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Roundup: Maximizing the Marriott & SPG Integration Including an MS Strategy

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Maximizing SPG Marriott Integration

This morning Marriott and SPG officially merged. With the merger also came an integration of their loyalty programs that includes reciprocal status matches and points transfers. I covered the specifics in this morning’s post.

One of the cool things about this integration is that both Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest each have their own unique features and benefits. Now that points can be transferred and elite statuses matched, there are some really cool ways to take advantage of the programs. While I wish that I was quick enough to the draw, I came across three posts today that each tackle this integration in a different way. Reading them helps to draw a clear picture on how you can best take advantage of this new reality.

Frequent Miler

Marriott SPG Complete Guide to Sweet Opportunities

So maybe I have a soft spot for Frequent Miler given I am an Editor there, but Greg did an amazing job with his post. In his post he covers the best opportunities created for:

  • Earning points
  • Free nights
  • Nights & Flights (And getting the Southwest Companion Pass)
  • Getting Elite Status
  • Transferring Points to Miles
  • And More

Basically this is a one stop shop for fully understanding this new integration and the opportunities it presents.

View from the Wing

Six Great New Opportunities Created by the Marriott-Starwood Merger

Gary takes a higher level approach and focuses on some of the bigger things to look at. Among my favorites are the new option to spend your way to SPG Platinum (something I am seriously considering) and looking into the lifetime status options. We don’t yet know how Marriott will treat lifetime nights (will they combine nights between programs, etc.), but it stands to reason that they will do something and now might be the time to start formulating a strategy if you will be close.

Free-quent Flyer

Transfer large blocks of Starpoints using Marriott Flight and Hotel Packages

Leave it to Gideon to look at the effects this new integration has on manufactured spend. While you should absolutely read his post, the short version is it makes the SPG card a very valuable tool to generate a variety of different kinds of miles through Marriott’s Flights & Nights. And of course this strategy is the same one that could get you a Southwest companion pass as well.

Conclusion

Three great posts, all looking at different opportunities created from this integration. All three show that so far this has turned out pretty good. Let’s hope it stays that way!

Disclosure: Miles to Memories has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Miles to Memories and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

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Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Shawn Coomer
Shawn Coomerhttps://milestomemories.com/
Shawn Coomer earns and burns millions of miles/points per year circling the globe with his family. An expert at accumulating travel rewards, he founded Miles to Memories to help others achieve their travel goals for pennies on the dollar. Shawn also runs a million dollar reselling business, knows Vegas better than most and loves to spend his time at the 12 Disney parks across the world.

Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

5 COMMENTS

  1. Does SPG point transfer to Marriott points count toward lifetime status?
    Does Marriott point transfer from someone else count toward lifetime status?

  2. Liz,

    Where did you get that package? I only see 7 nights package Cat 1-5 and at least 270,000 points for 120K miles

  3. Marriott has a 5 night package for 235,000 with 120,000 miles. I am hoping to get that package in January and get the SW companion pass, but I wonder if I should just get Alaska miles instead.

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