to wait two years to see if a better offer comes around rather than adding to my 3/24. Thank you.
You will have to wait 24 months after you received bonuses on your Marriott cards and then you can sign up and get the bonus for the SPG Lux.
I just signed up for the Amex starwood business card through your link. According to the rep, I was told I would be eligible since I haven’t had a bonus in the last 12 months. I had the card previously but canceled approximately 2 years ago. I am hoping he knew what he was talking about.
Hmm. Thanks for using my link. I’m worried though that the rep gave you bad information. Amex has been enforcing the lifetime rule
I’m ineligible for all but the Lux but I’ll hold off for a better bonus. However, my wife can get the SPG Biz. Are the old Marriott transfer rules still in effect? i.e. 50k max per year, or unlimited if combined for a redemption.
I’m not sure. I’d check the Marriott Rewards T&C but we’ve been told that much of the document is being re-written.
Before you apply for the SPG Lux card, check your SPG amex Account for upgrade offer. I logged into my Amex account and saw the upgrade offer of 100k points/ $5k spend with an expiration of 10/31/18 to accept the upgrade offer. It said the credit card number will stay the same and the annual fee will be prorated. My regular spg annual fee usually posts in January, hopefully that means my 50k free night will post in the same month.
Lucky you! I logged into Amex and my upgrade offer is only 15,000 points for $1,000 spend in 3 months. Wonder if I don’t get the 100K offer because I spend too much or not enough?
I had the card for 1 year and 7 months. Charged less than $1k this year on it. My wife got the same offer as you and had the card for over 3 years but same spending. So no clue
Any idea if upgrading affects your 5/24 status? I have the same offer to upgrade from the standard SPG personal card. I haven’t gotten any Marriott cards/bonuses, so no rush to apply since the offer is good through 10/31. BUT, I also will drop below 5/24 near the end of this year and want to make sure this won’t ruin that. I’ve looked on a couple of sites, but haven’t found any definite answers yet.
I don’t have the need for two free nights (one at 35,000 point max, the other at 50,000), so upgrading probably makes sense for me if it does NOT affect the 5/24 status.
i don’t see how it would affect 5/24, it’s pretty much the same account. Same account number and login. They don’t pull credit for upgrade offers. You definitely should upgrade if your offer is 100k. Also with the upgrade you will get a discounted annual fee for the first year.
Thanks for the response. Where did you see that the account # stays the same? I read through the offer and terms (even did a word search) and didn’t see that.
when you go through with the upgrade it tells you the number stays the same. Also when i log into my amex the logo is updated to luxury but the account number is still the same.
Upgrades should retain your original card open date on your credit report, so it won’t affect 5/24
I applied and got the pop up saying I was ineligible for the signup bonus…..? How can that be possible…?
No idea. I’m not at all sure that the pop up is working correctly
Whoa! – Tricky limitation on Platinum Status!
Here is the term I found, “You cannot receive enrollment in Platinum Elite status through this reward program if you are already enrolled at Platinum Elite status or any higher status”.
With the 33% devaluation in my earning ability and the elimination of the 25 Stays qualification, I was planning on obtaining Platinum Elite Status every year by spending $75,000 with the AMEX SPG Luxury card. I have Platinum Elite Status now thru 2019 (earned on SPG Stays).
But according to this term, I cannot qualify for the $75,000 spend Platinum Elite Status until my current status expires in January/February 2020?? And to make matters worse, if I qualify for the $75,000 spend status in 2020, then I need to let it expire in January/February 2021 in order to earn it again? So there will always be a gap in my status, and I will need to spend $75,000 quickly starting every February in order to get Platinum Status back? Oh and worse again… the terms provide that the $75,000 Platinum Elite Status may take 3-4 months to activate after hitting the $75,000 spend mark! Surely this is a mistake?
I’m pretty sure that the terms just have really bad wording. My guess is that it simply means that if you already earned Platinum for next year, then spending $75K this year doesn’t do anything for you.
Hi Everyone,
So I received my Marriott bonus back in Oct. 2016, so by the “received a welcome bonus… in the past 24 months” terms, looks like I’d be good to receive this bonus in Nov., correct? If so, I’m thinking of bypassing the 3 day window and waiting to see if a larger bonus comes up in a few months.
Thanks, all!
That’s correct
Thanks, Greg!
I decided to apply and was approved. I already have the SPG Personal and SPG Business. Wife also applied, but got the message about not being eligible due for the welcome offer. Drats! Wish we had some data points about what it takes to get back in Amex’s good graces (i.e., how much spend on their cards), but I guess this new restriction is still too new.
Looked at the benefits of the new LUXE card and decided not worth the $150 as I have most of them covered by other Chase/Amex cards. I had been waiting for this one but decided to go for the SPG Amex Business instead. Instant approval so I am happy.
@Greg, this does look like a weak initial bonus offer. If I am purely out for airline miles, would you agree that the Chase Marriott Premier Business card at 75k pts with $3k spend and $99 annual fee is better than this one (already have/had the SPG personal & SPG bus.)? Thanks!
If you’re purely out for airline miles, then maybe look to other offers? 75K points will be worth only 30K miles. That said, they do support more airlines than any other transferable program.
“…but it’s important to note that other SPG and Marriott cards will also fall under restrictions similar to the ones shown above as of 8/26.” this is confusing..I have the old spg personal and biz (both 18 months old). will I not be able to get the lux after 8/26?
No, you can still get lux after 8/26. I think Greg was thinking SPG and Marriott are checking on each other, preventing people from getting a SPG bonus and a Marriott bonus in the same 24 month period in general.
No, they’re OK with you having other SPG cards when you apply for the Lux.
Have SPG personal. How do you get around the “Request an Upgrade” thing, and if the answer’s an incognito window and one is approved through that, will they actually send the card?
Thanks in advance.
I haven’t seen an option to request an upgrade. If you’re getting that, then yes you can clear cookies or open a private window and yes you’ll actually get the card.
But you wont get the bonus…
MarkG can you verify this?
This card would really shine if it came with hotel lounge access with guest access as well, instead of Priority Pass. Coupled with the $300 credit, then it’d be a no brainer for me.
Good point
Posted this over on DoC (along with a few others): I tried to submit my application, but got the “you are not eligible to receive this welcome offer” message when submitting. Not sure why. Only 3 total Amex cards currently (Everyday, SPG Personal, and SPG Biz). Recently opened a Marriott Business card back in May. Haven’t opened an Amex card since 4/2017.
Perhaps the Marriott card disqualified you.
It’s not the 26th yet
I contacted Amex today and they told me that I didnt qualify because I have the Personal SPG card
@Greg- Will you be trying to see if you can get an eight Amex card!
Of course 🙂
Wow. Disappointing that the introductory sign-up bonus here is less than the equivalent old once-a-year increased 35k sign-up for the SPG Amexes with $95 annual fees, and even the often increased sign-ups of 100k+ on the old Chase Marriott cards…
Given the mess Marriott made of the data merger over the weekend (continuing even now), the mishandling of the travel packages, the devaluation of the legacy SPG Make a Green Choice program, the bait and switch with the terms and conditions of Platinum Suite Upgrades, I am not feeling good about the new program.
Greg,
I posted earlier about this being 4/24 with the Ritz Carlton Card approved in July. I ended up deciding to “blow” through 5/24 and applied for SPG personal and Marriott Premier Plus early August. Both were approved (it was my first AMEX card) and I’m going to go for SPG Lux while I can. No businesses unfortunately. Big question for me is the opportunity for the annual free nights and whether I can use them to justify the annual fee after the sign up bonus.
Btw, I’ve been framing this as if it was me so it was easier to write about, but all of this has been for my wife’s cards. I’m 3/24 myself with a business but hesitant to do the same thing under my name for more in case I get shutdown since I’ve opened 6 Chase cards in the last 9 months.
Thanks for all the articles.
Sounds good. Was there a question in there?
Just tried to apply for the Lux and wife was instantly declined with “we can’t approve your application” (no message about not being eligible for welcome bonus or anything). Her first AMEX card was the SPG personal earlier this month. Credit score 800+. The only thing I can think of is maybe she needs to pay off her balance with the SPG card since she just hit the $3k spend. Otherwise maybe income limitations but her credit limit is way under her yearly income across Her SPG and her cards from a chase (at 5/24). Any clues there? I might try again tomorrow and then call it a day after that.
If you check the application status there should be a link to view the reason of denial electronically. https://www262.americanexpress.com/eaol/welcome.do
Thanks Greg. Here was the reason with “Cancelled” next to it.
The reason for our decision is that you have reached the maximum number and type of Cards that we will approve within the period of a few months
Is something special I had to do when applying? I just got the SPG personal instantly approved on 8/17/18 and that was my wife’s first AMEX. I logged in and was able to apply from there. I see people clearing cookies and stuff. Is it too late for that now? Should I just try calling the recon line?
I meant instantly approved 8/7/18 not 8/17/18.
Just called the recon number and they said it was because I already got the SPG personal so the system was considering it a duplicate application and to wait 30 days. Have you heard of this happening to anyone else? It seems like people who have the SPG personal have been able to also get the Lux so it looks like I’ll miss the 8/26 window since I also applied for the Marriott Premier Plus on 8/7/18 too. 🙁
when I check my AMEX recommended cards for me, it listed the AMEX SPG personal which I cancelled over 3 years ago. Does this mean that I will receive my 75k points if I apply and be approved even if the language states once per lifetime bonus points? If my chance is not good I may apply for the new Spg luxury card but dissappointed with only 100k bonus points.
Not necessarily. Ideally Amex will pop up a warning if you fill out the app but are not eligible for the bonus. On the other hand, that might not work: https://frequentmiler.com/2018/08/10/is-the-amex-5-credit-card-limit-gone/
So it is true that amex is considering the SPG personal to be the same product?
I’ve seen several DPs of people approved who were also holding an SPG personal.
Issue isn’t approval– its eligibility for bonus. I am trying over the phone.
Phone didn’t work either for me. ;-(
Did they give you a reason?
The standard statement: based on your history with amex, either the number of accounts opened or closed or number of account bonuses, you are not eligible. They couldn’t get any more specific than that (I asked, he said it was just a computer generated message and there was no other way to dial down). They would approve me for card, but not bonus. Sad day.