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"Comparisons and secure applications of the best credit card offers online." |
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Additional Details, Terms and Conditions | |
| Category | Reward - Hotel |
|---|---|
| Status | Platinum |
| Introductory Percentage Rate | 2.90 |
| Introductory Time Period | 6.00 |
| Intro Applies To | Purchases, Balance Transfers |
| Intro Details | The introductory rate is available on balance transfers submitted during the application process. Future balance transfers will be 9.99% + the current Prime Rate. |
| APR for Purchases | 14.990 |
| Purchase Rate Type | Variable |
| Minimum APR on Purchases | No |
| APR for Cash Advances | 19.990 |
| Cash Advance Rate Type | Variable |
| Minimum APR on Cash Advances | No |
| Finance Charge Calculation | Average Daily Balance (including new purchases) |
| Annual Fee | $45** |
| Additional Annual Fees | $0 |
| Annual Fee Detail | **The annual fee will be waived for the first year. Thereafter, the fee is $45. |
| Grace Period | 20 Days |
| Late Payment Fee | $19 on balances up to $400 and $38 on balances of $400 and over |
| Over Limit Fee | $35 |
| Cash Advance Fee | 3%, $5 minimum for Express Cash transactions |
| Balance Transfer Fee | There is no balance transfer fee associated with this offer. However, future balance transfers may incur a fee as disclosed at the time of the applicable transaction. |
| Minimum Balance Transfer | n/a |
| Maximum Balance Transfer | $100,000 |
| Type of Reward | Point |
| Optional Reward | No |
| Points Earned Per Dollar Spent | 1 Point |
| Additional Points | Cardholders earn double points on stays and purchases made at select Starwood retail outlets, and they earn 1 additional point per $1 spent on qualified purchases through their membership in the Starwood Preferred Guest® loyalty program. |
| Point Details | Starpoints can be transferred to over 30 major airlines. There are no blackout dates and free nights start as low as 2,000 points. |
| Expiration | 1 Year (Points do not expire as long as the account is active within a 1-year period.) |
| Yearly Limit | None |
| Bonus Approval | None |
| Bonus First Purchase | 10,000 Points*** |
| Bonus Balance Transfers | None |
| Bonus Annual | None |
| Bonus Other | 15,000***** |
| Bonus Details | ***Earn 10,000 bonus points with the first purchase, which is enough for up to 3 free nights. *****Earn 15,000 Bonus Starpoints® after spending $15,000 In 6 months |
| Additional Perks | Various Internet account related services. Year-end financial statement. Extended warranty for purchases. No liability for unauthorized Internet transactions. Purchase protection. Return protection. Price protection service. Access to the Offer Zone for various discounts at participating retailers and merchants. Emergency card replacement. Emergency cash replacement. Up to $100,000 in travel accident insurance. Auto rental insurance. Various travel and emergency assistance services. Medical referral services. Legal referral services. See website for additional benefits. |
| Notations | Card is currently unavailable to residents of Puerto Rico. See website for complete terms and conditions of card usage and application disclosure. |
| Features / Benefits: | Earn Up to 25,000 Starpoints® — Enough for up to 6 Free Nights at a Category 1 or 2 Hotel. |
| 1 | Use Starpoints® for Free Nights and Upgrades at Over 860 Participating Starwood Hotels and Resorts in 95 Countries Including Sheraton, W Hotels, Westin and More with No Blackout Dates |
| 2 | No Annual Fee for the First Year and $45 Thereafter |
| 3 | Transfer Starpoints® — Almost Always on a 1:1 Basis — to the Frequent Flyer Programs of Over 30 Major Airlines |
| 4 | Earn One Starpoint® for Every Dollar You Spend and Double Starpoints® at Participating Starwood Properties and Retail Partners |
| 5 | Express Approval. Get a Decision in Less Than 60 Seconds |
| Rating | 3.50 |
| Benefit Rating | 4.00 |
| Best Feature | Additional points offered to those who stay at Starwood hotels and resorts; bonus points; annual fee is waived for first year. |
| Worst Feature | Points expire if the account is not active within a one-year period. |
| Review | The Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express is designed for those with good credit who frequently stay at Starwood hotels and resorts and plan to take advantage of the various benefits and services that are provided. In reference to the reward program, one point is earned for every dollar spent on the card and double points are earned at participating Starwood properties and retail outlets. Cardholders also earn one additional point per $1 spent on qualified purchases through their membership in the Starwood Preferred Guest® loyalty program. Points can be redeemed for various travel services, such as free hotel stays and airline travel. Cardholders also earn 10,000 bonus points after their first purchase, which is enough for up to three free nights and 15,000 Bonus Starpoints® after spending $15,000 In 6 months. Points do not expire as long as the account is active within a one-year period. Perhaps what is most impressive about the program is the fact that cardholders can transfer earned points to a variety of frequent flyer programs. Aside from the reward program, the card does offer a variety of benefits such as travel accident insurance, auto rental insurance, discounts via the Offer Zone, and various fraud protection services (see website for all benefits available). The interest rate for purchases is average (for a reward card), and there is an annual fee of $45 that is waived the first year. There is also a low introductory rate for purchases and balance transfers for the first six months. Future balance transfers will be 9.99% + the current Prime Rate. Therefore, those who can afford to pay in full each month after the introductory rate expires (to avoid finance charges), frequently stay at Starwood hotels and resorts (to earn additional points), and can accumulate enough points for a free hotel stay or other travel-related service within a two-year period will benefit most from what the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express has to offer. |
| Date of Data Update | 2008-08-19 00:00:00 |
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