Can You Earn Elite Status With the AMEX Starwood Personal Card?

I know the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express grants elite status with $30,000 in spending, but does the personal card also have that feature?

The card is really handy except for the fact that you can earn the sign-up bonus for the AMEX Starwood business card every 12 months where the sign-up bonus for the AMEX Starwood personal card is once per lifetime.

The Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express personal and small business versions currently come with a sign-up bonus of 30,000 Starwood points when you complete the minimum spending.

This deal is only available through September 14, 2015.

You can also earn Starwood Gold elite status  for spending on the AMEX Starwood small business card.  But is the same true for the AMEX Starwood personal card?

Yes, you can earn Starwood Gold status for spending $30,000 on either card.  But there’s an easier way!  I’ll explain!

Increased Sign-Up Bonus With AMEX Starwood Cards!

Link:   Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express

Link:   Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express

Link:   My Review of the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express

Link:   How to Fill Out an American Express Business Card Application

Link:   How to Use Starwood Points

Currently, you can earn 30,000 Starwood points with the AMEX Starwood personal and small business cards when you complete the minimum spending.

That’s 5,000 points more than the usual offer, but you have to sign-up by September 14, 2015!  This deal usually only comes around once each year.

Other perks include:

• 2 points per $1 you spend at Starwood hotels (includes Aloft, Element, Four Points, Le Meridien, Sheraton, St Regis, The Luxury Collection, Westin and W brand hotels)
• 1 point per $1 you spend on everything else
• Unlimited use of Boingo Wi-Fi hotspots (excluding in-flight)
• For small business cardholders, access to Sheraton Club lounges (free breakfast and hors d’oeuvres) for cardholder and 1 guest staying in the same room (3rd party bookings are excluded).
• 2 stay credits or 5 night credits toward Starwood Elite Status
• $95 annual fee, waived for the 1st year
• No foreign transaction fees
• Terms & limitations apply

As Jeremy points out, you can only earn the sign-up bonus on the AMEX personal cards once per lifetime.  And because this is the highest sign-up bonus I’ve ever seen for the AMEX Starwood personal card, it’s an excellent time to get this card!

But you can get the sign-up bonus for the AMEX Starwood business card again, as long as you haven’t had the card within the last 12 months.

What’s Starwood Gold Elite Status?

Starwood Gold elite status members get perks at Starwood hotels like:

• 3 Starwood points per $1 spent on your stay at Starwood hotels (50% points bonus)
• 4:00 pm check-out when it’s available
• Upgrade to enhanced rooms (higher floor, better view, etc.)
• Complimentary in-room premium internet when you book through a Starwood website or via their mobile app
• Welcome gift (choose 125 points for Aloft, Element, and Four Points hotels or 250 points at other Starwood hotels, or complimentary drink)

Can You Go for Gold With the Starwood Personal Card?

Yes.

Thanks to our readers for pointing out that Jeremy CAN earn Starwood Gold status for spending on the AMEX Starwood personal or AMEX Starwood small business cards.  He’ll earn Starwood Gold status when he spends $30,000+ on either card within a calendar year.

However, $30,000 is a LOT of spending!  I don’t think the benefits you get with Starwood Gold status are worth it!

Instead, I’d rather put the spending towards earning other great sign-up bonuses for Big Travel!

There Are Better Ways to Earn Starwood Elite Status!

Starwood Gold status is still a nice perk if Jeremy stays at Starwood hotels frequently, but there are easier ways for him to earn this status.

He’ll get Starwood Gold status just by signing-up for the AMEX Platinum card and enrolling.  However, this card comes with a hefty $450 annual fee and there have been higher targeted sign-up bonuses for this card.

So I wouldn’t sign-up just to earn Starwood Gold status.  But the AMEX Platinum card also comes with other great perks like lounge access and a $200 airline credit each year.

He can also earn Starwood Gold status for completing 10 stays or 25 nights each calendar year.  And with the AMEX Starwood personal or small business card he’ll get 2 stay credits or 5 night credits towards elite status.

So, I’d rather sign-up for both AMEX Starwood cards, to get a total of 4 stay credits or 10 night credits.  Then he’d only need to complete 6 stays or 15 nights to earn Starwood Gold!

Bottom Line

Through September 14, 2015, you can earn an increased sign-up bonus of 30,000 Starwood points with the American Express Starwood Preferred Guest personal and small business cards.

And when you spend $30,000 on the either card, you’ll earn Starwood Gold status.  But that’s a LOT of spending!

Instead, you could sign-up for BOTH the AMEX Starwood personal and small business cards.  Then you’d only need to complete 6 stays or 15 nights to earn Starwood Gold status!

Just be certain you can meet the minimum spending requirements on both cards.