Hilton Amex or MileagePlus Explorer?
Apr 24, 2022, 12:28 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 309
Hilton Amex or MileagePlus Explorer?
Opinions welcome.
I normally stay in Hilton.
I usually fly in UA but haven't done any in two years.
50K CC spend per year.
I have Explorer, considering Amex.
I normally stay in Hilton.
I usually fly in UA but haven't done any in two years.
50K CC spend per year.
I have Explorer, considering Amex.
Last edited by hotscot; Apr 24, 2022 at 12:40 pm
Apr 24, 2022, 12:48 pm
#2
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
Which Hilton American Express card are you considering? There are four: https://www.hilton.com/en/hilton-honors/credit-cards/
Apr 24, 2022, 12:54 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: Jetblue, Turkish, Hilton Gold, Spirit Gold
Posts: 418
Why not keep both? Split 30k organic spending to Hilton surpass and receive 2 weekend night award per year.(Hilton temporarily allows awards to be used on any night)
I do not like credit cards with high upfront fees (Hilton aspire) where you always have to find a use case for credits of free night certs. Difference between Hilton gold and diamond status is minimal , especially at overseas properties.
I do not like credit cards with high upfront fees (Hilton aspire) where you always have to find a use case for credits of free night certs. Difference between Hilton gold and diamond status is minimal , especially at overseas properties.
Last edited by ovacikar; Apr 24, 2022 at 1:01 pm
Apr 24, 2022, 1:00 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 309
Which Hilton American Express card are you considering? There are four: https://www.hilton.com/en/hilton-honors/credit-cards/
Apr 24, 2022, 1:07 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: Jetblue, Turkish, Hilton Gold, Spirit Gold
Posts: 418
Apr 24, 2022, 6:16 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,848
Apr 24, 2022, 7:52 pm
#8
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
Apr 24, 2022, 8:10 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 641
We don’t have aspire. My Amex bill that we pay off every month is about 7-8k a month. We started at I think gold and have spent our way up to diamond. We are lucky if the bill is only about 2k a month.
ETA: we have had this card for about a decade or more. Maybe we started as silver… I can’t remember.
ETA: we have had this card for about a decade or more. Maybe we started as silver… I can’t remember.
Last edited by whitewave; Apr 24, 2022 at 8:16 pm
Apr 24, 2022, 11:41 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,049
We don’t have aspire. My Amex bill that we pay off every month is about 7-8k a month. We started at I think gold and have spent our way up to diamond. We are lucky if the bill is only about 2k a month.
ETA: we have had this card for about a decade or more. Maybe we started as silver… I can’t remember.
ETA: we have had this card for about a decade or more. Maybe we started as silver… I can’t remember.
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...#benefit-terms
The $95-annual-fee Hilton AmEx Surpass card offers Diamond status with a higher annual spend of $40K.
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...#benefit-terms
The respective "complimentary" (no spend) status associated with these two personal cards are Silver and Gold, respectively.
It sounds as if the Hilton AmEx Surpass card is what whitewave currently has, perhaps upgraded at some point in the past from the no-fee version.
Last edited by SPN Lifer; Apr 24, 2022 at 11:55 pm
Apr 25, 2022, 5:36 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: Jetblue, Turkish, Hilton Gold, Spirit Gold
Posts: 418
The no-fee Hilton AmEx card offers a maximum Hilton Honors Gold status upon attaining $20K annual spend.
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...#benefit-terms
The $95-annual-fee Hilton AmEx Surpass card offers Diamond status with a higher annual spend of $40K.
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...#benefit-terms
The respective "complimentary" (no spend) status associated with these two personal cards are Silver and Gold, respectively.
It sounds as if the Hilton AmEx Surpass card is what whitewave currently has, perhaps upgraded at some point in the past from the no-fee version.
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...#benefit-terms
The $95-annual-fee Hilton AmEx Surpass card offers Diamond status with a higher annual spend of $40K.
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...#benefit-terms
The respective "complimentary" (no spend) status associated with these two personal cards are Silver and Gold, respectively.
It sounds as if the Hilton AmEx Surpass card is what whitewave currently has, perhaps upgraded at some point in the past from the no-fee version.
Apr 25, 2022, 1:55 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,391
Why not keep both? Split 30k organic spending to Hilton surpass and receive 2 weekend night award per year.(Hilton temporarily allows awards to be used on any night)
I do not like credit cards with high upfront fees (Hilton aspire) where you always have to find a use case for credits of free night certs. Difference between Hilton gold and diamond status is minimal , especially at overseas properties.
I do not like credit cards with high upfront fees (Hilton aspire) where you always have to find a use case for credits of free night certs. Difference between Hilton gold and diamond status is minimal , especially at overseas properties.
I find it trivially easy to liquidate the $250 Aspire airfare credit on Delta and Southwest flights. A weekend in Vegas or Phoenix soaking up sunshine at a resort for $200? Plus up to $250 of airfare? Sold. Then I don’t have to worry about spending on the card unless it’s to my advantage to.
Apr 25, 2022, 3:24 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,391
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...ompare/hilton/