topic Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question) in Credit Cards

Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

staticvoidmain — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 01:18:40 GMT

I want to get the Aspire ($450 AF) (I am 100% on that because I want the annual night rewards).

However, I am not sure I if can meet the $4000 spend in 3 months to get the 150K SUB.

My question is, can I apply for the Surpass ($95 AF) instead,

meet $2000 spend for the 125K SUB, then upgrade to the Aspire after 3 months?

I think I won't mind the extra 25K points I am losing from for the Aspire's 150K SUB,

if that means I only need to meet $2000 (vs $4000) spend to get the SUB.

Is this possible? Does anyone have an experience like this with Amex? Thanks!

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

ToxikPH — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 01:23:03 GMT

Increasing the annual fee on any card is illegal before 12 months even if the consumer asks for it. Smart plan but sadly doesn't work.

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

ficosuave — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 01:23:04 GMT

I believe you would have to wait a year to upgrade, due to the rules on annual fee increases within the first year. One of those regulatory things.

You could take the Surpass bonus now and likely be offered an upgrade to the Aspire (with additional bonus opportunity) once your account passes the one year mark.

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

staticvoidmain — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 01:26:33 GMT

I guess that answers my question. I wanted to use Aspire's benefit by December, so I would have to rethink my strategy. Thanks.

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

NRB525 — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 08:12:10 GMT

@staticvoidmain wrote:
I guess that answers my question. I wanted to use Aspire's benefit by December, so I would have to rethink my strategy. Thanks.

By not upgrading the Surpass to Aspire, you have $350 in your wallet that you did not yet spend. That should cover a nice hotel for one night, unless you were expecting to visit a Waldorf Astoria. However since the $4k in 3 months is a stretch, I’m guessing WA is not where you are going.

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

Anonymous — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 09:37:37 GMT

Even despite the rules barring an upgrade for a year, I’m not sure your plan would have worked. I hope someone corrects me if I’m wrong but I believe your free annual night is awarded on the one-year anniversary of getting the Aspire, not as soon as you get the card or hit the MSR.

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

Anonymous — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 11:28:59 GMT

My memory is that the free night came on the order of 8 - 10 weeks after I did the upgrade.

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

Anonymous — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 11:37:37 GMT

Maybe the one year is for a new app, and you get the feee night soon after upgrade because they credit you for the time you had the original card that was PCed...

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

AverageJoesCredit — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 11:49:09 GMT

Even if that worked, upgrading after only 3 months, surely that would be considered Sub hunting by Amex, no?. Good luck on your forth coming app

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

Anonymous — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 11:55:11 GMT

You could go "Incognito Mode" and apply for the Hilton Surpass with 150k Hilton points for $3k spend. Then at 1 year, hopefully, you get an upgrade offer to the Aspire. If you go for the Aspire right away, you will get your free night certificate in 8-12 weeks. I got mine right around the 12th week.

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

staticvoidmain — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 19:02:52 GMT

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I think I have deduced right after I got my answer that the Surpass might be a better deal for the first year since I will not have to pay the whole $450. And as pointed out, the extra $350 I will not pay should work on my favour and plan. I also would not want to be looked at as SUB hunting. This is why I asked here. A lot of people have more sense than I do.

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 01:28:00 GMT

Also, if you wait at least 6 months after the AF posts. Then app the Aspire they will prorate the AF to about half.

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

SouthJamaica — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 02:15:52 GMT

@staticvoidmain wrote:
I want to get the Aspire ($450 AF) (I am 100% on that because I want the annual night rewards).
However, I am not sure I if can meet the $4000 spend in 3 months to get the 150K SUB.

My question is, can I apply for the Surpass ($95 AF) instead,
meet $2000 spend for the 125K SUB, then upgrade to the Aspire after 3 months?

I think I won't mind the extra 25K points I am losing from for the Aspire's 150K SUB,
if that means I only need to meet $2000 (vs $4000) spend to get the SUB.

Is this possible? Does anyone have an experience like this with Amex? Thanks!

Not a good idea to do it that way, IMHO, because Amex will probably give you a nice upgrade offer to the Aspire from the Surpass. So you'd be missing out on the chance to get 2 SUB's.

So my advice would be to just apply for the Surpass, and forget about the Aspire for now.

BTW the Surpass is better than the Aspire in some ways, in addition to the lower annual fee. E.g., it gives you bonus points for supermarkets and gas, which Aspire does not.

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 14:51:18 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
My memory is that the free night came on the order of 8 - 10 weeks after I did the upgrade.

Yep I upgraded my no fee Hilton to Aspire March 8/9 and I got the free night like May 12 I think so basically 8 weeks

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

staticvoidmain — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 22:41:38 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
You could go "Incognito Mode" and apply for the Hilton Surpass with 150k Hilton points for $3k spend. Then at 1 year, hopefully, you get an upgrade offer to the Aspire. If you go for the Aspire right away, you will get your free night certificate in 8-12 weeks. I got mine right around the 12th week.

Thanks for reminding to do this. I just did this and got approved for the Surpass with 150K points for 3K spend. Better than the current offer I was getting when not incognito.

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

ToxikPH — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 22:46:56 GMT

If you really like Hilton it may make sense to have both the Surpass and Aspire as they have different earning categories. I personally enjoy the flexibility of a transferable point (MR,UR,TYP) but if you're all in on Hilton think about getting both!

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

NRB525 — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 23:55:04 GMT

@ToxikPH wrote:
If you really like Hilton it may make sense to have both the Surpass and Aspire as they have different earning categories. I personally enjoy the flexibility of a transferable point (MR,UR,TYP) but if you're all in on Hilton think about getting both!

Two Hilton cards, yes, but in my opinion Aspire for the Diamond status, travel perks, and the no-AF Hilton card for, well, no annual fee and almost exactly the same grocery and gas earning rate.

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

staticvoidmain — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 03:08:56 GMT

@ToxikPH wrote:
If you really like Hilton it may make sense to have both the Surpass and Aspire as they have different earning categories. I personally enjoy the flexibility of a transferable point (MR,UR,TYP) but if you're all in on Hilton think about getting both!

I am not really going to be using the card to try to actively earn more points. I am treating this as a "discount card", like my Delta and Mariott cards, in that the primary appeal to me will be the perks. This is why I am still interested in the Aspire because I care about the free night, diamond status, unlimited priority pass with guests, the $250 airline credit, $250 Hilton credited, and $100 property credit, which if used correctly, will offset the $450 annual fee.

I just thought the value proposition of the Surpass for the first year only is better than the Aspire, looking purely at the SUB and AF. Beyond the first year, the Surpass will be pointless for me. For the first year, at least I'll have the grocery category. For other categories and general spending, I'd still use cashback, for now.

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

ToxikPH — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 03:11:46 GMT

@staticvoidmain wrote:
@ToxikPH wrote:
If you really like Hilton it may make sense to have both the Surpass and Aspire as they have different earning categories. I personally enjoy the flexibility of a transferable point (MR,UR,TYP) but if you're all in on Hilton think about getting both!
I am not really going to be using the card to try to actively earn more points. I am treating this as a "discount card", like my Delta and Mariott cards, in that the primary appeal to me will be the perks. This is why I am still interested in the Aspire because I care about the free night, diamond status, unlimited priority pass with guests, the $250 airline credit, $250 Hilton credited, and $100 property credit, which if used correctly, will offset the $450 annual fee.

I just thought the value proposition of the Surpass for the first year only is better than the Aspire, looking purely at the SUB and AF. Beyond the first year, the Surpass will be pointless for me. For the first year, at least I'll have the grocery category. For other categories and general spending, I'd still use cashback, for now.

Perk wise you would be totally justified in chasing the Aspire.

Re: Get Hilton Aspire through Surpass (Question)

FinStar — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 03:27:08 GMT

Congrats on the Supass approval @staticvoidmain. Great SUB offer!

Locking this thread as you have been approved. Feel free to start a new approval thread in the Approval forums if you would like to do so.