Amex Hilton Changes

[Nowaker]

The Free Night Reward (at $15K spend) shows for the new Surpass on both the Hilton and AMEX websites. On the Hilton website it's under stay perks and it's in the T&Cs on the AMEX website.

Ok, cool. I missed it while reviewing the new terms. In that case, it's still an okay card, just slightly worse due to the higher AF.

Edit: Just checked - normal rate for cardboard members, so no benefit. I prolly did check.

I'm a cardholder with no status and got that discount. @HuskerATL 's screenshot also confirms Amex Delta cardholders get it.

 

[tah]

I am actually a bit confused by my renewal bill, it is $249 for me and two other people but if I am $149 and they are $70 each, that should be $289.

View attachment 82717

Are you a Veteran? Veteran's pay $109. There might be some other $99/109 categories too

 

[ljmiii]

Ok, cool. I missed it while reviewing the new terms. In that case, it's still an okay card, just slightly worse due to the higher AF.

The updated AMEX Surpass is actually much better for me because of the $200 (really $50 * 4) Hilton Credit. I'm certain to get $50 * 2 back from MFs (end of year and Jan 1st) and the odds of incidentals or bookings in the other two quarters are quite high. Even if they change the coding to no longer count HGVC dues and MFs as "eligible charges", I can reasonably expect to get $100-$150 back.

 

[HuskerATL]

Are you a Veteran? Veteran's pay $109. There might be some other $99/109 categories too

I am but don't remember telling them that...maybe I did.

 

[HuskerATL]

Are you a Veteran? Veteran's pay $109. There might be some other $99/109 categories too

I wonder if it is good for renewals:

 

[HuskerATL]

Are you a Veteran? Veteran's pay $109. There might be some other $99/109 categories too

Thank you for flagging this @tah ...I just went to the Clear chat and the rep adjusted my fee based on my driver's license that is in the system, with my veteran status on it (veteran renewals is $99). Since we have both the Amex Plat and Aspire, I had her move our older son out on his own primary account and put our younger son with him. Now I will have a primary account with my wife as a family member using the Aspire Card that cost $169 total, so free with the $189 credit. Our older son, who has the Amex Plat with us, will use it and get the Delta Discount so between him and our younger son, that cost will be $219, so overall for 4 family members in Clear, it will cost us $30.

 

[Zenichiro]

The updated AMEX Surpass is actually much better for me because of the $200 (really $50 * 4) Hilton Credit. I'm certain to get $50 * 2 back from MFs (end of year and Jan 1st) and the odds of incidentals or bookings in the other two quarters are quite high. Even if they change the coding to no longer count HGVC dues and MFs as "eligible charges", I can reasonably expect to get $100-$150 back.

I concur that, up to this point, I believe both cards have improved significantly post-update.
I doubt they'll eliminate the MF fee payment as eligible charges in coding, given that it serves as a valuable selling point for HGVC. When they sell deeds, they prefer to highlight the HH points you'll receive upon purchase.

 

[Mongoose]

Be sure to call in every 13 months to get a “retention bonus”. I got 15000 HH points this year (I have a Surpass)

Can you explain that.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Is the new Hilton credit for all Hilton? Or only resorts like before? It worked in Vegas but not W 57th.

And the airline credit only for designated airlines like before? Or mix and match?

 

[Reddart]

Can you explain that.

https://upgradedpoints.com/credit-cards/credit-card-retention-offers/#:~:text=American%20Express&text=If%20you're%20considering%20closing,a.m.%20to%2011%20p.m.%20EST.

 

[raddoc]

Is the new Hilton credit for all Hilton? Or only resorts like before? It worked in Vegas but not W 57th

I believe it is only for resorts like before.

"Eligible purchases must be made directly with a participating Hilton Resort and charged to a Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card for the benefit to apply. Visit hilton.com/resorts for the list of participating Hilton Resorts. Advance Purchase Rates/Non-Refundable Rates are not eligible for the resort credit. Incidental charges (including charges made at restaurants, spas, and other establishments within the hotel property) must be charged to your room and paid for with a Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card for the benefit to apply."

And the airline credit only for designated airlines like before? Or mix and match?

I believe it's for any and all airlines but it's for airfare only and not for incidental charges / fees like it was previously. It doesn't sound like the $50 credit would apply towards a change in ticket price either.

This was reported by The Points Guy, sounds like you could get a $50 credit for Q4 2023 even if you have already gotten the earlier $250 credit.

I think the best path for this quarterly $50 airfare credit will be to buy a ticket for a cheap flight as close to $50 as you can every quarter (with no intention of actually taking the flight), cancelling the ticket and retaining the $50 as an airline credit. That would essentially allow you to pool the credit and use a larger amount against a single ticket rather than getting $50 off of four separate tickets.

This would only work as long as the major airlines aren't charging change fees (or if you use it on Southwest). United allows using up to 10 flight credits for a purchase so you should be able to get $200 credit against a single flight. Southwest only allows three different payment types - so you could use $150 in credits if your flight was less than $150 or you could use $100 in credit with the balance on another form of payment if the flight was more than $150.

 

[ljmiii]

Is the new Hilton credit for all Hilton? Or only resorts like before? It worked in Vegas but not W 57th.

The new Surpass Hilton credit ($50 * 4) is for all Hilton. The new Aspire Hilton credit ($200 * 2) continues to be resorts only.

 

[brp]

United allows using up to 10 flight credits for a purchase so you should be able to get $200 credit against a single flight. Southwest only allows three different payment types - so you could use $150 in credits if your flight was less than $150 or you could use $100 in credit with the balance on another form of payment if the flight was more than $150.

Alaska allows all credits for cancelled flight, as well as GCs, to be put into a Wallet. In this case, it's all one fund any any number of credits can be used.

What some have talked about on Flyertalk was to book a ticket (this was Southwest as that was all that had worked), and cancel within 24 hours. In this way, the ticket was refunded, and they got the refund for the spend. I think that too much of this is risky, and never did it myself. It is an option, but I think cancelling outside of 24 hours and banking the credit is safer long term.

Cheers.

 

[HuskerATL]

The new Aspire Hilton credit ($200 * 2) continues to be resorts only.

I am not sure this is completely true because if you look at the list of participating resorts from the link in the Aspire card terms and conditions, https://www.hilton.com/en/resorts/, Craig Lodges isn't there but we get the credit with both new purchases and MFs. On the other hand, when you look down the list, you do see the other HGVs but not the NYC ones which I know some folks have said don't work for MFs. Also, some on the list, don't look like resorts but are condos or just hotels that have a pool. I think it is something with how they are named on the transaction versus being an actual resort that gets the credit.

We just bought some more Craig weeks and got the $250 credit for the purchase and this is how it is labeled on the transaction:

It would be interesting to see how others are labeled that do not work, such as the NYC ones.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

The new Surpass Hilton credit ($50 * 4) is for all Hilton. The new Aspire Hilton credit ($200 * 2) continues to be resorts only.

Hmm...might be worth pickup up a Surpass to pay W57 MF. I don't know if we would qualify for the bonus because we had the card in 2017 and upgraded it to Aspire when it was introduced. 2024 will be 7 years perhaps sufficient time to get bonus again.

 

[Zenichiro]

Hmm...might be worth pickup up a Surpass to pay W57 MF. I don't know if we would qualify for the bonus because we had the card in 2017 and upgraded it to Aspire when it was introduced. 2024 will be 7 years perhaps sufficient time to get bonus again.

I had the no annual fee back in 2017/2018 and cancelled it shortly after. Earlier this year they had the welcome bonus 80k HH and 1 free night for $1k spend and I was able to get it again. So you should be able to. Free to check anyway

 

[raddoc]

Hmm...might be worth pickup up a Surpass to pay W57 MF. I don't know if we would qualify for the bonus because we had the card in 2017 and upgraded it to Aspire when it was introduced. 2024 will be 7 years perhaps sufficient time to get bonus again.

It's $50 per quarter. Would be hard to hit 4 quarters with MF payments, likely just two quarters (partial payments in December & January). Not sure if it would reimburse for cleaning fees for short stays?

 

[PigsDad]

It's $50 per quarter. Would be hard to hit 4 quarters with MF payments, likely just two quarters (partial payments in December & January).

If you own at Valdoro, they split the MF payment and the second is due in May each year. So three quarters would be easy for those owners.

Kurt

 

[letsgobobby]

assume if you haven't yet claimed the $250 airline credit for 2024 you can still do that?

 

[frank808]

As does Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Cheers.

Chase Ritz gets free Priority Pass for authorized users. CSR charges for adding authorized users.

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[frank808]

the Amex Platinum does also

The Chase PP has restaurant access while Amex PP does not.

Amex platinum charges for authorized users while Chase Ritz does not charge for AU and each AU gets Priority Pass membership.

A moot point now as Amex Aspire is dropping PP membership in 2025.

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[Great3]

The Chase PP has restaurant access while Amex PP does not.

Amex platinum charges for authorized users while Chase Ritz does not charge for AU and each AU gets Priority Pass membership.

A moot point now as Amex is dropping PP membership in 2025.

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Are you referring to the refresh Hilton Aspire AMEX dropping PP membership, or are you talking about the AMEX Platinum dropping PP membership as well?

I can't see to find anything about AMEX Platinum losing PP benefits. Not that it matters to me now that I have Chase Ritz card, but there was a period of time where my PP membership was only thru AMEX cards.

Thanks,
Great3

 

[frank808]

Are you referring to the refresh Hilton Aspire AMEX dropping PP membership, or are you talking about the AMEX Platinum dropping PP membership as well?

I can't see to find anything about AMEX Platinum losing PP benefits. Not that it matters to me now that I have Chase Ritz card, but there was a period of time where my PP membership was only thru AMEX cards.

Thanks,
Great3

Corrected to Aspire Amex.

All I had were PP memberships through Amex. Then when Amex decided to drop restaurant access for their PP membership, I had to look elsewhere. I enjoy using the credits at PP restaurants to much.

That is when I found out about the Chase Ritz card with the free AU users also getting their own PP membership. CSR charged for adding AU, so went with the Ritz card.

I will still keep my Aspire if I can get $50 a quarter airline credit out of Aspire. Then it will be the same $50 benefit I enjoy now ($250 Hilton and $250 airline credit minus $450 AF= $50 in my pocket. The $400 Hilton credit (paying MF) + $200 airline credit minus $550 AF= same $50 gain.

I get free Clear membership due to airline status. I use the green Amex credit of $189 for my wife and son which costs $140. Now I can cancel and save the $125 Amex green card AF as I will have 4 free Clear Amex Aspire credits.

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[brp]

Chase Ritz gets free Priority Pass for authorized users. CSR charges for adding authorized users.

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Did not know that. But we travel together and have no AU, so not relevant for us. And the CSR is more generally useful than Ritz for us.

Cheers.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Since many of us are already Aspire holders (we are 2-player) I am still confused about the old credits ($250 airline amenity/$250 Hilton) and new credits announced($200 any airline($50/qtr)/$400 Hilton ($200/6 mos)) in 2023. Here is the clearest answer I have found.

"For those who are existing cardmembers, I wanted to cover some of the basics of how the transition from the old perks to the new perks works (specifically for those who already have the card):

• As of February 1, 2024, the card no longer offers a Priority Pass membership, so existing memberships will be canceled; the only exception is that if you enrolled between February 1, 2023, and January 31, 2024, your membership will be valid through October 31, 2024
• The card no longer offers a $250 annual Hilton resort credit; those who had the card prior to October 19, 2023, can still use the benefit through December 31, 2023, and can’t use the new $400 annual Hilton resort credit until 2024
• The card no longer offers a $250 annual airline fee credit; those who had the card prior to October 19, 2023, can still use the benefit through December 31, 2023"

Hilton Honors Aspire Card Review: Worth The Fee

A detailed review of the Hilton Aspire Card, which offers incredible benefits that more than justify the annual fee.

onemileatatime.com

PSA: Make sure you use up your old credits before Dec 31, 2023. I had to contact AMEX chat to find out my balances because they are no longer on the site.