Questions and Answers

Lucky: Dodson & Scott here from Texas !

As a 17-year SPG Platinum member (long qualified as Lifetime Platinum – hope that holds !), and long time UA 1K-ers, we of course have had the SPG Amex Personal and Chase MP cards for many years and use them constantly. We have not historically had a Marriott card to date only because we have never been Marriott customers (don’t judge ! LOL )

However, with the pending Marriott acquisition of Starwood, and the almost certain combination of Rewards and SPG programs in some (to be disclosed at some point) manner, we’ll plan to obtain and achieve the Marriott card sign up bonus so when Marriott merges accounts somehow, at least those points will be there.

This thinking, however, brings up some questions for us that we KNOW you’ve already totally thought through cuz you’re a brilliant, exceptional, handsome, God-like of a man !

Q1: as you know, it takes time to A) apply, B) receive the card, C) spend the minimums, D) have the signup bonus credited whether the Marriott card or a bank card. In some cases, from A to D, this can take 6 months or so. It’s early Feb, 2016. Any indication the MAR / SPG program merger will take place before….say….July/Aug and therefore risk the card arrangements or transfer to MAR/SPG rules if they change ?? I don’t expect you know any specifics of course. Would hate to go through all that and then find out – before having the time to earn and/or transfer the points to either SPG or MAR…boom…rules changed can’t do it like now. I assume the card programs have “anything can change at any minute” conditions….?

Q2: Other than the SPG and Marriott branded cards, what bank cards are best for point transfers to SPG and Marriott specifically?

Scott and Dodson thank you Lucky !

Hi Scott and Dodson–UR will transfer to Marriott although personally I’d consider UR too valuable to make that transfer. I’m not sure what your concern is here. Do you want to be able to redeem nights in a Marriott property as soon as the details of the merger are announced? What is stopping you from getting the card now and holding on to the points?

I don’t realistically think the programs will be combined until 2017, maybe not even 2018. The sale and merger haven’t even been approved yet, so in practice you have plenty of time.