Starwood sells Starpoints to consumers for 3.5 cents each in increments of 500. (Businesses that buy $3,000 worth pay only 3.0 cents)
Is is worth it to buy them?
Considering how easy it is to just open 2 credit cards and get 20,000 Starpoints (with thresholds to earn bonuses with purchases) off the bat, you would have to be crazy to go spend $700 to buy that same amount of points!
However, there is a scenario due to its’ possible time limitations where it can be an incredible deal.
To get in on the Choice/Southwest deal before it’s too late!
40,000 Starpoints = 50,000 Amtrak points = 250,000 Choice points = 100 Southwest credits.
100 Southwest credits net you 12 free RT tickets with the free year-long companion pass.
250,000 Choice points net you over 12 nights in expensive Manhattan hotels.
Let’s assume that you have 2 Starwood AMEX’s (Shame on you if you don’t!)
You’ve only spent $1 on each one, so your Starpoint balance is holding steady at 20,000
You can buy 19,500 Starpoints on your Starwood AMEX for $682.50. You will also get 683 Starpoints for the purchase, giving you enough Starpoints to get in on the Southwest deal.
Caveat: Not everyone has had success in transferring 20,000 Starpoints for 25,000 Amtrak points. Some people have only gotten 20,000 Amtrak points.
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10 Comments On "Is It Worth It To Buy Starpoints?"
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have you done this whole scenerio and it worked?
Hey Dan.
How long does this process take from the time you convert your starwood points and get the 100 Southwest credits?
The whole process can take anywhere from 2-5 weeks, depending if you have good or bad timing!
is there a reason why you keep on focusing on 40,000 starpoints, as opposed to 20,000- I mean thats’ also a pretty good deal [20,00= 25,00 amtrak=125,00 choice points= 50 sw credits]. Unless you tell me that the deal cannot even begin without 40,000 starpoints. Or are you just telling us the max we could do??? Please give us some insight.
Ill answer for dan. Inorder to get the free companion ticket with all your flights, in needs to be 12 sw credits- namely 40,000 starwood points
Anon – I believe it’s because once you get to 100 sw credits you automatically qualify for the companion certificate for your flights. Meaning 50 sw credits will get you 3 flights, but 100 will get you 12! (6 plus the 6 companion).
I got only 20,000 AGR for my 20,000 starwood points so now I need to add more. but its still worth it.
I also got only 20.000 for the Amtrak transfer. No help calling back a couple of times…
I called back cause I was having probloms with my second transfer and the agent told me I’m not allowed to have to accounts and we need to merge them I told her to hold it just a bit and now I need to get those points out as fast as possible.
can you change the hilton points to miles?