Hilton AmEx cards

[dougp26364]

I do not really need another CC but, I like to maximize the value of my dollars spent on hotel's and timeshares. As such I am contemplating taking out one of AmEx's Hilton branded cards.

I'm assuming that paying our MF's will qualify as a Hilton purchase on the card, just like paying our Marriott MF's has done on our AmEx BonVoy cards. I thought I'd run it by TUGGER's to make sure I'm correct before I make a final decision on which of the three cards they offer. I need to balance the benefits of the higher priced Aspire card vs the lessor card with the lower fee.

 

[GT75]

I'm assuming that paying our MF's will qualify as a Hilton purchase on the card,

Yes, for most resorts. Someone who owns at LV Blvd will need to ensure that MFs there qualifies.

 

[JohnPaul]

My W 57th St MF count as a Hilton purchase on my AMEX Hilton card.

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

So does Bay Club

 

[CalGalTraveler]

My W 57th St MF count as a Hilton purchase on my AMEX Hilton card.

My experience is that you get the points but not the $250 resort credit on the Aspire card. I own W57 and Vegas. I only can apply the resort credit to my Vegas property.

We have both the Bonvoy Brilliant and the Amex Aspire. We are planning to apply for another Aspire next spring for spouse so we get 2 free uncapped weekend nights. Then after we receive our last Bonvoy anniversary night, will downgrade the Brilliant next year because 50k point free room cert cap is useless. The only reason we have kept it is to use the $20/month restaurant credit until the end of the year to help offset the AF cost.

 

[natarajanv]

Yes, for most resorts. Someone who owns at LV Blvd will need to ensure that MFs there qualifies.

Yes MFs at LV Blvd qualifies for $250 resort credit


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[Ralph Sir Edward]

It really becomes a trade-off. Will you use the the extra bonuses of the aspire card? Each year, every year?

If so, it's a good deal. If not, it isn't.

I know I won't, so I stay with the cheaper card.

YMMV

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Yep. We use all the benefits. $250 resort credit on Vegas MF. $200+ airline credit on Southwest (also works on < $100 flights). Free uncapped weekend night cert. Card is basically free.

I view the certs as an extension of our TS points stretching strategy to stay extra nights on weekends when HGV points values are double the weekday rate.

 

[MotherBear26]

Does HGVC Kingsland count?

 

[Wgk101]

Kings land is excluded

 

[GT75]

Kings land is excluded

I get the 14x HH pts on AmEx Aspire card.

 

[Wgk101]

Clarification. Kings land is excluded from the free night reward certificate

 

[brp]

My experience is that you get the points but not the $250 resort credit on the Aspire card. I own W57 and Vegas. I only can apply the resort credit to my Vegas property.

Same experience here. W. 57th did not count for the $250 credit, but Vegas did.

We have both the Bonvoy Brilliant and the Amex Aspire. We are planning to apply for another Aspire next spring for spouse so we get 2 free uncapped weekend nights. Then after we receive our last Bonvoy anniversary night, will downgrade the Brilliant next year because 50k point free room cert cap is useless. The only reason we have kept it is to use the $20/month restaurant credit until the end of the year to help offset the AF cost.

Thinking similar thoughts on the Bonvoy Brilliant, although the $300 credit can be used toward a gift card and that can be used for any charge at any Marriott property, even if not staying there. A number of such in places we go have nice bars/restaurants where we can use the credit. May still downgrade as I have both the Brilliant and the lower one (forgot the name) with the 35K cap and no $300 credit.

The $20/month on dining is nice.

Yep. We use all the benefits. $250 resort credit on Vegas MF. $200+ airline credit on Southwest (also works on < $100 flights). Free uncapped weekend night cert. Card is basically free.

I view the certs as an extension of our TS points stretching strategy to stay extra nights on weekends when HGV points values are double the weekday rate.

We each have the Aspire. We use the $250 resort for Vegas TS. We use the $250 airline credit for WN tickets. And the free night cert is worth at least $300 (we don't try to find the most expensive places as some do, but use it for places we already want to go that are expensive...like London).

So, for $550 (or whatever it is now), we get at least $800. And that's not counting all the little promos they do.

Oh, and Diamond.

Cheers.

 

[ccwu]

Same experience here. W. 57th did not count for the $250 credit, but Vegas did.




Thinking similar thoughts on the Bonvoy Brilliant, although the $300 credit can be used toward a gift card and that can be used for any charge at any Marriott property, even if not staying there. A number of such in places we go have nice bars/restaurants where we can use the credit. May still downgrade as I have both the Brilliant and the lower one (forgot the name) with the 35K cap and no $300 credit.

The $20/month on dining is nice.



We each have the Aspire. We use the $250 resort for Vegas TS. We use the $250 airline credit for WN tickets. And the free night cert is worth at least $300 (we don't try to find the most expensive places as some do, but use it for places we already want to go that are expensive...like London).

So, for $550 (or whatever it is now), we get at least $800. And that's not counting all the little promos they do.

Oh, and Diamond.

Cheers.

We have two AMEX Aspire card. I notice the $20 dining credit only to one card of the same Hilton honor account. We do have two free night certificate, two $200 and $250 credit for buying in Hilton or dine in Hilton. Two $200 airline misc charges, two Priority Pass that we can each bring two guest to the priority lounge. We were Diamond members so the diamond member us not big deal. But the credits we received is more that the annual we paid. We feel it is well worth it. I also get $20 for using it to auto add to my Starbuck App account. For each $25 I receive $20 too. So my Starbuck coffee is great bargain.

 

[brp]

We have two AMEX Aspire card. I notice the $20 dining credit only to one card of the same Hilton honor account.

Interesting. Ours are both tied to the same HHonors account and both generate the $20 credit.

I also get $20 for using it to auto add to my Starbuck App account. For each $25 I receive $20 too. So my Starbuck coffee is great bargain.

Didn't know about this one. I use another card for Starbucks. Then again, I don't go to Starbucks often except when away from home in places where Peet's are not available. Is this a perennial benefit or one of those add-ons?

 

[dougp26364]

Interesting. I was assuming the resort credit didn’t count towards MF payment. I was planning in using it for hotel stays. Hilton has some preferable hotels in Branson that allow our dogs to be with us. I was mostly concerned they might somehow exclude MF’s. I’ve learned to ask first vs relying on my assumptions. TUGGER’s are often the quickest most accurate source when it comes to these things

 

[frank808]

Wife and I each have two Aspire cards for HGVC. What is not to like of the Amex Aspire card? For the $450 AF we get back $250 for paying HGVC MF. We use the $250 airline credit per card every year. So we make $50 annually and get a free weekend night every year per card. We make $200 a year and get four free weekend nights a year. We have been using it at Grand Wailea which charges $600+ a night. Great value to get paid and get a free weekend night every year.

Bay Club and Kohala Suites qualify for the $250 resort credit from Aspire. You will get 14x Hilton Honors Pesos for paying HGVC maintenance fees.

I say get the Aspire as we also use the Brilliant for our MVC fees also.

We were only able to add the $20 dining credit to one of the two Aspire cards in each account. But am able to add the $20 dining credit for the Brilliant card and $10 credit to SPG Amex card.

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[MotherBear26]

Clarification. Kings land is excluded from the free night reward certificate

Oh for sure. I guess I was wondering if Kingsland counted for the $250 resort credit on the Amex Aspire when paying MFs.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Oh for sure. I guess I was wondering if Kingsland counted for the $250 resort credit on the Amex Aspire when paying MFs.

Yes, Kingsland counts. We own there, and I have received the credit several times for my MF.

 

[DEROS]

I do not really need another CC but, I like to maximize the value of my dollars spent on hotel's and timeshares. As such I am contemplating taking out one of AmEx's Hilton branded cards.

I'm assuming that paying our MF's will qualify as a Hilton purchase on the card, just like paying our Marriott MF's has done on our AmEx BonVoy cards. I thought I'd run it by TUGGER's to make sure I'm correct before I make a final decision on which of the three cards they offer. I need to balance the benefits of the higher priced Aspire card vs the lessor card with the lower fee.

Works at HGVC Kohala $250 when paying Maintenance. Pre-COVID I was able, on a regular basis, use the following, which made the cost of the card worth it:

HGVC Maintenance Fee - $250
2-3 Trips from Hawaii to Mainland on United - $250 credit Airline (I splurge on food/snacks and drinks. Sometimes I would check in bag just to having nothing carry onboard going home ward.)
1-2 Trips to Japan or Korea or both - $200 Priority Pass lounges
Stayed at Hilton Branded Hotels during trips to Mainland - $100 (estimate. Not sure how to value the small perks you get for being Diamond. However it does feels good to bypass long check-in lines)

So, pre-COVID I was getting about $700 in perks + Diamond. Post COVID about $500. $250 Resort, $20 every month for restaurant (limited time December 2021), two night free stay $200.

It could be another year before I go back to my normal traveling routine so I don't expect to get my full CC Fee worth for the new year 2022.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

We use our priority pass associated with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Does the AMEX PP with the Aspire have limitations or fees?

 

[1Kflyerguy]

We use our priority pass associated with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Does the AMEX PP with the Aspire have limitations or fees?

No extra fees that i am aware of, but the Aspire Priority Pass no longer includes the restaurant benefit in the airports without a lounge. I have both Priority Pass accounts, but usually just use the one tied to my CSR as that lets me get a meal at many airports like SFO> With covid some of the lounges have closed in locations i frequent..

 

[peas]

Was the $20 dining credit automatic or one of the offers you had to add? I don't see it as an add on for my Aspire.

 

[brp]

No extra fees that i am aware of, but the Aspire Priority Pass no longer includes the restaurant benefit in the airports without a lounge. I have both Priority Pass accounts, but usually just use the one tied to my CSR as that lets me get a meal at many airports like SFO> With covid some of the lounges have closed in locations i frequent..

Yup. Between us we have potential for like 4 PP accounts. mrs. brp has hers through the Aspire since that's her only option. And it does work at lounges. I have mine with Chase Sapphire for just the reason you mention.

cheers.

 

[frank808]

Was the $20 dining credit automatic or one of the offers you had to add? I don't see it as an add on for my Aspire.

You had to add it in offers. I do not know if it is still available to add. I got $20 free dining offer every month.

Was able to add it to one Hilton Aspire card, Marriott Brilliant Amex and the Amex SPG (though this card was only $10). I was not able to add the $20 to the second Aspire card in each of our accounts (once you add offer to first Aspire, it dissappears from second Aspire).

Since Jan or Feb we have been taking advantage of $100 a month in free dining courtesy of Amex.

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