Citi Hilton Honors cards going away by end of 2017
#376
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,398
That's the way I read it. Spend $10K by your Citi anniversary date (whether on the Citi or AMEX card) and get one free night. Spend $15K on the AMEX card before the end of the year (spend for the AMEX cert is based on calendar year) and get another free night. Good news is that AMEX will issue the cert once you reach the required spend, so no more waiting until after your renewal date and AF payment to get the cert.
So I'm keeping my Citi/Ascend card open at least until the anniversary date.
So I'm keeping my Citi/Ascend card open at least until the anniversary date.
I'm a little confused as to how they are doing the anniversary year as well with Am Ex and the free cards. If someone upgrades their card to the $450 card on 12/1 will they get the free night cert on 12/31 the same year still? If so I may just wait until December to upgrade the card
#377
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
OK, so I have the no-AF AMEX Hilton card AND the no-AF Citi Hilton card. Based on the the FAQ's and emails, it sounds like I will end up with a second no-AF AMEX Hilton card AND a Citi Thank You point card.
Is that correct? And why on earth would I need a second AMEX that is EXACTLY the same as the other one???
Is that correct? And why on earth would I need a second AMEX that is EXACTLY the same as the other one???
Last edited by formeraa; Nov 17, 2017 at 10:15 am
#378
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,945
My interpretation is that with the $450 card a free night will be issued annually upon renewal. In addition, a second free night can be earned once you hit $60K in spending. This definitely differs from the $95 card which issues the free night certificate once you hit the $15K in spending.
#379
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
OK, so I have the no-AF AMEX Hilton card AND the no-AF Citi Hilton card. Based on the the FAQ's and emails, it sounds like I will end up with a second no-AF AMEX Hilton card AND a Citi Thank You point card.
Is that correct? And why on earth would I need a second AMEX that is EXACTLY the same as the other one???
Is that correct? And why on earth would I need a second AMEX that is EXACTLY the same as the other one???
#380
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Virginia
Programs: HHonors Gold, IHG Platinum, Marriott nobody
Posts: 470
The letter did say "Please know that if your Citi Hilton Honors Card account is ineligible or closed, you account may not be transferred to American Express." So may be it won't be transferred. I will sit and wait to see how it turns out. I closed the Citi account in the hope that I can apply for the Ascend card separately and get a sign on bonus.
The letter also said AMEX will not perform a credit check as part of this transfer, so I can get the Ascend if the transfer comes through without a hard pull. That will help my Chase 5/24 situation.
#381
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,717
Just got the Amex form letter with the 5-digit # (meaningless). I wonder if Citi is transferring my SSN info, because I don't recall providing permission to do that? OTOH I don't see how Amex could report the accounts to CRAs without it.
#382
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,398
There's probably something in the cardholder agreement that allows them to. They would need the info for credit card reporting and I'm sure they are using the SSN to see how much other credit someone has with Am Ex and to see if they are on their blacklist before accepting the individual accout
#383
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Madison, WI (MSN)
Programs: Delta Platinum, Hilton & Marriott Plastic Gold, Chick-fil-A Signature
Posts: 441
I got what I consider to be good news in a letter from Citi last week:
"Your Citi Hilton Honors Reserve account is being converted to ThankYou Preferred."
Some key points from the correspondence (paraphrasing and summarizing):
- Unless I contact Citi before January 1, 2018, they will automatically convert my account.
- I "may be eligible to convert to another Citi product"
- All purchases through January 29 continue to accrue Hilton Honors points and count toward achieving Diamond status
- Citi will provide me with a free night certificate in January 2018
- After January 29, Hilton points no longer accrue and the free night benefit will no longer be available
- Mid-December 2017: I'll receive details about the benefits of my new Citi ThankYou Preferred account
- January 30, 2018: Keep using my Citi Hilton Honors card to start earning ThankYou points
- February-March 2018: I'll receive my new Citi ThankYou Preferred card, activate it, yada yada
Data points:
- Citi card opened in 2014, $40K+ spend this year
- 2 AmEx cards (Delta Reserve for 3 years, Hilton Surpass opened a few months ago for the 100K bonus) with $60K+ annual spend
I'm thrilled that this account isn't going to AmEx since I don't need a duplicate, and this doesn't seem to affect the already-earned free night and diamond status. The key data point I'm sharing here is that AmEx didn't want my account, and I have a credit score above 800 and perfect standing with AmEx for over 10 years... which seems to go against the hypotheses earlier about the sorts of accounts AmEx would reject.
"Your Citi Hilton Honors Reserve account is being converted to ThankYou Preferred."
Some key points from the correspondence (paraphrasing and summarizing):
- Unless I contact Citi before January 1, 2018, they will automatically convert my account.
- I "may be eligible to convert to another Citi product"
- All purchases through January 29 continue to accrue Hilton Honors points and count toward achieving Diamond status
- Citi will provide me with a free night certificate in January 2018
- After January 29, Hilton points no longer accrue and the free night benefit will no longer be available
- Mid-December 2017: I'll receive details about the benefits of my new Citi ThankYou Preferred account
- January 30, 2018: Keep using my Citi Hilton Honors card to start earning ThankYou points
- February-March 2018: I'll receive my new Citi ThankYou Preferred card, activate it, yada yada
Data points:
- Citi card opened in 2014, $40K+ spend this year
- 2 AmEx cards (Delta Reserve for 3 years, Hilton Surpass opened a few months ago for the 100K bonus) with $60K+ annual spend
I'm thrilled that this account isn't going to AmEx since I don't need a duplicate, and this doesn't seem to affect the already-earned free night and diamond status. The key data point I'm sharing here is that AmEx didn't want my account, and I have a credit score above 800 and perfect standing with AmEx for over 10 years... which seems to go against the hypotheses earlier about the sorts of accounts AmEx would reject.
#384
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: PHL/EWR
Programs: AA, US, WN, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 1,528
I got what I consider to be good news in a letter from Citi last week:
"Your Citi Hilton Honors Reserve account is being converted to ThankYou Preferred."
Some key points from the correspondence (paraphrasing and summarizing):
- Unless I contact Citi before January 1, 2018, they will automatically convert my account.
- I "may be eligible to convert to another Citi product"
- All purchases through January 29 continue to accrue Hilton Honors points and count toward achieving Diamond status
- Citi will provide me with a free night certificate in January 2018
- After January 29, Hilton points no longer accrue and the free night benefit will no longer be available
- Mid-December 2017: I'll receive details about the benefits of my new Citi ThankYou Preferred account
- January 30, 2018: Keep using my Citi Hilton Honors card to start earning ThankYou points
- February-March 2018: I'll receive my new Citi ThankYou Preferred card, activate it, yada yada
Data points:
- Citi card opened in 2014, $40K+ spend this year
- 2 AmEx cards (Delta Reserve for 3 years, Hilton Surpass opened a few months ago for the 100K bonus) with $60K+ annual spend
I'm thrilled that this account isn't going to AmEx since I don't need a duplicate, and this doesn't seem to affect the already-earned free night and diamond status. The key data point I'm sharing here is that AmEx didn't want my account, and I have a credit score above 800 and perfect standing with AmEx for over 10 years... which seems to go against the hypotheses earlier about the sorts of accounts AmEx would reject.
"Your Citi Hilton Honors Reserve account is being converted to ThankYou Preferred."
Some key points from the correspondence (paraphrasing and summarizing):
- Unless I contact Citi before January 1, 2018, they will automatically convert my account.
- I "may be eligible to convert to another Citi product"
- All purchases through January 29 continue to accrue Hilton Honors points and count toward achieving Diamond status
- Citi will provide me with a free night certificate in January 2018
- After January 29, Hilton points no longer accrue and the free night benefit will no longer be available
- Mid-December 2017: I'll receive details about the benefits of my new Citi ThankYou Preferred account
- January 30, 2018: Keep using my Citi Hilton Honors card to start earning ThankYou points
- February-March 2018: I'll receive my new Citi ThankYou Preferred card, activate it, yada yada
Data points:
- Citi card opened in 2014, $40K+ spend this year
- 2 AmEx cards (Delta Reserve for 3 years, Hilton Surpass opened a few months ago for the 100K bonus) with $60K+ annual spend
I'm thrilled that this account isn't going to AmEx since I don't need a duplicate, and this doesn't seem to affect the already-earned free night and diamond status. The key data point I'm sharing here is that AmEx didn't want my account, and I have a credit score above 800 and perfect standing with AmEx for over 10 years... which seems to go against the hypotheses earlier about the sorts of accounts AmEx would reject.
#385
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,059
I'm getting converted to a ThankYou Preferred as well. My Hilton Reserve was opened in 2015 and has had $40k+ spend this year (legitimate spending, no MS). I don't have any AmEx Hilton products. I have two other AmEx credit cards plus a charge card. I can't think of why I wouldn't be converted as all of my accounts are in good standing.
#386
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: United Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 284
I'm getting converted to a ThankYou Preferred as well. My Hilton Reserve was opened in 2015 and has had $40k+ spend this year (legitimate spending, no MS). I don't have any AmEx Hilton products. I have two other AmEx credit cards plus a charge card. I can't think of why I wouldn't be converted as all of my accounts are in good standing.
I've received my packet from Amex but they were included in my March 2008 bankruptcy so I'm doubting I'm going to have my account transferred to Amex. I'm *hoping* this might be a way to backdoor my way back into their good graces though...
#389
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 493
I got the packet in the mail saying I would be receiving the Amex Asend card at the end of January.
I did, however, cancel my Amex Hilton Surpass a couple months ago when I learned my Citi card would be converted to an Amex card (I didn't want to pay the annual fee on the Surpass and was hardly using it anyway because of the forex charges).
Crazy system they have there.
I did, however, cancel my Amex Hilton Surpass a couple months ago when I learned my Citi card would be converted to an Amex card (I didn't want to pay the annual fee on the Surpass and was hardly using it anyway because of the forex charges).
Crazy system they have there.
#390
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,717
Just received my US mail packet from Amex, but it is no more useful than the initial email from Citi as it reiterates that a select number of accounts will not be transferred.