American Express Card Promos: 2 Free Plane Tickets, Cash Back Bonus, Double Points, and More
American Express is running a variety of promotions for their different credit cards right now. Use them wisely!
American Express Starwood Card - Up To 50,000 Frequent Flier Miles
To start off, the American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Card is currently giving out 10,000 Starwood points for signing up and making any purchase. You earn 1 Starwood point per $1 spent on the card. Finally, the current promotion also gives you an additional 15,000 Starpoints when you spend $15,000 in 6 months. That can be high for some folks, but if you prepay your property tax, car insurance premiums, tuition, whatever you might get there.
Why? 10,000 sign-up bonus + 15,000 normal points from spending + 15,000 points from spending bonus = 40,000 Starpoints = 50,000 frequent flier miles on a bunch of different airlines, which is two free domestic roundtrip tickets! Alternatively, every 9,500 Starpoints can be converted to $100 in Amazon.com gift certificates or other stores like Banana Republic.
I’ve written before about the many uses of this Starwood Card. My favorite use remains as a mix of a hotel and miles card. I convert the points as needed to “top-off” the rest of my airlines miles. The rest goes to cheap rooms. I am actually trying book some free rooms right now for February which should give me a value of 4 cents per point ($125/night room for 3,000 points). If you consider that a 1% back card is the same as 1 cent per point, this is like getting 4% back. You also automatically get Gold Starwood status with this card, which has gotten me several free room upgrades. The first year is free, and after that the annual fee is $45.
AmEx Starwood Business Card - 10,000 Starpoints, 25% Bonus
For new sign-ups, the AmEx Starwood Business Card is also offering 10,000 free points after first purchase. For current cardholders, you may be eligible for 25% more points in November, for a total of 1.25 points per $1 spent, or up to 1.56 miles per $1 spent (1.25 x 1.25).
Enroll now and use your Starwood Preferred Guest? Business Credit Card to earn 25% bonus Starpoints? on all your eligible purchases from November 1 to November 30, 2007. For additional information see the terms and conditions below.
American Express Costco Card - 2% Cash Back Bonus
For existing cardholders AmEx Costco Card is offering an extra 2% cash back on online retail purchases in December, giving you 3% total. Login to check if you qualify and to enroll.
Through this offer you may earn an extra 2% cash back for your qualifying purchases made between 12/1/2007 and 12/31/2007 on an eligible Card. This is in addition to any rebate you may earn per the terms and conditions of this Card. Qualifying purchases are purchases made online, by phone or by mail order from eligible U.S. retail, department store, home improvement, drug store, wholesale club, consumer electronics, publishing and grocery store merchants. Charges for payments made via PayPal and other online payment intermediaries and for purchases from online auction sites do not qualify. This extra cash rebate will be awarded on up to $25,000 in qualifying purchases, for a maximum extra rebate of $500.
American Express Business Gold Card - Double Points
The AmEx Business Gold card is offering new cardholders 5,000 points for signing up and making a purchase. If you spend $20,000 in one year, you get another 5,000 points. If you spend $50,000 in a year, you get 20,000 bonus points. You also get 1 point per $1 spent.
As a current cardholder, I also got an offer for double Membership Rewards points if I spent more than $500 each month. Again, login to check if you qualify.
Enroll now to earn double Membership Rewards? points from November 1, 2007 through January 31, 2008. Each month, as usual, you can earn 1 Membership Rewards? point for virtually every dollar you spend. Then, you can earn 1 additional point for virtually every dollar you spend over the threshold specified in the offer you received by mail or e-mail. You must enroll by December 15, 2007.
Find more in Credit Cards, Deals & Offers | 11/19/07, 4:24am | Trackback
November 19th, 2007 at 6:18 am
I received a mail offer recently for a regular American Express Gold Rewards card. It offered 50,000 points for spending $500 before the end of November.
It’s by far the best credit card bonus I’ve ever heard of.
November 19th, 2007 at 7:33 am
Does anyone else just not see the point in signing up for more credit. It is just tiring at times. I think my new goal will be to have a credit score of 0.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:52 am
I agree signing up for more cards can become tirinig. I think I’ve gotten around six this year while I had to sign my wife up for three (and for those wondering my credit score is great). Although flying first class outweighs the tiring aspect. We take 3-4 trips a year and always sit first class. I would never pay for a first class ticket, but with the points it’s definitely worth it. I will hope to sign up for another six next year
November 19th, 2007 at 10:46 am
It takes a LOT for me to sign up for a new credit card. Basically, two things will make me jump.
- 0% Balance Transfer for life
- more than $250 of cash or rewards
Less than that, it’s not worth the hassle, time, and credit score hit.
November 19th, 2007 at 11:00 am
I don’t see anything wrong with signing up for more credit. I think this is an awesome deal. I want those 2 free plane tickets. I’ll pay off my card at the end of every month and therefore have convenience, rewards, and build my credit at the same time which will allow me to look good when I need credit in the future for big real estate purchases. I think credit cards are what you make of them. I like them.
November 19th, 2007 at 11:39 am
I thought I would go for American Express Starwood Card but stuck at …..the first year is free, and after that the annual fee is $45.
What you say guys? seems to be good card but $45 fee after first year. Keep it or cancel it after 1 year?
November 19th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
hem - That’s a question that just depends on your spending style.
- If you usually have an airlines card anyways, $45 is on par or cheaper than the other airlines cards like the American Airlines Citi card. And this card is so much more flexible.
- Do you take advantage of the 1.25 miles per point, which is also better than any other airlines card? Or the Starwood rewards, which offers cheap access to Four Points to Sheraton to Westins to W hotels?
- If it matters, this is the only card I’ve ever voluntarily paid an annual fee for. I use the points in a way that is better than 2 cents per point.
- If you just want the bonus promo, just sign up and cancel. There is a chance they’ll waive the 2nd year as well to keep your business, or offer some more bonus Starpoints. Even if you cancel, it won’t really hurt your credit much.
link
November 19th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
The guapo, can you email me that offer? I have that card but haven’t seen it… dmk112@gmail.com
Thanks,!
November 19th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
hey Jonathan…..thanks again for posting & also clarifying reader concerns…you rock!!
November 19th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
I currently have the Starwood Am/EX Card. I found the bonus mile offer online. Since I was already a cardmember, I called AMEX and asked if I could also be elgible. They said no, but gave me 3,000 starwood points just for asking. I encourage you to do the same. I was going to have my wife sign up for the bonus, since we share my card, but I figured it was too much hassle. I already signed up for a United MIles and AA Advnatage card, so no more Credit Cards this year.
November 19th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
My understanding is that lots of places don’t accept AE card…….anyone has the same experience before?
November 19th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Maybe a few small mom and pop restaurants, but overall most people take it now. Also, I shop at Costco a lot and they only take American Express (any kind, not just the branded one).
November 20th, 2007 at 7:10 am
And there’s an interesting Starwood sweeps for Amex cardholders or anyone who likes to travel. Free trips if you win.
http://www.starwoodglobaladven.....AMEX_MBLOG
November 21st, 2007 at 12:07 am
This card is certainly a good choice for those who often flies. Just think you can benefit from the trips you will take anyway. Though the annual fee is the thing to consider…
November 21st, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Shucks. I called and asked if I’m eligible even though I’m already an existing cardmember and they said no. No bonus points for just asking as mentioned above. Worth a try though.
November 23rd, 2007 at 3:17 am
Jonathan - Big fan of your site. Thanks for blogging. What do you use as your default credit card? Starwood AE or the Fidelity 529 credit card? I’m trying to figure out which one is more advantageous to use as my go-to card when “category buying” for rewards isn’t involved (i.e., gas, groceries, etc.).
November 23rd, 2007 at 10:29 am
I signed up for the Starwood card a few months ago under the same promotion. I was transition my primary rewards card, and found the starwoods card the best for my needs. I like traveling. The starwood hotel program is probably one of the best, and with the mileage conversion it was a no brainer for me.
As for signing up for cards. At this point I’m with theguapo, I only sign up now if the deal is enticing enough.
November 24th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
I applied for the American Express card with the 50,000 point offer. It said I had to use the card for $500 by the end of August. I’m still waiting for my rewards. I called American Express a month ago and they said it takes 4 to 8 weeks to apply the points. It’s now almost 3 months and still nothing. Has anyone else gotten their “free” points?
December 7th, 2007 at 1:34 am
Guava - I interchange between the 529 card and the Starwood AmEx depending on what I want more - more miles/points, or more general cash. After I use up a lot of points I start to accumulate them again. Hope that helped
June 11th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Hey Ron…Do you have any documentation about spending $500 to get 15000 more points?