May 17, 2013, 11:04 pm
Last edit by: beltway
- What are the most current working links?
- Is this card churnable?
- How frequently can I apply for these cards?
- Do I have to close my previous card before reapplying?
- I got the 60K card and bonus but when I finished the spend on my second 60K card I did not get the bonus. What happened?
[1] What are the most current working links?
There is a standard offer for 50K points after $1K spend in 4 months. (No landing page is available for this offer; lnik taken from wiki for http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/citi-...amex-citi.html.)
There are no known 60K offers available. The most recent one expired in late September 2014.
[2] Is this card churnable?
In the past, this card has been easily churnable. However, in December 2014 Citi began inserting language into some applications and landing pages disqualifying current Hilton Visa cardholders & requiring an 18-month wait from the date of the previous card's cancellation. The application link listed above does not include this restriction, and FTers have confirmed that they have been approved through this application despite being current or recent holders of another Citi Hilton card.
[3] How frequently can I apply for these cards?
You can only apply for ONE Citi card in a week or TWO in two months (60 days). To be safe, it is frequently suggested to wait 8+ days between ANY two Citi applications and 65+ days until your third Citi application of ANY kind. These are rolling dates, so you have to wait at least 60 days (65+) from your second application to your 4th applications, and so forth.
If math is not your strong suit, you can use: http://www.timeanddate.com/date/duration.html.
Example:
Day 0 - Citi HHonors Card #1
Day 8 - Citi AA Personal Card
Day 65 - Citi AA Business Card
Day 73 - Citi HHonors Card #2
Day 130 - Citi TY Card
[4] Do I have to close my previous card before reapplying?
Not if you use the application link above. As stated above, in December 2014 Citi began introducing new application pages requiring an 18-month wait since cancellation of the prior card.
Note that when you close an account, Citi may not "free up" the credit limit from that card for as long as 6 months. So if you're going to apply within 6 months, it's better to not cancel beforehand.
[5] I got the 60K card and bonus but when I finished the spend on my second 60K card I did not get the bonus. What happened?
There appears to be a problem with Citi crediting you with both bonuses but Hilton not crediting the second bonus because their system sees it as a duplicate.
You need to open up a case, preferably with Hilton, and explain that you have two separate cards (feel free to explain one is for business and one for personal if they ask why you have multiple cards and you feel like explaining). You also need to diligently check back with them and make sure that they do not close the case as you already got the bonus.
This is very much a YMMV situation. Depending on who you talk to and where, this can be a relatively short process or a particularly unpleasant and long one. Best advice: Be nice to the CSRs and get them on your side or HUACA until you find someone useful.
For some people it may be worth getting the 50K card instead, possibly trying to "bump the bonus" to 60K and getting it as a 10K adjustment instead.
Citi Hilton HHonors Visa [2011-2014]
Jul 1, 2014, 9:28 pm
#2491
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,606
Well it's July 1 and as far as I know the Citi 50k plus $50 offer that was supposed to expire 5/31 is still alive.
So far the Hilton offer has only improved, my first card was 40K points /$1500 spend in 3 months
So far the Hilton offer has only improved, my first card was 40K points /$1500 spend in 3 months
Jul 2, 2014, 12:04 pm
#2492
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,749
Just keep in mind the "fluidity" Hilton has exercised regarding its award chart. As long as it's understood that Hilton may (and probably will) alter its award chart at any time or an individual hotel may decide to stay longer at the upper end of its range than could really be justified, then these cards can be viewed as a good deal. A rising trend in CC bonus offers probably is a reliable predictor of Hilton's continuing to push the redemption numbers higher.
Jul 2, 2014, 12:11 pm
#2493
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: HHonors, SPG, ClubCarlson, AAdvantage, BA Avios, US Dividend Miles, UA MileagePlus, Delta SkyPesos
Posts: 137
Just keep in mind the "fluidity" Hilton has exercised regarding its award chart. As long as it's understood that Hilton may (and probably will) alter its award chart at any time or an individual hotel may decide to stay longer at the upper end of its range than could really be justified, then these cards can be viewed as a good deal. A rising trend in CC bonus offers probably is a reliable predictor of Hilton's continuing to push the redemption numbers higher.
Jul 2, 2014, 1:26 pm
#2494
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
we have no plans to make major reward category changes, add new hotel reward categories or make any new major changes to the HHonors program this year.
Jul 3, 2014, 11:32 am
#2495
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,606
Just keep in mind the "fluidity" Hilton has exercised regarding its award chart. As long as it's understood that Hilton may (and probably will) alter its award chart at any time or an individual hotel may decide to stay longer at the upper end of its range than could really be justified, then these cards can be viewed as a good deal. A rising trend in CC bonus offers probably is a reliable predictor of Hilton's continuing to push the redemption numbers higher.
This is why you earn and burn points. Even when Hilton does announce it's next increase you will most likely have over a year to complete travel at todays rates.
I believe for the latest deval you had 90 days to book and could book 1 year out
Jul 3, 2014, 2:01 pm
#2496
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
Though the person did sweat a bit and upon my suggestions, contacted HHonors and hotels on the situation via emails.
Both HHonors program and the hotels involved, confirmed they would honor the bookings. HHonors went above and beyond to say that should the hotels not honoring it, the program would. (i.e. would not deduct any extra pts).
So we can keep this in mind when next deval is announced, which should be no earlier than Spring of 2015. Though this arguably would only work for someone who has a very fixed travel plan that could know where s/he would be 20 months from booking. Hard to do especially one also need to co-ordinate the award tickets which do not open for booking until 330 to 350 days out only.
Jul 3, 2014, 3:16 pm
#2497
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,606
My hotel is a cat 7 and it was 145K/ 4 nights or 36.25K a night before the recent deval and I stayed on this rate 2 months ago.
I already am planning our March 2016 spring training vacation. Being # 2 in seniority lets me plan well in advance as vacation dates from work are never an issue.
I realize some people travel to Europe but I travel the lower 48 plus the Caribbean and Mexico the SW companion pass makes it so miles are never an issue. I just booked MSP/TPA for 13,565 points for 2 people, by comparison Delta would have cost 80K
Jul 3, 2014, 4:04 pm
#2498
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
Jul 3, 2014, 4:16 pm
#2499
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
What were the old discounts for multiple nights ? I remember GLON but without looking don't know the redemption rates.
My hotel is a cat 7 and it was 145K/ 4 nights or 36.25K a night before the recent deval and I stayed on this rate 2 months ago.
I already am planning our March 2016 spring training vacation. Being # 2 in seniority lets me plan well in advance as vacation dates from work are never an issue.
I realize some people travel to Europe but I travel the lower 48 plus the Caribbean and Mexico the SW companion pass makes it so miles are never an issue. I just booked MSP/TPA for 13,565 points for 2 people, by comparison Delta would have cost 80K
My hotel is a cat 7 and it was 145K/ 4 nights or 36.25K a night before the recent deval and I stayed on this rate 2 months ago.
I already am planning our March 2016 spring training vacation. Being # 2 in seniority lets me plan well in advance as vacation dates from work are never an issue.
I realize some people travel to Europe but I travel the lower 48 plus the Caribbean and Mexico the SW companion pass makes it so miles are never an issue. I just booked MSP/TPA for 13,565 points for 2 people, by comparison Delta would have cost 80K
I see beltway has given you the link for the great posts he put together.
The person booked Conrads in Macau and in Tokyo, for a period that he knows he would go but the tickets were not bookable until of course in the 350 days window. However given his geographic location on the West Coast, options are plentiful going to Tokyo and then onto Hong Kong so solutions are not hard to find.
For people like us though, time frame is never an issue but more like where we would want to go. To have fixed locations this far out in advance, is something we really dont like to do. During last deval, I thought about booking the Hilton at Amalfi coast or at Venice but at the time I honestly had no idea or desire to go to Italy. Then the UA deval came along and we wound up having a trip this past May that included Italy - Milan to be exact and we did make it to the Veneto region with 2 day trips to Venice from a town 45 min train ride away, where we used SPG pts for the 5th night free stay.
Jul 3, 2014, 5:15 pm
#2500
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,606
I guess I'll worry about the prices if I ever have to pay, lol
Jul 3, 2014, 6:31 pm
#2501
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
Correct. That is the primary reason why I am sitting on several K's worth of ua e-certs and aa vouchers but not able to use them because the pay tickets simply not worthwhile and I am not inclined to do mileage run to international places in coach. The only paid tickets are LCCs in Europe and Asia, which we do for about a few hundreds $ a year. Last December we had 6 short flights in Asia, 3 of them were paid flights 3 of them were Avios redemptions. One of the paid flight was like $25 DPS to SIN pp, ridiculously cheap. The other 2 was $170 r/t pp.
Last edited by Happy; Jul 3, 2014 at 6:41 pm
Jul 3, 2014, 7:38 pm
#2502
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORF
Programs: Amex Plat, AA, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Choice Gold, HHonors Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,749
Major devaluation on short notice? No. Category changes announced without warning and to take effect in less than a week? Damn straight:
http://magicofmiles.boardingarea.com...effect-july-9/
The only difference between Hilton and Wyndham is the generous earning rate. I'd otherwise understand that Hilton can and will make changes that MIGHT affect a particular redemption you have in mind. My point of view? It's so easy to earn Hilton points that I don't expect too much and don't sweat the changes.
http://magicofmiles.boardingarea.com...effect-july-9/
The only difference between Hilton and Wyndham is the generous earning rate. I'd otherwise understand that Hilton can and will make changes that MIGHT affect a particular redemption you have in mind. My point of view? It's so easy to earn Hilton points that I don't expect too much and don't sweat the changes.
Jul 3, 2014, 8:16 pm
#2503
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
Jul 4, 2014, 10:43 am
#2504
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,606
Major devaluation on short notice? No. Category changes announced without warning and to take effect in less than a week? Damn straight:
http://magicofmiles.boardingarea.com...effect-july-9/
The only difference between Hilton and Wyndham is the generous earning rate. I'd otherwise understand that Hilton can and will make changes that MIGHT affect a particular redemption you have in mind. My point of view? It's so easy to earn Hilton points that I don't expect too much and don't sweat the changes.
http://magicofmiles.boardingarea.com...effect-july-9/
The only difference between Hilton and Wyndham is the generous earning rate. I'd otherwise understand that Hilton can and will make changes that MIGHT affect a particular redemption you have in mind. My point of view? It's so easy to earn Hilton points that I don't expect too much and don't sweat the changes.
Jul 7, 2014, 8:26 am
#2505
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boulder
Programs: AA Plat, CX Silver
Posts: 2,361
Just to add a data point:
Applied for the 60k offer today. Got a "good" pending message (I let me go through the options after the application). Called in and was immediately approved, didn't have to shift CLs around. 10 HPs on my Experian. Applied for a Chase Hyatt card at the same time (instant approval on that one).
Already held four Citi cards:
AA Personal, opened 7/25/13.
AA Personal, opened 8/3/13.
AA Biz, opened 1/12/14.
Hilton, opened 2/6/14.
Hoping to apply for another 60k Hilton card after 8 days though that might be risky since I now have 12 HPs on my Experian report. That would give me enough for a FNF at the Conrad HKG.
Applied for the 60k offer today. Got a "good" pending message (I let me go through the options after the application). Called in and was immediately approved, didn't have to shift CLs around. 10 HPs on my Experian. Applied for a Chase Hyatt card at the same time (instant approval on that one).
Already held four Citi cards:
AA Personal, opened 7/25/13.
AA Personal, opened 8/3/13.
AA Biz, opened 1/12/14.
Hilton, opened 2/6/14.
Hoping to apply for another 60k Hilton card after 8 days though that might be risky since I now have 12 HPs on my Experian report. That would give me enough for a FNF at the Conrad HKG.
In between my last Citi app and this one was an additional Barclays US Air card, but they pulled TU fortunately.
Now I need to figure out which Citi cards to close or reduce CLs on. Probably won't apply for any more for some time, I'm a little afraid of spooking Chase with all the recent reports of closures over in that forum (though I don't do any MS on my Chase cards, only Citi).