The top hotel card in our 2009 credit card rankings, the MBNA Starwood Preferred Guest MasterCard is now finished in Canada. As of Aug 31 applications were no longer being accepted by MBNA for the card and current cardholders will have until Feb 28, 2010 to earn Starpoints on the card, after that point they will be issued a new MBNA credit card.
According the William Sanders, a spokesperson from Starwood, SPG will announce a new credit card soon however no details have been provided at this time. We look forward to seeing what it will offer as the MBNA version was quite a decent card for spending up to $30,000 on. Chances are the new card will come with a fee but will have more benefits, better points earning and more. As well since SPG is tied in with AMEX in the U.S., there is the probability that the new SPG card may be an American Express. Now we just have to wait and see.
To read some comments and the official response from William, visit this thread on FlyerTalk.com
Starwood has made a page where you can sign up to receive first notice of when the new Canadian credit card will be launched.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.spgpromos.com/canada_creditcard/
This is ridiculous...I liked the no fee option of the MBNA card...I really don't need any more benefits...most of those perks are loaded with red tape and impossible to rely on. This was a great card with no FEES! MBNA can kiss my 20-30k a year goodbye...idiots.
ReplyDeleteI don't pay fees....I agree they can kiss my 30K goodbye
ReplyDeletecitizen bank with free international withdrawal has closed and now this. nothing lasts these days.
ReplyDeleteIf they introduce a fee, I'll walk. This is a second card for me, my primary is aeroplan amex, so I only spend 15K a year on the MBNA. I believe someone will fill the gap with a hotel card.
ReplyDeleteThe new SPG card should be out by March but it will have more competition as another hotel brand credit card is slated to launch in 2010. Plus there will also be the new WestJet RBC MasterCard, so lots more choices
ReplyDeleteA fee with no really justification....Bullshit, I agree...
ReplyDeleteA fee with some really value added (and come on, you know Starwood is one of the best cards to come on this market).......I'd give it a chance.
I know there's nothing even starwood can do to convince Mister and Miss "I DON'T PAY A FEE" to take on whatever they're planning to offer in the Spring, but don't be retarded....
Do you really think SPG can afford to alienate us, pull their MBNA card from the Canadian market and not offer us something 10x better?! Trust me....they know if they charge a fee they've better have a damn good reason. Have a little faith in them.
QUESTION: If they started to be offer 1 starpoint per dollar instead of every $2, would you be cool paying a fee of lets say........$45/year?
Just a question..
I personally am fine with a fee as well, 2 out of my 3 credit cards carry annual fees and are I make the most of them with car rental coverage etc. The card will definitely be 1 point for $1 if it has a fee, they would put themselves out of the market if it was any less.
ReplyDeleteAs to the question about 1 SPG point per $1 for a $45 fee...that would be a steal considering what other cards charge for annual fees.
Thanks for your blog..as I couldn't find any updates on the Starwood Website....not crazy the new card is going to be an AMEX... they don't accept it at every retailer in our great Country. Agree MBNA may have ramped up a deal (but was it Starwood that pulled the deal?). FYI,,, I flew down to the US and realized I forgot to purchase travel insurance. called MBNA ...unlike CAA (which won't insure after you have left the country) no problem whatsoever..one year for $107 for both my spouse and me. hate to lose this type of service.
ReplyDeleteGreat Blog, I did some snoopoing around...
ReplyDeleteThe us card gives 2 points per USD. We are almost at parity - not a great deal. Also the US card has a bigger bonus - I complained but they will probably ignore it...
cheers
I think the 2 points per USD is when you spend it at the hotel. They still only give 1 point per 1 USD spent everywhere else - just like the Canadian AMEX to come.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what the hell AMEX and SPG are waiting for. I have already gotten a replacement card for my MBNA. MBNA can kiss my and my family spending of 75k/yr goodbye.
ReplyDeleteI am going with the capital one 2% rebate card. It isn't free but no charge supp cards make it worthwhile.
Still waiting for the new card!
ReplyDeleteAny suggestions on another card that offers the most bang for your buck based on $50k/year spending? I have my airline angle taken care of already so air miles are not important. A reasonable yearly fee would be fine.
Check out our chart here that show what you can get for spending $50K (and other amounts), this chart however only compares travel anywhere cards like the TD Visas, Capital One MasterCards etc.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rewardscanada.ca/ccrewardcompare.html
A quick look on $50K in spending would make me lean towards the Capital One Miles Plus or RBC Avion. I personally love the Diners Club MasterCard but right now they are not taking new applications. Hopefully since BMO bought the North American Diners Club franchise they will reopen applications soon.