Amex Hilton Changes

[1Kflyerguy]

And I am sure also for the user not to pay off the charges each month. They would I am sure also like late fees on top of that.

True, but its the merchant fees where they make their money. Just over 33 billion in merchant fees last year. Compare that with 7 billion in card fees. Interest income after expenses only gets 13 billion.. They want you to use the card.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

I don't, but honestly, in "loyalty" cards I never think about the actual issuer. To me, our Aspire is "that Hilton card", not an amex, so I can't even say my # of amexes. But I have few CCs. I don't chase them.
Yes, I figured that their frown on that plus having just cancelled my Delta (since I don't fly it anymore and finished using my last points) to get a UA card (since for SFO, UA is much more useful) were the 2 reasons for being REJECTED.
But here is an excellent example of how brain-dead these companies processes are. I recently bought HGVC timeshares. I then apply for a HILTON card. Wouldn't an intelligent amex want to think about whether the HILTON card is likely to be the new #1 card for somebody who just bought HGVC timesahres? Maybe? Nah. Too much deep thought required.

I understand that, and yes i call them by the partner name as well. Hilton Card, United card, etc. But in the end is the bank that issues the card, not the hotel or airline etc. Amex probably does not even know that you own a timeshare.. I supposed they might know if you apply for the card as part of a direct purchase from the timeshare developer..

 

[GT75]

True, but its the merchant fees where they make their money. Just over 33 billion in merchant fees last year. Compare that with 7 billion in card fees. Interest income after expenses only gets 13 billion.. They want you to use the card.

Wow, I didn't know those facts. Thanks for educating me.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Wow, I didn't know those facts. Thanks for educating me.

Yea, i only recently saw all of this in show on Amex, as a card holder we mostly look at the high annual fees, and interest rates and its easy to assume that's where the profit is..

 

[frank808]

I don't, but honestly, in "loyalty" cards I never think about the actual issuer. To me, our Aspire is "that Hilton card", not an amex, so I can't even say my # of amexes. But I have few CCs. I don't chase them.
Yes, I figured that their frown on that plus having just cancelled my Delta (since I don't fly it anymore and finished using my last points) to get a UA card (since for SFO, UA is much more useful) were the 2 reasons for being REJECTED.
But here is an excellent example of how brain-dead these companies processes are. I recently bought HGVC timeshares. I then apply for a HILTON card. Wouldn't an intelligent amex want to think about whether the HILTON card is likely to be the new #1 card for somebody who just bought HGVC timesahres? Maybe? Nah. Too much deep thought required.

I pretty much use the Hilton cards for hilton maintenance fees, charges at hilton and to load the airline quarterly credits only. Same with Marriott cards, just for Marriott maintenance fees, marriott charges and the monthly food credit.

Have a United for airfare. Costco Visa for gas (4%), travel related charges except airfare and dining (3%), citibank doublecash for everything else not getting more than 2%. Then various quarterly bonus cards like chase freedom and discover.


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[WaikikiFirst]

United for airfare. Costco

We're very similar. Hilton, United, Costco for me. I have a 2%er but for reasons I won't go into it is kind of a pain so I use it for a couple of months, then maybe not for 6 months, then repeat. My wife leans on her American Air much more than I do the United. She seems to focus on AA & Hilton when she wants to meet a milestone of miles or points by a certain date. above my pay grade, that.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

Amex probably does not even know that you own a timeshare

I agree. They prob do not, which is almost criminal negligence by the mgmt. One of the most important things for a company to know is
"How do my customers use my product?"
amex has a relationship with Hilton. Hilton and HGVC are legally separate, but how can a decent product mgr thinking about
"How do my Aspire & Surpass customers use my product?"
not get access to HGVC's member list? How? And if he/she has access, how do they not ram thru software that accepts those people?

 

[Eric B]

Amex has limit of 5 personal and Business credit cards, plus a max of 10 charge cards. Do you happen to already have other Amex cards, is so you might be at their limit. I have read a few blogs that claim they also frown on people with existing cards that get little use. Basically they want give the cards to people that will use them for regular spend, Amex wants the swipe fees from the merchants..

I believe the limitation is on credit cards, not charge cards. This means that the cards like the Platinum and Platinum Business, where they expect you to pay the balance off each month, don't count against the limit. I have 7 AMEX cards total, including 1 Platinum and 1 Platinum Business.

 

[brp]

I pretty much use the Hilton cards for hilton maintenance fees, charges at hilton and to load the airline quarterly credits only. Same with Marriott cards, just for Marriott maintenance fees, marriott charges and the monthly food credit.

Have a United for airfare. Costco Visa for gas (4%), travel related charges except airfare and dining (3%), citibank doublecash for everything else not getting more than 2%. Then various quarterly bonus cards like chase freedom and discover.

We each have Aspire and also use it just for Hilton purchases and the airfare credits. I have two Marriott cards (cheaper one and expensive one) and only use them for Marriott purchases and the expensive one gets $25/month in dining credits. We get free nights from this.

My main spender is Chase Sapphire Reserve as the points can be transferred to Hyatt. Mrs. brp's big spender is the Hyatt card as spend counts toward status as well as award nights counting.

We pay for flights for the most part to maintain our AA status.

Cheers.

 

[letsgobobby]

We each have Aspire and also use it just for Hilton purchases and the airfare credits. I have two Marriott cards (cheaper one and expensive one) and only use them for Marriott purchases and the expensive one gets $25/month in dining credits. We get free nights from this.

My main spender is Chase Sapphire Reserve as the points can be transferred to Hyatt. Mrs. brp's big spender is the Hyatt card as spend counts toward status as well as award nights counting.

We pay for flights for the most part to maintain our AA status.

Cheers.

do you have a quick tutorial on optimizing Hyatt points? we have a lot of Chase points and don't always need them for flights.

 

[brp]

do you have a quick tutorial on optimizing Hyatt points? we have a lot of Chase points and don't always need them for flights.

The way we do it is pretty simple. Hyatt points are valued by the travel board folks as the highest of any of the hotel points. The valuation I use is about $0.014 (and I've seen it as high as $0.017). I then look at the room cost and compare the point cost using this valuation. Since we are Globalist (top level) at Hyatt, we don't pay the scammy Resort Fee, so that has to be factored in as well. Sometimes we'll pay cash if a little over that to save points for really expensive places.

Cheers.

 

[ljmiii]

For those of you who complement your AMEX Hilton CC with the no longer offered United (nee Continental) Presidential Plus CC, note that after 14 years United has finally decided that their own United Club Infinite Card should offer superior benefits. In particular, in 2025 the Club Infinite's PQP earn will be 1 PQP earned per $15 spent with a cap of 15,000 PQPs while the Presidential Plus will remain at 1 PQP earned per $20 spent with a cap of 10,000 PQPs.

Presidential Plus CC holders can apply for a new Club Infinite CC and receive a SUB (subject to Chase's usual SUB restrictions). And then downgrade their Presidential Plus CC to the $0 fee Gateway or cancel it depending on whether or not you want to keep the credit rating impact of a long held CC.

Or, I have read but cannot confirm that you can call Chase and have them simply convert your Presidential Plus into a Club Infinite.

It's been a long run with the Presidential Plus for us...and feels like the end of an era. Though last month I did see someone who still had Continental bag tags...;-)

 

[Zenichiro]

NEW! Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $50 per quarter) when you enroll in the $200 Hilton Statement Credit Benefit with your Business Platinum Card through American Express.

Just rolled out this month. Kind of make the card worth it now if you can use the major credits. $200 hotel, $200 airline, $200 clear, $120 Global Entry, $120 wireless credit. $840 in credits.

 

[brp]

NEW! Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $50 per quarter) when you enroll in the $200 Hilton Statement Credit Benefit with your Business Platinum Card through American Express.

Just rolled out this month. Kind of make the card worth it now if you can use the major credits. $200 hotel, $200 airline, $200 clear, $120 Global Entry, $120 wireless credit. $840 in credits.

Very nice. Almost makes me want to un-retire and have a business. Almost

Cheers.

 

[letsgobobby]

The way we do it is pretty simple. Hyatt points are valued by the travel board folks as the highest of any of the hotel points. The valuation I use is about $0.014 (and I've seen it as high as $0.017). I then look at the room cost and compare the point cost using this valuation. Since we are Globalist (top level) at Hyatt, we don't pay the scammy Resort Fee, so that has to be factored in as well. Sometimes we'll pay cash if a little over that to save points for really expensive places.

Cheers.

otherwise even with points you have to pay a resort fee? with hilton that is included.

 

[Zenichiro]

Very nice. Almost makes me want to un-retire and have a business. Almost

Cheers.

I may upgrade my Business Gold for the 120k MR promo. Just not sure i can use all the Hilton credits unless it allows gift cards.

 

[letsgobobby]

NEW! Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $50 per quarter) when you enroll in the $200 Hilton Statement Credit Benefit with your Business Platinum Card through American Express.

Just rolled out this month. Kind of make the card worth it now if you can use the major credits. $200 hotel, $200 airline, $200 clear, $120 Global Entry, $120 wireless credit. $840 in credits.

if there were a centurion in my home airport and i could bring in guests I'd do it. without that, there is either an Alaska Sea or Chase lounge in the airports we go to most.

 

[frank808]

NEW! Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $50 per quarter) when you enroll in the $200 Hilton Statement Credit Benefit with your Business Platinum Card through American Express.

Just rolled out this month. Kind of make the card worth it now if you can use the major credits. $200 hotel, $200 airline, $200 clear, $120 Global Entry, $120 wireless credit. $840 in credits.

Dell credits are gone?

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[frank808]

if there were a centurion in my home airport and i could bring in guests I'd do it. without that, there is either an Alaska Sea or Chase lounge in the airports we go to most.

Chase lounge in Boston was very nice. Have not had a chance to visit the new ones.

For me it is United Club and Priority Pass if there is no United lounge. Only easy Centurion lounge for us to visit is at SFO. And even then it is a little out of the way. now with the gate closures for a SFO renovations, it is way too far.

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[brp]

otherwise even with points you have to pay a resort fee? with hilton that is included.

Actually, no. I had forgotten that. No resort fee on award stays. Marriott, though, does not waive resort fees on award stays.

Cheers.

 

[Zenichiro]

Dell credits are gone?

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Not yet that I noticed. Assuming something will go.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Dell credits are gone?

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Both the Dell and Adobe credits now show an end date on the Amex website, so presumably, they will end on that date

 

[1Kflyerguy]

NEW! Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $50 per quarter) when you enroll in the $200 Hilton Statement Credit Benefit with your Business Platinum Card through American Express.

Just rolled out this month. Kind of make the card worth it now if you can use the major credits. $200 hotel, $200 airline, $200 clear, $120 Global Entry, $120 wireless credit. $840 in credits.

This is more challenging than the Surpass and Aspire credits. From my reading, you must have a Hilton for Business account to use this credit. There is no cost to open a Hilton for Business account, but you do need to provide your business website and an email with the same domain as the website. That is a bit more effort for anyone who has a very small business, like an eBay store or driving for Uber, etc.

 

[Eric B]

This is more challenging than the Surpass and Aspire credits. From my reading, you must have a Hilton for Business account to use this credit. There is no cost to open a Hilton for Business account, but you do need to provide your business website and an email with the same domain as the website. That is a bit more effort for anyone who has a very small business, like an eBay store or driving for Uber, etc.

You don't actually need either a business website or an email domain (or a business, really). I went ahead and set the Hilton for Business account up in order to qualify for the Hilton credit on my Business Platinum card - the terms for the credit say you qualify once you set up the account and receive an email back from Hilton that it is set up, which I got without filling in a website; I do have an email domain name but that was an optional item that would restrict access to the account to people using an email account from the domain.

Just paid $50 towards my MFs at The Quin using the Business Platinum card - I'll report back when I get the credit. This is a nice replacement for the Adobe benefit, which now ends on 6/30/25 according to the website - I wasn't using that one anyway. It's a bit better for my usage than the Dell one, also ending 6/30/25 - I had used that one for a couple of little nice to have things but paying MFs is a better option. Hopefully they add another benefit to replace the one of those this doesn't cover.

 

[Zenichiro]

This is more challenging than the Surpass and Aspire credits. From my reading, you must have a Hilton for Business account to use this credit. There is no cost to open a Hilton for Business account, but you do need to provide your business website and an email with the same domain as the website. That is a bit more effort for anyone who has a very small business, like an eBay store or driving for Uber, etc.

You just enroll on the Amex site and it automatically sets you up for a Hilton Business account.