[ARCHIVE to 2018] American Express Announces Two New Hilton Credit Cards
Jan 25, 2018, 8:25 am
#841
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 879
I just found this on a FAQ page from Am Ex: "If you currently have an open and eligible Citi Hilton Honors Card, you will receive the Hilton Honors American Express Card. If you currently have an open and eligible Citi Hilton Honors Reserve Card, you will receive the Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card. If you would like to change to a different Hilton Honors American Express product, please contact us after your account is transferred and we’ll be happy to discuss your options."
Jan 25, 2018, 8:27 am
#842
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oregon
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, UA 1MM Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Plat, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,000
Upgrading from Surpass to Aspire did not require unlocking anything.
Jan 25, 2018, 8:27 am
#843
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: AZ
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 200
I can verify later today to ensure I didn't mis-read something, but I'm pretty sure that what my wife and I received -- on the same day, about a week ago -- was an Ascend to replace my Surpass card, and an Ascend to replace her Citi Reserve card. Her packet had a lot more intro material. Both said to wait until the end of the month to activate (so they are stuck away for now, which is why I don't remember exactly).
But the main thing that struck me was that "my" new Ascend had a different card number, which disappointed me because I've had the same Amex number for years and it is one that I have memorized. Wife commented that changing numbers would be more secure, however, since the old number may be stored in various vendors' systems.
Another data point, just in case: my AF for the Surpass would hit in July, with the card exp not for a year-and-a-half yet, so its not like they sent a new card because the Surpass was going to expire soon.
But the main thing that struck me was that "my" new Ascend had a different card number, which disappointed me because I've had the same Amex number for years and it is one that I have memorized. Wife commented that changing numbers would be more secure, however, since the old number may be stored in various vendors' systems.
Another data point, just in case: my AF for the Surpass would hit in July, with the card exp not for a year-and-a-half yet, so its not like they sent a new card because the Surpass was going to expire soon.
BTW regarding replacement cards for existing Surpass cards: neither DH nor I have had a Surpass since last May. I received the 100k points upgrade offer for the No Annual Fee Hilton AMEX (without the language excluding a bonus for previous holders) so I accepted it 1/8. When I received the upgraded card I was surprised to see it is NOT the new style Ascend - it's the old style dark gray Surpass card. It doesn't say "Surpass" on the front but I don't remember if the old Surpass cards said that either. Perhaps AMEX is concentrating on getting the new style cards out to the Citi Reserve folks and will then send out Surpass replacements?
Jan 25, 2018, 10:35 am
#844
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Nebraska
Programs: HH Diamond, MR LTGold, UA, AA, AS, DL, Global Entry & TSAPre✓
Posts: 192
Were you an authorized user on wife's Citi Reserve? If so, the card with your name might be the AU card for her account (AU cards for AMEX have a different number than the account holder). The replacement for my Citi Reserve came with a lot of intro material and his came in a separate envelope without the intro material. It has to be his AU card from the Reserve because he did not have a Surpass card.
Jan 25, 2018, 10:56 am
#845
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,394
You can't undo a hard pull even if you are alerted. I put mine on a freeze after my W2 was stolen out of my mailbox and it has resulted in some interesting discoveries. Things like our business bank was doing hard pulls on my credit report without my authorization when reviewing our business line of credit (existing relationship - should never have been a hard pull). Only found out when they called me saying they couldn't get in because I had it locked. Couldn't get in why? I didn't authorize anything. So... I'm a believer. Lock 'em down.
Upgrading from Surpass to Aspire did not require unlocking anything.
Upgrading from Surpass to Aspire did not require unlocking anything.
If you are upgrading a current Am Ex card they shouldn't do a hard pull. I upgraded my Delta platinum to a Delta Reserve on Tuesday and when the Am Ex rep was going over all the disclosures he specifically mentioned that a hard pull wouldn't be done.
Jan 25, 2018, 12:03 pm
#846
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: AA Plat, Bonvoy Gold, HH Diamond, Global Entry
Posts: 20
How do I find out if a new Hilton Honors account has been setup for the Aspire card I am receiving as a new card (rather than upgrade)? I few here have mentioned you see the new Aspire listed when you login into Hilton, but I don't see ANY cards listed there, yet I've had both Amex and Citi versions of Ascend and have been receiving credits for those. If a new account number was setup for you, how did you know that? Did you receive a separate email from Hilton? Just trying to figure out if I should be trying to "fix" anything before the card comes (received the 7-10 day shipping email yesterday.)
Jan 25, 2018, 12:50 pm
#847
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,269
I’ve noticed that my new Ascend Card has the same final five digits as my existing Honors free Amex. It’s like Amex is saying what I was already thinking of doing: just merge the accounts...
Jan 25, 2018, 1:52 pm
#848
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,131
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/last-...thday-problem/
Jan 25, 2018, 4:03 pm
#849
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,044
How do I find out if a new Hilton Honors account has been setup for the Aspire card I am receiving as a new card (rather than upgrade)? I few here have mentioned you see the new Aspire listed when you login into Hilton, but I don't see ANY cards listed there, yet I've had both Amex and Citi versions of Ascend and have been receiving credits for those. If a new account number was setup for you, how did you know that? Did you receive a separate email from Hilton? Just trying to figure out if I should be trying to "fix" anything before the card comes (received the 7-10 day shipping email yesterday.)
Jan 25, 2018, 7:05 pm
#850
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: DEN
Programs: HHonors Diamond, United 1K, Amtrak Select, Hertz 5*, Marriott Gold
Posts: 126
I apologize, I'm almost positive I've read this answer before somewhere in this thread, but I can't find it now.
On the Ascend card, does anyone know when the count starts for the $15,000 to earn the free night? I know it says calendar year, but in this case is that January 1, January 18, or the end of January (I have a $10k charge that I need to make and I get a discount if I make the charge by Jan 28).
On the Ascend card, does anyone know when the count starts for the $15,000 to earn the free night? I know it says calendar year, but in this case is that January 1, January 18, or the end of January (I have a $10k charge that I need to make and I get a discount if I make the charge by Jan 28).
Jan 25, 2018, 7:27 pm
#851
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,932
Might just be random luck. DoC just did an analysis of the generation of the last four digits of AMEX cards.
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/last-...thday-problem/
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/last-...thday-problem/
If they do turn out to be different accounts that just happen to have the same last 5 digits, you can ask Amex to have one of the cards replaced with a card with a new number. Again, there's more in that linked article about that too.
Jan 25, 2018, 8:12 pm
#852
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,394
Something I find odd is that it doesn't say anyplace on the card where's it's an ascend card. My delta cards will say if it's a platinum or a reserve.
Jan 25, 2018, 8:43 pm
#853
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 274
I received an email yesterday that the Aspire card was shipped and would arrive in 7-10 business days. This was after receiving the original 3-5 business days on the 18th when I signed up. I need to make a purchase this week so I called and the rep said it most likely would arrive in 4-5 business days but that she could cancel the card and overnight a new one which would arrive by tomorrow evening. I just got home and the original card actually arrived today...
Jan 25, 2018, 10:23 pm
#854
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 143
Unsure if this is the best place for the question, but does anyone think the Ascend is a good hotel card if you don't plan to make the $15k required for a weekend night?
For background, I have no hotel cards and haven't ever had one. I hold and use mainly an EDP, and supplement it with the TYPremier. Sock-drawered a Merrill+. For the rest, I aim for annual churn of 1 card - which is usually a Chase (ex: MP Explorer in the past, going on BA right now). I'm finding that I have a few decent options for airline redemptions when I need it, but really little that is a good value for hotels. Looking at the current crop of offerings, I can't say I find any to be obviously the most valuable, especially in terms of a sign-up bonus.
Would appreciate suggestions, but my own parameters (which can be somewhat strange) led me to the Ascend. Not liking the spending req.
For background, I have no hotel cards and haven't ever had one. I hold and use mainly an EDP, and supplement it with the TYPremier. Sock-drawered a Merrill+. For the rest, I aim for annual churn of 1 card - which is usually a Chase (ex: MP Explorer in the past, going on BA right now). I'm finding that I have a few decent options for airline redemptions when I need it, but really little that is a good value for hotels. Looking at the current crop of offerings, I can't say I find any to be obviously the most valuable, especially in terms of a sign-up bonus.
Would appreciate suggestions, but my own parameters (which can be somewhat strange) led me to the Ascend. Not liking the spending req.
Jan 26, 2018, 4:41 am
#855
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: PHL/EWR
Programs: AA, US, WN, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 1,528
Unsure if this is the best place for the question, but does anyone think the Ascend is a good hotel card if you don't plan to make the $15k required for a weekend night?
For background, I have no hotel cards and haven't ever had one. I hold and use mainly an EDP, and supplement it with the TYPremier. Sock-drawered a Merrill+. For the rest, I aim for annual churn of 1 card - which is usually a Chase (ex: MP Explorer in the past, going on BA right now). I'm finding that I have a few decent options for airline redemptions when I need it, but really little that is a good value for hotels. Looking at the current crop of offerings, I can't say I find any to be obviously the most valuable, especially in terms of a sign-up bonus.
Would appreciate suggestions, but my own parameters (which can be somewhat strange) led me to the Ascend. Not liking the spending req.
For background, I have no hotel cards and haven't ever had one. I hold and use mainly an EDP, and supplement it with the TYPremier. Sock-drawered a Merrill+. For the rest, I aim for annual churn of 1 card - which is usually a Chase (ex: MP Explorer in the past, going on BA right now). I'm finding that I have a few decent options for airline redemptions when I need it, but really little that is a good value for hotels. Looking at the current crop of offerings, I can't say I find any to be obviously the most valuable, especially in terms of a sign-up bonus.
Would appreciate suggestions, but my own parameters (which can be somewhat strange) led me to the Ascend. Not liking the spending req.
Not really. The 6x bonus categories are nice but if you use the card for restaurants, groceries etc. and and spend $10k on them you would earn 60k points which isn't even enough for a top tier resort night. Meanwile you are leaving a free night on the table by not spending an additional $5k which would earn you at least another 15k points.
The best way to redeem points is for five night stays with the fifth night free and it will take you years to do this at even a 40k per night property.
