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Calling in risks alerting Citi to the offer and having it withdrawn.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
Mar 31, 2016, 7:53 am
#901
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA - EP, Marriott - PP
Posts: 227
William over at DOC is proving everyone who saw the 100k Surpass offer as right. Apparently higher offers on the AMEX cards are out as referral links starting today - the no fee Hilton HHonors American Express card is at 75k now with $1,000 spend and the Surpass is at 100k (fee not waived) with $3,000 spend.
I've been holding off on the all the HHonors cards since I don't really need the points, but AMEX is making this too hard to ignore. Now I just need to figure out if 25k HHonors points are worth the $75 to me.
I've been holding off on the all the HHonors cards since I don't really need the points, but AMEX is making this too hard to ignore. Now I just need to figure out if 25k HHonors points are worth the $75 to me.
Mar 31, 2016, 9:02 am
#902
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
William over at DOC is proving everyone who saw the 100k Surpass offer as right. Apparently higher offers on the AMEX cards are out as referral links starting today - the no fee Hilton HHonors American Express card is at 75k now with $1,000 spend and the Surpass is at 100k (fee not waived) with $3,000 spend.
I've been holding off on the all the HHonors cards since I don't really need the points, but AMEX is making this too hard to ignore. Now I just need to figure out if 25k HHonors points are worth the $75 to me.
I've been holding off on the all the HHonors cards since I don't really need the points, but AMEX is making this too hard to ignore. Now I just need to figure out if 25k HHonors points are worth the $75 to me.
Mar 31, 2016, 9:09 am
#903
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,784
Mar 31, 2016, 9:11 am
#904
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA - EP, Marriott - PP
Posts: 227
DOC just posted a clean link for the 100k
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...honors-surpass
Actually it's now live on AMEX's site for both cards, no links needed.
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...honors-surpass
Actually it's now live on AMEX's site for both cards, no links needed.
Mar 31, 2016, 12:38 pm
#905
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,720
100k Hilton for $85 (or whatever AF) is still below average for a sign up bonus. It's equivalent to 30k Hyatt or 65k Marriott/IHG. Gold status is good but we already have it for the whole family.
It's only good if you need Gold or you're going to MS at grocery. Or if you only stay at 5-10k properties (like me).
It's only good if you need Gold or you're going to MS at grocery. Or if you only stay at 5-10k properties (like me).
Mar 31, 2016, 1:45 pm
#906
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA - EP, Marriott - PP
Posts: 227
100k Hilton for $85 (or whatever AF) is still below average for a sign up bonus. It's equivalent to 30k Hyatt or 65k Marriott/IHG. Gold status is good but we already have it for the whole family.
It's only good if you need Gold or you're going to MS at grocery. Or if you only stay at 5-10k properties (like me).
It's only good if you need Gold or you're going to MS at grocery. Or if you only stay at 5-10k properties (like me).
I don't think it's probably going to be worth me paying $75 for the additional 25k Hilton points the Surpass gives given my typical work/vacation plans. I generally travel 4 or 5 nights a week out of town for work, so hotels go on my Prestige. And I typically use points on vacation so the extra Hilton stay multiplier wouldn't do me much good.
Mar 31, 2016, 8:06 pm
#907
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
I don't think it's probably going to be worth me paying $75 for the additional 25k Hilton points the Surpass gives given my typical work/vacation plans. I generally travel 4 or 5 nights a week out of town for work, so hotels go on my Prestige. And I typically use points on vacation so the extra Hilton stay multiplier wouldn't do me much good.
Amex has a once-in-a-lifetime policy on signup bonuses. So if you've never had either card before, you can get the signup bonus for the no-fee Amex HH card once, and the signup bonus for the Surpass card once. You cannot get the signup bonus for the no-fee Amex HH card twice. So either now or the second time you want to get an HH card signup bonus, you'll have to pay the $75 for the whole bonus, not for 25k extra.
But by that time, the Surpass bonus may well not be 100k. Since it's a historically high bonus, you might want to get the Surpass card now, and get the no-fee card later, rather than vice versa. (Do not downgrade or upgrade from one to the other until you've gotten the signup bonuses on both. After that, you can get an upgrade bonus. But if you use the upgrade bonus first, you won't be eligible for a signup bonus.)
Apr 1, 2016, 8:45 am
#908
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,082
Too bad they have a FTF. I could have taken it to Europe this summer. 
Apr 1, 2016, 1:00 pm
#909
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
Apr 2, 2016, 6:23 am
#910
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: 25 million points to burn!
Posts: 1,522
I've never applied for the Surpass and gotten the sign up bonus. But I've upgraded my no fee Hilton to the Surpass before, gotten the 50K bonus with no hard pull, then downgraded again. Does this disqualify me for this 100K offer?
Apr 2, 2016, 7:31 am
#911
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
As the Vikings once advised, pillage, then burn. Earn the sign-up bonus on Surpass, and only then play the up/downgrade game.
EDIT: The wiki was unclear on this point, so I've made a few revisions.
Last edited by beltway; Apr 2, 2016 at 7:43 am
Apr 3, 2016, 6:06 am
#912
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: DL-Silver; BA-Bronze
Posts: 1,162
Quick question regarding no-fee/surpass card. My wife currently has the no-fee card - has never had the surpass. Is there a way to upgrade now to get the 100,000 points or would she just need to apply for Surpass card using a "new" application?
Apr 3, 2016, 6:09 am
#913
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 329
Apply if you want to get the 100k offer. There is a way to upgrade from the free version to the Surpass without getting a hard pull, but I believe you have to have the card for at least a year, and I don't think Amex will offer 100k for the upgrade. It's something like 50k. So I think it's worth it to just apply and take the inquiry for the 100k points.
Apr 3, 2016, 8:33 am
#914
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,784
Apply if you want to get the 100k offer. There is a way to upgrade from the free version to the Surpass without getting a hard pull, but I believe you have to have the card for at least a year, and I don't think Amex will offer 100k for the upgrade. It's something like 50k. So I think it's worth it to just apply and take the inquiry for the 100k points.
Apr 3, 2016, 11:14 am
#915
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: DL-Silver; BA-Bronze
Posts: 1,162
Thanks. Just the sort of advice I needed. Sounds like I'll have her apply for the Surpass rather than upgrade.