Frequent Miler has an article written on preparation for the SPG & Marriott points system merger next week. The biggest thing I wanted to get out of the way is booking hotels that will be going up in price such as the Ritz-Carlton Toronto from 50k a night to 60k a night! All the point tier changes can be found here.

I combined the points between my Wife, Mom, and myself by using the SPG household sharing since we all have the same address. I first converted each of our Marriott points over to SPG at a 3:1 ratio, then I combined them to my mom’s account.

Before the transfer I topped off the accounts 333 SPG points using 1,000 MR to bring the balance to the closest 1,000 since you can only transfer in 1,000 point increments. What I ended up with is 2 free nights at the Ritz using 100k in leftover points!

Now in preparation for the new SPG card I need to decide which AmEx card to kill:

1. Blue Cash Preferred
2. Delta Platinum
3. Delta Reserve
4. SPG Busisness
5. Hilton Honors Aspire

It seems unlikely that SPG Business would be convertible to another SPG Luxury so there would be no point in me getting rid of another card just to hold on to both the SPG Luxury and the SPG Business. If we look at the new SPG Business perks they are as follows (with my unique commentary):

NEW! Complimentary Silver Elite status: Earn Gold Elite status after making $30,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year

Coming in 2019: Each calendar year you can receive credit for 15 nights towards the next level of Elite status. Limit one 15 Elite Night Credit per Marriott Loyalty Program member. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.

Free, unlimited Boingo Wi-Fi at more than 1,000,000 Boingo hotspots worldwide. Enrollment required.

Receive free in-room, premium Internet access while staying at participating SPG and Marriott Rewards hotels. Booking requirements apply.

1. Delta Reserve
2. Delta Reserve (Upgrade from Platinum)
3. SPG Lux (replacing Business)
4. Hilton Honors Aspire
5. Blue Cash Preffered

1. AmEx Everyday Preferred
2. Delta Platinum
3. SPG Personal
4. Hilton Honors Ascend

End game for her would be waiting till end of 2019 when she is free and clear at 0/24 to get these Chase cards:

1. Chase United Club Card
2. Chase Sapphire Reserve
3. Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Plus
4. Chase Southwest Priority
5. Chase Freedom

and then this one US Bank Card:

1. US Bank Altitude card

The fun now begins, with 5/24 exceeded she would then use her free space to get a SPG Lux, then upgrade her SPG to another Lux. She would then get a Hilton Aspire to replace her Everyday Preferred, and then upgrade her Ascend to another Aspire. Then to top it off she would get a new Delta Reserve to replace her Platinum. The end profile will look like this:

1. Hilton Aspire
2. Hilton Aspire (Was Ascend)
3. SPG Lux
4. SPG Lux (Was personal SPG)
5. Delta Reserve (Was Platinum)

This means $500 in flight gift cards every year, $500 at Hilton Resorts, $600 for Marriott rooms and amenities, 2 free nights at Marriott worth 50k points, 2 free nights at Hilton every year, and one companion pass for first class. When we add it all up we get this grand total:

• 3 Hilton Aspire worth 3 free Hilton nights, $750 Hilton Resor Credit and $750 in airline gift cards
• 3 SPG Lux worth 3x 50k nights and $900 in Marriott Hotel Stays
• 3 Delta Reserve worth 3 first class companion passes
• 1 Blue card for 6% cash back at the commissary
• 9 x $450 + $95 = $4,145 in annual fee waivers per SCRA

I think this should cover a modest travel budget for a year. I had previously outlined my plan here , and that’s churning with a long term plan my friend!

-Derp