Here’s how to get around it…
It’s no secret that the Starwood Preferred Guest points program has long been a favorite. With a comparatively vast network of partner airlines, it offers unmatched booking flexibility and, hence, greater access to special Business and First Class opportunities.
When Starwood
Ah, those were the days.
Everything was fine until December, when Starwood abruptly took a step backwards by cutting its purchase limit back to the original 20,000 points.
What could motivate such a retreat? Here’s a theory: So many of you recognized the benefits of banking as many Starpoints as possible that the program couldn’t support the resulting flood of demand.
If that’s the case, being a vocal advocate on miles- and point-purchase opportunities, I feel some responsibility for the policy change (as I did when the lucrative Mexicana miles-purchase opportunity shifted from 1.6¢ to 2.2¢ per mile only three days after I recommended it). As such, I owe you a remedy.
So dry your eyes... here’s an easy workaround I call The Same Address Game.
A little-known rule in Starwood’s program allows points to be transferred between members with the same mailing address. Your spouse, daughter, son, mother-in-law, or roommate can each buy 20,000 points, and then transfer them into any account they choose among those people at that same address. Combine all those miles into one account and you can get 100,000points fast, again. The 25% transfer bonus brings that up to 125,000 (effectively reducing the 3.5¢ cost to 2.8¢).
No other features of the Starwood program have changed, so let’s keep in mind what makes Starwood so appealing in the first place.
The key to this points program is the network of participating airlines, and with 29 partners, Starwood trounces the competition. Amex Membership Rewards is also a fine program, but with only 16 airlines under its umbrella, it’s little more than half as useful at time of redemption, despite a miles-purchase limit of 500,000 at 2.5¢ each. Another favorite credit card program, Diners Club, has no miles-purchase option at all.
Even with the severe cutback in its purchase limit, Starwood still shines brightly.
Here’s how to get around it…
It’s no secret that the Starwood Preferred Guest points program has long been a favorite. With a comparatively vast network of partner airlines, it offers unmatched booking flexibility and, hence, greater access to special Business and First Class opportunities.
When Starwood
Ah, those were the days.
Everything was fine until December, when Starwood abruptly took a step backwards by cutting its purchase limit back to the original 20,000 points.
What could motivate such a retreat? Here’s a theory: So many of you recognized the benefits of banking as many Starpoints as possible that the program couldn’t support the resulting flood of demand.
If that’s the case, being a vocal advocate on miles- and point-purchase opportunities, I feel some responsibility for the policy change (as I did when the lucrative Mexicana miles-purchase opportunity shifted from 1.6¢ to 2.2¢ per mile only three days after I recommended it). As such, I owe you a remedy.
So dry your eyes... here’s an easy workaround I call The Same Address Game.
A little-known rule in Starwood’s program allows points to be transferred between members with the same mailing address. Your spouse, daughter,...