Hilton HHonors - Exchaning airline miles

Is there a way to sign up to this Hilton HHonors program (I am new), and be able to convert United Airlines miles into American Airlines or Continental Airlines miles? I have only about 6,500 miles on United, but 94K with AA and over 400K with CO, so I would rather switch them over to one of those two programs. Also, does it work with America West to convert FlightFund miles into AA or CO? If this can be done, how does it work? I see that if you sign up now, they offer 1,000 bonus points, does that also mean I can possibly get an additional 1,000 airline miles?

Thanks,
Craig

I think I saw that you can convert some airline miles into Hilton HHonors Awards. But, can you them reconvert HHonors points into other airline miles?

I've never done this but looking at the Hilton HHonors benefit book you would do the following:

Convert 5000 UA miles to 10,000 HHonors points (says this can take up to 30 days)

Then convert the 10,000 HHonors points to either 2,000 AA miles or 1,500 CO miles.
(it says this will take 7-10 business days IF you pay for express service. No idea about the cost of that or how long it takes without using express service.)

Not the best returns but it will do what you ask.

America West is not listed as a participating partner. I am not sure what signup you are referring to for the 1,000 points. HHonors exchanges points in 10,000 increments at increasing rates (example: 20,000 gets you 3,500 miles on most airlines - 4,000 on AA.)

(Edited to answer all the questions - DGWhite)

[This message has been edited by DGWhite (edited 08-17-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by cab747:
Is there a way to sign up to this Hilton HHonors program (I am new), and be able to convert United Airlines miles into American Airlines or Continental Airlines miles? I have only about 6,500 miles on United, but 94K with AA and over 400K with CO, so I would rather switch them over to one of those two programs. Also, does it work with America West to convert FlightFund miles into AA or CO? If this can be done, how does it work? I see that if you sign up now, they offer 1,000 bonus points, does that also mean I can possibly get an additional 1,000 airline miles?

Thanks,
Craig</font>

The 1000 Hhonors bonus is for Hhonors points if you sign up on-line. As the other poster pointed out, 1000 points is not nearly 1000 airline miles. If you don't think you are going to use the 6,500 I would 1) convert to Hhonors and keep them there; 2) save them and use them for an interisland roundrtip, if you ever go to Hawaii; 3) donate them to a charity. The conversion rate going to another airline just isn't very good.

After you join Hhonors - and there is no reason not to, since there is no cost or obligation - you can change your profile online a couple times each calendar quarter and earn additional 1000 points each time.

Get an Hhonors Visa card with no fee, and receive 10,000 points upon first use and/or an Hhonors Amex also with no fee, and get 7,500 bonus points.

Since I fly enough on one carrier to do any good for me as far as miles are concerned, I roll any other miles with other carriers into Hilton points when I get to the required levels.

I'll build points into free stays for later, which works for me. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

In moving miles from one carrier to another through a third source, you'll always lose more in the exchange than it is actually worth.

Best exchange is miles into Hilton points, because Hilton gives you 2 points for every mile.



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The perfect ladies' man is a perfect gentleman.

I've wondered recently how many of the US Air or United folks with six figure balances are converting a portion to HHonors miles to hedge their bet. I have been thinking about doing so but do not like the poor exchange rate.

You can't convert US miles into HH points.

CAB747 I sent you an e-mail with details. I suggest getting comped Hilton Gold VIP and transfering some miles (especially CO) in. Whatever you do, don't "wash" your miles through Hilton from one airline to another - it's a horrible return.

on the other hand, if you manage to get yourself gold status on hilton, and then transfer 60,000 Mileage plus miles, and then grab a pointstretcher at the Conrad in Hkg you can have yourself a very very luxurious holiday with breakfast and lounge access, whilst doing a mileage run..6 nights pointstretcher, premium, is 117,000 ..considerably less at the conrad in singapore, also extremely luxurious, as it is ranked 'select' but is in fact very very nice..UA miles double, and i always transfer a few for using for awkward and expensive layovers in places like LHR, awards usually count as stays if you charge something to your room; i seem to find it easier to accumulate miles than points, and i always feel the best value for anything is to part with as little real money as poss

[This message has been edited by franjelley (edited 08-18-2002).]