The Starwood Preferred Guest program is without doubt one of the most valuable travel rewards programs available. Not only can Starpoints be used for free hotel stays at Starwood hotels, they can be used for air travel, Amtrak tickets, airline miles, and even merchandise. While you can earn Starpoints by staying at Starwood hotels, sometimes you want to supercharge your Starpoints balance. Here are a few tips to help you do just that.
Buy Starpoints
Starwood let’s members purchase up to 20,000 additional Starpoints per calendar year for a ticket as long as you have been an SPG member for at least one month. Currently, only Starpoints may be used for flights through the SPG Flights redemption option and not cash. You can buy 500 Starpoints for $17.50. The Starpoint Purchase Plan is for members who need a few extra points to redeem a vacation or want to customize an online gift certificate for a travel gift.
Upon purchase, Starpoints will be deposited automatically into a member’s account using a real-time process that takes only a few minutes. The Starpoints will be immediately available for use. In addition, cardholders of the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express (see below) receive a 10% discount on all Starpoint purchases, and earn Starpoints on all purchases charged to the card (including purchases of Starpoints!).
You can even purchase Starpoints as a gift and send them to a friend or family member. If you have received Starpoints as a gift and the giver provided your account number during the purchase, the Starpoints will automatically be deposited into your account. If you received a redemption code, you must claim your Starpoints online. If you do not have the redemption code, you may need to contact the company for assistance.
Starpoints from Amex
The Starwood Preferred Guest Credit card from American Express is a great way to get bonus Starpoints. The card offers 10,000 Starpoints after your first purchase, enough for up to 3 free nights at a Category 1 or 2 hotel. You can also earn an additional 15,000 Starpoints when you spend $15,000 in 6 months, enough for up to 3 free nights at a Category 1 or 2 hotel.
The card allows you to earn one Starpoint® for every dollar of eligible spending and double Starpoints at participating Starwood hotels and resorts. By being a cardholder you are automatically enrolled in the Preferred Guest Program and receive all the benefits of the program.
