Upgrade to Surpass Honors AmEx: Earn 50,000+ bonus points
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Sep 25, 2012, 10:52 am
#92
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,431
"Upgrading" to AMEX HHonors Surpass when you already have free AMEX HHonors card
I asked this in a thread on the Miles Buzz forum, but maybe this is a better place to post it...?
I read on another forum/blog that some people "upgraded" their free basic HHonors Amex to the Surpass Amex and were able to get the 60K bonus/$3K spend for the Surpass in addition to the 50K bonus from the base HHonors card. On top of that, there was no credit pull. Anybody else have experience with this?
I read on another forum/blog that some people "upgraded" their free basic HHonors Amex to the Surpass Amex and were able to get the 60K bonus/$3K spend for the Surpass in addition to the 50K bonus from the base HHonors card. On top of that, there was no credit pull. Anybody else have experience with this?
Sep 25, 2012, 11:45 am
#93
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,815
Oct 5, 2012, 8:35 am
#94
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott // WN, AA, BA, UA, AS // Avis
Posts: 1,314
Upgrading Amex Hilton to Surpass
So I logged into my AMEX account today, and see a nice offer of 50k bonus points for upgrading my fee-free Hilton card to the Surpass card. Says I'm pre-approved (of course).
Questions:
1) If I do the upgrade, even though I'm 'pre-approved', will there be an inq. on my credit report? I think I've seen elsewhere that there will be, but just want to confirm.
2) Could I later easily downgrade back to the fee-free Hilton card if I want? I cant see myself keeping the card beyond the 50k bonus points, as the card only gets used for the 6x points for groceries/pharmacies.
3) Other than the opportunities for obtaining status (which wont happen with the amount of $ I charge to the card), and more points for Hilton spend (none) any other major difference between the two cards?
Questions:
1) If I do the upgrade, even though I'm 'pre-approved', will there be an inq. on my credit report? I think I've seen elsewhere that there will be, but just want to confirm.
2) Could I later easily downgrade back to the fee-free Hilton card if I want? I cant see myself keeping the card beyond the 50k bonus points, as the card only gets used for the 6x points for groceries/pharmacies.
3) Other than the opportunities for obtaining status (which wont happen with the amount of $ I charge to the card), and more points for Hilton spend (none) any other major difference between the two cards?
Oct 5, 2012, 8:45 am
#95
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Programs: All major programs
Posts: 1,403
Questions:
1) If I do the upgrade, even though I'm 'pre-approved', will there be an inq. on my credit report? I think I've seen elsewhere that there will be, but just want to confirm. No hard inquiry.
2) Could I later easily downgrade back to the fee-free Hilton card if I want? I cant see myself keeping the card beyond the 50k bonus points, as the card only gets used for the 6x points for groceries/pharmacies. Yes, u can downgrade.
3) Other than the opportunities for obtaining status (which wont happen with the amount of $ I charge to the card), and more points for Hilton spend (none) any other major difference between the two cards? AFAIK, no major difference.
Oct 5, 2012, 10:52 am
#96
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,396
Is this a pretty standard offer? I was deciding between the fee-free and the Surpass card, but if the upgrade offer is for 50k I might as well get the fee-free then wait for them to offer an upgrade. Since the sign up offer on the surpass is 60K, I think a credit pull is worth >10k HH points. Compare this to the upgrade offer routinely made available for Gold-Platinum and I would rather apply for a new card at 50K MR points than take an upgrade for 25K.
Oct 6, 2012, 12:04 pm
#97
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott // WN, AA, BA, UA, AS // Avis
Posts: 1,314
Is this a pretty standard offer? I was deciding between the fee-free and the Surpass card, but if the upgrade offer is for 50k I might as well get the fee-free then wait for them to offer an upgrade. Since the sign up offer on the surpass is 60K, I think a credit pull is worth >10k HH points. Compare this to the upgrade offer routinely made available for Gold-Platinum and I would rather apply for a new card at 50K MR points than take an upgrade for 25K.
So for me, this is basically 50k points for the $75 annual fee, sounds like a pretty good deal.
Oct 6, 2012, 12:25 pm
#98
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,396
Maybe I wasn't clear.
I agree with you. For a 10,000 point difference I'd rather upgrade without an inquiry. This is especially true when they are HH points that aren't worth as much as, say, MR or UR points. This is different than the typical Amex charge cards that have a 25,000 point difference - which to me makes upgrading pointless, I'd rather have the inquiry.
My question (probably for others who have held these cards) is whether this is a standard or routine upgrade offer? If it is, I'd apply for the standard card and wait/hope for the upgrade offer. If not, I'd apply directly for the surpass card.
I agree with you. For a 10,000 point difference I'd rather upgrade without an inquiry. This is especially true when they are HH points that aren't worth as much as, say, MR or UR points. This is different than the typical Amex charge cards that have a 25,000 point difference - which to me makes upgrading pointless, I'd rather have the inquiry.
My question (probably for others who have held these cards) is whether this is a standard or routine upgrade offer? If it is, I'd apply for the standard card and wait/hope for the upgrade offer. If not, I'd apply directly for the surpass card.
Oct 6, 2012, 12:32 pm
#99
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott // WN, AA, BA, UA, AS // Avis
Posts: 1,314
Maybe I wasn't clear.
I agree with you. For a 10,000 point difference I'd rather upgrade without an inquiry. This is especially true when they are HH points that aren't worth as much as, say, MR or UR points. This is different than the typical Amex charge cards that have a 25,000 point difference - which to me makes upgrading pointless, I'd rather have the inquiry.
My question (probably for others who have held these cards) is whether this is a standard or routine upgrade offer? If it is, I'd apply for the standard card and wait/hope for the upgrade offer. If not, I'd apply directly for the surpass card.
I agree with you. For a 10,000 point difference I'd rather upgrade without an inquiry. This is especially true when they are HH points that aren't worth as much as, say, MR or UR points. This is different than the typical Amex charge cards that have a 25,000 point difference - which to me makes upgrading pointless, I'd rather have the inquiry.
My question (probably for others who have held these cards) is whether this is a standard or routine upgrade offer? If it is, I'd apply for the standard card and wait/hope for the upgrade offer. If not, I'd apply directly for the surpass card.
I've had the fee-free Hilton Amex for over a year. This 50k upgrade just popped up about 3 days ago. Not sure if I could have done it sooner via phone or email inquiry though, someone else can perhaps opine on that.
Oct 15, 2012, 1:43 pm
#100
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: ORD (formerly SAN)
Programs: Hilton Diamond; IHG Platinum; Bonvoy Gold; AA Platinum Pro and United Premier Silver (DH = AA EXP)
Posts: 1,929
Oct 15, 2012, 4:03 pm
#101
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: CHS
Programs: Lots
Posts: 1,012
I went from the regular to the Surpass about a month ago and my account number remained the same. If it's been a week or so and still no card you may want to give them a call, somehow they forgot to send mine automatically.
Oct 23, 2012, 7:04 pm
#103
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: US Chairman, Marriott Platinum, PCR Platinum, and SPG Gold
Posts: 1,244
There's a link here that will let you know if you're eligible for the upgrade offer.
Unfortunately, I'm not yet
I've only had my card for 4-5 months and it says no!
Unfortunately, I'm not yet
I've only had my card for 4-5 months and it says no!
Oct 24, 2012, 5:28 pm
#105
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: PHL/EWR
Programs: AA, US, WN, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 1,528
I downgraded earlier this year and now see I have almost enough spending to make diamond. Any idea if I upgrade before year end and then hit $40k in spending I would make it?