Amex Hilton Aspire

[ski_sierra]

I paid for my resale week at HGVC Craigendarroch in Scotland using Aspire card. Got 14x on $6300. I did not receive the $250 statement credit as that location doesn't qualify as a Hilton resort.

 

[amirh]

I paid for my resale week at HGVC Craigendarroch in Scotland using Aspire card. Got 14x on $6300. I did not receive the $250 statement credit as that location doesn't qualify as a Hilton resort.

I bought resale at the same resort in December and got the $250 statement credit when I paid MF.

 

[ski_sierra]

I bought resale at the same resort in December and got the $250 statement credit when I paid MF.

Is it the Lodges or the Suites? The suites are listed on the hilton.com/resorts list but not the Lodges.

Maybe something changed.

 

[amirh]

Is it the Lodges or the Suites? The suites are listed on the hilton.com/resorts list but not the Lodges.

Maybe something changed.

I bought a week 52, 2 bedroom at the lodges.

 

[frank808]

How did you use the resort credit so soon? I use them at HHV when I stay to pay the taxes and this takes care of wife's and I resort credit easily.

I fly United, so not able to use the airline credit unless I upgrade my seats in advance. I take it you fly with AA, Delta or SW?

I just got an offer to upgrade my Ascend card to Aspire and get the 150k HH points. Says I am eligible even though I got the 100k Ascend bonus when I completed my required spend. Thinking of carrying two Aspire cards for the resort credits. Now I dont know if I would really upgrade seats with the third $250 credit.

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Update
On June 28 I received the free weekend night for Ascend 15k annual spend. Applied for the upgrade to Aspire that day. Completed $4k spend on July 3rd and 150k HH points where deposited in my account on July 6th.

I am now wondering if I will get the free annual night certificate also? Verified that I have the $250 Hilton resort and $250 airline credit to use. Also have not been billed for the prorated AF yet.

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[kbgann]

I tried reading through the 15 pages here so I hope I’m not regurgitating something already addressed. I received an offer to upgrade my Ascend card to the Aspire earlier this week. I was reading through the fine print and found the link to the resorts that are included in the $250 credit. It appears to me that they have added HGVC properties.

http://www.hilton.com/resorts

Hopefully I’m looking at that right, but if so, it would make sense for most HGVC owners to get the card when you combine it with the airline credit.

 

[Julian926]

Speaking of airline credit, it looks like it's getting less meaningful with the lack of credit for AA gift cards.

 

[Sandy VDH]

I tried reading through the 15 pages here so I hope I’m not regurgitating something already addressed. I received an offer to upgrade my Ascend card to the Aspire earlier this week. I was reading through the fine print and found the link to the resorts that are included in the $250 credit. It appears to me that they have added HGVC properties.

http://www.hilton.com/resorts

Hopefully I’m looking at that right, but if so, it would make sense for most HGVC owners to get the card when you combine it with the airline credit.

If you use up the airline credit completely every year, and you visit and spend $250 in incidentals at any resort property including HGVC, then YES you should get this card every year, as it will make you money. Card Costs $450 but you will receive more than than a year in rewards. $500 alone for the Resort and Airline incidential credit. Anything else you receive will be an additional bonus, like the priority plus usage, and the free weekend night.

Note Airline credit is annual based on Calendar year, and Resort Credit is based on your anniversary date. So in one year you could receive 2 $250 airline credits. It is true you can no longer obtain AA or other gift cards purchases for the credit, but that was never what it was intended for.

 

[brp]

...and you visit and spend $250 in incidentals at any resort property including HGVC...

Wanted to clarify this part.

The credit not only applies to incidentals, but also to room rate for non-Advance Purchase rates (applies to Hilton resorts in this case, not HGVC, but worth clarifying)
A good number of HGVC resorts' MFs also trigger this credit. These are discussed throughout the thread.

Cheers.

 

[Sandy VDH]

Wanted to clarify this part.

The credit not only applies to incidentals, but also to room rate for non-Advance Purchase rates (applies to Hilton resorts in this case, not HGVC, but worth clarifying)
A good number of HGVC resorts' MFs also trigger this credit. These are discussed throughout the thread.

Cheers.

Yes, MFs do also trigger the credit. But I am using my credit at an actual resort, so I had incidentals on my mind.

So the question on if you can make it work, is if you receive value from the Airline Credit. Some people were using them to buy gift cards, but that is NO longer an option. It if for certain fees, like seat fees, upgrades, baggage etc.

 

[brp]

So the question on if you can make it work, is if you receive value from the Airline Credit. Some people were using them to buy gift cards, but that is NO longer an option. It if for certain fees, like seat fees, upgrades, baggage etc.

I believe it still works for Southwest gift cards. Also, it works for AS fares under $100, even if cancelled within 24 hours. At least it did a couple of months back.

Cheers.

 

[Sandy VDH]

I believe it still works for Southwest gift cards. Also, it works for AS fares under $100, even if cancelled within 24 hours. At least it did a couple of months back.

Cheers.

Recent articles thinking this is been stopped.
https://onemileatatime.com/gift-cards-amex-airline-fee-credits/
https://www.businessinsider.com/amex-airline-statement-credit-no-more-gift-cards-2019-7
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/r-i-...merican-express-airline-incidental-purchases/
https://viewfromthewing.boardingare...n-express-airline-fee-credits-take-a-big-hit/

 

[brp]

Interesting, thanks. Does seem to be drying up..and very recently!

Cheers.

 

[Tamaradarann]

If you use up the airline credit completely every year, and you visit and spend $250 in incidentals at any resort property including HGVC, then YES you should get this card every year, as it will make you money. Card Costs $450 but you will receive more than than a year in rewards. $500 alone for the Resort and Airline incidential credit. Anything else you receive will be an additional bonus, like the priority plus usage, and the free weekend night.

Note Airline credit is annual based on Calendar year, and Resort Credit is based on your anniversary date. So in one year you could receive 2 $250 airline credits. It is true you can no longer obtain AA or other gift cards purchases for the credit, but that was never what it was intended for.

Yes and I was able to get one airline credit last December for purchasing 2 extra Comfort Seats to fly from Maui to JFK and another in April when I purchased 2 extra comfort seats to fly from JFK to Kona in my first year of having the Aspire Card.

 

[brp]

Yes and I was able to get one airline credit last December for purchasing 2 extra Comfort Seats to fly from Maui to JFK and another in April when I purchased 2 extra comfort seats to fly from JFK to Kona in my first year of having the Aspire Card.

Definitely works for that. On airlines where one has status and gets these sorts of seats for free, it's becoming increasingle harder to use the credit.

Cheers.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

We fly SWA. Easy to use bonus for Early Bird, Priority upgrades and transporting DDs cat back and forth to college ($95 ea way)

 

[Tamaradarann]

Definitely works for that. On airlines where one has status and gets these sorts of seats for free, it's becoming increasingle harder to use the credit.

Cheers.

I guess one needs to decide which "Status" one should pay for and which ones one should not pay for which sometimes can be difficult. I know I lose my free bag on Hawaiian Airlines if I use my Aspire Card to pay for the flight or pay for the fees if I am using miles. If I use my Hawaiian Airlines card to pay I get my free bag but I can't get the airline credit. Therefore, I need to pay for the flight in one direction with the Aspire card to get the airline credit, and pay for the flight in the other direction with the Hawaiian Airlines card and get the free bag. I may be getting to the point where I need to cancel the Hawaiian Airlines credit card.

 

[Sandy VDH]

I have lifetime Platinum status on AA, so I don't pay for bags or premium seat selections. However I live in Houston now and AA is not always a direct flight.

So United is another choice for me. They do fly more direct from Houston. I just got the card, and have yet to pick an airline. I do realize that the airline selection is by Calendar year. So I am trying to figure out how to optimize my credit.

I might just select AA and use the credit in 2019 to buy 500 mile upgrade credits (which still works AFAiK). As I have to figure out if I have no other flights between now and end of year on United. So I will have to make my selection either before my AA flight, or when I decide I am flying elsewhere on united.

I generally don't pay for airfare, as I have been using my Chase Sapphire Reserve UR points for purchasing airfare. I no long keep a airline branded CC for perks.

 

[brp]

I guess one needs to decide which "Status" one should pay for and which ones one should not pay for which sometimes can be difficult.

I have lifetime Platinum status on AA, so I don't pay for bags or premium seat selections. However I live in Houston now and AA is not always a direct flight.

We fly primarily AA and AS. We pay for all flights as we do that for status (Exec Plat on AA, MVP Gold on AS, Silver on BA). We don't check bags but, if we did, that would be free. And premium seats are free as are upgrades. We do occasionally fly WN, but we can check in at T-24, so never need Early Bird. So, unless there are loopgholes, it would be very hard for us to get the Airline Credit.

Cheers.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

We also do 24 hour check in but always get early bird for long haul flights to NYC and HI. Also will do for packed weekend and holiday flights. Adds up.

 

[brp]

We also do 24 hour check in but always get early bird for long haul flights to NYC and HI. Also will do for packed weekend and holiday flights. Adds up.

We don't do longhaul on WN

Cheers.

 

[rickandcindy23]

https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/hilton-honors-aspire/

Great offer on the card. 150K bonus points. Don't know how I am going to do the required spend. I will have to search Flyertalk and see if anyone has had problems buying Simon Mall Visa Cards. What I would like to do is buy either those Visa Gift Cards, or some gift cards at the grocery store. I could buy Disney cards for our trip next week.

Offer expires soon. I really want those bonus points.

It's about as clear as mud how I would get this card's annual fee to pay for itself. With my Chase Sapphire Reserve, it's super easy. I hope they never change it.

 

[ski_sierra]

https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/hilton-honors-aspire/

Great offer on the card. 150K bonus points. Don't know how I am going to do the required spend. I will have to search Flyertalk and see if anyone has had problems buying Simon Mall Visa Cards. What I would like to do is buy either those Visa Gift Cards, or some gift cards at the grocery store. I could buy Disney cards for our trip next week.

Offer expires soon. I really want those bonus points.

It's about as clear as mud how I would get this card's annual fee to pay for itself. With my Chase Sapphire Reserve, it's super easy. I hope they never change it.

I will PM you some tips.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I am so hoping this card is worthy of the fee, and I hope I can figure out to do the minimum spend. We are planning a driving trip in January to Orlando. It will be our first in a long time.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I have this card and find it well worth it - especially when HGVC expenses count. Hope to get another one for DH when my AF is due so we can have 2 free nights for a weekend stay and keep expiration dates in sync.

I find using the free night at Conrad London in NYC to extend a stay at W57 a great value. Close by but nicer than Midtown.