CaliforniaGirl09
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2009
Thank you so much for posting this! DH and I each have the aspire, and I have to admit I was disappointed by the changes. I have used each of our $50 airfare for this quarter, but it's clunky as I don't want to do the entire ticket on it as I don't value Hilton points as highly as I do my Amex Plat 5x. Finding $49 tickets or using it as a balance for another ticket took some time. That's the problem with these changes for me ... more time trying to use them AND track them. Same goes for the resort credit. We used to use this for fees for our Kulana club membership at the Grand Wailea, but now we are lumped onto my mom's so don't have that fee (yay!). Thank you for reminding me the charges must be at a RESORT. I would have blown that in a couple weeks by using it at a regular hotel so you saved me. I think I was able to use if for our green fees at the Boulders last time, but maybe not the Biltmore... again will have to think a little bit more but should be able to use them just not as quickly as I intended. I get value out of both cards, too, but I'm not happy with the changes mostly due to above. I'm planning to see how easy to use and re-evaluate next year, but I suspect as long as DD is in Pheonix we will always have a good way to use the FNCs. I'm still mad at myself for screwing up on DHs. Oh well, we'll use it but not in the most cost effective manner. I should have done a retention call. Totally spaced. I've never done one for that card. I do love my Diamond status though for free booze in the lounge for happy hour when I stay at the Hilton PaddingtonDP on Hilton Aspire:
Between DH and I we have 4 Aspire cards. AF hit on card number 1 hit and I called in to see what retention offers might be available. Wasn't really planning to cancel the card as we always get outsized value with it. The $50 airline credit for this quarter credited. It took longer than normal but I did not need to call or chat. The offer was spend $1K and get 10K HH points. This is nothing to get excited about but I took the offer since I wasn't going to cancel and I have some Hilton spend coming up.
Next month we are staying 3 nights at the new Conrad Orlando. We booked with FN certs. Right now the room we booked with the FN certs is over $700 per night. So I definitely feel like we got the value for the FN certs on this upcoming stay. The property is listed as a qualifying property for Hilton Resorts. Therefore, we will also be able to use the cards to charge dining or spa services to the room and get the $200 resort credit on my card and another $200 on DH's card.
The spend earns 14x on the Aspire which is nice. In April I will use up another $50 airline credit so that will add towards my retention offer spend too. If I hit it that's fine, if I don't that's fine. I have other more important fish to fry for this year's points balance earnings. Looking at you BonBlah But even with the AF increase this year I think I will still be able to easily continue to have these 4 Aspire sock drawer cards keeper cards.
And so glad you posted about Marriott. I just realized that I am Titanium elite now due to our timeshare (I think that's why). That was a big surprise yesterday when I happened to check my account! We don't typically have a lot of non-timeshare hotel stays (a night here and there or to visit DD), and I've been concentrating on Hilton mostly for that, but now that i have Titanium I'm thinking to spread out a little. We're actually staying at the Westin in Anaheim for Memorial day because I ran out of VGC points, LOL, so DD and I will check out the lounge access. We did two separate rooms using our Amex Plat. Fine Resorts Credits so DH and DS are sol They don't drink though so it's better that way.
So this is a long way of asking ... what Bonvoy Credit card are you working on? I was thinking the business might make sense. I have no clue how easy their FNCs are to use and/or whether they can be used for some great properties like the Hilton ones can. I'm super excited about this new status. It also gave me auto Silver United Status and I also discovered when I went to do the Hertz one that I'm already the highest there (President's Circle). Have no idea why, but I'll take it!
And in other good news ... I FINALLY got the last of my double tier points added to my BA account which makes me gold through 2/28/26! I did a tier point run in mid-January from SFO to EDI and back to OGG. Long but worth it now. Not sure I'd do it again ... we'll see in 2026!