Hilton AmEx cards

[Nowaker]

I tried to join Alliant CU but they are geo fenced. Wouldn't lwt me join since I am in Hawaii.

Interesting. When did you try? As per https://www.alliantcreditunion.org/help/who-is-eligible-to-join-alliant, they currently even allow members who live outside the US.

 

[brp]

You can have both. I have one from my Amex Platinum and another from my Aspire.

Are there any examples where Amex is better then CSR for PP? I think I have accounts with both, but have the card in my digital wallet linked to CSR and never use the Amex as CSR, as far as I know, is a proper superset of AMex.

Cheers.

 

[HuskerATL]

Are there any examples where Amex is better then CSR for PP? I think I have accounts with both, but have the card in my digital wallet linked to CSR and never use the Amex as CSR, as far as I know, is a proper superset of AMex.

Cheers.

Actually, CSR may be better. I think the CSR version has access to restaurants and lounges plus maybe more where Amex is just lounge access.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Nice to learn about the 3% Sofi. We have the Penfed 2% but 3% is always better. Will look into that. Also interested in the Bilt card because we pay rent for our son's college apt. I just applied and was accepted for the Business and Personal Southwest cards to rebuild our points stash and to renew our companion passes for the next 2 years. We play 2 player on Southwest to bring companions to Hawaii.

IMHO...We use the CSR PP because we prefer the restaurant credit over the lounges. Fresh hot food over chex mix, cold cuts and salad buffet. We both have a CSR so we can have 4 meals if we have family or friends with us.

 

[ljmiii]

IMHO...We use the CSR PP because we prefer the restaurant credit over the lounges. Fresh hot food over chex mix, cold cuts and salad buffet. We both have a CSR so we can have 4 meals if we have family or friends with us.

Out of curiosity, how do you find out which airport restaurants accept the CSR PP card? I only ever see lounges when I look in the Priority Pass app.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

@ljmiii They are listed in the PP app. You may need to check different terminals in larger airports. We are close to SFO so there are several restaurants available. You sometimes need to allow extra time to get to them and go through security because they are not in the same terminals as your flights. Not in most Southwest and short range terminals. Usually in the bigger airline terminals.

 

[ljmiii]

@ljmiii They are listed in the PP app. You may need to check different terminals in larger airports. We are close to SFO so there are several restaurants available. You sometimes need to allow extra time to get to them and go through security because they are not in the same terminals as your flights. Not in most Southwest and short range terminals. Usually in the bigger airline terminals.

Thank you very much. Something must be amiss with my PP account since I'm just seeing lounges at SFO - I thought it was linked to the PP membership I have from my my CSR card but evidently not. Oh joy...I anticipate having to call...;-)

 

[brp]

Actually, CSR may be better. I think the CSR version has access to restaurants and lounges plus maybe more where Amex is just lounge access.

Right. That's was saying. I was responding to someone who keep both and uses the one that is best for the situation. And I was wondering if there were any cases where Amex was better, i.e. why even have that one active instead of CSR always.

Cheers.

 

[brp]

@ljmiii Not in most Southwest and short range terminals. Usually in the bigger airline terminals.

Although anyone in a Southwest terminal these days has pleeeeennnnnnttttyyyyy of time...

Cheers.

 

[HuskerATL]

Right. That's was saying. I was responding to someone who keep both and uses the one that is best for the situation. And I was wondering if there were any cases where Amex was better, i.e. why even have that one active instead of CSR always.

Cheers.

If you get into the same lounges, not sure of a need for both

 

[1Kflyerguy]

I get priority pass from multiple cards, but only active and use the one from the CSR.

Not a Hilton card, but the Amex Platinum does offer a few other lounge programs beyond just Priority Pass. That expands your options and some of the lounges like the Amex Centurion lounges are nice!

 

[HuskerATL]

I get priority pass from multiple cards, but only active and use the one from the CSR.

Not a Hilton card, but the Amex Platinum does offer a few other lounge programs beyond just Priority Pass. That expands your options and some of the lounges like the Amex Centurion lounges are nice!

and, if you only spend $75k on it, you get two guest passes to the Centurion lounge...

 

[brp]

and, if you only spend $75k on it, you get two guest passes to the Centurion lounge...

I get priority pass from multiple cards, but only active and use the one from the CSR.

Not a Hilton card, but the Amex Platinum does offer a few other lounge programs beyond just Priority Pass. That expands your options and some of the lounges like the Amex Centurion lounges are nice!

Definitely carry the Platinum for the other lounges, but don't use their PP offering.

Alternative for guests is to get an associate Platinum card. $175 for up to 3 cards. Just got one for mrs. brp today. We'll try for 1 year and see if we use Centurion enough. With BA Sapphire status, I can use AA lounges (including top tier lounges) on Oneworld itineraries. so that may be enough.

Cheers.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Definitely carry the Platinum for the other lounges, but don't use their PP offering.

Alternative for guests is to get an associate Platinum card. $175 for up to 3 cards. Just got one for mrs. brp today. We'll try for 1 year and see if we use Centurion enough. With BA Sapphire status, I can use AA lounges (including top tier lounges) on Oneworld itineraries. so that may be enough.

Cheers.

With the Morgan Stanley Amex Plat the associate Plat card is free. The Annual Fee for the card is also rebated back to brokerage account if you have certain Morgan accounts. Since we already work with Morgan Stanley, its a winner for us. And similar I don't use their PP offering either.

 

[HuskerATL]

Alternative for guests is to get an associate Platinum card

This is what we do for my wife and two sons. We have actually never used a Centurion lounge but many Delta.

 

[Nowaker]

Nice to learn about the 3% Sofi. We have the Penfed 2% but 3% is always better. Will look into that

Note however - every signup bonus (eg spend $1000 get $200) beats the best cash back. So if you want to play the game that made me $25,000 worth of SUBs in 5 years (60% pure cash, the rest in miles/hotel points etc), that's the way to play it.

 

[GT75]

Although anyone in a Southwest terminal these days has pleeeeennnnnnttttyyyyy of time...

Just boarded our SW flight from BNA to DEN. Very lucky, so far only 1/2 hr delay due to missing crew member issue.

 

[letsgobobby]

getting way off topic here but I feel the PP program has eroded over the years. No mainline clubs accept it any more - used to be that AS did and perhaps a few others. The Club is better than McDonalds but it's hardly an upscale experience. Sometimes they're downright dirty and they are always very crowded. Considering they charge ~ $29 pp for a visit it is definitely not a $120 experience for the family. We don't really drink, so I could see drinkers feeling differently with the free booze.

We will probably dump wife's CSR next fall and just get me an American Airlines Elite MC. That includes access to Admirals Clubs and Alaska Lounges (and others internationally) for me and the whole family, and a free authorized user card for my wife allows her to bring the whole family into Admirals Clubs (but not partner lounges) even if I'm not there. We'd still have PP restaurants (total: 3 guests) with my CSR, and lounges with my CSR and his/hers Amex Aspire. Plus it offers free bag on AA, earlier boarding, bonus miles, Global Entry credit every five years.

The CSR fee is partly offset by the travel reimbursement but the DoorDash thing (partly used to justify the $550 AF) feels like the opposite of a premium card to me. Around here DoorDash is mostly fast food and fast casual, nothing upscale at all.

 

[HuskerATL]

Plus, when lounges start filling up, they reject PP people. I was at AMS in June, waiting in line for 30 minutes to get in Aspire, got to the counter and they asked my membership. When I showed them my PP info in the app, they told me that they are no longer admitting PP folks for now since they are close to full. Evidently others could still get in but not PP. They didn't bother to go out to the line, that was to the elevator, and tell folks that though so many were wasting their time.

Oh the days when I was Diamond on Delta and could use the KLM lounge at AMS.... So much nicer. I think that I will stick with my Silver status though and be home more...

 

[frank808]

Interesting. When did you try? As per https://www.alliantcreditunion.org/help/who-is-eligible-to-join-alliant, they currently even allow members who live outside the US.

Was a few years back but the $10k spend cap makes this CC marginal for me. That 2.5% is for the first $10k spend so it is an extra $50 over the Penfed card. But then the card drops to 1.5%, which is less than my current 2% card. So pretty much lost interest in this card.

 

[Nowaker]

Was a few years back but the $10k spend cap makes this CC marginal for me. That 2.5% is for the first $10k spend so it is an extra $50 over the Penfed card. But then the card drops to 1.5%, which is less than my current 2% card. So pretty much lost interest in this card.

$10K per month. Not per quarter or year. Are you spending more than that in a month?

If so, you shouldn't be using a zero benefit PenFed card, using a regular 2% cashback card doesn't pay that much. Rather, Hilton Business will give you TWO free night certificates for $60K/year spend (my cert is worth $599 on average) and 180,000 HH minimum (assuming regular 3x category, but there are some at 6x) for a $95 AF, and has good benefits (extended warranty - EW, purchase protection - PP). Another $15K on Hilton Surpass for free night cert and 45,000 HH minimum for another $95 AF, and again with EW & PP. That's $75K spent. Add Aspire $60K for two night certs (one from MF) and another 180,000 HH for $450 AF, or $200 AF when accounted for $200 resort credit that applies to MFs, and with EW & PP.

 

[letsgobobby]

after 13 days, no resort credit to ENROLL my W 57th deed. Didn't expect it. I did get the 14x of course.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I've never received the resort credit for W57.

 

[Nowaker]

Didn't expect it

Bobby probably meant they didn't expect to get a credit - thus confirming what everybody else is saying.

 

[letsgobobby]

yes I was just seeing if the club enrollment would be treated any differently. Has anyone received resort credit for club enrollment even for an eligible resort?