With most hotel stays you’re always wary of the value of a point.  Hilton and Hyatt have recently devalued their points and the only one who has chosen not to is Starwood with their SPG points program.  In fact SPG points have gone the opposite direction and have partnered up with the Delta SkyMiles program.

SPG Points and Delta SkyMiles Partnership

Previously whenever you stayed at a Starwood Hotel (Westin, St. Regis, etc) you would receive 2 Starwood point per dollar spent.  Now with the new program you can receive your normal SPG points but you’ll also receive 1 additional Delta SkyMiles point.

This is a great program because it helps you to gain additional rewards miles quicker and go on those vacations you want.  If you set both SPG points and Delta Miles to an equal level then you’re getting 3 points per dollar spent, and if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred card then you’re getting an additional 2 which results in a total of 5 rewards points per dollar spent at a Starwood Hotel.

Additionally if you’re a SPG rewards member you can earn 1 Starwood point for every mile you travel on Delta Flights.

Crossover Rewards Downside

The biggest downside of the crossover rewards from SPG and Delta is that you must be a high-status member in order to qualify.  According to the FAQ posted on the SPG website, in order to receive SPG points for Delta flights you must be a SPG Platinum or Gold member.  And vice versa, in order to receive Delta miles through stays at Starwood Hotels you must be a Delta Medallion member.

Essentially this is a program to reward the frequent travelers on both programs by boosting their reward travel.  If you’re a SPG Platinum or Gold Member and a Delta SkyMiles Medallion member then this is an amazing deal for you.  There’s no reason not to stay with Starwood and accrue SPG points.

About Tom Verskans

Miles and points collector, frequent traveler, and an investment analyst for an alternative asset management firm.