Citi Hilton Honors vs. Amex Hilton Honors?
Jan 21, 2012, 6:36 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 143
You should get both for the bonuses. Here is the quick comparison:
AMEX
6 pts/$ - Hilton
6 pts/$ - grocery, drugstores, gas, wireless, cable TV, and ISP
3 pts/$ - Everything else
CITI
6 pts/$ - Hilton
3 pts/$ - grocery, drugstores, gas
2 pts/$ - Everything else
I personally only use the AMEX version, but its handy to have the visa version in case the grocery store you go to (such as asian markets) don't take AMEX.
AMEX
6 pts/$ - Hilton
6 pts/$ - grocery, drugstores, gas, wireless, cable TV, and ISP
3 pts/$ - Everything else
CITI
6 pts/$ - Hilton
3 pts/$ - grocery, drugstores, gas
2 pts/$ - Everything else
I personally only use the AMEX version, but its handy to have the visa version in case the grocery store you go to (such as asian markets) don't take AMEX.
Last edited by cyin; Jan 21, 2012 at 6:44 pm
Jan 21, 2012, 6:55 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
I would apply for both and just use the citi visa at merchants who don't accept Am Ex since you get more points with the am ex.
I am pretty sure both will give you silver if you don't have status with Hilton. The am ex gives you gold with $20K in spending but not sure about the visa.
I am pretty sure both will give you silver if you don't have status with Hilton. The am ex gives you gold with $20K in spending but not sure about the visa.
Jan 21, 2012, 6:57 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Texas
Programs: AA, HH Gold, PCR Platinum,US
Posts: 109
I would apply for both and just use the citi visa at merchants who don't accept Am Ex since you get more points with the am ex.
I am pretty sure both will give you silver if you don't have status with Hilton. The am ex gives you gold with $20K in spending but not sure about the visa.
I am pretty sure both will give you silver if you don't have status with Hilton. The am ex gives you gold with $20K in spending but not sure about the visa.
Jan 21, 2012, 6:58 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
Jan 21, 2012, 7:37 pm
#7
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
AMEX SURPASS
9 pts/$ - Hilton
6 pts/$ - grocery, drugstores, gas, wireless, cable TV, and ISP
3 pts/$ - Everything else
9 pts/$ - Hilton
6 pts/$ - grocery, drugstores, gas, wireless, cable TV, and ISP
3 pts/$ - Everything else
● Earn 9 HHonors Bonus Points for every eligible U.S. dollar charged at participating properties within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio.
● Earn 6 HHonors Bonus Points for every eligible U.S. dollar charged in the following everyday spend categories: grocery stores, drugstores, gas stations, home and wireless phone, cable and satellite TV, and Internet service providers (less returns).
● Earn 3 HHonors Bonus Points for every eligible U.S. dollar charged for all other purchases anywhere American Express Cards are accepted (less returns).
● Complimentary Gold status for the first year, with the opportunity to earn Gold and Diamond status each year after.
● Earn 6 HHonors Bonus Points for every eligible U.S. dollar charged in the following everyday spend categories: grocery stores, drugstores, gas stations, home and wireless phone, cable and satellite TV, and Internet service providers (less returns).
● Earn 3 HHonors Bonus Points for every eligible U.S. dollar charged for all other purchases anywhere American Express Cards are accepted (less returns).
● Complimentary Gold status for the first year, with the opportunity to earn Gold and Diamond status each year after.
Jan 21, 2012, 8:20 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Nashville, TN - BNA
Programs: Hilton Gold, WN RR
Posts: 1,818
- Free Priority Pass (www.prioritypass.com)...worth it to some FTers, not so much to others....
Jul 22, 2012, 11:00 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
The card can't tell what you bought at the store. As long as it's rung up as a "purchase", it'll count, and yes, all those brands count (except I've never heard of Duane Reade, but I'd add Good Neighbor Phramacies).
There might specific items at some stores (maybe some gift cards, and usually lotto tickets) that don't count as purhcases. But in those cases, you probably couldn't purchase them on the same transaction. (In fact, lotto is often cash only to keep it simple.)
And if they don't qualify as purchases, you have a lot bigger problem than not getting bonus points: There are only two options on credit cards, purchases and cash advances, and a cash advance starts charing interest from the moment of purchase.
But you can't mix a purchase and cash advance on one transaction. So, for example, with gifrt cards, if you can buy the gift card on the same transaction as some candy (they don't tell you "well have to run your card separately for this") then if the candy is a purchase so is the gift card.
(It's actual generic MC or generic Visa or generic Amex gift cards that might be an issue sometimes. Branded gift cards -- that you can only redeem with that brand -- are hardly ever an issue.)
Jul 22, 2012, 4:03 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
For all cards that give extra points/miles/whatever at certain types of stores (including the Hilton cards):
The card can't tell what you bought at the store. As long as it's rung up as a "purchase", it'll count, and yes, all those brands count (except I've never heard of Duane Reade, but I'd add Good Neighbor Phramacies).
There might specific items at some stores (maybe some gift cards, and usually lotto tickets) that don't count as purhcases. But in those cases, you probably couldn't purchase them on the same transaction. (In fact, lotto is often cash only to keep it simple.)
And if they don't qualify as purchases, you have a lot bigger problem than not getting bonus points: There are only two options on credit cards, purchases and cash advances, and a cash advance starts charing interest from the moment of purchase.
But you can't mix a purchase and cash advance on one transaction. So, for example, with gifrt cards, if you can buy the gift card on the same transaction as some candy (they don't tell you "well have to run your card separately for this") then if the candy is a purchase so is the gift card.
(It's actual generic MC or generic Visa or generic Amex gift cards that might be an issue sometimes. Branded gift cards -- that you can only redeem with that brand -- are hardly ever an issue.)
The card can't tell what you bought at the store. As long as it's rung up as a "purchase", it'll count, and yes, all those brands count (except I've never heard of Duane Reade, but I'd add Good Neighbor Phramacies).
There might specific items at some stores (maybe some gift cards, and usually lotto tickets) that don't count as purhcases. But in those cases, you probably couldn't purchase them on the same transaction. (In fact, lotto is often cash only to keep it simple.)
And if they don't qualify as purchases, you have a lot bigger problem than not getting bonus points: There are only two options on credit cards, purchases and cash advances, and a cash advance starts charing interest from the moment of purchase.
But you can't mix a purchase and cash advance on one transaction. So, for example, with gifrt cards, if you can buy the gift card on the same transaction as some candy (they don't tell you "well have to run your card separately for this") then if the candy is a purchase so is the gift card.
(It's actual generic MC or generic Visa or generic Amex gift cards that might be an issue sometimes. Branded gift cards -- that you can only redeem with that brand -- are hardly ever an issue.)
I have never bought other stores gift cards at a drug store before, but have at Kroger many times (also use my Chase freedom and discover card to buy other merchants gift cards when they are giving 5% cash back promos at grocery stores) and have always gotten the 6 pts/$ on those carrds (another advantage to buying cards at a grocery store is that some will give you bonus fuel points).
Jul 23, 2012, 6:28 am
#12
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
Take a look at this new card from Citibank as posted by View from the Wing! 
Jul 23, 2012, 7:21 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
Take a look at this new card from Citibank as posted by View from the Wing!
I may downgrade my surpass card to a free card if I can figure out how to apply or get my current citi card upgraded. More places take visa than Am Ex so it wouldn't be any harder to get my $40k spend in and for the people that can't get $20 a year in spending this will be a cheap way for Gold status.
Only problem I see is for people who get gold the traditional way, this could mean a lot more gold HH members to compete for upgrades with. The no foreign transaction fee is a nice benefit as well
Last edited by jamesteroh; Jul 23, 2012 at 7:36 am
Jul 23, 2012, 10:18 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 40
This is very opportune for me. Going to Europe for 3 weeks in September. Already booked 2 stays, Rome Cavalieri and Paris ADT using points. Have to pay for stays in Istanbul, Athens and London to the tune of $ 4,200. I was going to use my Amex Surpass card to accumulate the points and absorb the FTFees of about $113. I am already Gold from my Amex spend but this seems like a no brainer. Pay the $95 fee and save $113 in FTFees, then downgrade the Surpass to the no fee Amex upon renewal. Keep this card and get gold status without spending $20,000 on Amex. Let me know if there are any holes in my logic.
Jul 23, 2012, 1:28 pm
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 2,741
And every item that I purchased received the 6 pts at these stores. Also, I regularly bought GCs at the drugstores and markets for Bed Bath and Beyond, Home Depot, Crate and Barrell, Pottery Barn, Itunes, Nordstroms, Starbucks, Macys, Barnes and Noble because I shop regularly at these stores - which resulted in earning 6 pts/$ for all of these non-drugstore/grocery items.
Regarding using your card for cash advances: years ago I changed my cards to have a zero limit for cash advances - on the advice of fellow FTers - so I've never had to worry if a purchase would end up as a cash advance.
All this is very old news (using HH AMEX to purchase GCs for other retailers at drugstores/grocery stores) but thought I should post for the unaware.