[ARCHIVE to 2018] American Express Announces Two New Hilton Credit Cards
Nov 13, 2018, 10:28 am
#1531
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Ti, UA Silver
Posts: 5,036
What if I already have the Ascend card and want to apply for Aspire? Can I hold both, and can I get the Aspire sign up bonus points?
Nov 13, 2018, 3:16 pm
#1533
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,012
Yeah, still get the "data currently unavailable" when I go to try and select my airline. This type of error (in the benefits section) has been occurring for months at least, IIRC. You'd think they'd fix it....
Nov 14, 2018, 6:04 am
#1534
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CT/ Germany - Ich spreche deutsch
Programs: UA 1K, Bonvoy LTTE, HH Dia, HY Expl
Posts: 4,657
I couldn't find if this had been mentioned in this thread or in another one before but just a heads up to the following IF you upgrade your Ascend to the Aspire:
1. A month or so ago I reached the $15k spending requirement on my then ASCEND card to get the Free Weekend Night.
2. I received an email with the voucher number on it for the free night which I luckily printed.
3. I upgraded from the ASCEND to the ASPIRE a couple of weeks after I had met the $15k spend on the Ascend card.
4. At first the Free Weekend Night Voucher number was still listed on the AMEX website under the account.
5. Yesterday all signs of the Free Weekend Night Voucher number disappeared from the website under the account and all I can see is the $60k spend objective for a free night that comes with the Ascend.
So...if you plan on upgrading and have the free night voucher from the $15k Ascend spend in your account....keep the email or a screenshot of the voucher number somewhere safe as it will completely disappear from your Amex account on their website!
1. A month or so ago I reached the $15k spending requirement on my then ASCEND card to get the Free Weekend Night.
2. I received an email with the voucher number on it for the free night which I luckily printed.
3. I upgraded from the ASCEND to the ASPIRE a couple of weeks after I had met the $15k spend on the Ascend card.
4. At first the Free Weekend Night Voucher number was still listed on the AMEX website under the account.
5. Yesterday all signs of the Free Weekend Night Voucher number disappeared from the website under the account and all I can see is the $60k spend objective for a free night that comes with the Ascend.
So...if you plan on upgrading and have the free night voucher from the $15k Ascend spend in your account....keep the email or a screenshot of the voucher number somewhere safe as it will completely disappear from your Amex account on their website!
Nov 14, 2018, 7:03 am
#1535
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Nebraska
Programs: HH Diamond, MR LTGold, UA, AA, AS, DL, Global Entry & TSAPre✓
Posts: 192
Are people having success by calling in (to the "number on the back of the [Aspire] card") and making the request that way instead?
Nov 18, 2018, 2:54 pm
#1536
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 76
Do you actually have the new number? Your post didn't make that clear.
The new number should be on your card, but if it isn't, you need to get it from Amex (voice call or chat). Then call up Hilton and tell them what happened. You want to communicate with Hilton in an interactive environment, which is why is suggest calling rather than emailing.
I seem to recall having had such an issue well over a decade ago, and I was able to resolve it back then with a couple phone calls. (This was so long ago, I'm not sure if Amex had online chat yet back then.)
You have to get two things to happen: You have to get Amex to switch to using your existing number (presumably first), and you have to get HH to merge the new account into your existing account. I you do HH merge before you get Amex to use your new account, the problem could recur if you do it at the wrong time (relative to the next time Amex sends points to HH), so that's why I suggest you get it fixed on the Amex side first (but get the new number from Amex, if you don't have it on your card, before any other step).
The new number should be on your card, but if it isn't, you need to get it from Amex (voice call or chat). Then call up Hilton and tell them what happened. You want to communicate with Hilton in an interactive environment, which is why is suggest calling rather than emailing.
I seem to recall having had such an issue well over a decade ago, and I was able to resolve it back then with a couple phone calls. (This was so long ago, I'm not sure if Amex had online chat yet back then.)
You have to get two things to happen: You have to get Amex to switch to using your existing number (presumably first), and you have to get HH to merge the new account into your existing account. I you do HH merge before you get Amex to use your new account, the problem could recur if you do it at the wrong time (relative to the next time Amex sends points to HH), so that's why I suggest you get it fixed on the Amex side first (but get the new number from Amex, if you don't have it on your card, before any other step).
Nov 18, 2018, 7:16 pm
#1537
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,528
There's been several offers for cardholders sent out recently, I've personally received a couple of them (e.g., receive 10,000 points after $1000 spend). Any idea how long those bonus points usually take to post after spending requirements met?
(I know what the T&C says, but I've seen a lot of variance with other non-Hilton Amex cards.)
(I know what the T&C says, but I've seen a lot of variance with other non-Hilton Amex cards.)
Nov 18, 2018, 8:51 pm
#1538
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: MCO, YEG
Posts: 1,182
Can’t help yet but should be able to soon. Passed the spend thresholds on the 11th and 13th and statement closed on the 16th. Points from statement posted today, but no bonus yet.
Nov 20, 2018, 8:17 pm
#1539
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
Nov 24, 2018, 9:00 pm
#1540
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Gulf Coast
Programs: Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond; National Car Rental Executive Elite
Posts: 2,320
Got an email reminder for the current promotion (150k bonus points) to upgrade from Ascend to Aspire.
The upgrade process was 2 steps. The confirmation page didn’t include a confirmation number or any mention of approval; it just said “your cards will arrive in 7-10 days”. I didn’t receive any confirmation email either. I did keep screenshots.
I also receive a notification any time a new credit inquiry is made and I’ve received no such communication.
Is this similar to other peoples’ experiences?
The upgrade process was 2 steps. The confirmation page didn’t include a confirmation number or any mention of approval; it just said “your cards will arrive in 7-10 days”. I didn’t receive any confirmation email either. I did keep screenshots.
I also receive a notification any time a new credit inquiry is made and I’ve received no such communication.
Is this similar to other peoples’ experiences?
Nov 24, 2018, 11:12 pm
#1541
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Rochester, MN
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton HHonors Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,830
Got an email reminder for the current promotion (150k bonus points) to upgrade from Ascend to Aspire.
The upgrade process was 2 steps. The confirmation page didn’t include a confirmation number or any mention of approval; it just said “your cards will arrive in 7-10 days”. I didn’t receive any confirmation email either. I did keep screenshots.
I also receive a notification any time a new credit inquiry is made and I’ve received no such communication.
Is this similar to other peoples’ experiences?
The upgrade process was 2 steps. The confirmation page didn’t include a confirmation number or any mention of approval; it just said “your cards will arrive in 7-10 days”. I didn’t receive any confirmation email either. I did keep screenshots.
I also receive a notification any time a new credit inquiry is made and I’ve received no such communication.
Is this similar to other peoples’ experiences?
yes. I do not expect a credit hit for this upgrade.
Nov 25, 2018, 11:41 am
#1542
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
Got an email reminder for the current promotion (150k bonus points) to upgrade from Ascend to Aspire.
The upgrade process was 2 steps. The confirmation page didn’t include a confirmation number or any mention of approval; it just said “your cards will arrive in 7-10 days”. I didn’t receive any confirmation email either. I did keep screenshots.
I also receive a notification any time a new credit inquiry is made and I’ve received no such communication.
Is this similar to other peoples’ experiences?
The upgrade process was 2 steps. The confirmation page didn’t include a confirmation number or any mention of approval; it just said “your cards will arrive in 7-10 days”. I didn’t receive any confirmation email either. I did keep screenshots.
I also receive a notification any time a new credit inquiry is made and I’ve received no such communication.
Is this similar to other peoples’ experiences?
Once your account shows Aspire, there will be a online clock on your home Aspire page which shows purchases toward an extra free night (requires $60k spend). Even if you're not aiming for that $60k spend, that clock is very useful, since it shows (if you hover over it) your total purchases since you upgraded to Aspire, and that's the same amount that needs to get to $4k for the 150k upgrade bonus. So in essence you've got upgrade bonus progress clock, even if it's not called that. @:-)
Meanwhile, since your credit limit hasn't changed, there's no need for Amex to do a hard inquiry. (Chase doesn't do hard inquiries on card upgrades which don't involve credit limit change either.)
Nov 25, 2018, 12:36 pm
#1543
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Gulf Coast
Programs: Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond; National Car Rental Executive Elite
Posts: 2,320
Yes. Within a day or so (in my case late on the same day when I did the upgrade in the early morning), your online account should update to say you have Aspire. At that point, you can start doing purchases that count toward the minimum spend requirement. (Purchases made before your account shows Aspire online may not count, according to the Amex rep I spoke with right after upgrading.)
Once your account shows Aspire, there will be a online clock on your home Aspire page which shows purchases toward an extra free night (requires $60k spend). Even if you're not aiming for that $60k spend, that clock is very useful, since it shows (if you hover over it) your total purchases since you upgraded to Aspire, and that's the same amount that needs to get to $4k for the 150k upgrade bonus. So in essence you've got upgrade bonus progress clock, even if it's not called that. @:-)
Meanwhile, since your credit limit hasn't changed, there's no need for Amex to do a hard inquiry. (Chase doesn't do hard inquiries on card upgrades which don't involve credit limit change either.)
Once your account shows Aspire, there will be a online clock on your home Aspire page which shows purchases toward an extra free night (requires $60k spend). Even if you're not aiming for that $60k spend, that clock is very useful, since it shows (if you hover over it) your total purchases since you upgraded to Aspire, and that's the same amount that needs to get to $4k for the 150k upgrade bonus. So in essence you've got upgrade bonus progress clock, even if it's not called that. @:-)
Meanwhile, since your credit limit hasn't changed, there's no need for Amex to do a hard inquiry. (Chase doesn't do hard inquiries on card upgrades which don't involve credit limit change either.)
Nov 28, 2018, 2:10 pm
#1544
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Between MGM & ATL
Programs: Primarily Hilton & Delta
Posts: 137
Anyone have any issues of a charge not being credited the correct amount of points? I have the Ascend card, so I should be earning 6x points on all restaurants. I ate at the same restaurant twice in the last month and both charges on my statement only credit me with the standard 3x points. It was not at a hotel/non-stand alone restaurant or any of the other common billing technicalities that would make the charge show as a non-restaurant. Even my AMEX account shows the charge categorized as a "restaurant". To my knowledge this is the first problem I have had with this issue.
Nov 28, 2018, 2:20 pm
#1545
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 92
Anyone have any issues of a charge not being credited the correct amount of points? I have the Ascend card, so I should be earning 6x points on all restaurants. I ate at the same restaurant twice in the last month and both charges on my statement only credit me with the standard 3x points. It was not at a hotel/non-stand alone restaurant or any of the other common billing technicalities that would make the charge show as a non-restaurant. Even my AMEX account shows the charge categorized as a "restaurant". To my knowledge this is the first problem I have had with this issue.