Eujeanie

Speaking of AS Board rooms, there is a long discussion on the AS forum about how they constantly have signs out in SEA and PDX that Priority Passes are not accepted most times because of overcrowding. I'm not sure if LAX was mentioned, but since we fly AS exclusively it renders our PP virtually useless (I can also live without paying the $29 or whatever pp, we've been in the AS lounges when we flew in Paid F and I don't think they are worth it - again, don't know anything about LAX).

jamesteroh

I never had an issue at LAX but I think I only used the PP there two times and never had an issue using my skyclub membership there when they allowed SC members to enter. Seems like they would have less of an issue with overcrowding at boardrooms now that Delta skyclub members can no longer use the lounge. The KL lounge has restricted hours at LAX for PP members.

Hopefully they aren't restricting access at ANK since Delta doesn't have a lounge there.

pinniped

The Chase Sapphire Reserve T's & C's don't make the guest policy clear - I assume those of you who have the card can confirm that guests are included? (I assume it's not really unlimited, but possibly the same 2 adults *or* family on a single PNR that the Citi Prestige Card gets.) The PP Select page mainly refers you back to your credit card page for detailed terms.

I've been rejected by the AS Boardroom in PDX before. That's pretty weak....between that and AS rarely recognizing my KTN even when I direct-book with them, I've mostly switched my PDX travel back to WN. Bummer because I like the AS E175's...

1P

My Citi HHonors Reserve Visa:

(a) Gives me HHonors Gold status as long as I retain the card;
(b) Has no FTFs when I use it in Europe (which I do a lot);
(c) Can be used anywhere. There are still many places in Europe that do not accept Amex because of the exorbitant fees they charge retailers. Visa is universal. Amex is not.

I have a UK Amex Platinum card already.
It seems to me that I will need to get another Visa card for Europe that has no FTFs. That is not a problem, except for (1) below.

My two main questions:
(1) Will I continue to have Gold status automatically, even if I don't use the new card at all or only at Hiltons in the US?
(2) When are Hilton or Citi going to notify me officially about this change? If I hadn't come upon this thread, I would have no idea that this was going to happen.

Supplementary question: Is the new card going to have chip and PIN (essential in Europe now) ?

SS255

I missed this thread, because I don't have an AMEX card, and the title is misleading. I have a Citi card, and the lack of details concerning this matter is troubling.

Closing down a credit card can have a significant impact on the card holder's credit score:

- The cardholder lose the line of credit, which affects their debt-to-credit ratio (and thus affects their credit score).
- In this case, if AMEX does not automatically assume the Citi accounts and arrange to have everything seamlessly roll over, those of us who want to switch to one of the AMEX cards and are forced to apply as new customers will have a hard inquiry on our credit. This will cause our credit scores to drop.
- If Citi closes our accounts without AMEX taking them over, account holders will lose their credit history for this account.

This is HUGE from a customer perspective. I am not a credit card churner, and I do not want my credit score affected because Hilton decided that it's better for their business to have one credit card provider. It's terrible for my credit score.

When US Airways switched from Bank of America to Barclays about a year or two before the merger with AA, Bank of America transferred all accounts and credit history seamlessly over to Barclays. They also threw in some goodies as a goodwill gesture, since any change in credit card is a real pain in the butt for the cardholder.

I implore Hilton and Citi to do right by their customers, and automatically convert our accounts to the equivalent AMEX credit card.

Majuki

1) The debt-to-credit ratio is only adversely affected if you carry a balance.

2) Yes, there would be a hard inquiry, but for someone with an established credit history the impact of a single inquiry and/or new account is minimal. I think this would be a reason for American Express to assume all of Citi's Hilton accounts since not everyone would rush out to apply for the AmEx Hilton product.

3) In the event the accounts don't get transferred to AmEx, it's unlikely that Citi would close the account. The cards would likely be converted to another product like the ThankYou Premier. In the event the accounts were closed, the item would stay on your credit report for 10 years before disappearing, which factors into the average age of accounts.

stormbandit

This question is for Loren or anyone else who might know: I am a Citi HH cardholder right now. If I apply for the Amex card now during the 100K promo, will I still be eligible for the points? I realize it will be a new account, but there is language in the fine print about "gaming" which I am not really trying to do. Though it is possible somewhere down the line if a conversion is made they may say I now have a duplicate account and refuse to award the points.

BrlDsguise

I don't see how Amex would deny you the points if you apply for the card and then through no action of your own wind up with another Amex Hilton card. The only thing they ever seem to limit is duplicating a sign up or spending bonus so if you never received either of these you are entitled to apply and earn them.

henry999

There is obviously a clear logic at work here but I'm looking at the situation somewhat differently. Tell me why I'm wrong.

I have the free AMEX HH card (not Surpass). It is the only hotel-points-earning credit card I have.

Say I spend the equivalent of $1000 staying in a Hilton abroad. The FTF will be $27. Say 20% of the bill is tax, so for AMEX bonus HH points I get 800 x 7 = 5600. $27.00 / 5600 = less than 1/2 cent per point (.482). When buying HH points, the normal price is 1 pt : 1 ct. In the recently concluded sale, it was 1 pt : .5 ct.

So, I look at paying the FTF as simply a way of buying a few additional points at a more favorable rate than even the 2-for-1 sale. What's wrong with that logic?

BrlDsguise

5,600 HHonors points @ 1/2 cent = $28 so the $27 forex fee wipes out the bonus points.

(Actually you earn bonus points on tax as well so you would be left with $8 worth of bonus points)

henry999

Thanks. Good to know. That makes this even more of a bargain.

Xyzzy

I dn't understand that logic. The $27 FTF is an extra cost that you wouldn't have to pay if you used a different card. By your logic if the FTF were $270 you'd be happier still because you could buy more points.

dmunz

I think what the poster is trying to say is that without any other points earning options, paying the FTF is not a barrier to their using the no-fee card to earn Hilton points considering the cost to simply buy the points. That is a very specific use case but reasonable for that poster.

My dream world has AMX adding all the Surpass benefits to my existing platinum card so I only have to carry one card. I would even eat an added fee for that option.

FWIW
DLM

henry999

But if you use a different card, you don't get the 7 extra points per dollar spent.

Yes, it is an extra cost compared to using the card in America. But when one is not in America? I'm just saying that accepting the 2.7% FTF (which, in any case, is going to be a comparatively small amount, i.e., in the tens of dollars, not hundreds or thousands) and using the card can be seen as a way of buying additional points at a very advantageous rate.

henry999

Yes.