Starwood Credit Card Lowering Minimum Spend Requirement!

UPDATE: This offer is expired.

I love it when credit cards change the sign up bonus in the consumers favor. While I’d prefer an increased bonus point offer, to have a lower minimum spend requirement is nice as well. For many people, meeting the minimum spend (especially if quite high) can be challenging and deters people away from signing up for a particular offer. A few days ago, the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express decreased its minimum spend requirements:

• Old requirement: Earn 10,000 points after your first purchase and then earn an additional 15,000 points after you spent $5,000 on the card within the first 6 months
• New requirement: Earn 25,000 bonus Starpoints® after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first three months

The normal bonus points received is 25,000 points, but usually 1-2x a year, they increase the sign up bonus to 30,000 points. If the trend continues from the past few years, this 30,000 point offer could return at the end of the Summer, but no guarantee. If you are in no rush to apply for this card, you can always hold out a few months and hope that the higher point offer returns.

There is also a business version of this card, Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express OPEN, but the minimum spend is slightly different where it requires you to spend $5,000 on the card within the first three months.

While the sign up points earned from the personal and business card are the same, as well as the point earning structure, there is one key difference – the business card gives you access to Amex OPEN discounts. Additionally, American Express put a rule into effect last year where you can only earn the sign up bonus for a personal card once in a lifetime, but that same rule does NOT apply for business cards. For business cards, you must not have been a cardmember within the past 12 month.

I personally love SPG points and find them very valuable. My Starwood card holds a top spot in my wallet for every day spend. I love that the points are extremely flexible and transfer to many partner airlines for a 1:1 ratio and gives a 5,000 bonus for every 20,000 points transferred. I also love that it is an American Express which allows me to take advantage of the many Amex Statement Credit Offers that I write about often. While this card has a $95 annual fee (waived the first year), I’ve received way more back in statement credits on a yearly basis.

If you are new to the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) program, here is everything you need to know:

• Perks of the Starwood Preferred Guest credit card
• Understanding Starwoods Cash & Points Redemption
• Getting your 5th Night Free with Starwood Points
• Redeeming your Points for Hotels & Flights
• Redeeming your Points for Upgraded Rooms and Suites
• Transferring your SPG Points to Airline Miles
• Transferring SPG Points Between Accounts
• Getting Starwood Status and the Perks
• How the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card Annual Fee Pays for Itself

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. My goal is for you to travel on a deal! As always, thanks for your support!