Hilton HHonors - HH Points vs SPG Points

I am going to make a big purchase next month, but can’t decide which card to use. I usually use my SPG card, but Amex HH is going to run double points next month. If you need to pick a card, which card will you use?

The one with the double points!

Seriously, I guess it depends on if you have need for points in one account or the other; if it's a wash, then take the double points.

spg points are more valuable in my mind.

hotel night (approx):

spg: 4,000 points
hhonors: 20,000 points

I know this varies by category of property, but if its a $ a point, I'd go spg.

I'd use HH AMEX. If you spend $4K...

SPG
$4K x 1pt/$ = 4000 SPG pts

HH (during Aug/Sept/Oct promo)
$4K x (3pt/$ + 3pt/$ bonus) = 24,000 HH pts

Double points on the HHonors AMEX trounces single SPG points in my view.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by tomcat:
[B]but Amex HH is going to run double points next month[B]</font>Only if you were targeted. Did you receive a postcard?

Yes, I did receive a postcard.
For me, free airline ticket is more important than free hotel night. let's say if I charge 10k to SPG, it equate to 12500 AA points which is 50% of a free ticket, if charges to HH, I will get 60k HH points which is 60% of a free ticket. The double points only give me a small advantage over SPG, but if I can’t spend over 16k during next three month, I will have to spend over 24k ((10k x 6)+(14k x 3)) in total to get a free ticket. so my conclusion is it is safer to use SPG.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Rut Dog:
Originally posted by tomcat:
[B]but Amex HH is going to run double points next month[B]</font>Only if you were targeted. Did you receive a postcard?

tomcat,

Why do you bother to start this thread when you already knew the answer to your question ("If you need to pick a card which card will you use?")? I'm sure you already knew what you were going to do when you wrote: ..."so my conclusion is it is safer to use SPG."

I start this thread is because I want to know how people value their SPG points and HH points. my conclusion is only for people they only want to use points to get airline ticket. but I am sure other people will have different conclusion when they count other rewards in. I am trying to find out if HH points make more sence to me if I use it for other rewards.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by YesHyM:
tomcat,

Why do you bother to start this thread when you already knew the answer to your question ("If you need to pick a card which card will you use?")? I'm sure you already knew what you were going to do when you wrote: ..."so my conclusion is it is safer to use SPG."</font>

SPG points may appear to have more value than HH, but I do not buy into that. SPG takes FOREVER to get those "points" into ones account.....and it is the bonus points that make their points have any such value. SPG's website claims 5 stays will give you enough points for a free night. Okay, try rates like 59 + 59 + 59 + 59 + 59 x 2 and guess what? That isn't even close to their 2000 weekend minimum for a level 1 free night.

So maybe SPG will get your paid for points to appear in days, but their 500 bonus here, 1000 bonus there and 50,000 ASIAPAC bonus elsewhere are taking months to appear!! Not worth it at all.

But HHonors bonuses appear right when all the points are supposed to! Within days! Then you can manage your account like an account should be....to use them at your leisure. Naturally, once in a while some stays don't appear, then contact HHonors and get them. Try contacting SPG and forget it....it's like talking to a wall.

The members on the SPG board complain about Hilton black-out dates and so do I now and then....however, when SPG doesn't put points promised into accounts until I grow gray, forget it.

Hilton 4ever with breakfast (something Starwoods properties also don't give, except for a stray 4points brand hotel now and then, which is less in quality than an HGI if you ask me).

SHADO

I've had the opposite problem (Hilton points post slowly, SPG post quick, and if not, Starwood Lurker takes care of them nearly immediately) so it's all in the eye of the beholder.

As both SPG Platinum and Hilton Diamond, I pick Hilton more often because they have more properties and I am often going to cities with only a Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express. I find more points earning oppty's with Hilton this way, which is why I never seem to have a shortage (over 250k again, just redeemed for an old style ALON two months ago).

Although the Hilton family has more properties, I still value an SPG point higher than an HHonors point. If you are going to use points for hotel stays, Hilton kills you with blackout dates. In addition, their reward level increases a few months ago makes Hilton less and less attractive.

Actually, I have a bad taste in my mouth with Hilton, having just returned from the Hilton Hawaiian Village. That place has turned into a gigantic factory that promotes their time shares every moment of your stay.

Tomcat, Hilton is giving double points for the next 3 months! Not just next month! (14k X 3) I vote for Hilton Am Ex.

SPG hands down, better hotels and a better program. No sense collecting points then trying to redeem in SD in the summer ( sorry not available, unles you want the DoubleSpringHill Suites in Paduca located just 10 miles from then beach) and in Colorado in the winter ( sorry not avail....but stay at our SuckyInn Suites just hours from the mountain) I will pass on the limited rooms. SPG is the best for a reason.