[ARCHIVE to 2018] American Express Announces Two New Hilton Credit Cards
Nov 3, 2017, 3:01 pm
#316
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, Marco Polo Gold
Posts: 1,084
Globalist - the equivalent of their old Diamond tier.
Explorist - a little better than their Gold tier
Discoverist - a little worst than their God tier
I was Hyatt Diamond, then Hyatt Globalist, now Hyatt Explorist. Simply not enough of them around for me to keep up. I'll just pay the $450 and enjoy my Hilton DM on East Asian Hilton properties.
Nov 3, 2017, 3:26 pm
#317
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: 16,843
Discoverist - a little worst than their God tier
Nov 3, 2017, 3:28 pm
#318
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
That's weird. Why doesn't it think it's a $99 ticket? If I get the Aspire and buy a ticket, I guess I'll see what happens. Thanks.
Nov 3, 2017, 4:52 pm
#319
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: 16,843
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...orts-only.html
(Read the wiki post at the top if you are interested in equivalent threads for other airlines)
Start here for AS low-$$ value ticket reimbursement reports.
Nov 3, 2017, 5:06 pm
#320
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
Long thread about AS reimbursements in the Amex forum:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...orts-only.html
(Read the wiki post at the top if you are interested in equivalent threads for other airlines)
Start here for AS low-$$ value ticket reimbursement reports.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...orts-only.html
(Read the wiki post at the top if you are interested in equivalent threads for other airlines)
Start here for AS low-$$ value ticket reimbursement reports.
We're taking our family on a trip in April and we're all flying together - if we buy drinks and food for all of us on the plane it will ALL be credited, right? The grandkids will love their own bags of M&Ms, and Mom and Dad will appreciate free cocktails.
And this will be the same trip we hope to use the Hilton Resort credit.Just hope we can get this card.
Nov 3, 2017, 5:34 pm
#321
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: san francisco
Programs: No airline status whatsoever, Chase URs, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 567
While I think it's possible that the lounges may become more crowded, I've stayed in Hilton properties all over the world for many years as a Diamond and have rarely experienced any crowding. The CDG lounge has been quite crowded a couple of times, but always there are people who will share a table or area so I could enjoy a nice glass of champers and some wonderful French food.
Nov 3, 2017, 5:53 pm
#322
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: san francisco
Programs: No airline status whatsoever, Chase URs, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 567
I'm just glad that AmEx has FINALLY stepped up to the plate with the new HH Aspire card. I love HH and was recently lamenting losing my Diamond status for 2018, so come January 18 I'll be a happy camper with Aspire.
Nov 3, 2017, 6:12 pm
#323
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
Do we have any informed speculation on whether the Ascend will officially be a separate Amex product from Surpass (thus making current/recent Surpass cardholders eligible for the signup bonus) or just a refresh?
Last edited by beltway; Nov 3, 2017 at 9:08 pm
Nov 3, 2017, 6:52 pm
#324
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: san francisco
Programs: No airline status whatsoever, Chase URs, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 567
OMG, the lounges are going to be flooded with people who never stay in the hotels paying $450/year for this card!
It's so hard to have intelligent discourse on this topic when so many people resort to complete hyperbole ...
Really? There's no measurable benefit to earning 50% more Honors points on each stay? I don't disagree that Honors points have been devalued over time, but I'm pretty sure they're not literally completely worthless despite some of the hyperbole here on FT.
Hilton should see some lesson from hypothetical products that have never existed and their hypothetical impacts that have never occurred?
It's so hard to have intelligent discourse on this topic when so many people resort to complete hyperbole ...
Really? There's no measurable benefit to earning 50% more Honors points on each stay? I don't disagree that Honors points have been devalued over time, but I'm pretty sure they're not literally completely worthless despite some of the hyperbole here on FT.
Hilton should see some lesson from hypothetical products that have never existed and their hypothetical impacts that have never occurred?
Nov 3, 2017, 7:01 pm
#325
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
Nov 3, 2017, 7:18 pm
#326
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Venice, Florida
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,607
Nov 3, 2017, 7:22 pm
#327
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: AA LT PLT (3.6+ MM), UA 1K LT Gold, Hilton LT Diamond, Bonvoy Gold.
Posts: 1,662
Two things Beckles: FlyerTalk seems to attract negative people and they love to ramble on about the negative aspects of nearly anything. These guys' posts I just ignore. Two, Hilton will add a super-top tier to HH, not to worry. They'll look at the new AmEx cards for a bit, esp the Aspire, then they'll figure out how to keep their very top people happy. Chase has been eating AmEx's lunch for years and I'm personally thrilled that AmEx has finally noticed.
Nov 3, 2017, 7:29 pm
#328
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: AA LT PLT (3.6+ MM), UA 1K LT Gold, Hilton LT Diamond, Bonvoy Gold.
Posts: 1,662
While I think it's possible that the lounges may become more crowded, I've stayed in Hilton properties all over the world for many years as a Diamond and have rarely experienced any crowding. The CDG lounge has been quite crowded a couple of times, but always there are people who will share a table or area so I could enjoy a nice glass of champers and some wonderful French food.
Nov 3, 2017, 7:38 pm
#329
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,133
With the Citibank Hilton Reserve, the free weekend night for spending $10,000 was based on cardmember years and the $40,000 in spending to obtain diamond status was based on a calendar year. So, by spending at least $10,000 in one membership year and the remainder of the $40,000 in the next membership year but same calendar year, the cardholder would have diamond membership for the current and the following calendar year plus two free weekend nights for two $95 annual fees and the opportunity cost of spending the money on the Hilton credit card.
Since many people have better options for spending $40,000 than with the Hilton card, I assumed a 1% loss on Hilton Reserve charges which would make the cost for almost two years of diamond status and two free nights 2*$95 + .01*$40,000 = $580. With the Aspire card, the cardholder would pay 2*$450 = $900 minus the amount of credits utilized and still receive two free nights and diamond status. While the Aspire will make the process simpler and more rewarding for those who take advantage of the $250 credits each year and other benefits, it’s not as if there wasn’t a relatively inexpensive option of obtaining diamond status previously.
Since many people have better options for spending $40,000 than with the Hilton card, I assumed a 1% loss on Hilton Reserve charges which would make the cost for almost two years of diamond status and two free nights 2*$95 + .01*$40,000 = $580. With the Aspire card, the cardholder would pay 2*$450 = $900 minus the amount of credits utilized and still receive two free nights and diamond status. While the Aspire will make the process simpler and more rewarding for those who take advantage of the $250 credits each year and other benefits, it’s not as if there wasn’t a relatively inexpensive option of obtaining diamond status previously.
Nov 3, 2017, 7:45 pm
#330
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
A lot of the problem with the LAX Hilton is ALL gold's get access. The Palmer House in Chicago used to have the same issue and after enough complaints they finally start giving gold's a different breakfast option and only give diamond's and exec level guests access and that has cut down on the congestion considerably. The thing to do as a diamond at a property with a crowded lounge that gives everyone access is to complain and also ask for a breakfast voucher in the restaurant if you can't find a seat.