IIDXias

Yeah the airline credit workarounds is a good point. However, the resort credit isn’t nearly as strict as you’re making it out to be here, unless they change how it’s actually applied. As of now, you can use it on hotel nightly rates as long as they aren’t prepaid rates (i.e. they have to be charged by the hotel, not Hilton corporate). Many hotels still charge a deposit of a first night, and in my experience this always triggers the credit. So all you have to do is book a resort by May that costs at least $200 a night and get charged for the first night, and it will trigger the credit. The actual stay doesn’t have to be by the end of May- it can be for later.

Personally I had no issue using the credit in the past (usually I just use it in Vegas or something) and doubt I will in the future. But yeah, if you don’t generally use the resort credit to begin with then these changes are a much bigger bummer, I get it.

aww3583

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the FNC came after $60k in spending.

The website shows the following this morning:


Am I reading this correctly... one FNC after $30k in spending on the card, and another FNC at $60k in spending?

Screenshot from the AMEX T&Cs below:


That's worth the increase in AF to us.

krazykanuck

I mostly meant relative to some other AF hikes we've seen recently, like the Bonvoy Brilliant, which went up to $650 from $450. With your adherences to %s, you must be really glad I didn't call the $55 increase of the Surpass fee "moderate" since that's a whopping 58%

FlyerAVL

The airline credit clearly states for scheduled flights btw now, so no more travelbank

Also the Surpass and Aspire both get National Emerald Club Executive membership now.

beachmouse

I was actually considering upgrading the no fee Hilton card to the Surpass because it looks like an airport I use a bunch is going to get a Priority Pass lounge in 2024 but oh well, so much for that.

BearX220

Well, I've had a string of negative / disappointing PP experiences, and several cases of denied entry, and no luck with the airport restaurant credit benefit because Amex-affinity members are (were) "select" second-tier members. I've always said I'm happy to have PP as a free card perk good for two or three positive visits per year, but I'd never pay for PP outright -- objectively, the PP program is a mess, with too many garbage lounges and too many cases of promised access denied.

That said, I'm kind of sorry to lose the benefit, or chance of an occasional score. It's like the old joke-critique of Catskills resort cuisine: "The food is terrible here ... and such small portions!:"

Not sure if I will continue with the Amex card overall. I don't like being pressured into more Hilton stays to mitigate the jacked-up annual fee. Life is too short and Gold / Diamond worth too little, at least in the US.

scubadu

Fair point, though I always tend to think in percent change as that really makes clear the rate of change.

Furthermore, I guess I'd point out that yes, the Bonvoy Brilliant did jump from $450 to $650, but the benefit changes in that rollout were (at least IMHO) more valuable and dramatic. For example, at the $450 level, the card did not include Marriott Platinum status, but that was added with the increased fee (and Marriott Gold to Platinum is pretty big jump). It also added a greater number of EQNs, thus making attaining Titanium within reach for many customers. It added a monthly dining benefit, which for many is very easy to use. Finally, it added at 85K cert upon really (can't remember if they had that at the $450 level). All and all, those are some pretty substantial changes for the $200 delta on the Marriott card.

In the case of Hilton, folks were already getting Diamond for their $450, so no positive change there. The change to quarterly flight credits is a turn off to me; just another crazy coupon to keep track of (vs. using it once and being done for the year).

Full disclosure; I do not have the card, but had been thinking about it. A little less sure now. For folks that stay at Hiltons a lot, I can certainly see the value, but Hilton would be very much a "back-up to the back-up" program for us. The previous type of credits and annual fee made it pretty easy to extract value (which of course is why they are making the changes ) and though its certainly still possible to get value, it might be moving into my "too hard" pile for the time being.

Regards

ChinaShrek

Surpass seems to be going up to $150 for the Annual Fee

FlyerAVL

Also it seems like every travel card these days gives PP. So they are going to be overcrowded anyway. Also lets be honest here, most hotel loyalty programs are worthless in the US with them giving status from credit cards and some hotels just ignoring the benefits anyway.

Smaug

The annual Waldorf/Conrad credit decreased from $200 to $100 as well.

Schnit

If the surpass $200 of hotel credit can be used to buy gift cards online, like the old Marriott credit, I could see it worth it. Otherwise I am dumping the card

IIDXias

I honestly didn't even notice, probably because I've never been able to make use of that one.

beachmouse

I find Hilton’s 5th night free on award stays even with Silver Elite to be pretty useful. Got us an extra night in Jackson Hole this year when the Homewood Suites cash price was $700 or so.

BearX220

I think that syndrome is most acute with Hilton -- a combo of status-for-anyone-with-$95, plus rebellious properties reneging on promised benefits, plus no more free breakfast in the US, plus increasingly shabby hotels.

I think I'll probably downgrade to the no-fee card and feel freer to book properties I actually like, not places I feel yoked to because of mostly illusory Diamond / Gold privileges.

Eujeanie

The Aspire and Surpass are still too similar in color - always had a hard time making sure I grabbed the correct one out of my wallet, had to go by position, not color. Glad to see the no-fee will be completely different.