My Adventures Exploring Queens in New York City: Part 5 – SPG Moments at the US Open

December 9, 2016 By Million Mile Secrets

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I always have a great time when I visit New York. And usually focus on Manhattan, like most tourists. But this time, I decided to spend more time in Queens.

I was invited to attend the US Open tournament in a center court suite. This was the same experience offered on SPG Moments!

It was a fun way to close out my adventures in Queens. Especially because I got to watch some great matches!

SPG Moments US Open — This Could Be You! SPG Moments Can Be Your Ticket to Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences, Like the US Open Tournament Held in New York Each Year

I’ll share my experience. And how you can use Starwood points for fun events like this one!

Exploring Queens Index:

Part 1 – Hyatt Herald Square Review

Part 2 – My Haircut at Moon Barber Shop in Jackson Heights

Part 3 – Sri Pra Phai Restaurant

Part 4 – Upi Jaya Restaurant

Part 5 – SPG Moments at the US Open

My SPG Moments US Open Experience

Link: US Open on SPG Moments

Link: Use Your Starwood Points for Unforgettable Experiences With SPG Moments

I’ve written how to use your Starwood points for SPG Moments. In the past, they’ve offered Rockettes shows, World Series tickets, and seats at big-name concerts. In 2015 and 2016, they offered access to a suite to watch the US Open, complete with fancy drinks, food, and great views of the matches.

I was invited to attend, so I accepted as part of a business trip to New York. I got to see Round One of the Glad Slam event, with Serena Williams and Andy Murray playing their competitors!

I had to walk through metal detectors to get into the stadium!

On the same grounds as the stadium, you can see the beautiful Unisphere globe up-close. It’s a lot bigger than you’d think!

The best tennis players in the world come to New York each year to compete for the championship title.

I typically don’t like group sports. And I could’ve done without the crowds and partying to get to the suite. But I do like individual sports. And watching Serena Williams and Andy Murray win that night was exhilarating!

I loved the intensity, skill, and power of the players. I used to follow tennis more closely as a kid. So being there was a real treat for me.

And I got to see miles & points “players” in the wild! AMEX had a booth for guest information.

And Starwood held a Q&A about SPG Moments. They let us know they’re working hard to bring rich experiences to the program. You can redeem your Starwood points for cultural, music, sports, and culinary experiences all over the world.

That can make a trip unique and memorable. Like how I made the US Open part of my trip to New York. Many times, you can get a great value using your points this way. It depends on how much you’ll value the experience!

Definitely take a look to see what’s available. This is another fun way to use your Starwood points. And I’m glad they are working on the program despite merging with Marriott earlier this year!

You Can Do It Too

Want to visit New York? It’s easy to use your miles & points to do it on the cheap! Here are a few ideas:

1. Flights

United Airlines – United Airlines miles are easy to earn. If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Ink Preferred, or Ink Plus or Ink Bold (both no longer available), you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to transfer partners like United Airlines. Check out my post on how to use United Airlines miles.

Southwest – Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Southwest, too! Plus, if you have the Southwest Companion Pass, a friend can fly with you for (almost) free!

British Airways – If you’re a short flight away from New York, you can save miles by using British Airways Avios points to book an award flight on American Airlines. You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points, American Express Membership Rewards points, and Starwood points to British Airways.

2. Hotels

New York is full of hotels you can book with points! For example, there are ~30 Starwood hotels and 12 Hyatt hotels around New York City! I also like Airbnb for larger groups, or for a more authentic feel.

One of my favorite hotels is the Andaz 5th Avenue. The big plus of this hotel is its proximity to major attractions, like Central Park, Rockefeller Center, and Times Square. It costs 25,000 Hyatt points per night. This is a great hotel to stay at if you want to use the 2 free nights that come with the Chase Hyatt card. Or stay 4 nights with the sign-up bonus from the Chase Sapphire Reserve!

Bottom Line

Watching this match at the US Open was a fantastic experience!

Tickets in the suite were available this summer on SPG Moments in exchange for Starwood points. I met with representatives from Starwood, who are working on adding more packages like this one. Here’s how the program works and some of the experiences you can have.

It was wonderful to watch Serena Williams and Andy Murray win their matches. The views were perfect, in the center of the court. And the grounds surrounding the stadium were beautiful.

I’m glad I got to spend more time in Queens during this trip. This night at the US Open was a perfect way to end it!