I see in the Redeem section of the Rewards site, under Other Travel > Airline Miles, the option to redeem Wyndham Rewards points for AGR points. But it's a terrible redemption rate of 2.5 Wyndham Rewards points per AGR point.
That's not a terrible redemtion rate, that's a very good rate; at least compared to taking AGR points directly.
First, if one takes hotel points they earn points on everything charged to the room, not just the room rate.
Second, you get 10 points for each dollar spent. That means to get to 8,000 points I need only spend $800; which then with a transfer nets me 3,200 AGR points.
If I take AGR points directly, at a rate of 2 points per dollar spent on the room only (no credit for incidentals), to get 3,200 AGR points I need to spend $1,600.
So by taking hotel points I'm spending half as much money by taking hotel points over sending my points for a stay directly to AGR. At least with the two options offered here, the terrible rate is taking your points directly.
Now points earned via the credit card for ordinary shopping are a different matter. There you are better off sending things over to AGR immediately as with only 2 points per dollar for hotel points you'd need to spend $4,000 before having 3,200 AGR points with a transfer later.
Personally I have to wonder just how long they're going to continue to pay such a good rate for airline/AGR points. Also keep in mind that unlike the AGR card, this card comes with a $39 annual fee.
Alan, to your second point, can you point to a page that shows 10 points per $1 spent? I assume you mean on hotel stays, right? All I've been able to find are the offers I describe below.
There are two flavors of this card being offered. One, with a $39 annual fee, offers 18K bonus points on your first purchase, gives 5 points per $1 spent on participating hotel stays and 2 points per $1 spent on everything else. The other, with no annual fee, offers 12K bonus points on your first purchase, gives 3 points per $1 spent on participating hotel stays and 2 points per $1 spent on everything else.
For every $100 you spend on a qualifying hotel stay, you can earn 500 or 300 AGR points (depending on which card you have), or 500 or 300 Wyndham Rewards points, which are worth (once you accumulate sufficient points for a redemption) 200 or 120 AGR points. Using an AGR MasterCard to charge this $100 would only give you 100 AGR points. So, if your objective is to accumulate AGR points, then when you are on a qualifying hotel stay, your choice is clear -- use the Wyndham card and select the option to earn AGR points instead of WR points.
Everyday spending only accumulates WR points (at a rate of 2 points per $1 spent). The only way to get AGR points from your everyday spending is to redeem your WR points for AGR points at a 2.5:1 ratio. If I put $15,000 of my everyday spending on this card, I would earn 30,000 WR points, which I can redeem for 12,000 AGR points. The same $15,000 put on my AGR card would earn 15,000 AGR points. So, again, if your objective is to accumulate AGR points, then using the AGR MasterCard results in more AGR points than using the Wyndham card for the same amount of everyday purchases.
If there's an option to credit everyday spending directly to AGR points, I haven't been able to find it.
Edit: Wow, did I get myself confused about the hotel stay points! When staying at a participating hotel, no matter how you pay, you can earn either 10 WR points per $1 spent on qualifying stays OR 2 AGR points per $1 spent on qualifying room rates. Sorry Alan, I only now saw the page that describes the option to earn 10 WR points per $1. For every $100 spent at a participating hotel, you can earn either 1000 WR points (worth 400 AGR points upon redemption) or 200 AGR points (directly).
As far as paying for the $100 hotel bill, if you pay with the Wyndham Rewards Visa, you will either earn 500 or 300 WR points (depending on which card you have), which are worth either 200 or 120 AGR points upon redemption. You do NOT have the option to earn AGR points DIRECTLY when paying with the WR Visa. If you pay with the AGR MasterCard, you will earn 100 AGR points.
Alan, you are absolutely right. You're better off taking the 10x points per $1 when staying at a participating hotel, and paying for the stay with your WR Visa instead of with your AGR MC. I'm sorry for ever doubting you.
I just got myself all turned around trying to analyze this card.