Sep 2, 2008

Redeem Starpoints for Airline Tickets

Starwood Preferred Guest, introduced a new benefit, SPG Flights, where you can redeem your points for paid airline tickets without blackout dates. Here's the link to the Frequently Asked Question on this feature.

The redemption chart for the SPG Flights benefit is as follows:

Ticket Price*Starpoints
up to $150 10,000
$150-$215 15,000
$215-$280 20,000
$280-$345 25,000
$345-$410 30,000
$410-$475 35,000
$475-$540 40,000
$540-$605 45,000
$605-$670 50,000
$670-$735 55,000
$735-$800 60,000
$800-$865 65,000
$865-$930 70,000
$930-$995 75,000
$995-$1060 80,000
Higher prices (examples)
$2,880-$3,140 235,000
$4,960-$5,220 395,000
$9,900-$10,160 775,000

*Ticket Price includes Taxes & Fees. Baggage fees may apply.

*Values are 1.2-1.5 cents per point.

Due to recent flight cuts and added fees and "enhancements", it's becoming harder to redeem miles at 25K miles level nor worthwhile cost wise and this new feature looks attractive to some.

Please keep it mind that you get better value out of Starpoints when you redeem for hotel stays.

If you are looking to add more SPG points, you can get up to 40K points for getting for personal AmEx SPG card and 10K points for getting AmEx SPG Small Business Card. Both card waives the annual fee of $45 first year.

P.S. You can apply for small business card without owning business. Just come up with business name like, Your Name Associates and use your SSN as tax ID.

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