Over the weekend, my sister was asking me which new Amex credit card she should apply for as she doesn’t currently have any Amex cards. She is new to points and miles collecting and wanted to get an Amex card (specifically she was interested in the SPG cards) so that she can take part in the Amex Offers for You and Small Business Saturday opportunities that I am always talking about.  I was telling her about her options for increased sign up bonuses and new benefits from American Express. She wasn’t that excited to hear that the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express was getting a higher annual fee (honestly who is?), but I was telling her about the new benefits, as well as the fact that the fee was waived for the first year and she ended up deciding on applying for the SPG card. I figured others were also concerned about the increased annual fee so, I thought I would run through if it makes sense to apply.

What I Told My Sister About The SPG Amex Card

Starwood has announced a bunch of changes to the Starwood American Express card which will start August 11th:

• No Foreign Transaction Fees SPG Credit Card Members can now enjoy international travel without foreign transaction fees from American Express when using their Card on purchases abroad.

• Complimentary, Unlimited Boingo Wi-Fi SPG Credit Card Members will enjoy complimentary, unlimited Wi-Fi access when they enroll in the Boingo American Express Preferred Plan. Receive Wi-Fi access on up to four devices to more than 1,000,000 hotspots worldwide and pay no Wi-Fi roaming fees.

• Complimentary Premium In-Room Internet Access
  SPG Credit Card Members won’t miss a beat while away from family, friends, or the office with complimentary premium in-room internet access at SPG®Participating Hotels.

• Access to Sheraton Club Lounges for SPG American Express OPEN Card Members Card Members with a SPG Business Credit Card feel like VIPs with access to Sheraton Club Lounges, which includes a complimentary daily breakfast, evening selection of premium beverages and hors d’oeuvres, and space for hosting a friend or colleague.

  Existing card benefits include:

  • Earn up to 5 Starpoints for each dollar of eligible purchases at SPG®Participating Hotels – that’s 2 Starpoints for which Card Members may be eligible in addition to the 2 or 3 Starpoints for which they may be eligible as an SPG member. Earn 1 Starpoint for all other purchases.

  • Receive credit for 5 nights and 2 stays toward SPG elite status each year.

  • Upgrade to SPG Gold status after spending $30,000 in eligible purchases on the Card in a calendar year.

Bottom Line

I personally carry this card am excited about the new benefits regardless of the small increase in the annual fee. If you will use the benefits, I think it’s definitely worth it. There is a 25,000 point sign-up bonus after you spend $3,000 on the card in the first three months on the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express, which is pretty easy. I like this card because of the value of SPG points and how flexible they are. Now, Should You Get The SPG Personal Or Business Card From Amex?

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