Amex Hilton Changes

[1Kflyerguy]

You'll see multiple reports for say, the UA travel bank on both spots now.

United Travel Bank purchases always show up on the credit card statement like an ticket, My most recent purchase is labeled as "Special Services Ticket". I think United likes this to be considered a ticket as they can impose more restrictions on usage than if it was just "gift card" payment method. For example its harder to upgrade your class of service if you pay with travel bank funds.

 

[Zenichiro]

Assuming since I’m gettin 12x I’ll get the $50 refund on Surpass soon. Which is great way to use this credit quarterly

It’s official. You can use Surpass to purchase $50 gift card this quarter. Will definatelly use this if we are not staying 1 quarter

 

[Nowaker]

Just came across this: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/american-express-hilton-no-lifetime-language-offers/
NLL (no lifetime language) offers for cards. That means, you can get another Surpass (not Aspire), and get a SUB (signup bonus).

 

[GT75]

That means, you can get another Surpass (not Aspire), and get a SUB (signup bonus).

Thanks, that is wonderful news because I have just added a Surpass card (previously had that card several years ago) but really wanted the SUB. I am trying to keep up with all of the great TUG advice (thank you for that) on maximizing my CCs.

 

[letsgobobby]

assume i can just buy $50 Alaska gift cards every quarter?

 

[letsgobobby]

Just came across this: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/american-express-hilton-no-lifetime-language-offers/
NLL (no lifetime language) offers for cards. That means, you can get another Surpass (not Aspire), and get a SUB (signup bonus).

my brother and sister just tried to get Aspire and both were denied the bonus even though they have never had an Amex Hilton card. Any ideas why?

 

[Eric B]

my brother and sister just tried to get Aspire and both were denied the bonus even though they have never had an Amex Hilton card. Any ideas why?

Maybe we’re interpreting the AMEX use of “family” language on the SUB limitations wrong…?

Amex family language: Is it time to grab cards while you still can?

For years, Amex has been marching to the beat of a perpetual points parade. That parade arguably began during the pandemic with an incredible Platinum card offer and had continued with great referral bonuses, unexpected “expand your membership” offers to add additional Business Platinum cards...

frequentmiler.com

 

[hurnik]

my brother and sister just tried to get Aspire and both were denied the bonus even though they have never had an Amex Hilton card. Any ideas why?

Amex doesn't tell you why. There's some algorithm that they run that determines your bonus eligibility.
The *only* thing we know for sure is that there's a card limit.

Amex USA 4 or 5 "Credit" Card Limit. - FlyerTalk Forums

American Express | Membership Rewards - Amex USA 4 or 5 "Credit" Card Limit. - Just FYI: I applied online for an Amex Delta Gold card in response to several solicitations promising (maybe-I have had Delta Amex cards before) up to 40K bonus miles. Today got a call from Amex advising me I had too...

www.flyertalk.com

and the infamous pop-up thread:

Amex (USA) restricts bonus based on number of accounts opened/closed (June 2018) - FlyerTalk Forums

American Express | Membership Rewards - Amex (USA) restricts bonus based on number of accounts opened/closed (June 2018) - Originally Posted by Boraxo Another data point: Applied for Amex Plat Morgan Stanley (125k offer) - instant approval. So it appears I'm a free man now (both personal and biz...

www.flyertalk.com

 

[Zenichiro]

my brother and sister just tried to get Aspire and both were denied the bonus even though they have never had an Amex Hilton card. Any ideas why?

It’s like getting a $1 Big Mac in one state but your MCDs doesn’t have that promo in your area. Generally it’s not the person applying, usually just not available at that time, for that income level, with that credit score exc. That’s why you see people stating you should apply incognito with different web browsers.
Using the Dr of credit link is instant approval for Surpass and Honors cards currently as long as you don’t have 5 Amex cards currently.

 

[letsgobobby]

they have perfect long credit histories and very high income. they've never had an amex hilton product. They've only ever had an amex business card. what would be the other reasons one would be denied?

The DOC link doesn't have Aspire

 

[Zenichiro]

they have perfect long credit histories and very high income. they've never had an amex hilton product. They've only ever had an amex business card. what would be the other reasons one would be denied?

The DOC link doesn't have Aspire

Again, there probably isn’t a solid reason anyone outside Amex would know. I have 5 Amex cards, 2 business and 3 personal. 3 of them I had the popup and after trying again via incognito and various web browsers was approved.
Most people who are denied the welcome bonus could still be approved but I would t suggest missing out on the bonus.

 

[Reddart]

If anyone was curious, I got the surpass $50 quarterly Hilton credit for paying maintenance fees at Elara (HGVC).

 

[1Kflyerguy]

If anyone was curious, I got the surpass $50 quarterly Hilton credit for paying maintenance fees at Elara (HGVC).

For some reason I thought that was not supposed to start until the new year. Since I have two deeds that qualify, Elara and KingsLand, guess i will pay Elara before year end. We are heading to Kings Land in early Jan, so already have Q1 covered no matter what.

 

[HuskerATL]

For some reason I thought that was not supposed to start until the new year. Since I have two deeds that qualify, Elara and KingsLand, guess i will pay Elara before year end. We are heading to Kings Land in early Jan, so already have Q1 covered no matter what.

or just pay $50....that is what we did with two surpass cards and will pay the rest after Jan 1st to get the rest.

 

[ljmiii]

For some reason I thought that was not supposed to start until the new year. Since I have two deeds that qualify, Elara and KingsLand, guess i will pay Elara before year end. We are heading to Kings Land in early Jan, so already have Q1 covered no matter what.

or just pay $50....that is what we did with two surpass cards and will pay the rest after Jan 1st to get the rest.

Ditto. I paid $50 on my Surpass and $200 on my Aspire and the rest will be going on the Aspire on 1/1 (because of the higher 14x over 12x HH Bonus points).

 

[brp]

Ditto. I paid $50 on my Surpass and $200 on my Aspire and the rest will be going on the Aspire on 1/1 (because of the higher 14x over 12x HH Bonus points).

Aspire should be $250 for this year, unless you had already used some of it. I have not heard that the half-yearly $200 had started on Aspire yet, but the $250 is still active for those who had the card prior to 10/19.

Cheers.

 

[Great3]

Aspire should be $250 for this year, unless you had already used some of it. I have not heard that the half-yearly $200 had started on Aspire yet, but the $250 is still active for those who had the card prior to 10/19.

Cheers.

Come to find out, that $250 is still active, even for new cardholders of the Aspire that apply after 10/19. Might not be the intent, but the system does auto credit when paying the right resort MF dues.

Great3

 

[HuskerATL]

Come to find out, that $250 is still active, even for new cardholders of the Aspire that apply after 10/19. Might not be the intent, but the system does auto credit when paying the right resort MF dues.

Great3

Yep. My wife got it with her new card

 

[ljmiii]

Come to find out, that $250 is still active, even for new cardholders of the Aspire that apply after 10/19. Might not be the intent, but the system does auto credit when paying the right resort MF dues.

Great3

Yep. My wife got it with her new card

Interesting. I am indeed a new Aspire cardholder and thought that cardholders that applied after 10/19 couldn't get the $250 credit. I made another $2XX.YY 'odd amount' MF payment a few days later when my $200 payment didn't trigger the resort credit (a theory I have read elsewhere). I'll give it a week or two to see if I see the $50 credit and then call if it doesn't appear.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Can the legacy $250 resort credit be used for room reservations at resorts or only incidentals billed to the room? We still have $250 on one card and $60 on the other to use. No applicable resorts MF since Scotland does not seem to work anymore. Gift card shop at Elara could not be billed to room but Starbucks could.

Should I have purchased Starbucks gift cards to room?

Any other ideas to use before Dec 31st?

 

[HuskerATL]

Can the legacy $250 resort credit be used for room reservations at resorts or only incidentals billed to the room? We still have $250 on one card and $60 on the other to use. No applicable resorts MF since Scotland does not seem to work anymore. Gift card shop at Elara could not be billed to room but Starbucks could.

Should I have purchased Starbucks gift cards to room?

Any other ideas to use before Dec 31st?

I think any charge to the room and then paid with the card would count at eligible properties

 

[CalGalTraveler]

But can I apply resort credit if I purchase a room night at a resort for $250?

 

[brp]

I think any charge to the room and then paid with the card would count at eligible properties

In the past we have used the credit in Waikoloa. Stayed at Bay Club, I believe. It was a point stay, but the daily Hawaii fee, drinks, etc. all counted.

We leave tomorrow for Kings Land. Will do the same on this trip and expect it to trigger.

Cheers.

 

[Great3]

But can I apply resort credit if I purchase a room night at a resort for $250?

Yes, it works for room nights as well at the elgible resorts, not just incidentals charged to the room.

Great3

 

[Great3]

Also, in case you missed it, as pointed out by @GT75 here: https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/question-amex.357786/post-2996831 , not only did their new Aspire card get the $250 old resort credit, but they got the old $250 airline incidentals credits as well. This is in addition to the $50 new airline credit for this quarter.

I had assumed we wouldn't get the old $250 airline credit for new Aspire card holders after Oct. 19th, but after reading GT75's post, I chatted with AMEX last week and asked them to select an airline for the incidentals. Didn't mentioned anything about it being new Aspire card, just asked if they can pick Southwest Airlines for me. I figured if not eligible, they would tell me so, but they didn't say anything, Amex cusomter service rep just selected the airline for me and I got an email confirmation.

I just made the charges last week, now waiting to see if they actually credit me. If so, just awesome, I will just count my lucky stars. If not, oh well, I gave it a shot, and didn't expect it anyways when I applied for the 2nd Aspire card for myself. But my gut feeling, if GT75 got it on their new Aspire card, as long as the agent allow you to still select an airline, it will probably still get credited by the automated system. If you had to manually ask about the credit, then yea, it probably won't fly, but what the system does automatically is another thing all together.

Great3

ETA: Also, I learned about the old $250 resort credit still working from @HuskerATL here: https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/amex-hilton-changes.357558/post-2991630

After his posting, I made a $250 charge instead of $200, and got the full $250 credited as well.