Originally Posted by UserMark

SPN Lifer, I did not mean to suggest that it's all doom and gloom, even though it's really annoying during the doom and gloom. I just used my gift card at a couple of hotels in Japan, and there were no issues. The explanation that Amex does not recognize the Hilton hotel as a Hilton certainly does sound like the likely cause. Fortunately for me it's been the exception rather than the rule. For sure do use your credit to get the gift card rather than letting the credit expire. You will be able to use the gift card eventually, somewhere.