Terms checked 2026-10-26
The Platinum with an escape hatch: cash points out to your Schwab brokerage at 1.1 cents.
80,000 pts bonus (≈$1,600)AF: $895Rating: 9.0/10
Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express
By Alex Compton · Last verified
The most beloved card in hobby history, gone with Starwood itself.
★ 9.6/10American ExpresspersonalStarpoints
DiscontinuedBest for: Understanding why old-timers say Bonvoyed
Welcome Bonus
None recorded
Last recorded offer
Spend Requirement
None recorded
Last recorded requirement
Annual Fee
$95
Last recorded · No FTF
Credit Score
700+
(Good-Excellent)
Common Questions
Is the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express discontinued?
Yes. Discontinued. The most beloved card in hobby history, gone with Starwood itself.
What can I use instead of the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express?
The closest open alternatives we track are the The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab, The Platinum Card from American Express, The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley. Each links to our full review with its current offer and complete breakdown.
Open Alternatives
The Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express is no longer open to new applicants. Compare these cards for a similar use.
The Platinum Card from American ExpressAmerican Express
Terms checked 2026-10-19
Travel benefits and statement credits with a substantial annual fee and specific usage rules.
As high as 175,000 pts bonus (≈$3,500)AF: $895Rating: 8.9/10
Terms checked 2026-10-23
A no-fee first Additional Platinum Card, with CashPlus savings that depend on your account costs
80,000 pts bonus (≈$1,600)AF: $895Rating: 8.9/10
Historical Offers Chart
Dated offer history for this discontinued product.
Sign-Up Bonus (points)Spending Requirement ($)
| Observed | Offer | Requirement | What changed | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-08 | 35,000 | $3,000 in 3 mo | Terms reconfirmedFinal 35,000 flash offer before the Marriott merger froze everything | Archive record · no attached snapshot |
| 2015-08 | 35,000 | $3,000 in 3 mo | Bonus increased: 25,000 → 35,000 · Spend: $5,000 → $3,000 · Window: 6 months → 3 monthsFirst 35,000 Starpoint limited-time offer | Archive record · no attached snapshot |
| 2012-01 | 25,000 | $5,000 in 6 mo | Earliest recordLong-running standard offer: 10,000 on first purchase plus 15,000 after spend | Archive record · no attached snapshot |
Primary-source verification log
Append-only evidence ledgerEvent-level primary-source attachments begin with the September 2026 verification system. Older records remain visible but are not retroactively presented as evidenced.
Historical record · spot an outdated offer? Report a correction above.
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Last Recorded Earning Rates
These terms are historical context and are not presented as current.
- 2xStarwood hotels and resorts
- 1xEverything elseOne Starpoint was worth more than two of almost anything else
Last Recorded Credits
No statement credits, this card wins on earn rates, not coupons.
Last Recorded Benefits
Confirm availability and enrollment requirements with the issuer.
- ✦Starpoints transferred to dozens of airlines at 1:1 with a 5,000 point bonus per 20,000 transferred
- ✦SPG Gold status with enough annual spend
- ✦Free in-room internet and no foreign transaction fees
Why it earns its spot
- +The single most valuable everyday-spend point in the hobby's history
- +Airline transfer flexibility no bank program matched until years later
Where it costs you
- −1x base earning looked thin if you ignored what a Starpoint was worth
- −Marriott's takeover converted Starpoints 1:3 into a weaker currency
The Compound Verdict
For most of the 2000s and 2010s the answer to almost any what-card question was the SPG Amex. One Starpoint per dollar transferred to more than 30 airlines with a 25 percent bonus, which made it the best everyday earner in existence. Marriott swallowed Starwood in 2016, points merged 1:3 in August 2018, and the card was rebranded Marriott Bonvoy in 2019. No discontinued card is mourned more.
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