Hilton co-branded card upgrade/downgrade [Consolidated]
Nov 29, 22, 4:55 am
#196
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 1,218
Originally Posted by Eujeanie
You can also get another FNC when you hit 60K spend on the Aspire. We did some renovations last year and blew through that no problem, too. But I think you have to do that by the end of the year, so you've got just over a month to go.
We also have 3 IHG cards that bonus resets on.
Considering Hyatt for more free nights but we'll see how things go
Feb 8, 23, 4:49 pm
#197
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Hyatt Glb, MR Plat
Posts: 2,515
Originally Posted by bryanb
This is useful to know. My card anniversary is in February.
If I upgrade to the Aspire before my anniversary, will I receive all of the benefits of the current calendar year of membership? (E.g., free weekend night certificate, $250 resort credit between now and my anniversary, $250 airline fee credit between now and the end of the calendar year?)
And since the annual fee is prorated, is there an “optimum” time to upgrade, assuming I can still make use of all these benefits?
I’m looking forward to switching my no annual fee card back to an Aspire… just trying to figure out the best time to do that.
If I upgrade to the Aspire before my anniversary, will I receive all of the benefits of the current calendar year of membership? (E.g., free weekend night certificate, $250 resort credit between now and my anniversary, $250 airline fee credit between now and the end of the calendar year?)
And since the annual fee is prorated, is there an “optimum” time to upgrade, assuming I can still make use of all these benefits?
I’m looking forward to switching my no annual fee card back to an Aspire… just trying to figure out the best time to do that.
Feb 8, 23, 8:56 pm
#198
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: DFW
Programs: AA (EXP, 1MM),UA(Premier Silver), Hilton(Diamond), Marriott (LTT), Hertz (PC)
Posts: 223
Originally Posted by frudd38
Any update to this? Wondering how early before the anniversary should one upgrade to qualify for the free night..
I suspect because I paid almost full AF they actually gave me 2 FNCs instead of 1. I was really looking forward to use those points and FNCs at Conrad Osaka and Conrad Tokyo.
However that was in 2019 and COVID came. In 2022 I ended up wasted the 2 FNCs at some cheap resort nearby as I couldn't fly internationally to Japan. (was still under lock down)
Just some dp to share. But it seems to me there is no "best" time or "worst" time to upgrade. They never said why they gave me two FNCs though and neither did I expect two. Those came back to back like within a month.
Feb 9, 23, 7:06 am
#199
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 1,218
Originally Posted by yjc281
I upgraded from the no fee version to Aspire and got all the benefits including a upgrade bonus of 150k. I had no idea what the anniversay day was but I paid prorated $425.
I suspect because I paid almost full AF they actually gave me 2 FNCs instead of 1. I was really looking forward to use those points and FNCs at Conrad Osaka and Conrad Tokyo.
However that was in 2019 and COVID came. In 2022 I ended up wasted the 2 FNCs at some cheap resort nearby as I couldn't fly internationally to Japan. (was still under lock down)
Just some dp to share. But it seems to me there is no "best" time or "worst" time to upgrade. They never said why they gave me two FNCs though and neither did I expect two. Those came back to back like within a month.
I suspect because I paid almost full AF they actually gave me 2 FNCs instead of 1. I was really looking forward to use those points and FNCs at Conrad Osaka and Conrad Tokyo.
However that was in 2019 and COVID came. In 2022 I ended up wasted the 2 FNCs at some cheap resort nearby as I couldn't fly internationally to Japan. (was still under lock down)
Just some dp to share. But it seems to me there is no "best" time or "worst" time to upgrade. They never said why they gave me two FNCs though and neither did I expect two. Those came back to back like within a month.
Had you by any chance spent 60k on the card, during that calendar year, prior to the upgrade?
Feb 9, 23, 9:39 am
#200
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: DFW
Programs: AA (EXP, 1MM),UA(Premier Silver), Hilton(Diamond), Marriott (LTT), Hertz (PC)
Posts: 223
Originally Posted by Schnit
They gave you 2 FNCs? Thats strange because paying full AF only gets you 1.
Had you by any chance spent 60k on the card, during that calendar year, prior to the upgrade?
Had you by any chance spent 60k on the card, during that calendar year, prior to the upgrade?
I spent probably no more than 5k before and after the upgrade on the Hilton Honor card.
It was a pleasant surprise but not not as useful as I expected since COVID stopped all travels to places where I really wanted to go.
Last edited by yjc281; Feb 9, 23 at 9:48 am
Feb 9, 23, 3:12 pm
#201
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Hyatt Glb, MR Plat
Posts: 2,515
Originally Posted by yjc281
Actually I never found out why I received 2 FNCs in 1 month and they never explained why.
I spent probably no more than 5k before and after the upgrade on the Hilton Honor card.
It was a pleasant surprise but not not as useful as I expected since COVID stopped all travels to places where I really wanted to go.
I spent probably no more than 5k before and after the upgrade on the Hilton Honor card.
It was a pleasant surprise but not not as useful as I expected since COVID stopped all travels to places where I really wanted to go.
Feb 14, 23, 7:05 pm
#203
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: SAN, BOS
Programs: AS MVPG100K, BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Plat,
Posts: 2,009
Wanted to provide a data point
Dec 2022 Upgraded Surpass to Aspire, to double dip airline fee credits (account anniversary is Mar 2023)
Jan 2023 Used 250$ resort credit and 250$ airline fee cried
Feb 2023 Charged a prorated annual fee (around 80$) and just received an annual free night award.
I expect to get another free night award sometime in April
Dec 2022 Upgraded Surpass to Aspire, to double dip airline fee credits (account anniversary is Mar 2023)
Jan 2023 Used 250$ resort credit and 250$ airline fee cried
Feb 2023 Charged a prorated annual fee (around 80$) and just received an annual free night award.
I expect to get another free night award sometime in April
Feb 15, 23, 6:07 am
#204
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 1,218
Originally Posted by TravelingZoomer
Wanted to provide a data point
Dec 2022 Upgraded Surpass to Aspire, to double dip airline fee credits (account anniversary is Mar 2023)
Jan 2023 Used 250$ resort credit and 250$ airline fee cried
Feb 2023 Charged a prorated annual fee (around 80$) and just received an annual free night award.
I expect to get another free night award sometime in April
Dec 2022 Upgraded Surpass to Aspire, to double dip airline fee credits (account anniversary is Mar 2023)
Jan 2023 Used 250$ resort credit and 250$ airline fee cried
Feb 2023 Charged a prorated annual fee (around 80$) and just received an annual free night award.
I expect to get another free night award sometime in April
Feb 15, 23, 7:07 am
#205
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: SAN, BOS
Programs: AS MVPG100K, BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Plat,
Posts: 2,009
Originally Posted by Schnit
$80 for a FNC and $250 airline credit seems like a good deal!
Feb 19, 23, 1:50 pm
#206
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Flyover Country
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Free Range Airline Chicken
Posts: 178
NLL upgrade offers on Hilton Surpass?
I use Hilton quite a bit, and have the Aspire card. I cancelled my Hilton Surpass(Ascend, I think actually) card soon after getting the Aspire. Years ago, I got the no-fee Hilton card, earned the SUB, and the card has been pretty dormant since then. I’ve kept it, thinking I might receive one of the no lifetime language upgrade offers to Surpass. I haven’t received one, and I have seen some chatter suggesting that AMEX only gives those NLL upgrade offers on the classic AMEX cards that earn MR. Is that correct, based on Hive memory? I’ve been thinking of spending $15K on the Surpass to get the free night might seriously enhance the value of the free night from my Aspire. If there is no evidence that NLL offers for Surpass are a realistic option, I’ll either go ahead and get a Surpass anyway, or just forget the whole thing.
Last edited by Mike B; Feb 20, 23 at 9:24 pm
Feb 20, 23, 9:05 pm
#207
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 7,472
Originally Posted by Mike B
I use Hilton quite a bit, and have the Aspire card. I cancelled my Hilton Surpass(Ascend, I think actually) card soon after getting the Aspire. Years ago, I got the no-fee Hilton card, earned the SUB, and the card has been pretty dormant since then. I’ve kept it, thinking I might receive one of the no lifetime language upgrade offers to Surpass. I haven’t received one, and I have seen some chatter suggesting that AMEX only gives those NLL upgrade offers on the classic AMEX cards that earn MR. Is that correct, based on Hive memory? I’ve been thinking of spending $15K on the Surpass to get the free night might seriously enhance the value of the free night from my Aspire. If there is no evidence that NLL offers for Surpass are a realistic option, I’ll either go ahead and get an Aspire anyway, or just forget the whole thing.
In your first sentence you say you "have" the Aspire card, and in your last sentence you say you'll "go ahead and get an Aspire".
Between my husband and I we have one Aspire (mine), one Surpass (his) and one no-fee (his). We have never gotten an offer to upgrade the No-fee to anything. We're just keeping it in case someday we want to get rid of one or two of the pricier ones.
I get a FNC on the Aspire, and we almost always do get another for the $15K spend on the Surpass.
What are you asking?
Feb 20, 23, 9:27 pm
#208
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Flyover Country
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Free Range Airline Chicken
Posts: 178
Thanks, I corrected the “Aspire” in the last sentence to be “Surpass”.
to try to be more concise, I’ll ask “is American Express known to give no lifetime language upgrade offers to encourage holders of the base no-fee Hilton card to upgrade to the Surpass?”
to try to be more concise, I’ll ask “is American Express known to give no lifetime language upgrade offers to encourage holders of the base no-fee Hilton card to upgrade to the Surpass?”
Feb 21, 23, 4:59 am
#209
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 1,218
Originally Posted by Mike B
I use Hilton quite a bit, and have the Aspire card. I cancelled my Hilton Surpass(Ascend, I think actually) card soon after getting the Aspire. Years ago, I got the no-fee Hilton card, earned the SUB, and the card has been pretty dormant since then. I’ve kept it, thinking I might receive one of the no lifetime language upgrade offers to Surpass. I haven’t received one, and I have seen some chatter suggesting that AMEX only gives those NLL upgrade offers on the classic AMEX cards that earn MR. Is that correct, based on Hive memory? I’ve been thinking of spending $15K on the Surpass to get the free night might seriously enhance the value of the free night from my Aspire. If there is no evidence that NLL offers for Surpass are a realistic option, I’ll either go ahead and get a Surpass anyway, or just forget the whole thing.
Have you considered the business card?
When you upgrades free card to surpass all spending for the year, retroactive, counts towards the FNC after you upgrade and make 1 additional purchase. I did this last year and it worked flawlessly
You could spend now, upgrade in December, get FNC and save most of this year's annual fee.
P1 has business, surpass and free. P1 has business and 2x free. We unfortunately have never received upgrade offers but I'd love some
Feb 21, 23, 6:25 am
#210
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: USA
Programs: Marriot Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 27
I currently have the no fee card which I downgraded from the $95 one maybe 4 years ago. I tried getting the business card or aspire, neither have I had before but amex says I am not eligible for the sign up bonus. It says hilton limits you yo get the SUB once. Do I wait for a target offer?
Last edited by keano016; Feb 21, 23 at 7:14 am
