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Hilton AmEx cards

I find that I can easily make the Aspire fee in benefits used. This year I used up the $250 airline credit, the $250 Hilton reinbursement for paying my MFs on CC, and the free night I used in Maldives for a $600 a night hotel room. I also get Benefit from Diamond status. Just covers the fee for the card, but enough on the upside to make it work. The added kicker for me to keep it is the Diamond Status, I normally would be Gold with my HGVC timeshare, so it is a bit of a perk.

I also have Chase SR, and use that for the Lounge Access over the AMEX offered one because in IAH it includes restaurants instead of lounge access, and I make that work. The AMEX version of the Priority Pass does not include that option. I also use CSR for car rentals as the insurance is Primary and AMEX the insurance is secondary. Beginning of this year I had a accident in my rental that wrote off the vehicle, CSR insurance overed the whole thing.
 
love the CSR, we have two. also have US Bank Altitude which gives us another $100 global entry credit and 3% back on any Apple Pay spend.

Only problem with Aspire for us is the airline credit. we have two Alaska visas so we get free bag check already and almost always fly AS. wasting it on junk food onboard isn't really a benefit. For us that's the holdup on whether it's worthwhile.
 
letsgobobby said:
love thr CSR, we have two. also have US Bank Altitude which gives us another $100 global entry credit and 3% back on any Apple Pay spend.

Only problem with Aspire for us is the airline credit. we have two Alaska visas so we get free bag check already and almost always fly AS. wasting it on junk food onboard isn't really a benefit. For us that's the holdup on whether it's worthwhile.
Click to expand...
We have used our airline credits on Delta seat upgrades
 
HuskerATL said:
We have used our airline credits on Delta seat upgrades
Click to expand...
We also have an Alaska card so I too was questioning the usefullness. But if you can use the credit to pay for seat upgrades that could tip the scale. Last few times we flew it cost us $59 per leg to upgrade to premium class. So one flight would just about cover the $250 credit.
 
Just remember to designate Alaskan as your airline that you wish to recieve the benefits.
 
To maximize the HH points return we have the Surpass and Aspire.
Use Aspire for the $250 airline and $250 resort credits (pays on MF fees) free night Cert.Hilton hotel bookings give 34x with Diamond status. 7x flights.
Then we use the Surpass for everyday spend for the resterants, gas, groceries. We easily hit the $15k per year and score a second free night cert on Surpass and rake in enough HH points for at least a weeks free stay.
This year we have accumulated 2 free night certs and about 600k HH points.
So we now alternate our vacations. 1 year use all free night certs and HH points and the following year use HGVC + borrow HGVC points for a big vacation and save HH points that year.
 
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Zenichiro said:
To maximize the HH points return we have the Surpass and Aspire.
Use Aspire for the $250 airline and $250 resort credits (pays on MF fees) free night Cert.Hilton hotel bookings give 34x with Diamond status. 7x flights.
Then we use the Surpass for everyday spend for the resterants, gas, groceries. We easily hit the $15k per year and score a second free night cert on Surpass and rake in enough HH points for at least a weeks free stay.
This year we have accumulated 2 free night certs and about 600k HH points.
So we now alternate our vacations. 1 year use all free night certs and HH points and the following year use HGVC + borrow HGVC points for a big vacation and save HH points that year.
Click to expand...
this sounds good but we already get 4% on groceries and gas (Verizon), and 4.5% on restaurants (Chase Sapphire Reserve). Have to run some numbers to see if it's worthwhile but the Surpass has a low AF so I guess no harm in holding it.

I already have an older Hilton Amex with no AF, can I simultaneously apply for Aspore and Surpass?
 
letsgobobby said:
...and 4.5% on restaurants (Chase Sapphire Reserve).
Click to expand...

A little OT, but what is the 4.5% on restaurants you speak of with the Reserve? Maybe I'm missing something here as I have CSR and spend on restaurants quite a bit.

Cheers.
 
letsgobobby said:
this sounds good but we already get 4% on groceries and gas (Verizon), and 4.5% on restaurants (Chase Sapphire Reserve). Have to run some numbers to see if it's worthwhile but the Surpass has a low AF so I guess no harm in holding it.

I already have an older Hilton Amex with no AF, can I simultaneously apply for Aspore and Surpass?
Click to expand...
I would space Amex openings at 90 days. Ie open 1 and wait 90 day at least to open a second. Although I opened Aspire and Surpass 2 weeks apart. I think it helped that I booked 4 Curacao flight tickets on the Aspire and hit the spend requirements. Then applied for the Surpass.
Have a plan in place to meet the minimum for both sign up bonus offers. You don’t want to leave that 250k bonus points on the table.
 
brp said:
A little OT, but what is the 4.5% on restaurants you speak of with the Reserve? Maybe I'm missing something here as I have CSR and spend on restaurants quite a bit.

Cheers.
Click to expand...
3% plus the 50% redemption bonus for travel (airfare).
 
letsgobobby said:
this sounds good but we already get 4% on groceries and gas (Verizon), and 4.5% on restaurants (Chase Sapphire Reserve). Have to run some numbers to see if it's worthwhile but the Surpass has a low AF so I guess no harm in holding it.

I already have an older Hilton Amex with no AF, can I simultaneously apply for Aspore and Surpass?
Click to expand...
There is a $450 annual fee for the Aspire but you get $500 in rebates. $250 for HGVC maintenance fees at resorts (where we own). And then $250 for airline incidentals. So in essence Amex pays me $50 annually and gives me a free weekend night certificate. So we make $200 annually and get four free weekend nights.

Has worked for us these many years, that wife and I have four Aspires. Plus two Amex Hilton Business cards to get two more free weekend night certificates (with $15k spend each). Though when the next AF hits might product change it or just cancel. The $15K spend is worth at least $300 in cash back. Not needing as many free Hilton nights now as we get more free nights with Marriott.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
 
Here's a quick summary what MFs the $250 resort credit applies to:

- Bay Club - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662498
- Boulevard - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662516 + myself
- Kinds Land - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662604
- Flamingo - myself
- Kohala Suites - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662757
- Craigendarroch Lodge - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2874996
- 57th West - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662507, https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2875081
- (only 100% confirmed cases where we received actual credit)

Questioned:

- TBD

Doesn't apply:

- TBD
 
Last edited:
Nowaker said:
Here's a quick summary what MFs the $250 resort credit applies to:

- Bay Club - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662498
- Boulevard - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662516 + myself
- Kinds Land - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662604
- Flamingo - myself
- Kohala Suites - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662757
- (only 100% confirmed cases where we received actual credit)

Questioned:

- 57th West - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662492 but questioned https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662507

Doesn't apply:

- Craigendarroch Lodge - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/h...edit-for-maintenance-fees.332590/post-2741005
Click to expand...
It does apply to Craigendarroch.
 
HuskerATL said:
It does apply to Craigendarroch.
Click to expand...

Corrected. Interestingly, the same person first said it didn't (https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/amex-hilton-aspire.267918/post-2306942) and then they got it anyway (https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/amex-hilton-aspire.267918/post-2361998).

frank808 said:
wife and I have four Aspires. Plus two Amex Hilton Business cards to get two more free weekend night certificates (with $15k spend each). Though when the next AF hits might product change it or just cancel. The $15K spend is worth at least $300 in cash back.
Click to expand...

This is sound strategy. We have 2x Aspire, 2x Surpass, 1x Business. Since you guys have 2x Business, you could consider dumping one, and getting one Surpass. 2x Aspire + 1x Business + 1x Surpass is a better combo than 2x Aspire + 2x Business, because you're missing out on 6x HH on Groceries category. HEB, Publix, Safeway, Vons, Smith's, Whole Foods, and alike. Big spend on vacations for us! And same $15K threshold to get a free night cart as Business.
 
i
Nowaker said:
Here's a quick summary what MFs the $250 resort credit applies to:

- Bay Club - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662498
- Boulevard - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662516 + myself
- Kinds Land - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662604
- Flamingo - myself
- Kohala Suites - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662757
- Craigendarroch Lodge - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2874996
- (only 100% confirmed cases where we received actual credit)

Questioned:

- 57th West - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662492 but questioned https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662507

Doesn't apply:

- TBD
Click to expand...
it's been widely reported that HHV gets the resort credit.
 
The credit works for both Orlando Tuscany and SeaWorld.
 
I have AMEX Aspire.
After review it appears that Aspire is “primary” rental car insurance excluding liability if you pay either $19.95 or $24.95 per rental (up to 42 days) not per day for $75,000 or $100,00 of coverage respectively. Need to sign up for this only once On AMEX website Under benefits and then use card to pay for rental.

AMEX Aspire is secondary automatic coverage if make car reservation with AMEX Travel.
 
tk25 said:
I have AMEX Aspire.
After review it appears that Aspire is “primary” rental car insurance excluding liability if you pay either $19.95 or $24.95 per rental (up to 42 days) not per day for $75,000 or $100,00 of coverage respectively. Need to sign up for this only once On AMEX website Under benefits and then use card to pay for rental.

AMEX Aspire is secondary automatic coverage if make car reservation with AMEX Travel.
Click to expand...

I did not know about this option. Chase Sapphire Reserve has insurance as primary by default, so I use that. But good to know that Amex has an option for this, albeit with a fee.

Cheers.
 
tk25 said:
After review it appears that Aspire is “primary” rental car insurance excluding liability if you pay either $19.95 or $24.95 per rental (up to 42 days) not per day for $75,000 or $100,00 of coverage respectively
Click to expand...

What do you mean exactly by that? Are you complaining that a primary insurance costs a fee? (If so, it's not a problem for me, because they still have secondary - and I care about secondary only) Or are you complaining that if you don't pay a pay, they don't offer a secondary CDW at all? (Which I don't think it's a case) Just double checking.
 
(UPDATE 12/22/2022) Here's a quick summary what MFs the $250 resort credit applies to:

- Hawaii BI - Bay Club - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662498
- Hawaii BI - Kinds Land - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662604
- Hawaii BI - Kohala Suites - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662757
- Hawaii Oahu - Lagoon Tower - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2881753
- Hawaii Oahu - Grand Islander - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2881753
- Hawaii Oahu - Hokulani - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2881753
- Las Vegas - Boulevard - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662516 + myself
- Las Vegas - Flamingo - myself
- Las Vegas - Paradise - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2881853
- Orlando - Tuscany - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2875135
- Orlando - SeaWorld - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2875135
- UK - Craigendarroch Lodge - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2874996
- (only 100% confirmed cases where we received actual credit)

Questioned:

- ...

Doesn't apply:

- NYC - 57th West - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2662507, https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2875081
- Las Vegas - Trump - https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/hilton-amex-cards.324894/post-2881776
 
Last edited:
Hilton Hawaiian Village Lagoon and Grand Islander towers qualify. I also got credit at Hokulani.
 
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