When you have an AMEX Platinum personal card, Mercedes-Benz card or small business card, you can request a complimentary upgrade to Starwood Gold elite status, which gets you:
- 3X Starwood points per $1 spent on your stay at Starwood hotels (50% points bonus)
- 4:00 pm late check-out when it’s available
- Upgrade to enhanced rooms (higher floor, better view, etc.)
- Complimentary in-room premium internet when you book through the 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)
To ask for the upgrade, call 800-525-3355 and select option 3. Give the representative your Starwood loyalty number (it’s free to join!), and your upgrade will be processed the same day.
The annual fee on these cards is $450 or $475, depending on which 1 you choose, so it doesn’t make sense to get 1 for Starwood Gold elite status alone.
But if you like Starwood hotels, and the other perks of the AMEX Platinum cards (including $200 annual airline credit, lounge access, and free Boingo internet), it could be worth it.
Be sure to read my reviews of the AMEX Platinum Card, AMEX Mercedes-Benz Platinum Card, and AMEX Platinum Business Card!
Earn More Starwood Points on Starwood Hotel Stays
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express
When you have Starwood Gold Elite status from 1 of the AMEX Platinum cards, you’ll earn 3X Starwood points per $1 spent on your stays at Starwood hotels.
And when you have an AMEX Starwood personal or small business card, you’ll earn 2X Starwood points per $1 spent on Starwood hotels charged to the card.
Together, you can earn 5X Starwood points per $1 spent on your Starwood hotel stays!
If you have an AMEX Platinum card AND an AMEX Starwood card, you could keep the AMEX Platinum card to earn more Starwood points as a Starwood Gold elite status member. And then use the AMEX Starwood card to pay for your stays. That way, you’ll earn the most points possible when you stay with Starwood!
Starwood hotels include Aloft, El
It’s NOT a good idea to charge your Starwood stays to the AMEX Platinum Card to accumulate Starwood points. Because you’ll earn 1X AMEX Membership Reward point per $1.
AMEX Membership Rewards points do transfer to Starwood points. But at a 3:1 ratio.
So you’ll only get 333 Starwood points for every 1,000 AMEX Membership Rewards points you transfer. That’s NOT a good deal!
In fact, if you want to earn more Starwood points, you should use an AMEX Starwood card for regular spending instead of an AMEX Platinum Card. But keep the AMEX Platinum Card for Starwood Gold elite status to earn the most Starwood points for your stays, for room upgrades, and to enjoy the other perks of having status.
Bottom Line
Starwood Gold elite status is a special perk of the AMEX Platinum personal card, Mercedes-Benz card and small business card.You’ll get perks like 3X Starwood points per $1 spent at Starwood hotels, late check-out, and upgrades when available, like rooms with better views or on a higher floor.
The best card to pay for your Starwood stays, and to earn Starwood points for regular spending, is either the AMEX Starwood personal or small business card.
And when you have an AMEX Platinum Card and an AMEX Starwood card, you’ll earn 5X Starwood points per $1 spent at Starwood hotels. That’s terrific if you enjoy Starwood hotels and want to earn the most Starwood points possible for your stays!
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