Update: Marriott has confirmed that they will stop selling their lucrative travel packages on 8/17/18:
- July 31:
- This is the final date to make purchases that will earn 1 Starpoint per dollar on the SPG AMEX cards. These Starpoints and all other Starpoints will be automatically multiplied by 3 and become Marriott points on August 18th.
- Currently 20K Starpoints transfers into 25K airline miles and under the new program 60K Marriott points will transfer into 25K airline miles, so that will remain the same. Existing points won’t be devalued.
- This is the final date for Sheraton lounge access for SPG Business AMEX cardholders.
- August 1:
- Purchases on the SPG AMEX made starting on this date will only earn 2 Marriott points per dollar spent, a 33% devaluation from previous earning.
- While previously spending $20K on the SPG AMEX earned 25K airline miles, under this devalued earning pattern the same $20K in spending would only earn 13,300 airline miles.
- You would need to spend $30,000 starting on this date in order to earn 60K Marriott points which would transfer into 25K airline miles.
- If you have a Starwood or Marriott card anniversary on or after this date you’ll also start to earn free anniversary nights.
- SPG will launch their new $450/year luxury AMEX card later in August, but the exact date has not yet been announced. Unfortunately, it too will only earn 2 points per dollar on everyday purchases.
- August 17:
- The final date to book awards under the current Marriott and SPG award charts. You’ll want to book awards by this date.
- The final date to buy one of the current highly lucrative travel packages. Marriott still refuses to say how exactly they will deal with these packages, though I’ve made a number of posts trying to figure it out.
- August 18:
- Systems will be down starting at 6am to complete the program merger. Afterward, you can merge your SPG and Marriott accounts and use the new merged website and award chart.
- Your Starwood member number will be retired and the Marriott member number will survive.
- Starpoints will be multiplied by 3 to become Marriott points and elite nights will merge together.
- New elite status and benefits will go into effect on this date.
- New airline transfer options including El Al will be added on this date.
- You can book awards using the new award chart.
- Find new hotels rates here.
- You can book awards using the new Cash+Points and PointSavers award charts.
- You can call to get an adjustment on hotel awards that go down in price on this date, you won’t need to actually cancel the stay to get a points adjustment.
- New devalued travel packages will be available for a many more points.
- August 26:
- The Ritz-Carlton card will go from earning 1 Marriott point per dollar to 2 points per dollar everywhere. Airline, car rental, and restaurant purchases will go up from 2 points per dollar to 3 points per dollar. Marriott/SPG spending will go up from 5 points per dollar to 6 points per dollar. Gold elite status will be free and will no longer require $10K in spending, but it will also no longer come with free breakfast or lounge access. Platinum status remains available for $75K in spending.
- New restrictions on Marriott and Starwood signup bonuses will go into effect on this date, with cross-checking between AMEX and Chase.
- December 31:
- This will be the final date to earn elite status based on stays in SPG hotels. Going forward elite status will be earned from nights in a hotel, not from stays in a hotel as SPG currently allows.
- This is also the final date to qualify for grandfathered lifetime status.
- January 2019:
- You will start earning 15 elite night credits if you have a Marriott or SPG credit card, but you can’t stack night credits if you have more than one credit card.
- February 2019:
- On a yet to be determined date that should fall in February, there will be a new name for the merged Marriott-Starwood program and new category 8 awards will go into effect, as will off-peak and peak date awards.
Short on Starpoints/Marriott points?
-
- You can still buy Starpoints here.
- Earn points on the new Chase Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card.
Read more about the merger in these posts:
Related Marriott-SPG merger posts:
- AMAZING! Marriott’s New Award Chart Is A Dream Come True For Aspirational Hotels; Roundup Of The Hotel Category Changes
- Don’t Wait: Book Hotel Awards Now Before The Starwood-Marriott Merger!
- Hunting Down The Marriott Hotels Getting More Expensive To Potentially Maximize Travel Certificates
- Exploring The Options For A Partial Points Refund Of The Marriott Travel Packages, Which Package Should You Buy Now?
- Marriott Has No Plans On Letting Us Know What They Plan On Doing With Current Travel Packages, But Don’t Let That Stop You From Taking Advantage Of Them!
- Where Will You Be Able To Use Chase Marriott And Starwood Anniversary Nights?
- Another Guess At What Will Happen With Marriott’s Miles+Nights Travel PackagesAnd Which You Should Buy Now Before It’s Too Late!
- Breaking Down The New Marriott/Starwood Combined Cash+Points And PointSavers Award Charts
- Marriott Will Massively Devalue New Miles+Nights Travel Packages In August;Comparing The Value Of The Current Packages To The New Packages
- Final Opportunity: Get 35% Off The Purchase Of Starwood Starpoints; Buy The Points You Need To Take Advantage Of These 7 Awesome Redemptions!
- Get A 75,000 Point Signup Bonus On The Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card!
- Live Blog: Follow The Marriott-Starwood Program Merger Announcement!
- 3 Starwood AMEX Cards In The New Marriott Program: A Comparison Chart Of The Good, The Bad, And The Horrific
- Comparison Chart: How Marriott’s August 2018 And February 2019 Award Chart Compares With The Current SPG And Marriott Award Charts
- Marriott Got Almost Everything Perfect, But The Starwood AMEX Cuts Are Just Too Painful
- Rack Up The Starpoints While You Still Can: There Will Be 6 Months Of Amazing Starwood Hotel Bargains!
- No Marriott, The Starwood AMEX Card Will Not Be Richer Than Ever. You Are Just Changing What I’ll Use It For
- Starwood-Marriott Merger FAQs: Answers To Your Questions About Anniversary Nights, Status From Existing Cards, And More
- The Starwood Consumer AMEX And Multiple Chase Marriott Cards Are Being Discontinued! Here’s What You Need To Know About 9 Starwood And Marriott Cards
- Will The Starwood Cards Disappear Or Lose Their Starpoints Signup Bonuses Today? Now Is The Time To Signup If You Don’t Have These Cards Yet!
- AMEX: 3 Starwood Cards Will Be Available For New Applications After The SPG-Marriott Program Merger In August
- Guesstimating Where Marriott Travel Packages Will Work In August; Take Advantage Of Marriott’s Lucrative Miles+Nights Packages Now!
- A Week Later, But No Solid Answers To 3 Contradictory Marriott-Starwood Merger Details That Everyone Wants To Know
- Marriott Clarifies Contradictory SPG Gold Information
- Roundup Of The SPG/Marriott Lifetime Status Rules; Will You Be Able To Hit Lifetime Status This Year Before The Lifetime Program Is Devalued?
if my starpoints are set to expire in August – will then get a new 24 months once they convert to Marriot points?
Transfer them to a household member now to extend the expiration date.
Will I still be able to transfer to houshold member after merger?
what point based cc would you recommend starting in aug?
I’ll make some more posts on this, but it’s hard to beat the Quadfecta:
https://www.dansdeals.com/credit-cards/chase-quadfecta-least-23-arent-rightbut/
There are certain purchases that I need to make on an Amex. Do you have an opinion on the best point value Amex after this devaluation?
I think that it you spend 35k or less you are getting the same value. because you will earn 2 points per $ and up to 35k points towards your free night
https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/marriott/no-marriott-starwood-amex-card-will-not-richer-ever-just-changing-ill-use/
Hey Dan- any idea what happens to points spent on spg credit card before aug 18 but didn’t post yet- will they be 3x or 2x thanks
As the post says, it’s based on the purchase date.
Purchases on 7/31 and earlier earn 3 Marriott points per dollar. Purchases on 8/1 and later earn 2 Marriott points per dollar.
Great info, want to book 4 nights in November using SPG points at the The Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun, based on the info you provided, the value should be the same now or later so it doesn’t matter if i book now or later, right?
Erm, the The Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun will go up from 21K Marriott points to 35K Marriott points.
You’ll definitely want to lock that in now.
https://points-redemption.marriott.com/category-change
i’m totally lost with all this i just know that i have app 50,000 spg points what should i do with them sell them? buy more points to get to 60,000? or 90,000 points?? not planning on going a/w in the near future whats my best bet to buy more points then book a travel is there any way i can get back better then what i book now
thanx for helping out even us the ignoramus ones
With 50K you’ll probably do best just sitting on them until you need them.
Hi,
If I have both spg Amex and chase Marriott will I get two free nights every year or only one since the number will merge?
You will get a free night for each card that you have.
Same question if I have both business and regular Spg do I get free night for each one?
Each will get an annual free night.
The cards will go from great earn on spending cards to great sock drawer cards overnight.
Umm, I don’t have any room left in my sock drawers, thanks to the Dickies athletic socks and the John Weitz multi-colored dress socks. Drawers are stuffed!
Is there any way to get the cheaper hotel rate (for a Marriott hotel that’s getting cheaper) early? If I call, any chance they will allow it?
No.
Hi Dan,
I am booking a rewards stay with Marriott property that is 40000 per night for 3 nights but is being downgraded to 35000 a night when the merger completes. Currently my reservation says 40000 per night. My reservation is from august 16-18. Am I able to contact Marriott on August 1st to have the reward value changed since I will be overcharged by 15000 Marriott points because of the changes in category?
No, as the programs are not merging until August 18th.
If I’m just trying to fly to Israel and have enough points to do the 90k transfer, is it still best to do that now or will the ElAl option be something better? Also, is United the best deal of the 90k transfers? Thanks for all your research!!
Alaska and United are the best travel package options.
No idea what the El Al ratio will be, but Qantas will probably be more useful than El Al for El Al flights.
If someone was trying to sell points because he had no plans to travel and he desperately needed the money would you recommend this he transfers into Alaska or united?
really thanx for responding btw we just got an email this week from elal that will pay the 3080 x2 passengers plus all expenses we had to get to airport etc getting close to 2k we used the wording s/o posted and sounds like worked magic w/o any back and forth thanx again
Awesome!
“You can call to get an adjustment on hotel awards that go down in price on this date, you won’t need to actually cancel the stay to get a points adjustment”
One mile at the time is reporting this to not be true after his conversation with David Flueck. Points will not be refunded. You have to make a new reservation.
David and OMAAT have made several mistakes so far on this stuff, so I’m not taking anything like that as a given. And David tried spinning this ridiculousness:
https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/marriott/no-marriott-starwood-amex-card-will-not-richer-ever-just-changing-ill-use/
This policy is in writing though:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29979508-post1954.html
It won’t be an automatic refund, but you can call for an adjustment without cancelling.
I hope the lurker is right and Mr Flueck wrong. I agree a 100% with you about the spinning of the spg card. Btw, as a big business spender on the spg card I have called amex at least 3 times basically telling them they are going to lose a big client on my business since I will be shifting credit cards. Every time, they have promised somebody to contact me but nobody has done so. Like me, there is going to be thousands of businesses doing the same thing. Time to short amex stock…just saying. The only solution, which I suggested, is to bonus high spenders with extra points. I really hope they hear. Like you, I have had the amex spg since it was platinum in color, then changing to plum until the purple one. Never cancelled and used for everything that was non bonuses on other cards.
I’ve been doing all my business purchasing on the SPG card I think I will now be switching to the new Chase ink any better ideas for spending?
Depends for what category.
Is there a way to transfer marriot points between spouses after the merger? As my current marriot rewards is under my name and the spg is under my wife’s name
Marriott allows points transfers, but SPG is easier.
Why not transfer them now from your SPG to her SPG?
“SPG will launch their new $450/year luxury AMEX card later in August”, do you have an exact date for this?
If I did I would have said it 🙂
“New airline transfer options including El Al will be added on this date.
”
What do you mean by this?
You will be able to transfer Marriott points to El Al.
Ratio is still TBD.
After February 2019, when a new name launches, will the Starwood Card (and $450 Starwood Card) get a new name ? Or SPG will stay and just the points system will get a new name, where there would be Marriot Chase Cards & Starwood Amex Cards ?
All the cards will get a new name for the new program in 2019.
Who will offer the card ? Chase or Amex ? Or there will be the same cards by different card issuers ???
So confused!
They will both continue to offer various cards.
I can not imagine the falloff of spending that Amex will incur with the changes
True.
This post is golden. Thank you, Dan!
Thanks and glad you enjoyed 🙂
If I book a Spg hotel and cancel it for example in November, will those points that will revert back to my account triple?
Yes.
What if I book an SPG hotel today and it goes up after Aug 18th and then cancel. How many points should I get back?
Hi I have a 85000 SPG points. I have no need for the 7 night hotel stay. should I still buy points just to get the second night hotel stay refunded?
My wife and I have been accumulating SPG points so we can do a big 10 year anniversary trip to a location that has those villas on the water. We have 100k starpoints saved up. In looking at SPG, these are all category 7 hotels at SPG. I would like to make use of the Marriott Points+Miles program, but I want to do it right. If I move over my starpoints to marriott, then I should get the 7 night certificate in a category 7 hotel, and then book the hotel between 8/2 and 8/18, right? Or, should I be getting a higher category hotel certificate?
I don’t think that old category 7 certificates will work for new category 7.
So what should I go for? What if I book between 8/2 and 8/18?
Ned a replacement for Amex spg. The Chase Freedom has a foreign transaction fee and most of my business spend is in foreign currency.
What’s next next?
United Club?
Depending on your travel ambition, the Cathay Pacific card from Synchrony Bank minght be an option. It has a 1.5X earn rate on transactions outside the USA.
i have 100k starwoods and don’t go away…should i sell now or no difference to after the merger ????
wait a while after the spg cc only earns 2 points, brokers will be desperate for marriot points
I currently have marriot points and Starwood’s points. Should I transfer one to the other or leave them???
No difference.
Is the last day to purchase the travel certificates still July 31?
Read the post.
Hi Dan, im thinking of purchasing a nights & flights package. My upcoming travel is already booked so I have no plans as of yet for these miles. Which do you think is more valuable – 132,000 United Miles or 120,000 Alaska Miles? Thanks!
Depends on your needs.
Currently on my SPG Amex and my Marriott Visa (both personal and business) each $3000 spend earns 1 night towards status.
I understand that will not be the case with the new cards. But, will it continue to be the case with the old cards or is that benefit going away?
Going away.
I have about 600,000 SPG points right now and about 200,000 Marriott points.. That’ll be 2 million marriott points after the merge. Is that a lot?
That’s a good amount, sure.
hey dan ,
how will you get to throw the first pitch in the world series if you wont use the spg card anymore?
I still have millions saved up.
But I’ve done that already, don’t think I need to do it again 🙂
Maybe next time you wont bounce it….
For someone who didn’t grow up playing any sports, I was thrilled with the one bouncer 😀
My only goal was to not baba-booey the pitch!
My spg renewal fee was posted in July, you think there is any way I can get them to give me a free night this year?
Doubtful, but good luck.
What if it posts in August prior to August 18 ?
I tried, no luck.
Dan,
Now that SPG will drop to 2 points per dollar….what’s the game plan on where to put the spend? Any reason not to back the truck up with Chase UR? How many points per dollar will the Marriott card earn?
As always you are the MAN. Sorry Cavs will suck again…at least you had your Championship!!!!
The Flying Jew (Moshe)
https://www.dansdeals.com/credit-cards/chase-quadfecta-least-23-arent-rightbut/
Marriott is also 2 per dollar.
Dan-
I’ll have 600 MR nights and 2m lifetime points and 170 SPG nights and 160K lifetime points by Dec 31. Confused as to whether or not I’ll qualify for lifetime Premier Platinum. Total Plat years unknown (Marriott won’t reveal until August the tweeted at me!) will this be the decider? Thanks
What about the 30k upgrades?per category is that ending soon.?
Should also add final date for Sheraton Lounge Access 8/1
Added, thanks.
It still completely baffles me how this whole tsunami of 2 banks issuing multiple old and new cards and it didn’t dawn on them that they needed to make at least one of their cards earn 3x points to keep the value proposition for the spenders. Make it a premium card and charge extra annual fee or something. It’s just weird. It’s like a company buying Pizza Hut and stripping Pizza from the menu but saying customers will be better off now because everyone will now get a free pot roast once a year.
I have a few Marriott accounts, some with made up names, what’s the best way to combine them?
I have 85,000 spg and don’t need the travel certificate. Should I buy one anyway to get it refunded? I would need to buy 5000 more points too. Can anyone advise?
It could be very lucrative to do so, but there are no guarantees.
I don’t have enough SPG but I do have Amex MR which can transfer to SPG and eventually on to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio. Is it worth it to transfer the requisite Amex MR to buy the Marriott Travel Package?
“Afterward, you can merge your SPG and Marriott accounts and use the new merged website and award chart.”
I have the spg card with a lot of starpoints but no card linked to marriot. Do I need a marriot CC for the merger?
No.
what if Marriott will not refund 150,000 points. Does it make sense to purchase a cat 1-5 7 night certificate to receive the 132K united miles, knowing that i probably wont be able to use the hotel certificate?
thank you dan for all the ideas
1)the hotel certificate has to be 7 nights in a row , or I could use some nights here and some there ?
2 ) if I don’t need hotels does it still pay , or just transfer to aegea ?
I’m Gold Elite and have a hotel stay 8/24-8/26. Will I get the breakfast on the last day or will I be cut off? 😉
Hi Dan
My statement posted yesterday and I assume starpoints will be posted to my account by tomorrow. If today I spend the $5,000 needed for me to get to 90,000 miles will those star points not post til August 18, making it too late for me to buy a travel package?
You can try moving up your statement close date and see what happens.
Any idea if Spg moments will be effected ?
They shouldn’t be.
I would like to buy the lucrative package however I’m planning to use the hotel stay next year in August do you think I should buy it now would they honor it because only good for one year or they let me extended?
Wait until August 17 to be safe?
Dan,
In November I did the United 30% Transfer Bonus: 90K SPG Into 157K Miles And 7 Nights In A Marriott Hotel! Does this merger/devaluation affect anything from that vacation package I already own?
And what would canceling it do?
(Just a reminder to anyone that did it – it expires in Nov 2018)
I’ve written half a dozen posts on that.
Links in here:
https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/hotel-deals/hunting-marriott-getting-expensive-potentially-maximize-travel-certificates/
Dan,
It shows the St. Regis Maldives will drop to 85K in points but i remember seeing a previous post you said it would be 60k. Is there some secret sauce I’m missing to get the 60k rate?
It will be 85K in February.
From August-January it will be 60K as category 8 launches in February.
What is the fair value to sell SPG points to someone if you arent planning on redeeming the points?
@Dan So what happens to the value of SPG/Marriott points after the merger?
It should stay the same.
Will the free nights expire or can they be saved from one year to the next?
They expire after a year.
If i have two SPG Amex card and my wife has two SPG Amex cards; that means I get a total of four free nights…correct?
Yes.
Thank you and the free hotel night is category 1-5?
https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/milespoints/will-able-use-chase-marriott-starwood-anniversary-nights/
thank you
Is July 31st the last day to make purchases or does it have to post by then? What if the payment posts on August 2nd? Will you still get 3 Marriott points?
Read the post?
I think it’s clear.
Of course I read the post and yes it’s clear from the post what you were referring to, but I’m still asking because for most other things (statement closing, etc.) it usually goes after the post date even though the purchase was made before the statement closed.
It’s correct as written.
Where exactly is the bloodbath? Read the whole article, don’t see any explanation of it.
https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/marriott/marriott-got-almost-everything-perfect-starwood-amex-cuts-just-painful/
https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/marriott/no-marriott-starwood-amex-card-will-not-richer-ever-just-changing-ill-use/
would there be any way to set 2 nights of the certificate to only get 5 nights and keep the 35k points? any data points on that?
You can try buying a 5 night travel package. They’re intended for timeshare owners only, so you’ll need a whole lot of HUCA.
Will SPG points transfer upon Merger as lifetime Marriott points? I have 1.8 million lifetime Marriott and 70k currently available SPG points.
No.
Do transfers of Marriott points from family members at the same home address count for lifetime Marriott points?
Dan, do you recommend purchasing 7 night certificates sooner, or wait until right before the August 17 deadline in case more information comes out?
Can I use my marriot yearly free night voucher for sheraton hotel after august 18?
@Dan Do you recommend transferring Chase ultimate reward points to Marriott and then to SPG before August 18th?