Author Topic: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Amex SPG - Which Card Do You Reach For First? (Read 94006 times)

Dan · « **Reply #60 on:** October 06, 2011, 10:20:30 PM »

Quote from: bubbles on October 06, 2011, 10:11:49 PM

Lol what happened? I thought you said it's not going up on the main site?

Didn't say that, just said that the commenters will soon start wanting to know about each individual situation.

zale · « **Reply #61 on:** October 06, 2011, 10:36:24 PM »

Don't know about the Airline Miles part, but as for the hotels I believe that SPG is the absolute, hands down, best hotel rewards program out there by leaps and bounds.

Hilton HHonors, Marriot Rewards and Priority Club can easily ask for 50,000 points per night for a decent room during a busy season. (I checked these out for stays at Niagara falls during the months of July and August, and this is what they were asking for. SPG on the other hand, wanted 13,000 per night for the Sheraton.)

Obviously, you can't compare the luxury of a Hyatt to a hotel from the SPG chain, never the less, SPG always has excellent availability, and at a low point range. (Not to mention the "Cash and Points" option.)

When it comes to earning points, however, Sapphire is king. With the SPG, you will always earn 1 point on the dollar (for hotels). To my knowledge, they have never run any kind of promotion where you can earn more than that.

Dan · « **Reply #62 on:** October 06, 2011, 10:39:09 PM »

Quote from: zale on October 06, 2011, 10:36:24 PM

Hyatt can easily ask for 50,000 points per night for a decent room during a busy season. (I checked these out for stays at Niagara falls during the months of July and August, and this is what they were asking for. SPG on the other hand, wanted 13,000 per night for the Sheraton.)

Obviously, you can't compare the luxury of a Hyatt to a hotel from the SPG chain, never the less, SPG always has excellent availability, and at a low point range. (Not to mention the "Cash and Points" option.)

Erm, please show me the Hyatt that charges 50K/night or even 25K/night.
Hint: There aren't any, the top is 22K/night.

But I'll be happy to show you the SPG that charges 140K/night.

zale · « **Reply #63 on:** October 06, 2011, 10:53:42 PM »

Quote from: Dan on October 06, 2011, 10:39:09 PM

Erm, please show me the Hyatt that charges 50K/night or even 25K/night.
Hint: There aren't any, the top is 22K/night.

But I'll be happy to show you the SPG that charges 140K/night.

You are correct, Hyatt does not belong on that list. Regarding SPG, you know as well as I do that for the most part, they have EXCELLENT availability and rates. (As compared to the "others").

Dan · « **Reply #64 on:** October 06, 2011, 11:07:53 PM »

Quote from: zale on October 06, 2011, 10:53:42 PM

You are correct, Hyatt does not belong on that list. Regarding SPG, you know as well as I do that for the most part, they have EXCELLENT availability and rates. (As compared to the "others").

Well we're comparing Sapphire (Hyatt) to SPG here.
They both have the same unrestricted availability. SPG does have the advantage with Cash and points, 5th night free, and airline transfers, but just comparing the award rates for rooms Hyatt comes out ahead of SPG.

AsherO · « **Reply #65 on:** October 06, 2011, 11:13:26 PM »

Quote from: Dan on October 06, 2011, 10:19:05 PM

http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/16580

I like that you reminded me about the Ink Classic categories. The fact that they are permanent made it a no-brainer to save them as my default card for my cellphone and internet bills. That itself should add up to a few thousand UR points a year.

Dan · « **Reply #66 on:** October 07, 2011, 04:05:19 PM »

Thanks again for this topic. Just made 2 sub-$10 purchases on Freedom today

Spiffster · « **Reply #67 on:** October 07, 2011, 07:36:31 PM »

Quote from: AsherO on October 06, 2011, 01:48:45 PM

Now all I need a a mnemonic to commit that algorithm to memory.

I gave up trying to remember it all. I typed it up into a little table, screen printed it and synched it to the ipod/ipad.

Chaikel · « **Reply #68 on:** October 08, 2011, 01:24:17 PM »

Quote from: Spiffster on October 07, 2011, 07:36:31 PM

I gave up trying to remember it all. I typed it up into a little table, screen printed it and synched it to the ipod/ipad.

Care to share?

AsherO · « **Reply #69 on:** October 09, 2011, 01:54:39 AM »

Just an FYI, I've been monitoring the poll (on and off) since I posted the question, and it's consistently been approximately 2:1 SPG over SapphirePreferred.

BAHayman · « **Reply #70 on:** October 09, 2011, 02:22:30 AM »

Quote from: AsherO on October 05, 2011, 06:54:53 PM

I recommended that card to my folks because my younger brother is going to be away for the next two years.

Heh bunch of classmates on the list :-p

AsherO · « **Reply #71 on:** October 10, 2011, 01:55:59 PM »

Quote from: Dan on October 05, 2011, 06:49:22 PM

I was under the impression that they all use the official rate (WSJ/NYT, etc) for the day.
Can you provide an example exchange rate and the date of purchase?

Update, it turns out y'all were right, the statement had the inverse rate (1 USD = .28002... ILS), which my folks weren't reading properly.

The rate was a bit off from what I could see historically on XE.com, but still better than anything you'd get at a currency exchange place.

Thingywingy · « **Reply #72 on:** October 10, 2011, 03:28:52 PM »

Quote from: Swizard210 on October 05, 2011, 06:43:27 PM

When I am outside of the US, which is quite often, I use the Sapphire Preferred because of the no ForEx Fees, but in general when home I prefer the SPG since I'm not always flying CO/BA, and hence the versatility of SPG is nice. However, I try to use the SP on categories that I'll benefit from (Dining, travel, etc.).

Even when flying CO/BA isnt Starwood better? They transfer at 25k for 20k!

AsherO · « **Reply #73 on:** October 10, 2011, 03:30:45 PM »

Quote from: Thingywingy on October 10, 2011, 03:28:52 PM

Even when flying CO/BA isnt Starwood better? They transfer at 25k for 20k!

SPG only gets you 10l/12.5k (2ith bonus) for CO/UA.

Thingywingy · « **Reply #74 on:** October 10, 2011, 03:56:20 PM »

Quote from: MnM1130 on October 05, 2011, 06:47:54 PM

I wish i can answer u.. no idea. BUT i do feel its pretty much what the rate is of that day... How wud i check that?

You can check current exchange rate on google.
http://www.google.com/finance/converter?a=1&from=ILS&to=USD

Thingywingy · « **Reply #75 on:** October 10, 2011, 04:35:55 PM »

Quote from: myb821 on October 06, 2011, 01:58:59 PM

The only other thing is u r only using co miles but I would also use sapphire for hyatt

Whats the transfer rate from Saphire to Hyatt?

AsherO · « **Reply #76 on:** October 10, 2011, 04:38:32 PM »

Quote from: Thingywingy on October 10, 2011, 04:35:55 PM

Whats the transfer rate from Saphire to Hyatt?

1:1

Thingywingy · « **Reply #77 on:** October 10, 2011, 04:56:00 PM »

Quote from: Swizard210 on October 05, 2011, 06:43:27 pmWhen I am outside of the US, which is quite often, I use the Sapphire Preferred because of the no ForEx Fees, but in general when home I prefer the SPG since I'm not always flying CO/BA, and hence the versatility of SPG is nice. However, I try to use the SP on categories that I'll benefit from (Dining, travel, etc.).

Even when flying CO/BA isnt Starwood better? They transfer at 25k for 20k!

Quote from AsherO:SPG only gets you 10l/12.5k (2ith bonus) for CO/UA.

I dont get your correction. Swizard insinuated SPG is only better cuz of non CO/BA flights. Im just saying even with CO/BA SPG is better cuz of better transfer rate.

Thingywingy · « **Reply #78 on:** October 10, 2011, 05:00:48 PM »

Quote from: Dan on October 06, 2011, 11:07:53 PM

Well we're comparing Sapphire (Hyatt) to SPG here.
They both have the same unrestricted availability. SPG does have the advantage with Cash and points, 5th night free, and airline transfers, but just comparing the award rates for rooms Hyatt comes out ahead of SPG.

Hyatt really has better rates than than SPG! I think most DD readers are unaware of this!

AsherO · « **Reply #79 on:** October 10, 2011, 05:02:19 PM »

Quote from: Thingywingy on October 10, 2011, 04:56:00 PM

Quote from: Swizard210 on October 05, 2011, 06:43:27 pmWhen I am outside of the US, which is quite often, I use the Sapphire Preferred because of the no ForEx Fees, but in general when home I prefer the SPG since I'm not always flying CO/BA, and hence the versatility of SPG is nice. However, I try to use the SP on categories that I'll benefit from (Dining, travel, etc.).

Even when flying CO/BA isnt Starwood better? They transfer at 25k for 20k!

Quote from AsherO:SPG only gets you 10l/12.5k (2ith bonus) for CO/UA.

I dont get your correction. Swizard insinuated SPG is only better cuz of non CO/BA flights. Im just saying even with CO/BA SPG is better cuz of better transfer rate.

I guess I didn't (and still don't) understand what he said.

Poll

Chase Sapphire Freferred vs Amex SPG - Which Card Do You Reach For First?

Author Topic: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Amex SPG - Which Card Do You Reach For First? (Read 94006 times)