mingw

FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE: 2.7%

I travel a lot and have stayed Hilton many times since last year. unfortunately I won't even bring the card with me because of this. and you know when people travel people tend to spend more. AMEX is missing out all those charges.

Need

Hmmm.. but Amex already have 2 Hilton cards. Anyone could choose to use Amex and not Citi for Hilton. How's taking away chooses making it more diverse?

Hilton Honors Ambassador

Hi jimmac,

Good question. The team I work with focuses on U.S.-based cards so while I can’t speak to international cards, I’ll be happy to forward along to the right point of contact and be sure to let them know you’re interested.

Thanks!
Lauren

Grog

You connected a different set of dots than I did. Hilton's customers are diverse in many ways that aren't related to affiliated credit cards.

pinniped

Need's point is a valid one though: Hilton is taking away a choice, one that many members consider important.

I'm sure this "exclusive" deal is lucrative for Hilton. But it's definitely worse for some guests, and it's sounding like neutral for the rest.

Somehow I don't hold out high hopes that the 2018 Amex is going to blend what guests consider the best parts of both cards. (No FX fee, free night at $10k, etc.)

Hilton Honors Ambassador

Hi agprint,

Yes, as long as you have met the spend requirements this year, you should receive your weekend night certificates within 4-6 weeks after the close of the payment cycle in which the spend requirement was met. The free night is then valid 12 months from the date of issuance.

Enjoy your stay this weekend!
Lauren

Michael19887

How can you come to this conclusion with having no idea what the new offerings will be from American Express?

Eujeanie

What other hotel chains currently offer the choice of 2 different types of cards?

pinniped

Because I'm cynical, I guess.

Amex has *some* no-FX-fee products. It's entirely possible that we get a 2018 Amex that contains all of the features of today's Visa plus the earning rates of today's Amex. In that case, the world will have gotten a little worse for current Visa fans and a little better for current Amex fans. As a base HH Amex holder, I'd happily upgrade to the Surpass level, knowing I'd probably need that for the $10k free night, the $40k Diamond, and perhaps even the no-FX version of the card.

But I don't expect that to happen, and I expect that next year I'll be using some other card. I also hold two Marriott Visas, an SPG Amex, and a Hyatt Visa. In the next 3 months, I figure we'll all be getting notified about the future of the Marriott and/or SPG cards. It'll probably be Q4 by the time I have a good idea of what my 2018 general spend strategy will be.

fozziedoggie

Not exactly the same, but Ritz Carlton (part of SPG/Marriott) has their own Visa card:
https://creditcards.chase.com/a1/ritzcarlton/aep2CNv2?CELL=607L&SPID=FL2T&jp_cmp=cc/na/ext/na/07L

There's also the SPG AmEx card and the regular Marriott Rewards Visa...so they have 3 card options. Do we foresee a Waldorf Astoria and Conrad branded credit card soon????

pinniped

2 tiers of personal Marriott Visa
2 tiers of business Marriott Visa
Ritz Visa
SPG personal Amex
SPG business Amex

One could, in theory, stuff seven unique Marriott cards in their wallet. That would make you the biggest Marriott nerd on the planet, but I guess with juicy enough sign-up bonuses... @:-) 5 of those are Chase, and I don't know the latest rules on how fast you can earn 5 sign-up bonuses.

jamesteroh

Marriott may once the SPG merger is complete but I doubt it. Chase has the Marriott card and Am Ex the SPG card.

I figured when the Citi reserve card came out a few years ago it meant Hilton was getting ready to sever their ties with Am Ex and I figured Am Ex would have been the one to go not Citi. It's weird Citi introduced a brand new credit card for Hilton (which for people who stay at Hiltons isgreat credit card with the free nights and no international fee) only to end the relationship a few years later.

Seeing that I am now relying on credit card spend instead of stays to remain diamond this could mean less stays with Hilton for me. I was able to meet the $40K spend easy with VISA by using it at the places that don't accept Am Ex. My Delta MQMs/status are a lot more valuable to me than diamond with Hilton so my Am Ex spend is going on the Delta cards until I meet the MQM threshold which is $240K total on the two cards (I use a personal and business plat and after I get in $50K on each upgrade to the reserve and get another $60K in on each). Wouldn't be a bad thing if Am Ex was as widely accepted as visa.

jphripjah

Aside from the Citi Hilton Reserve, is there another credit card that gives gold status or opportunity to earn diamond status through spend?

pinniped

Yes, Amex has it...same $40k threshold. (The Surpass card with an annual fee.)

ab12345

Hey Lauren, when will Citi stop taking new applications for these cards? If you don't yet know the date, do you know if a date will be given ahead of time? Or if they could just disappear at any point between now and the end of the year? Thanks!