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  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!
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Hilton AmEx cards

Our expensive ones are the Amex Aspire and Platinum. You can definitely get your money out of them, if you use the benefits.

We're challenged to get the airline credit from the Amex cards. We don't pay fees on any airlines we fly, and we don't fly UA, so the Travel Bank doesn't help. we can use it for tickets on Southwest, but we just don't fly them enough to cover 1 Aspire and one Plat.

Cheers.
 
We're challenged to get the airline credit from the Amex cards. We don't pay fees on any airlines we fly, and we don't fly UA, so the Travel Bank doesn't help. we can use it for tickets on Southwest, but we just don't fly them enough to cover 1 Aspire and one Plat.

Cheers.
We use ours each year in both the Aspire and Platty on seat upgrades with Delta plus other fees.
 
We use ours each year in both the Aspire and Platty on seat upgrades with Delta plus other fees.

Since we fly primarily AA and AS, and we have status, there are no reimbursable fees for any of the stuff we do.

Cheers.
 
Since we fly primarily AA and AS, and we have status, there are no reimbursable fees for any of the stuff we do.

Cheers.
one round trip to Europe and getting seat upgrades, blows the credit for us. I have used it for work also in the past, since work buys me the cheapest seat. Back in the day when I was Diamond, I got free seat upgrades but the last few years have killed my status...just Silver but for life since I am a Million Miler. They would put me in with the dogs if they could....Nothing like riding ATL to AMS to Nairobi, Ghana, India, etc. in the dog hold....:)
 
My DH has the MBB and this gives him Platinum Elite. What BS. We called Sheraton hotel for an upcoming stay to request an upgrade and access to the lounge.

Response: "Yes the lounge is open. We don't serve food but you are welcome to go in there and sit." (ugh). When I asked about the upgrade which comes with the MBB elite, he thought I was an alien and knew nothing about it.

At least with HIlton elite they thank you for being an elite and we have received benefits for being Diamond. Marriott elite is #worthless so don't bother to get the card if that is your primary goal. We are going to downgrade as soon as our AF and FN post.
 
Does anyone know if the MF at Elara will count for the Aspire $250 Hilton credit? I thought I had seen a separate thread that listed where the MFs would trigger the credit but I couldn't find it when I searched.
 
Does anyone know if the MF at Elara will count for the Aspire $250 Hilton credit? I thought I had seen a separate thread that listed where the MFs would trigger the credit but I couldn't find it when I searched.
It’s listed as a resort on Hilton.com so it should.
 
Since we fly primarily AA and AS, and we have status, there are no reimbursable fees for any of the stuff we do.

Cheers.
How about a nice AA lounge membership? Even with priority pass sometimes those lounges are not in the right terminal and a long walk away. The airline lounges are usually a lot closer.

Typing this at HNL in the United club at gate G while my flight leaves at gate D. Would have gone with the Hawaiian airlines plumeria lounge (as it is closer to gate D), but it closes early.
 
How about a nice AA lounge membership? Even with priority pass sometimes those lounges are not in the right terminal and a long walk away. The airline lounges are usually a lot closer.

Would be a good idea...except- in addition to top AA status, i get mid-tier BA status every two years (and can make it last for 2 years). This this I can access the AA lounge on any OneWorld flight, even domestic.

I have decided to get an AS membership this year, though. Not many lounges, but we do go where they have them. Non-ideal use, but not much other choice.

Cheers.
 
I've come across an interesting offer on Amex Plat (NOT Aspire/Surpass):

> Get a one-time $200 statement credit by using your enrolled eligible Card to spend a minimum of $1,000 USD in one or more purchases on room rate and room charges at participating Hilton properties in the US, Mexico, Caribbean, Colombia, Honduras, and French Polynesia from 3/1/2023 to 5/31/2023. See terms.

> Enrollment limited. Must first add offer to Card and then use same Card to redeem. Only U.S.-issued American Express® Cards are eligible. Limit 1 enrolled Card per Card Member across all American Express offer channels. Your enrollment of an eligible American Express Card for this offer extends only to that Card. Offer valid at participating Hilton Resort properties in the US, Mexico, Caribbean, Colombia, Honduras, and French Polynesia. Please reference americanexpress.com/hiltonresortsoffer to view participating properties. Reservations for Hilton Resorts must be made online at hilton.com, via the Hilton Honors App or by calling 1-800-445-8667. Excludes gift card purchases. Offer does not apply to advance purchase rates, including Advance Purchase, Save Now & Pay and Non-refundable rates. Corporate Cards are not eligible for this offer. Qualifying purchase means a purchase at a participating property made during the offer period with your enrolled American Express Card and which is in an amount totaling at least $1000 USD as posted to your account, following conversion from a foreign currency, if applicable, in accordance with your Cardmember Agreement. Offer only valid on room rate and room charges. Offer not valid for lodging stays that are paid for before the promotion start date or after the promotion end date. Offer is non-transferable. Limit of 1 statement credit per Card Member. You may not receive the statement credit if we receive inaccurate information or are otherwise unable to identify your purchase as qualifying for the offer. For example, you may not receive the statement credit if (a) the merchant uses a third-party to sell their products or services; or (b) the merchant uses a third-party to process or submit your transaction to us (e.g., using mobile or wireless card readers); or (c) you choose to make a purchase using a third-party payment account or make a purchase using a mobile or digital wallet. Purchases may fall outside of the offer period in some cases due to a delay in merchants submitting transactions to us or if the purchase date differs from the date you made the transaction (for example, the purchase date for online orders may be the shipping date). Statement credit will appear on your billing statement within 90 days after 5/31/2023, provided that American Express receives information from the merchant about your qualifying purchase. Note that American Express may not receive information about your qualifying purchase from merchant until all items/services from your qualifying purchase have been provided by merchant. Statement credit may be reversed if qualifying purchase is cancelled. If American Express does not receive information that identifies your purchase as qualifying for the offer, you will not receive the statement credit. Limit 1 enrolled Card per American Express Card online account. The enrolled Card account must be active, not past due, canceled, or have a returned payment outstanding to receive the statement credit. Any benefit earned from this offer is in addition to the rewards (i.e. Membership Rewards or cash back) earned as part of your existing Card benefits, but your ability to earn spend-based rewards for the purchase will be based on the amount after any statement credit or other discount is applied. Amex Offers are available for varying and limited periods of time and are dynamic and personalized. If you navigate away from the Amex Offers page, you may see different offers when you return. For questions regarding your Card Account, please call the number on the back of your Card. By adding an offer to a Card, you agree that American Express may send you communications about the offer. POID: K57R:0001

Eligible properties: https://www.americanexpress.com/content/dam/amex/us/merchant/HiltonResorts-AmexOffer-Q12023-VF.pdf

Most (all?) Hawaiian HGVC are listed. Any MF payments will most likely be eligible for this credit because any HGVC MF payments are coded the same way as paying for a hotel stay (not advance purchases).

Not the best timing for MFs but hey, maybe some of you just acquired a Hawaiian HGVC property and has a longer due date for MF.
If anyone uses it for MFs, please report the success.
 
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I've come across an interesting offer on Amex Plat (NOT Aspire/Surpass):

> Get a one-time $200 statement credit by using your enrolled eligible Card to spend a minimum of $1,000 USD in one or more purchases on room rate and room charges at participating Hilton properties in the US, Mexico, Caribbean, Colombia, Honduras, and French Polynesia from 3/1/2023 to 5/31/2023. See terms.

Not the best timing for MFs but hey, maybe some of you just acquired a Hawaiian HGVC property and has a longer due date for MF.
If anyone uses it for MFs, please report the success.

I checked of our Amex Plats and neither my wife or I received this offer. Not really sure i could have used it anyway.
 
I checked of our Amex Plats and neither my wife or I received this offer. Not really sure i could have used it anyway.

I didn't check to see if I got it, but we'd never use it either. We don't waste time at Hilton when Hyatt is available. If we do need to stay at Hilton, we use points. And typically only in Europe where benefits still exist for diamond.

Cheers.
 
2023 ... I was late in paying Maintenance for 2022 but here we see the resort credit as well as the proof of the 14x:

I cannot find this a benefit written anywhere in my search today. I see $250 for airline incidentals credit. I see the one night per renewal of Aspire card, but I see no nothing about this credit, but yet there it is! .......

OK Edit, I did find the wording that notes the benefit, fantastic.

1678999054218.png


1678999033395.png
 
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2023 ... I was late in paying Maintenance for 2022 but here we see the resort credit as well as the proof of the 14x:

I cannot find this a benefit written anywhere in my search today. I see $250 for airline incidentals credit. I see the one night per renewal of Aspire card, but I see no nothing about this credit, but yet there it is!

View attachment 74411

View attachment 74410
it is on the benefits page. It sees a purchase like this as spending at a resort....even though it is MFs.

1678999653573.png
 
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I cannot find this a benefit written anywhere in my search today. I see $250 for airline incidentals credit. I see the one night per renewal of Aspire card, but I see no nothing about this credit, but yet there it is!

I was not able to see it on a general Aspire benefits search. Nor do I see it as a benefit when I log into my account. This is a potentially bad sign...hopefully just a glitch.

Oops: it defaulted to my Platinum and it;s not there, of course. It is on the Aspire, as @HuskerATL noted :)

Cheers.
 
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I was not able to see it on a general Aspire benefits search. Nor do I see it as a benefit when I log into my account. This is a potentially bad sign...hopefully just a glitch.

Cheers.
it is on the benefits page. I just clipped that image from it.
 
2023 ... I was late in paying Maintenance for 2022 but here we see the resort credit as well as the proof of the 14x:

I cannot find this a benefit written anywhere in my search today. I see $250 for airline incidentals credit. I see the one night per renewal of Aspire card, but I see no nothing about this credit, but yet there it is!

View attachment 74411

View attachment 74410
Just to add, you came close to covering the annual cost of the card right there between the $250 that you got back and almost enough points for a night at a $100 Hampton Inn on the outskirts of town....or by the airport..:)
 
Would purchasing Hilton gift cards qualify for 14X points?
 
It’s listed as a resort on Hilton.com so it should.

I haven't yet paid annual MF at Elara but have paid the $199 club dues and the $655 Hilton activation fee and haven't seen the resort credit yet. Charges are listed as:

HILTON LV52 COND HOAORLANDO FL

Does the charge for annual MF at Elara process differently? Has anyone had success with resort credit for dues / activation fee at Elara?
 
don't count on it, we are 11.5 weeks out and neither of us received our credit. will need to chat with amex at 12 weeks.
 
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