Amex Hilton Changes

[hurnik]

It has been a week since I purchased a Travel Bank credit on my Aspire. Has anyone had an issue with this a travel credit recently. It has always been working in the past. Need to get my $50 Airline credit, and I forgot and paid for flight on my other card. So I thought why not travel bank it again.

Any one with some recent experience.

No, worked fine in January when I did it again for this quarter.
If you did it recently (past month?) and are waiting for the credit, there's a HUGE thread over on Flyertalk where Amex credits across ALL cards for ALL credits are posting VERY slowly lately.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

@Sandy VDH Reports on Flyertalk are noting that credits have been slower to process and can take 3 - 4 weeks. I have a SW flight from Mar 12 that hasn't credited yet. I also bought UA Travel bank with card 2 earlier this week but too early to show up.

Note to self: process these by month 2 of the quarter to ensure they are credited.

Report Hilton Aspire $50 x 4 Flight Credit experiences (All Airlines) - FlyerTalk Forums

American Express | Membership Rewards - Report Hilton Aspire $50 x 4 Flight Credit experiences (All Airlines) - Originally Posted by Majuki While I don't owe a justification, up until last year I was using the Hilton Aspire + Platinum credits to mostly cover the cost of the membership prior to...

www.flyertalk.com

All, Here is a handy reference guide I found for all AMEX flight credit DPs.

Amex Airline Fee Reimbursements. What still works?

Amex airline fee reimbursements are in many cases surprisingly easy to use since there are many things that work that you may not . . .

frequentmiler.com

 

[Sandy VDH]

Note to self: process these by month 2 of the quarter to ensure they are credited.

I have my reminder set 2 weeks before end of Qtr, I think it would be a good idea to set it up 2 weeks earlier than that.

Credits had been posting super fast over christmas, wonder why they have slowed down.

 

[brp]

I have min reminder set 2 weeks before end of Qtr, I think it would be a good idea to set it up 2 weeks earlier than that.

Credits had been posting super fast over christmas, wonder why they have slowed down.

I have a reminder set for the 1st day of each quarter and just do it then. I have 3 months to allow for delays

Cheers.

 

[Zenichiro]

It has been a week since I purchased a Travel Bank credit on my Aspire. Has anyone had an issue with this a travel credit recently. It has always been working in the past. Need to get my $50 Airline credit, and I forgot and paid for flight on my other card. So I thought why not travel bank it again.

Any one with some recent experience.

No issues for me this year using TB.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

No issues for me this year using TB

I just noticed my $50 credit took 12 days, which is about normal. Maybe it was much faster once, but I remember 10-14 days being normal

 

[brp]

I just noticed my $50 credit took 12 days, which is about normal. Maybe it was much faster once, but I remember 10-14 days being normal

My credits (the $100 on Aspire, not the $59) have typically been 3-4 days. So 12 seems long to me. But my Bonvoy Brilliant dining credits are all over the board. So things are just very variable with Amex credits.

Cheers.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

DP: 11 days to credit a southwest flight purchase. 5 days and no credit for TB on Card #2.

FYI. Southwest flight calendar has still not opened up for Thanksgiving and the holidays. Are they waiting until May 27 devaluations to release so if buyers cancel or change they will get credits that expire? If so, that is a #moneygrab because they usually release these flight schedules by now.

 

[Sandy VDH]

My UA Travel Bank credit finally posted. It took 10 days this time. It took 2 days when I did it at the end of the year.

 

[conci9999]

DP: 11 days to credit a southwest flight purchase. 5 days and no credit for TB on Card #2.

FYI. Southwest flight calendar has still not opened up for Thanksgiving and the holidays. Are they waiting until May 27 devaluations to release so if buyers cancel or change they will get credits that expire? If so, that is a #moneygrab because they usually release these flight schedules by now.

According to Southwest website, they will open up their schedule for flights through January 5, 2026 on March 27.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

@conci9999 Thank you! I will mark my calendar. Tuggers are the best.

 

[rickandcindy23]

The inability to see my free night with my Aspire card, so I know when I have one to use is one reason why I should cancel this card. The addition of Clear doesn't help my decision because Rick would also need to get the card, and I would have to keep track of yet another one of those free nights. I think I lost one last year.

 

[ljmiii]

The inability to see my free night with my Aspire card, so I know when I have one to use is one reason why I should cancel this card...

If you look at "My Account" on the Hilton website, your current and previously used Free Night Rewards are shown. It even shows the expiration dates and any FNRs that are currently Reserved for Upcoming Stays.

It is true that you can to call in Hilton to make a reservation...but it's a small annoyance to redeem an approximately $500 value (or more).

 

[Sandy VDH]

The inability to see my free night with my Aspire card, so I know when I have one to use is one reason why I should cancel this card. The addition of Clear doesn't help my decision because Rick would also need to get the card, and I would have to keep track of yet another one of those free nights. I think I lost one last year.

You can see your Free night on your Hilton Account. You can't book it directly at this time, but you can see it there.

Oops....what @ljmiii said. LOL

 

[mountainboy]

If you look at "My Account" on the Hilton website, your current and previously used Free Night Rewards are shown. It even shows the expiration dates and any FNRs that are currently Reserved for Upcoming Stays.

It is true that you can to call in Hilton to make a reservation...but it's a small annoyance to redeem an approximately $500 value (or more).

have used my FNCs at WA: Grand Wailea & WA Monarch Beach; cash stays well over 900 per night at Grand Wailea (& was upgraded as Diamond, Thx to Aspire) and 1400 at WA Monarch Beach; excellent value!

 

[mountainboy]

The inability to see my free night with my Aspire card, so I know when I have one to use is one reason why I should cancel this card. The addition of Clear doesn't help my decision because Rick would also need to get the card, and I would have to keep track of yet another one of those free nights. I think I lost one last year.

Can also see the FNCs in Hilton app (although need to call to book)..

 

[brp]

The inability to see my free night with my Aspire card, so I know when I have one to use is one reason why I should cancel this card. The addition of Clear doesn't help my decision because Rick would also need to get the card, and I would have to keep track of yet another one of those free nights. I think I lost one last year.

I keep track of all free nights for all hotel chains on a spreadsheet. Have some automated color coding for things expiring in the current year so we notice. Pretty hard to lose them this way, without even looking in the app. But, as noted, they are visible there. Hyatt and Marriott allow booking from the app/website. But at least Hilton show them now.

Cheers.

 

[mountainboy]

I keep track of all free nights for all hotel chains on a spreadsheet. Have some automated color coding for things expiring in the current year so we notice. Pretty hard to lose them this way, without even looking in the app. But, as noted, they are visible there. Hyatt and Marriott allow booking from the app/website. But at least Hilton show them now.

Cheers.

You are Next level @brp !

My old school easy peasy way is to burn as soon as I earn (unless plan to max with aspirational trip, like Grand Wailea, although Covid times also ensured those FNCs were left unused)...

 

[brp]

You are Next level @brp !

My old school easy peasy way is to burn as soon as I earn (unless plan to max with aspirational trip, like Grand Wailea, although Covid times also ensured those FNCs were left unused)...

We have few trips with Hilton, and apportion our two annual FNCs there. We earn much more from Hyatt and I use those points and FNCs very strategically for higher-point stays. There are limits there, so the game has more facets...and is more fun.

Cheers.

 

[Sandy VDH]

I keep track of all free nights for all hotel chains on a spreadsheet. Have some automated color coding for things expiring in the current year so we notice. Pretty hard to lose them this way, without even looking in the app. But, as noted, they are visible there. Hyatt and Marriott allow booking from the app/website. But at least Hilton show them now.

Cheers.

I keep all the perks in a spreadsheet with timelines on when they have to be used. I have a reminder every quarter (as that is the greatest frequency for the perks on my cards). If you have something monthly, then you might need to alter that.

You miss out on any of those perks, and you've just diminished the value, and perhaps now your not getting over that $550 fee you paid. Perks only make sense if you get the value and use out of them. I wouldn't be getting cards where I don't get any perks I would use anyway. I still to Hilton AMEX Aspire and Chase CR.

 

[hurnik]

I use Award Wallet for stuff like this. Yes, I pay for it. But I have so many accounts/programs to track (plus P2 stuff), I just like everything in one spot semi-automated. I have a manual spreadsheet for tracking my bank bonuses though (yes, it's time consuming, but I earned $5,500 last year in bank bonuses alone, although had to pay taxes on those, but it's still a win).

LOL

 

[1Kflyerguy]

I use Award Wallet for stuff like this. Yes, I pay for it. But I have so many accounts/programs to track (plus P2 stuff), I just like everything in one spot semi-automated. I have a manual spreadsheet for tracking my bank bonuses though (yes, it's time consuming, but I earned $5,500 last year in bank bonuses alone, although had to pay taxes on those, but it's still a win).

LOL

I just heard about Award Wallet on the Frequent Miler podcast, can you track P1 and P2 accounts with a single subscription and dashboard? i.e. multiple United accounts?

 

[Tucsonadventurer]

Just noticed the changes to Surpass and Aspire cards. At the moment they appear to be positive.

Surpass changes Receive up to $200 back each year (up to $50 in statement credits each quarter) for eligible purchases made directly with Hilton.
Enjoy complimentary National Car Rental®Emerald Club Executive® status
4x HH on US Online Retail

Aspire changes Get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts on your Hilton Honors Aspire Card

Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with an airline or though amextravel.com

$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit

complimentary National Car Rental®Emerald Club Executive® status

Cell phone: for a maximum of $800 per claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim

New design

Could be more but that is what I saw so far

Edit: Aspire annual fee increase to $550. Priority pass dropped on both cards. Aspire will be metal.

​

Aspire gives 1 free night each yr. Surpass is just 1 upon spend and status for Aspire is huge. Diamond for aspire.

 

[brp]

I use Award Wallet for stuff like this. Yes, I pay for it. But I have so many accounts/programs to track (plus P2 stuff), I just like everything in one spot semi-automated. I have a manual spreadsheet for tracking my bank bonuses though (yes, it's time consuming, but I earned $5,500 last year in bank bonuses alone, although had to pay taxes on those, but it's still a win).

LOL

Award Wallet is quite good for this. Since I'm tracking various categories and also doing predictive status modeling in several programs, Award Wallet isn't enough for me since it can't (AFAIK) do the modeling I do. And, now that the spreadsheets and formulae are built, it's easy

Cheers.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Award Wallet is quite good for this. Since I'm tracking various categories and also doing predictive status modeling in several programs, Award Wallet isn't enough for me since it can't (AFAIK) do the modeling I do. And, now that the spreadsheets and formulae are built, it's easy

Cheers.

Whoa! Predictive status modeling? @brp you are definitely playing this game well beyond my travel pay grade.