Jun 12, 2013, 11:05 am
Last edit by: vah4883
Limited-time offers
Hilton HHonors American Express card. 80,000 points for spending $2,000 in 3 months; no annual fee. Ends May 31, 2017
Hilton HHonors American Express Ascend card. 100,000 points for spending $3,000 ; $95 annual fee.
Hilton HHonors American Express card application page. 75,000 points for spending $1,000 in 3 months; no annual fee.
Public offer expired Feb 1, 2017 (this link brings up a page: "This campaign has expired. Thank you for your interest."), but Refer a Friend links still active. This one has the referral ID stripped out.
Citi HH Visa 40K application page (spend $1K/4 mos.)
Ongoing offersPublic offer expired Feb 1, 2017 (this link brings up a page: "This campaign has expired. Thank you for your interest."), but Refer a Friend links still active. This one has the referral ID stripped out.
Citi HH Visa 40K application page (spend $1K/4 mos.)
- This offer does not contain an explicit 24-month restriction.
If you apply using this link & are not instantly approved, DO NOT CALL CITI.
Calling in risks alerting Citi to the offer and having it withdrawn.
Amex HH Surpass Card
FlyerTalk discussion thread: The Hilton HHonors Surpass(SM) Card from American Express Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card
Flyertalk discussion thread: Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card Citi HH Visa 60K application page. You can also apply by calling 1-866-615-2274.
Flyertalk discussion thread: Citi Hilton HHonors VISA [60k-75k, read Wiki to choose] Basic Amex HH Card
FAQ- Annual fee: $75, no first-year waiver.
- Signup bonus: 75K points for spending $3K in the first 3 months.
- Earning: 12 HHonors points per dollar on Hilton spend; 6 points/$ at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets & gas stations; and 3 points/$ on everything else.
- Elite status: Hilton Gold status for as long as you have the card and Diamond status after $40,000 in annual spend.
- Booking bonus: 500 bonus points for every stay (including award stays) booked directly with Hilton & guaranteed with the card
- Important limitation on this offer: "Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product."
FlyerTalk discussion thread: The Hilton HHonors Surpass(SM) Card from American Express
- Annual fee: $95, no first-year waiver.
- Signup bonus: 2 free weekend nights after $2500 in spend within four months. These free nights are valid at all Hilton redemption categories, including Waldorf Astoria properties.
- Anniversary bonus: 1 free weekend night each year after $10,000 in spend.
- Earning: 10 HHonors points per dollar on Hilton spend, 5 points per dollar on air and car rental, and 3 on everything else.
- Elite status: Hilton Gold status for as long as you have the card and Diamond status after $40,000 in annual spend.
- No foreign currency transaction fees.
- Important limitation on this offer: "Weekend Night Certificates offer is not available if you have had a Citi Hilton HHonors Card account that was opened or closed in the past 24 months.."
Flyertalk discussion thread: Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card
- No annual fee.
- Signup bonus: 60K points for spending $1K in the first 4 months
- Earning: 6 HHonors points per dollar on Hilton spend; 3 points/$ at U.S. supermarkets, drugstores & gas stations; and 2 points/$ on everything else.
- Elite status: Hilton Silver status for as long as you have the card.
- Fast track To Gold status: After four qualifying stays within your first 91 days of cardmembership, receive Gold status through the end of the following calendar year.
- Important limitation on this offer: "Hilton HHonors Bonus Points offer not available if you have had a Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature Card account that was opened or closed in the past 24 months."
Flyertalk discussion thread: Citi Hilton HHonors VISA [60k-75k, read Wiki to choose]
Offer for 50K points (spend $750/3mos.) + $50 credit for first purchase: Make a dummy reservation on Hilton site. Offer will appear on page before final booking. (Cannot be linked to directly.)
Offer for 50K points (spend $750/3mos.)
Offer for 50K points (spend $750/3mos.)
- No annual fee.
- Earning: 7 HHonors points per dollar on Hilton spend; 5 points/$ at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets & gas stations; and 3 on everything else.
- Elite status: Hilton Silver status for as long as you have the card and Gold status after $20,000 in annual spend.
- Booking bonus: 500 bonus points for every stay (including award stays) booked directly with Hilton & guaranteed with the card
1. Are these cards churnable?
As of May 1, 2014, Amex will not give a signup bonus to card applicants who have held the card in the past ~7 years, even if the applicant has never earned a previous signup bonus for it. However, it is still possible to upgrade an existing Hilton Amex to the Surpass card to earn a bonus (and reportedly to do this more than once by later downgrading & then upgrading again). The best strategy is to earn a Surpass signup bonus first, and only afterward pursue the upgrade bonus(es).
In August 2016, Citi began inserting language into applications and landing pages requiring a 24-month wait from the date of the opening or closure of any Citi Hilton card. Previously, the Citi Hilton Signature Visa and Reserve cards were on separate clocks for each applicant. Now there is a single 24-month clock reset by open/close of either type of card. For more info, see the wiki at Citi Hilton HHonors VISA [60k-75k, read Wiki to choose].
2. I have met the spending. When will my bonus post?
For Amex cards, the bonus will post a few days after meeting the spend. The points from the actual spend will post after statement is generated. For Citi products, bonus points post only at statement close.
3. What happened to the Amex drugstore category spending bonus?
Changes to Hilton Amex cards as of May 2013 are explained here:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfr...at-we-thought/
4. What is the link to upgrade from no fee card to Surpass card for 50,000 after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months?
This link redirects to this landing page. Application page.
You need to be logged into your Amex account first, then click on the link above, then click Upgrade. (This does not work for all people. It is suspected that only people that have had the no-fee card for at least one year are able to upgrade to the Surpass card.) There is generally no hard pull on your credit report for upgrading.
5. Does having one of these Hilton cards preclude me from successfully earning the signup bonus on a different one?
No. All four cards are separate products. Having (or having previously had) one of them has no effect on your bonus eligibility for the others--but note, as discussed in FAQ #1, that opening or closing any Citi Hilton card will affect your eligibility for any new Citi Hilton card bonus.
As of May 1, 2014, Amex will not give a signup bonus to card applicants who have held the card in the past ~7 years, even if the applicant has never earned a previous signup bonus for it. However, it is still possible to upgrade an existing Hilton Amex to the Surpass card to earn a bonus (and reportedly to do this more than once by later downgrading & then upgrading again). The best strategy is to earn a Surpass signup bonus first, and only afterward pursue the upgrade bonus(es).
In August 2016, Citi began inserting language into applications and landing pages requiring a 24-month wait from the date of the opening or closure of any Citi Hilton card. Previously, the Citi Hilton Signature Visa and Reserve cards were on separate clocks for each applicant. Now there is a single 24-month clock reset by open/close of either type of card. For more info, see the wiki at Citi Hilton HHonors VISA [60k-75k, read Wiki to choose].
2. I have met the spending. When will my bonus post?
For Amex cards, the bonus will post a few days after meeting the spend. The points from the actual spend will post after statement is generated. For Citi products, bonus points post only at statement close.
3. What happened to the Amex drugstore category spending bonus?
Changes to Hilton Amex cards as of May 2013 are explained here:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfr...at-we-thought/
4. What is the link to upgrade from no fee card to Surpass card for 50,000 after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months?
This link redirects to this landing page. Application page.
You need to be logged into your Amex account first, then click on the link above, then click Upgrade. (This does not work for all people. It is suspected that only people that have had the no-fee card for at least one year are able to upgrade to the Surpass card.) There is generally no hard pull on your credit report for upgrading.
5. Does having one of these Hilton cards preclude me from successfully earning the signup bonus on a different one?
No. All four cards are separate products. Having (or having previously had) one of them has no effect on your bonus eligibility for the others--but note, as discussed in FAQ #1, that opening or closing any Citi Hilton card will affect your eligibility for any new Citi Hilton card bonus.
Ongoing offers for Hilton cards issued by Amex or Citi
Mar 23, 2017 | 11:14 am
#1141
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: FL, USA
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold
Posts: 1,675
http://millionmilesecrets.com/2017/0...omment-5701480
I already have the basic Hilton Amex but wouldn't mind picking up the Surpass. When I go to the application page it has an upgrade option, not an apply option. If I go this route, would I still get the bonus or should I use an incognito page to apply for a brand new card?
There's mention in the article that you get one free weekend night on the card 1st anniversary (not sure if that is annually), but I can't find mention of it on the application page. Wonder if MillionMilesSecrets is confusing this with the Citi H Reserve card that gives a free weekend night after $10K spend.
I already have the basic Hilton Amex but wouldn't mind picking up the Surpass. When I go to the application page it has an upgrade option, not an apply option. If I go this route, would I still get the bonus or should I use an incognito page to apply for a brand new card?
There's mention in the article that you get one free weekend night on the card 1st anniversary (not sure if that is annually), but I can't find mention of it on the application page. Wonder if MillionMilesSecrets is confusing this with the Citi H Reserve card that gives a free weekend night after $10K spend.
I went to look for this too.
I do think an upgrade gives your points but I will defer to other responses here since I am in the same boat.
I definitely plan to upgrade, for 100k and free night if possible.
Mar 23, 2017 | 11:20 am
#1142
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: New York
Programs: Navy A-4 Skyhawk, B727 FE/FO, S80 FO, B757/767 FO, B737 CA
Posts: 1,416
The anniversary night is onlye for the first year. https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...rmsDisclosures
I went to look for this too.
I do think an upgrade gives your points but I will defer to other responses here since I am in the same boat.
I definitely plan to upgrade, for 100k and free night if possible.
I went to look for this too.
I do think an upgrade gives your points but I will defer to other responses here since I am in the same boat.
I definitely plan to upgrade, for 100k and free night if possible.
Mar 23, 2017 | 11:22 am
#1143
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: FL, USA
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold
Posts: 1,675
Yes in my case the upgrade said 100k so my plan is to upgrade get the 100k, get the free night and then after a year just downgrade and rinse and repeat if its still allowed.
Mar 23, 2017 | 11:31 am
#1144
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: New York
Programs: Navy A-4 Skyhawk, B727 FE/FO, S80 FO, B757/767 FO, B737 CA
Posts: 1,416
Hm, I went to the link you posted and saw the free night, but when I log in thru the "already a card member" at the top, the wording for the free night disappears from the page and from the T&C's.
Mar 23, 2017 | 12:29 pm
#1145
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,225
The terms and conditions appear to differ on the upgrade link versus the new application link. As far as I can see, new applicants receive the 100K and free night, but those upgrading only receive the 100K.
Mar 23, 2017 | 12:44 pm
#1146
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: FL, USA
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold
Posts: 1,675
Mar 23, 2017 | 1:33 pm
#1147
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: New York
Programs: Navy A-4 Skyhawk, B727 FE/FO, S80 FO, B757/767 FO, B737 CA
Posts: 1,416
But do you have to get this card as an upgrade? Can't we just apply for the card as a new account and not convert over? Or does Amex not allow us to have both cards at the same time?
Mar 23, 2017 | 2:13 pm
#1148
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 2,513
80K Amex card
I added an 80,000 points offer for the American Express card to the wiki. I am unable to get the indent command to work. Hopefully someone else can fix it.
Mar 23, 2017 | 2:53 pm
#1149
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: FL, USA
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold
Posts: 1,675
You could apply but I would rather not have another account and a hard pull so id rather forego the free night and just get my 100k
Mar 23, 2017 | 4:27 pm
#1150
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 26,110
That's because the one-per-lifetime limit definitely applies to new accounts, but it may not apply to upgrades.
So if you apply for it as a new account first, that doesn't rule out upgrading in the future.
But if you upgrade first, that does seem to rule out getting a new account in the future.
Mar 23, 2017 | 9:21 pm
#1151
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: New York
Programs: Navy A-4 Skyhawk, B727 FE/FO, S80 FO, B757/767 FO, B737 CA
Posts: 1,416
If you've never had the HH Surpass Amex before, you not can apply for it as a new account, you should.
That's because the one-per-lifetime limit definitely applies to new accounts, but it may not apply to upgrades.
So if you apply for it as a new account first, that doesn't rule out upgrading in the future.
But if you upgrade first, that does seem to rule out getting a new account in the future.
That's because the one-per-lifetime limit definitely applies to new accounts, but it may not apply to upgrades.
So if you apply for it as a new account first, that doesn't rule out upgrading in the future.
But if you upgrade first, that does seem to rule out getting a new account in the future.
Mar 23, 2017 | 9:37 pm
#1152
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 7,089
That's not the reason I was asking. I asked if it was possible to have both Amex Hilton (the Surpass and the no fee Amex) cards because when I go to the app page for the Surpass (which I have never had) the page automatically goes to an upgrade page instead of the normal apply page...even when I am not logged into my account. Probably using cookies in my browser. But I just wanted to double check there was no issue having both cards.
MY dad has the NAF HH Amex and the Surpass open. I will cancel his surpass soon and then upgrade his NAF card to Surpass a few months later
Mar 24, 2017 | 7:29 am
#1153
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,784
That's not the reason I was asking. I asked if it was possible to have both Amex Hilton (the Surpass and the no fee Amex) cards because when I go to the app page for the Surpass (which I have never had) the page automatically goes to an upgrade page instead of the normal apply page...even when I am not logged into my account. Probably using cookies in my browser. But I just wanted to double check there was no issue having both cards.
Mar 24, 2017 | 7:34 am
#1154
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: New York
Programs: Navy A-4 Skyhawk, B727 FE/FO, S80 FO, B757/767 FO, B737 CA
Posts: 1,416
DW and I have both gotten the Surpass when we already had the regular card. We used incognito to apply for the Surpass. By Federal law you aren't supposed to get the Surpass for a full 12 months after you get the regular card. If AMEX sees that you already have the regular card they will only let you upgrade, not do a normal app. IDK if they have gotten better at that since we applied around a year ago or not. But yes, log out of your AMEX account, clear your cookies, and then try a "private browser"/incognito.
And this is the clincher, for me. Get new card if able, save upgrade for another time....since the reverse is probably not possible.
Last edited by fredc84; Mar 24, 2017 at 7:43 am
Mar 26, 2017 | 8:50 am
#1155
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 26,110
A letter from Amex, I presume. But you threw in Citi AA in your explanation:
and that muddies the waters, because Citi uses MC for AA cards and does indeed support chip + PIN on their MC cards (including their AA cards of recent years).
If you hadn't mentioned Citi AA, I wouldn't have brought this up at all.
If you hadn't mentioned Citi AA, I wouldn't have brought this up at all.