Originally Posted by MileKing
True, but HHonors AMEX has upped the ante just recently. Here is what the card now offers:
- 10,000 Hilton HHonors® bonus points with your very first purchase - enough for a free night
- Earn an additional 10,000 Hilton HHonors® bonus points that's 2,500 Hilton HHonors bonus points for each of your first four stays at any Hilton Family Hotel
- No annual fee and low competitive APR, with the option to pay over time
- 5 Hilton HHonors® bonus points for each eligible dollar spent on stays at over 2,700 Hilton Family hotels worldwide and for eligible purchases at supermarkets, drugstores, gas stations, dining establishments, the U.S. Postal Service, and for wireless phone bills
- 3 Hilton HHonors bonus points for each eligible dollar you spend everywhere else
In my view, the move to 5 HHonors points/$ for charges at supermarkets, drugstores, gas stations, Hiltons, and dining establishments moves the HHonors AMEX card ahead of SPG for spending at these locations.
Ahhhh
But then again it depends how you plan to use those points.
If you are transferring into most major airlines 20k equals 25k
50k HH points equals 10k. Last time I did the math the 5 points still loses.
And during promo time where 20 k equals 50 K as it did in the past with BA there is nothing that Hilton has ever offered in mile earnings that has ever compared.
Though 5 HH points is reasonably fair enough on redemption room nights.
Hiltons biggest advantage is more ways to earn.
More hotels and more transfer partners in and out of the program.
That gives members somewhat quicker accumulation.
Which is why the OP wonders perhaps why the points take so long to accumulate in the SPG program.
Starwood could work a bit harder in that area to develop further new opportunities that keep more interest and increased engagement in the program.
Curious what in the world is that new Hilton transfer 25 dollar fee all about??? !!!
That is seriously going to damage the program IMO or discourage some folks from participating more readily.
When Diners Club did it I ended my relationship with the card.Not that they are missing any of my business
I would seriously now only consider the HH program for redeeming free room nights.Perhaps that is just the way they want it.
And when it comes time to redeeming those HH points you had better be a Diamond in many of their more sought after locations.
At Starwood the world is your oyster elite or not. ^