topic Re: Aspire card on the chopping block in Credit Cards

Aspire card on the chopping block

red259 — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 09:45:36 GMT

I'm thinking about downgrading or closing my aspire card. The retention offers on the card look rather low. I currently have the plat so I will still have gold hilton status. I don't foresee any travel for a couple more months at least. I already have a no AF hilton card. I was thinking about maybe just cancelling this card and see if an upgrade offer pops on my other no AF hilton card. I could also just have two no AF hilton cards if that would be better. The other no AF hilton card was never an aspire to start with it was a surpass. Any thoughts?

Re: Aspire card on the chopping block

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 10:30:48 GMT

I think with the status extensions, you'll still have diamond after cancelling until early 2022.

So if the credits and FNC aren't worth it, might as well close it or downgrade.

Re: Aspire card on the chopping block

red259 — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 10:43:09 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I think with the status extensions, you'll still have diamond after cancelling until early 2022.

So if the credits and FNC aren't worth it, might as well close it or downgrade.

Hmm I know about the status extension but I'm not quite sure that applies to status obtained via a credit card. Anyone have experience with this?

Re: Aspire card on the chopping block

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 11:05:40 GMT

@red259

from what I've seen, it still stays after with these new extensions

Re: Aspire card on the chopping block

red259 — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 14:16:08 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@red259

from what I've seen, it still stays after with these new extensions

Wow that is really good to know.

Re: Aspire card on the chopping block

SouthJamaica — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 18:57:05 GMT

@red259 wrote:
I'm thinking about downgrading or closing my aspire card. The retention offers on the card look rather low. I currently have the plat so I will still have gold hilton status. I don't foresee any travel for a couple more months at least. I already have a no AF hilton card. I was thinking about maybe just cancelling this card and see if an upgrade offer pops on my other no AF hilton card. I could also just have two no AF hilton cards if that would be better. The other no AF hilton card was never an aspire to start with it was a surpass. Any thoughts?

The combination of Covid-related benefits and the retention offer I was given made keeping the card irresistible.

As my annual fee was coming up for renewal, Amex gave everyone with the card a $50 appreciation credit, 12 points on grocery purchases, and conversion of the $250 resort credit to a $250 restaurant credit. So even without a retention offer I was getting $300 plus the value of the added points. And on top of that they gave me a retention offer of a $300 statement credit on a 90-day spend of $1250. So they were giving me $600+, which rendered the $450 annual fee into.... no problem.

Re: Aspire card on the chopping block

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 21:04:42 GMT

@SouthJamaica

I dont remember the details, but I was offered maybe 30k Hilton points with 1-2k spending. Not even worth to pay attention.
Regardless of retention offer, it is a keeper.... Resorts / airlines credit plus diamond offset whatever AF there is.

Re: Aspire card on the chopping block

red259 — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 22:34:52 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@SouthJamaica
I dont remember the details, but I was offered maybe 30k Hilton points with 1-2k spending. Not even worth to pay attention.
Regardless of retention offer, it is a keeper.... Resorts / airlines credit plus diamond offset whatever AF there is.

I don't think its a keeper at all. Amex airline credit is hardly easy to use. Resort credit works only at certain properties and again I have been unable to travel. It looks like my diamond status will carry over even if I cancel the card. I get lounge access via other cards.

Re: Aspire card on the chopping block

red259 — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 22:55:08 GMT

@SouthJamaica wrote:
@red259 wrote:
I'm thinking about downgrading or closing my aspire card. The retention offers on the card look rather low. I currently have the plat so I will still have gold hilton status. I don't foresee any travel for a couple more months at least. I already have a no AF hilton card. I was thinking about maybe just cancelling this card and see if an upgrade offer pops on my other no AF hilton card. I could also just have two no AF hilton cards if that would be better. The other no AF hilton card was never an aspire to start with it was a surpass. Any thoughts?
The combination of Covid-related benefits and the retention offer I was given made keeping the card irresistible.

As my annual fee was coming up for renewal, Amex gave everyone with the card a $50 appreciation credit, 12 points on grocery purchases, and conversion of the $250 resort credit to a $250 restaurant credit. So even without a retention offer I was getting $300 plus the value of the added points. And on top of that they gave me a retention offer of a $300 statement credit on a 90-day spend of $1250. So they were giving me $600+, which rendered the $450 annual fee into.... no problem.

I used up all the restaurant credit so unless they are giving it again then its not a factor for me. The statement credit is interesting, because recently the retention offers I am seeing are 10k points which is not compelling. I didn't get an appreciation credit. When did that happen? This card was an upgrade offer I took in February, so maybe that is why.

Re: Aspire card on the chopping block

NoHardLimits — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 23:27:04 GMT

I have to agree with OP's original thoughts. Cancel Aspire unless there is a good retention offer. OP still has the no annual fee card which can be upgraded to Aspire when needed or when there is a good upgrade offer. Spend on the no annual fee card will keep Hilton points from expiring. Diamond status should continue, but the Platinum charge benefit of Gold status will be there as a backup.

If you decide to close, make sure you move the credit limit to another card before closing. I believe you will have to leave $1000 behind, but the rest can be moved.

Re: Aspire card on the chopping block

SouthJamaica — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 01:30:54 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@SouthJamaica
I dont remember the details, but I was offered maybe 30k Hilton points with 1-2k spending. Not even worth to pay attention.

Yeah 30k Hilton points are only worth $100 to me.

Regardless of retention offer, it is a keeper.... Resorts / airlines credit plus diamond offset whatever AF there is.

It is a good card IMHO.

Re: Aspire card on the chopping block

SouthJamaica — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 01:35:39 GMT

@red259 wrote:
@SouthJamaica wrote:
@red259 wrote:
I'm thinking about downgrading or closing my aspire card. The retention offers on the card look rather low. I currently have the plat so I will still have gold hilton status. I don't foresee any travel for a couple more months at least. I already have a no AF hilton card. I was thinking about maybe just cancelling this card and see if an upgrade offer pops on my other no AF hilton card. I could also just have two no AF hilton cards if that would be better. The other no AF hilton card was never an aspire to start with it was a surpass. Any thoughts?
The combination of Covid-related benefits and the retention offer I was given made keeping the card irresistible.

As my annual fee was coming up for renewal, Amex gave everyone with the card a $50 appreciation credit, 12 points on grocery purchases, and conversion of the $250 resort credit to a $250 restaurant credit. So even without a retention offer I was getting $300 plus the value of the added points. And on top of that they gave me a retention offer of a $300 statement credit on a 90-day spend of $1250. So they were giving me $600+, which rendered the $450 annual fee into.... no problem.
I used up all the restaurant credit so unless they are giving it again then its not a factor for me. The statement credit is interesting, because recently the retention offers I am seeing are 10k points which is not compelling. I didn't get an appreciation credit. When did that happen? This card was an upgrade offer I took in February, so maybe that is why.

It happened a couple of months ago, a few weeks before my annual fee was about to hit the next statement.

They switched me to a special department. The guy I spoke to first tried to remind me of all the good stuff they had just done for me. I said yeah, but I was wondering if I might also be able to get a retention offer. Then he gave me a choice of 2 retention offers. One was the $300 I mentioned, the other was a whole lot of points but I don't remember how many and didn't really pay attention to the points part of the offer because I already had a goodly number of points in my pocket.

Re: Aspire card on the chopping block

KJinNC — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 01:38:19 GMT

I intend to cancel this card. But, I can't seem to transfer CL from it to another card. Maybe I am trying to transfer too much. Does the card have a minimum CL of $3100? I know that's the minimum you get on the card if they barely approve you, wondering if that's also the minimum you can leave on it voluntarily.

I have thought about downgrading it to the free version so I can move more CL off of it and then closing it, but then, I can never get the welcome offer for the free version.

Re: Aspire card on the chopping block

red259 — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 01:52:26 GMT

@SouthJamaica wrote:
@red259 wrote:
@SouthJamaica wrote:
@red259 wrote:
I'm thinking about downgrading or closing my aspire card. The retention offers on the card look rather low. I currently have the plat so I will still have gold hilton status. I don't foresee any travel for a couple more months at least. I already have a no AF hilton card. I was thinking about maybe just cancelling this card and see if an upgrade offer pops on my other no AF hilton card. I could also just have two no AF hilton cards if that would be better. The other no AF hilton card was never an aspire to start with it was a surpass. Any thoughts?
The combination of Covid-related benefits and the retention offer I was given made keeping the card irresistible.

As my annual fee was coming up for renewal, Amex gave everyone with the card a $50 appreciation credit, 12 points on grocery purchases, and conversion of the $250 resort credit to a $250 restaurant credit. So even without a retention offer I was getting $300 plus the value of the added points. And on top of that they gave me a retention offer of a $300 statement credit on a 90-day spend of $1250. So they were giving me $600+, which rendered the $450 annual fee into.... no problem.
I used up all the restaurant credit so unless they are giving it again then its not a factor for me. The statement credit is interesting, because recently the retention offers I am seeing are 10k points which is not compelling. I didn't get an appreciation credit. When did that happen? This card was an upgrade offer I took in February, so maybe that is why.
It happened a couple of months ago, a few weeks before my annual fee was about to hit the next statement.

They switched me to a special department. The guy I spoke to first tried to remind me of all the good stuff they had just done for me. I said yeah, but I was wondering if I might also be able to get a retention offer. Then he gave me a choice of 2 retention offers. One was the $300 I mentioned, the other was a whole lot of points but I don't remember how many and didn't really pay attention to the points part of the offer because I already had a goodly number of points in my pocket.

If they offereded me a whole lot of points I might reconsider but I think I would need like 50k+ points to get me to stay.

Re: Aspire card on the chopping block

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 07:50:04 GMT

@red259 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@SouthJamaica
I dont remember the details, but I was offered maybe 30k Hilton points with 1-2k spending. Not even worth to pay attention.
Regardless of retention offer, it is a keeper.... Resorts / airlines credit plus diamond offset whatever AF there is.
I don't think its a keeper at all. Amex airline credit is hardly easy to use. Resort credit works only at certain properties and again I have been unable to travel. It looks like my diamond status will carry over even if I cancel the card. I get lounge access via other cards.

Maybe because of travel patterns? I used two FN certificates to book WA Pedregal, roughly $1100-1200 base per night. I plan to use resort credits at Waldorf. Each times I have received upgrades - mostly Waldorf / Conrad properties over the years. Airline credit was used for JetBlue travel bank -250 waiting to be used. At the end, I think I saved thousands. To me, it is definitely a keeper.
Obviously if you do NOT travel, no reason to keep it.

Re: Aspire card on the chopping block

notmyrealname23 — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 22:11:04 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@red259 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@SouthJamaica
I dont remember the details, but I was offered maybe 30k Hilton points with 1-2k spending. Not even worth to pay attention.
Regardless of retention offer, it is a keeper.... Resorts / airlines credit plus diamond offset whatever AF there is.
I don't think its a keeper at all. Amex airline credit is hardly easy to use. Resort credit works only at certain properties and again I have been unable to travel. It looks like my diamond status will carry over even if I cancel the card. I get lounge access via other cards.
Maybe because of travel patterns? I used two FN certificates to book WA Pedregal, roughly $1100-1200 base per night. I plan to use resort credits at Waldorf. Each times I have received upgrades - mostly Waldorf / Conrad properties over the years. Airline credit was used for JetBlue travel bank -250 waiting to be used. At the end, I think I saved thousands. To me, it is definitely a keeper.
Obviously if you do NOT travel, no reason to keep it.

I dumped my $250 from a Hilton Aspire to Southwest this year. It's super easy to use on cheap tickets- just make sure they're under $100, they'll get auto-reimbursed. Bonus this year was you could take airline credits to Rapid Rewards points, so now I'm fat and sassy with about $600 of Southwest points.

I'm debating whether to keep my Aspire on Southwest or switch to Delta (since apparently you can use a gift card + cover the rest on an AMEX as a smallish charge will ALSO work), and switch my AMEX Gold from Alaska (where you need to ask for help over secure chat 50% of the time- though you CAN cover Alaska Lounge visits as well as cheap flights) to either Southwest or Delta.

But please, everyone, keep saying it's super hard to use those AMEX airline credits. The more of you who give up the longer the feature will last for me.

I can probably use the $250 credit in normal travel in 2021 (assuming we get back to normal) and that second good at at any hotel room night that will be good through 2022... that's awfully tempting to have with my current one and a six digit brace of points plus Diamond status. WA Maldives anyone?

Re: Aspire card on the chopping block

red259 — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 03:33:35 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@red259 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@SouthJamaica
I dont remember the details, but I was offered maybe 30k Hilton points with 1-2k spending. Not even worth to pay attention.
Regardless of retention offer, it is a keeper.... Resorts / airlines credit plus diamond offset whatever AF there is.
I don't think its a keeper at all. Amex airline credit is hardly easy to use. Resort credit works only at certain properties and again I have been unable to travel. It looks like my diamond status will carry over even if I cancel the card. I get lounge access via other cards.
Maybe because of travel patterns? I used two FN certificates to book WA Pedregal, roughly $1100-1200 base per night. I plan to use resort credits at Waldorf. Each times I have received upgrades - mostly Waldorf / Conrad properties over the years. Airline credit was used for JetBlue travel bank -250 waiting to be used. At the end, I think I saved thousands. To me, it is definitely a keeper.
Obviously if you do NOT travel, no reason to keep it.

I mentioned in the first post about the lack of planned travel. Obviously if I was able to travel the card would have more value. Looking at the way things are developing in the US and world I'm starting to question whether or not travel will be viable even by summer. WA Pedregal was actually a destination I was looking at the start of the year until things went sideways. Don't see it happening until I can get a vaccine and I'm not optimistic that will be anytime soon. I'm also skeptical about award availability when travel picks up again. There are a lot of people sitting on points and award certs so I'm not optimistic about the award availbility given all the competition there will be to redeem.

Re: Aspire card on the chopping block

red259 — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 23:24:29 GMT

I ended up downgrading to the no AF version. No regrets. Retention offer was only 10k points. I will fish for an upgrade offer for the next couple of months and I can always upgrade in the future if I need the card. I had considered holding this card at one point and getting rid of the amex plat but some benefits have been added to the plat card that made it worthwhile to hold on to, so I didn't need both cards in a time when I have minimal travel. I now have two no AF hilton cards so I'll wait awhile but will probably eventually transfer my credit line and close out this card all together.

Re: Aspire card on the chopping block

KJinNC — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 23:29:44 GMT

fwiw, after posting in this thread, I created another thread about transferring CL from this card, and learned that the minimum the card can have at any time is $3100. I decided to just lose the $3100 rather than downgrade and lose a chance for a SUB, so, that is what I did. Great card, but like the OP, I consider it partially duplicative of Platinum and not worth keeping both during the pandemic.