[quote=AN]BG, the Platinum status I’m talking about is Starwood Platinum, not Amex Platinum. The fee for the Starwood card is $45/yr. Starwood points can also be converted to airline miles. Convert 20k points and they’ll give u 5k bonus miles. However, it’s not the best way to use your points. I find using cash and points will yield the highest cash back. If you use all points, the cash back for that hotel would be ~2.3%.[/quote]
I see, AN. You mentioned earlier that your card was an AMEX Starwood. I’m unfamiliar with that card but am aware that the Starwood Group (incl all Westins/Sheratons) is one of AMEX’s “travel partners.”
I totally agree that cash + points = the best yield to the cardholder. Due to recently spending a lot of points, my current point balance is just under 5000. Just last week I rec’d an alert from AMEX that a RT to one of my choice cities (abt 2300 mi RT) is now $135 on one of my choice airlines. I then “pretended” to purchase the ticket with my point balance and found out it was going to be less than $85! And I would STILL be eligible to recieve the 255 pts from AMEX (3 x $85) after paying the flight off AND the 2300 pts the airline would give me after flying!
I forgot to add earlier that AMEX will offer a cardholder the ability to pay all transportation and lodging costs on time (I believe at a 14.99% APR) after one year of on-time payments of your full balance. I DO have this provision but have not availed myself of it yet. It would be nice to know this is available if you find yourself having to travel for an unplanned emergency and need to spread out the repayment over more than one month. Transportation costs include airfare, train fare, bus fare and possibly cruises. Not sure if rental cars or shuttles are eligible for time payments.
