Today is the Last Day for the Starwood American Express 30,000 Point Signup Bonus

by Gary Leff

The Starwood American Express 30,000 point signup offer is scheduled to be pulled at 9am Eastern on September 5. It’s the biggest signup bonus offer I’ve seen for the card (which has been around twice in the past), when I first got this card I received no signup bonus for it.

For just the next 24 hours, the offer is:

  • 10,000 bonus points after first purchase
  • 20,000 more points after $5000 in spend within 6 months
  • No fee the first year ($65 thereafter, which is lower than most airline co-branded cards

This has been my consistent go-to card for over a decade, for all of the spending that isn’t generating significant bonuses on other credit cards. It’s my everyday choice, and the very first card I recommended as best way back in 2002 when I started this blog.

Starwood points remain the most valuable currency to this day — whether for redeeming on hotel stays (and their cash and points awards really stretch points to get the most out of them) or transferring to airline miles with the largest array of frequent flyer program partners.

I had intended to make a final reminder last week on the offer but since I learned that the links will still be live for about a day longer than I had expected it seemed worth flagging that if you haven’t gotten in on this yet then there’s actually still (a little bit of) time.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. Gary, thanks for the reminder ^_^ I applied the business version via your link yesterday, called the number and got approved 10 minutes ago!

  3. I’ve been trying all weekend using your link, and I keep getting an error trying to use the shorter application, on 3 different computers, with 4 different browsers. Thanks for pointing it out though.

  4. My last “churn” (only 2 card) was on 6/26/12 with the Amex Platinum and Chase MileagePlus. Is this too soon to apply for the Starwood? Was also planning on applying for the BoA Alaska with the 40k signup bonus at the 91 day mark but this may change things.

  6. @Austin,

    Agreed. Mine was too recent as well but went ahead anyway and was approved immediately. The obvious issue is the potential hit to your credit rating. Take a look before you pull the trigger maybe.

    I’m in the midst of an SPG Platinum Status Challenge, and have to complete 18 nights by the end of October. Anybody know if the 2 stays/5 nights you are credited for as a holder of either of these cards (towards normal Gold/Platinum status) counts towards a Status Challenge? I’m going to guess not, but am not sure.

  7. @Austin

    i got approved for personal amex platinum and spg cards 2 weeks apart, both instant approvals.

  8. Oh BTW, the answer on the Platinum Status challenge is the credit cards won’t help you, you have to make the 18 days on real stays.

  9. @Grant, Glenn and Lantean

    Thanks for the advice. I just got instant approved for both the SPG and Alaska cards. Now to find ways to increase spend to hit the thresholds…

  10. Hi Gary,

    I recently had a Startwood Amex which I cancelled and got approved for this latest promotion, I just called AMEX and the rep told me because i already had a Starwood i would NOT be eligible for any bonus’.

    Is that accurate and is what happened to you?

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