All information about the American Express Hilton Surpass and Business Cards has been collected independently by Miles to Memories.
Amex Hilton Statement Credit
I’m probably more loyal to Hilton Honors than any other hotel loyalty program, and Amex is my favorite card issuer, by far. Not surprisingly, my wife and I are substantially involved with the bank’s Hilton cobranded credit cards. We “only” have three right now, but I’m confident that number will increase soon. The refreshed, higher annual fee Surpass and Business versions offer statement credits for quarterly Hilton charges, up to $50 and $60, respectively. We recently changed how we use the Amex Hilton statement credit. Today, I’m getting into how and why.
Before
When the Amex Hilton statement credit benefit first appeared on the Surpass and Business cards, we opted to simply buy gift cards online to use the credit. While this was easy, we tired of dealing with/risking the drawbacks, including the following.
Shipping Costs
Hilton gift card shipping costs vary from cheap to substantially higher. Regardless, they’re annoying. Who wants to use up some of the credit for something so empty? Shipping via USPS standard starts at $1.95, but such shipments are non-trackable. The next option is trackable – USPS certified, which jumps to $8.95 and requires a signature. Finally, trackable FedEx ground shipment is $15.95.
Of course, the cheapest option is the pick for those who want to maximize the Amex Hilton statement credit this way. But such a choice can lead to other problems.
Shipping Issues
In our half-dozen or so gift card purchases, we picked the $1.95 USPS standard option. The timeline for receiving the cards has been unpredictable, at best. On a couple occasions, we received the cards about two weeks after order. All others took about a month or so to get to us. Another order was returned to sender before it reached us; a rep emailed us mentioning this and resent the card. I’ve also heard where individuals’ ordered cards were never delivered. Picking a more expensive shipment option would naturally lead to a better experience but immediately devalues the benefit.
Incompatible Denominations
Hilton gift card values start at $25 and $50, but $100 is the next option. The $50 option works okay for the Surpass, meaning cardholders are out a minimum $1.95 for shipping. But the Hilton Business card’s $60 statement credit benefit doesn’t play well with these values. The other two options to fully use the Business credit, remembering to use the rest of it at a property or losing it, aren’t attractive to us.
Unpredictable Ease of Use
Taking a stack of $50 Hilton gift cards to a property and applying them to a folio is not my preferred version of fun. We haven’t had any issues yet, but I’d rather not mess with Hilton gift cards long-term. I figure I’ll eventually run into a front desk agent who doesn’t know how to work with them, or the cards won’t have funds them. I know the latter has already happened to some.
Now
Instead of the gift card nuisance, we’ve changed to liquidating Amex Hilton statement credit via what Hilton calls “Points & Money” bookings.
Buying Points
By opting for such bookings, we’ve essentially decided to buy points with the credit. Here’s a recent example.
On a second stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Williamsburg, I had the following options. I could pay 27k points for the one-night stay, or 15k points and $52.94. This was the selectable dollar amount which most closely aligned with the remaining credit on my Hilton Business card. By choosing the latter, I paid ~.044 cents per point for those 12k points.
I’m not a big points buyer traditionally, but how does that compare to purchasing points with Hilton Honors? Buying 1k to 4k points costs one cent per point. Then, at 5k and above, incorporating a 100% bonus, points cost a half cent each.
Immediately Maximizing Earn
By opting for a points and cash stay instead of buying Hilton gift cards, I can more-quickly squeeze out the most points from these credits. Buying Hilton gift cards earns the expected amount of points on cobranded cards in my experience with the Business and Surpass versions (12x). But I don’t earn any points associated with using the gift cards at Hilton properties until I actually consume them. This may seem trivial, but I’d rather earn the extra points now from the points and cash stay, including elite and quarterly promos, than defer to the future unknown.
Hoarding
I’ve previously described why I hoard points and miles in certain instances. I use more Hilton Honors points than any other hotel currency, and I like knowing I’ll never run out of it. With this statement credit choice, does this mean I’m possibly absorbing a bit of devaluation along the way? Perhaps, but the flexibility I gain is worth way more to me than that eventual devaluation.
Simplicity
Importantly, I can easily accomplish using up credits by buying points via points and cash bookings. I’m unconcerned with using up remaining credits on food and beverages I may not want or need, anyway. I’d rather have the simpicity and flexibility of more points, instead.
Our modest travel habits usually involve at least one quarterly stay at a Hilton property, anyway, so we won’t have any issues continuing to use our Amex Hilton statement credits. Points and cash bookings incorporating the credit are the best fit for us now.
Amex Hilton Statement Credit – Conclusion
Of course, I know some individuals have thought of more creative options for fully consuming the Amex Hilton statement credit, and kudos to them! They perhaps obtain more value than I do, but I particularly enjoy the simplicity of buying points and how it naturally meshes into our current Hilton habits. Do I see our strategy changing? Not any time soon. But I’d be intrigued for Hilton (or maybe Amex) to give me reason to consider other options.
What about you? How do you prefer to use your Amex Hilton statement credit?
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So the cash part doesn’t get charged until your stay? I wonder if I could pay the cash portion on 2 different cards so I can get the $50 and $60 credit.
Didn’t think you’d get the $50 credit on a prepaid room using points and cash. Good to know!
Lynn,
To be clear, it wasn’t a prepaid room rate; my card wasn’t charged until after the stay.
Hmm. I swear I pressed the Post Comment button.
Anyway, according to the Benefits page on Hilton Amex Website, the purchase has to be done at a hotel and has to be charged to a room. I read this after I purchased the gift card, so I guess we’ll see what happens.
Gift cards work for now, but wonder how much longer.
Yep. Just got the credit back. And I think it’s in today’s mail.
Is it possible to buy gift cards at the front desk of any Hilton properties?
Very location-dependent in my experience, Nick, but front desk options are out there.
Hoarding points? What happened to cash back and earn-and-burn?
Lee,
I still actively cash out bank points. Hoarding is for my hotel, airline, and rail currencies.
Retired Gambler you are by very definition an entitled jerk. Take your rude to another blog. We are tired of you here.
At least I know I have another option besides a gift card
Why so complicated? Just stay at a Hilton at least once a quarter, charge to the card and get a full credit applied. Easy! I hate gamers that play around with gift cards. Benji you focus way too much on things w minimal payback or max spend shams. I laugh every time I read one of your stupid posts. If you are paid for these the blog is even stupider than you are!
Of course I’m a retired 1%er with 8 miles “butt in seat” miles and lifetime status w 3 airlines and a few hotel programs that can afford anything I want and use my Amex points for business or first class on Emirates or Singapore Airlines. Guess we are in a different spot socially and economically.
to “Retired Gambler”, Your comments are rude.
Life is too short to be a hater.
Yet here you are.
RG – I imagine your Rolex has diamonds and your male or female or non-binary partner has lip filler…
Benji if I have the Amex surpass and I upgrade it to the aspire …will I get the free night cert apond switching ?
CJ,
Check your timing before product changing and things should work in your favor.
How does Hilton handle cancellation of points and cash bookings? I have a faint recollection of them being quirky in terms of how they handle cancellations.
Never had an issue in my experience, HoKo. But YMMV and a good reminder to always check cancellation prior to committing.
Appreciate your thoughts, Benji
Thanks for reading, Jeff!