Amex Hilton Changes

[CalGalTraveler]

We have the Costco card. Good to know if in a pinch. However we charge at home using rooftop solar = free. So not needed.

 

[frank808]

Actually, I do spend the $15k for the Surpass FNC, which I have already done for this year, that can be valued up to $2k, if used at the correct place. Last year we had 4 FNCs, 1 earned from the Surpass, 1 free and 1 earned from my Aspire, and 1 free from my wife's Aspire. But groceries and gas mostly at Kroger using the Kroger card and then online Costco using the Costco card. We have actually never been in the local Costco here... Or gotten gas there but did just fill up both cars, that require premium gas, at Kroger's for about $2.60/gallon. We take both cars and park on both sides of the pump, then fill both up to maximize the discount.

Just wondering what categories you spent on the Surpass $15K to get the FNC?

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[brp]

Since we have rooftop solar and an EV for town driving (free) we now only use our ICE vehicles for long road trips so we rarely buy gas.

We are that way, too. EV. solar and storage. The EV is free, so for most medium-distance trips. The ICE is a non-plug Hybrid, so the gas mileage is pretty good. But fewer of those longer trips.

Cheers.

 

[frank808]

We have the Costco card. Good to know if in a pinch. However we charge at home using rooftop solar = free. So not needed.

On Oahu, there is a glut of solar energy from photovoltaics that local electric company will not allow you to add any solar panels without equal battery storage. Oahu actually makes more solar power electricty that feeds back into grid during daylight hours than is needed. Because of that, any photovoltaic panel installations from the past couple of years has been required to add batteries. There were many warnings of imbalance of power being fed back into the grid because of the amount of private photovoltaic we have. It used to be for every kilowatt you fed pack you were credited. This was so popular that it led to such great adoption of PV panels on this island.

This increases the upfront cost of PV panels with battery storage.

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[HuskerATL]

Just wondering what categories you spent on the Surpass $15K to get the FNC?

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A mix. I would need to look at the spending graph but a mix is groceries, non-Kroger gas, restaurants, Lowes, travel, etc

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Duplicate

 

[frank808]

A mix. I would need to look at the spending graph but a mix is groceries, non-Kroger gas, restaurants, Lowes, travel, etc

Would it not be better for you to just get the Aspire for the FNC and put the $15K spend you would have spent on Surpass to get that FNC on other credit cards that earn more than 3x Hilton Honors points are worth? With TPG valuation of 3 HH points are worth 1.5 cents. If you get 2% on those purchases, you will be making at least .5% more than with Surpass.

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[HuskerATL]

Would it not be better for you to just get the Aspire for the FNC and put the $15K spend you would have spent on Surpass to get that FNC on other credit cards that earn more than 3x Hilton Honors points are worth? With TPG valuation of 3 HH points are worth 1.5 cents. If you get 2% on those purchases, you will be making at least .5% more than with Surpass.

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Maybe...but remember many are more than 3x... That is the minimum ... up to 12x and some categories are higher multipliers than the Aspire.

 

[HuskerATL]

The other thing that you need to factor in is that the Surpass is a lot cheaper than the Aspire. We use the other benefits on the Aspire to offset the annual fee but not sure that we would use them all with a third one.

We also have the Amex platinum so use it for travel perks.

 

[JohnPaul]

Just wondering what categories you spent on the Surpass $15K to get the FNC?

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Categories don't matter. It's just based on $$ spend.

 

[frank808]

Maybe...but remember many are more than 3x... That is the minimum ... up to 12x and some categories are higher multipliers than the Aspire.

12x is only for hilton purchases so the Aspire would be better.

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[frank808]

The other thing that you need to factor in is that the Surpass is a lot cheaper than the Aspire. We use the other benefits on the Aspire to offset the annual fee but not sure that we would use them all with a third one.

We also have the Amex platinum so use it for travel perks.

For me the AF is a wash with either card because I can use all the credits so net $50 plus FNC just to have the card. If you cant use all the credits that Aspire provides then it will not be a good deal.

With just 1 Hawaii deed, the MF is more than the $1600 on Hilton purchases (4 Aspire with $400 credit each) so use it all there. I fly with United and the $800 in travel bank is easily used. So basically, for the prepayment of four Aspire AF ($2200), I gain $200 and four free FNC. What's not to love there?


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[frank808]

Categories don't matter. It's just based on $$ spend.

Spend $15k earning 3 points for 45k Hilton honor points or get $750 back in cash for the same spend? What would you rather have?

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[SNS02]

@SNS02 We have 2 Aspires and 2 surpasses (2 player). With the Surpass 15k you can time the certificate issuance date when you complete the 15k. So we have 2 Aspires that re-issue in the summer. We are going to push the 2 Surpass payments to finish later in the year to allow for Summer and Fall Travel. We have not upgraded to Aspires because we like the lower AF on the Surpass.

Yes I like that control factor a bit. You can time it to where you might need it.

 

[mountainboy]

Actually, I do spend the $15k for the Surpass FNC, which I have already done for this year, that can be valued up to $2k, if used at the correct place. Last year we had 4 FNCs, 1 earned from the Surpass, 1 free and 1 earned from my Aspire, and 1 free from my wife's Aspire. But groceries and gas mostly at Kroger using the Kroger card and then online Costco using the Costco card. We have actually never been in the local Costco here... Or gotten gas there but did just fill up both cars, that require premium gas, at Kroger's for about $2.60/gallon. We take both cars and park on both sides of the pump, then fill both up to maximize the discount.

$2.60/gallon prem gas, nice...
3.59 Reg in PHX/AZ; 3.09 in Costco here (2.79 at Costco in Prescott/AZ, an hour North of us, last week)
Was 4.49 in Costco Carlsbad, near HGVC MarBrisa/GPP few weeks ago...