Jun 12, 2013, 11:05 am
Last edit by: vah4883
Limited-time offers
Hilton HHonors American Express card. 80,000 points for spending $2,000 in 3 months; no annual fee. Ends May 31, 2017
Hilton HHonors American Express Ascend card. 100,000 points for spending $3,000 ; $95 annual fee.
Hilton HHonors American Express card application page. 75,000 points for spending $1,000 in 3 months; no annual fee.
Public offer expired Feb 1, 2017 (this link brings up a page: "This campaign has expired. Thank you for your interest."), but Refer a Friend links still active. This one has the referral ID stripped out.
Citi HH Visa 40K application page (spend $1K/4 mos.)
Ongoing offersPublic offer expired Feb 1, 2017 (this link brings up a page: "This campaign has expired. Thank you for your interest."), but Refer a Friend links still active. This one has the referral ID stripped out.
Citi HH Visa 40K application page (spend $1K/4 mos.)
- This offer does not contain an explicit 24-month restriction.
If you apply using this link & are not instantly approved, DO NOT CALL CITI.
Calling in risks alerting Citi to the offer and having it withdrawn.
Amex HH Surpass Card
FlyerTalk discussion thread: The Hilton HHonors® Surpass(SM) Card from American Express Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card
Flyertalk discussion thread: Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card Citi HH Visa 60K application page. You can also apply by calling 1-866-615-2274.
Flyertalk discussion thread: Citi Hilton HHonors VISA [60k-75k, read Wiki to choose] Basic Amex HH Card
FAQ- Annual fee: $75, no first-year waiver.
- Signup bonus: 75K points for spending $3K in the first 3 months.
- Earning: 12 HHonors points per dollar on Hilton spend; 6 points/$ at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets & gas stations; and 3 points/$ on everything else.
- Elite status: Hilton Gold status for as long as you have the card and Diamond status after $40,000 in annual spend.
- Booking bonus: 500 bonus points for every stay (including award stays) booked directly with Hilton & guaranteed with the card
- Important limitation on this offer: "Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product."
FlyerTalk discussion thread: The Hilton HHonors® Surpass(SM) Card from American Express
- Annual fee: $95, no first-year waiver.
- Signup bonus: 2 free weekend nights after $2500 in spend within four months. These free nights are valid at all Hilton redemption categories, including Waldorf Astoria properties.
- Anniversary bonus: 1 free weekend night each year after $10,000 in spend.
- Earning: 10 HHonors points per dollar on Hilton spend, 5 points per dollar on air and car rental, and 3 on everything else.
- Elite status: Hilton Gold status for as long as you have the card and Diamond status after $40,000 in annual spend.
- No foreign currency transaction fees.
- Important limitation on this offer: "Weekend Night Certificates offer is not available if you have had a Citi Hilton HHonors Card account that was opened or closed in the past 24 months.."
Flyertalk discussion thread: Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card
- No annual fee.
- Signup bonus: 60K points for spending $1K in the first 4 months
- Earning: 6 HHonors points per dollar on Hilton spend; 3 points/$ at U.S. supermarkets, drugstores & gas stations; and 2 points/$ on everything else.
- Elite status: Hilton Silver status for as long as you have the card.
- Fast track To Gold status: After four qualifying stays within your first 91 days of cardmembership, receive Gold status through the end of the following calendar year.
- Important limitation on this offer: "Hilton HHonors Bonus Points offer not available if you have had a Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature Card account that was opened or closed in the past 24 months."
Flyertalk discussion thread: Citi Hilton HHonors VISA [60k-75k, read Wiki to choose]
Offer for 50K points (spend $750/3mos.) + $50 credit for first purchase: Make a dummy reservation on Hilton site. Offer will appear on page before final booking. (Cannot be linked to directly.)
Offer for 50K points (spend $750/3mos.)
Offer for 50K points (spend $750/3mos.)
- No annual fee.
- Earning: 7 HHonors points per dollar on Hilton spend; 5 points/$ at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets & gas stations; and 3 on everything else.
- Elite status: Hilton Silver status for as long as you have the card and Gold status after $20,000 in annual spend.
- Booking bonus: 500 bonus points for every stay (including award stays) booked directly with Hilton & guaranteed with the card
1. Are these cards churnable?
As of May 1, 2014, Amex will not give a signup bonus to card applicants who have held the card in the past ~7 years, even if the applicant has never earned a previous signup bonus for it. However, it is still possible to upgrade an existing Hilton Amex to the Surpass card to earn a bonus (and reportedly to do this more than once by later downgrading & then upgrading again). The best strategy is to earn a Surpass signup bonus first, and only afterward pursue the upgrade bonus(es).
In August 2016, Citi began inserting language into applications and landing pages requiring a 24-month wait from the date of the opening or closure of any Citi Hilton card. Previously, the Citi Hilton Signature Visa and Reserve cards were on separate clocks for each applicant. Now there is a single 24-month clock reset by open/close of either type of card. For more info, see the wiki at Citi Hilton HHonors VISA [60k-75k, read Wiki to choose].
2. I have met the spending. When will my bonus post?
For Amex cards, the bonus will post a few days after meeting the spend. The points from the actual spend will post after statement is generated. For Citi products, bonus points post only at statement close.
3. What happened to the Amex drugstore category spending bonus?
Changes to Hilton Amex cards as of May 2013 are explained here:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfr...at-we-thought/
4. What is the link to upgrade from no fee card to Surpass card for 50,000 after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months?
This link redirects to this landing page. Application page.
You need to be logged into your Amex account first, then click on the link above, then click Upgrade. (This does not work for all people. It is suspected that only people that have had the no-fee card for at least one year are able to upgrade to the Surpass card.) There is generally no hard pull on your credit report for upgrading.
5. Does having one of these Hilton cards preclude me from successfully earning the signup bonus on a different one?
No. All four cards are separate products. Having (or having previously had) one of them has no effect on your bonus eligibility for the others--but note, as discussed in FAQ #1, that opening or closing any Citi Hilton card will affect your eligibility for any new Citi Hilton card bonus.
As of May 1, 2014, Amex will not give a signup bonus to card applicants who have held the card in the past ~7 years, even if the applicant has never earned a previous signup bonus for it. However, it is still possible to upgrade an existing Hilton Amex to the Surpass card to earn a bonus (and reportedly to do this more than once by later downgrading & then upgrading again). The best strategy is to earn a Surpass signup bonus first, and only afterward pursue the upgrade bonus(es).
In August 2016, Citi began inserting language into applications and landing pages requiring a 24-month wait from the date of the opening or closure of any Citi Hilton card. Previously, the Citi Hilton Signature Visa and Reserve cards were on separate clocks for each applicant. Now there is a single 24-month clock reset by open/close of either type of card. For more info, see the wiki at Citi Hilton HHonors VISA [60k-75k, read Wiki to choose].
2. I have met the spending. When will my bonus post?
For Amex cards, the bonus will post a few days after meeting the spend. The points from the actual spend will post after statement is generated. For Citi products, bonus points post only at statement close.
3. What happened to the Amex drugstore category spending bonus?
Changes to Hilton Amex cards as of May 2013 are explained here:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfr...at-we-thought/
4. What is the link to upgrade from no fee card to Surpass card for 50,000 after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months?
This link redirects to this landing page. Application page.
You need to be logged into your Amex account first, then click on the link above, then click Upgrade. (This does not work for all people. It is suspected that only people that have had the no-fee card for at least one year are able to upgrade to the Surpass card.) There is generally no hard pull on your credit report for upgrading.
5. Does having one of these Hilton cards preclude me from successfully earning the signup bonus on a different one?
No. All four cards are separate products. Having (or having previously had) one of them has no effect on your bonus eligibility for the others--but note, as discussed in FAQ #1, that opening or closing any Citi Hilton card will affect your eligibility for any new Citi Hilton card bonus.
Ongoing offers for Hilton cards issued by Amex or Citi
Jun 14, 2014, 12:26 pm
#406
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,036
If it's pretty documented why would you be the exception to the unstated rule? That's like me canceling my exec card before my bonus miles post and being like am I still going to get my miles?
Jun 15, 2014, 8:34 am
#407
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 3,677
The rule is based on days, not months, so we would have to know the dates of the April, May, and June apps to be able to say anything about this. The March app is already far enough ago that it doesn't count here.
Jun 15, 2014, 12:09 pm
#408
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,059
Ok, the dates are Mar 29th, Apr 21st and May 16th. And I didn't know applications not processed because of a credit freeze would count as app, i.e. the one in Apr. I'm guessing the May 16th app would count as well, even though there was no hard pull (again my EXP is frozen)? So I guess the earliest date I can get a new one is Jun 26th (65 days?)
Jun 16, 2014, 8:21 am
#409
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 3,677
Ok, the dates are Mar 29th, Apr 21st and May 16th. And I didn't know applications not processed because of a credit freeze would count as app, i.e. the one in Apr. I'm guessing the May 16th app would count as well, even though there was no hard pull (again my EXP is frozen)? So I guess the earliest date I can get a new one is Jun 26th (65 days?)
April 21st is up June 25th
May 16 is up July 20th
A denied app is still an app. So I'm guessing you're correct, an uncompleted app is still an app. So you need to wait until June 25th. Then again July 20th.
Good Luck
Jun 19, 2014, 11:06 am
#410
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: USA
Programs: All of em...
Posts: 1,265
I have both the normal Amex Hilton card and an Amex Hilton Surpass card open. The upgrade link from Hilton card to Surpass card still shows up correctly for me and confirms that I would like to upgrade my normal card to a Surpass.
My question though, is - Has anyone upgraded a personal card to a Surpass, while already having 1 Surpass open, and received the 50k upgrade bonus?
My question though, is - Has anyone upgraded a personal card to a Surpass, while already having 1 Surpass open, and received the 50k upgrade bonus?
Jun 19, 2014, 6:08 pm
#411
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,605
I have both the normal Amex Hilton card and an Amex Hilton Surpass card open. The upgrade link from Hilton card to Surpass card still shows up correctly for me and confirms that I would like to upgrade my normal card to a Surpass.
My question though, is - Has anyone upgraded a personal card to a Surpass, while already having 1 Surpass open, and received the 50k upgrade bonus?
Bump... Anyone know?
My question though, is - Has anyone upgraded a personal card to a Surpass, while already having 1 Surpass open, and received the 50k upgrade bonus?
Bump... Anyone know?
Why would you upgrade to a card you already have that is going to give you 50K hilton points points for spending $3K and has a $75 annual fee when you can get 60K HH points for spending $1k and NAF with a Citi Visa ?
You can easily turn that $3k spend into 180,000 HH points and save $75.
Jun 21, 2014, 12:22 am
#412
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: USA
Programs: All of em...
Posts: 1,265
Why would you upgrade to a card you already have that is going to give you 50K hilton points points for spending $3K and has a $75 annual fee when you can get 60K HH points for spending $1k and NAF with a Citi Visa ?
You can easily turn that $3k spend into 180,000 HH points and save $75.
You can easily turn that $3k spend into 180,000 HH points and save $75.
Jul 2, 2014, 10:43 pm
#413
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: USA
Programs: All of em...
Posts: 1,265
Upgrade link worked for me 7/2/14 on the Surpass
Jul 9, 2014, 10:41 am
#416
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 74
Any tried purchasing a HHonors gift card with the Citi Visa to get the $50 credit after a $50 stay?
Jul 9, 2014, 1:07 pm
#417
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,760
Gift card most likely is not billed even by Hilton corp itself but a 3rd party.
Jul 9, 2014, 4:41 pm
#419
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,605
Pulls aren't a problem for me ( just got Hilton Visa #14) so I'll take the extra points , save the $75 AF and use the spend saved to earn points on additional HH cards.
Jul 9, 2014, 10:46 pm
#420
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: USA
Programs: All of em...
Posts: 1,265
Becomes 110,500 for spending $3,750 ($750 no fee Amex, $3k surpass) and a $75 fee that extends my gold status. I redeem for low category hotels usually (like 60 nights in Egypt next year... lol), so $75 will get me free breakfast/internet for about 14 nights there. Worth it! I will still continue getting the Citi Hiltons at the same time.