Give up HH AmEx?

[mpond]

I've had the Hilton AmEx for several years (currently at 400k+ points), and upgraded to the Surpass beginning of last year as I had enough in charges to qualify for HH Diamond (for this year too).  Between HH's point devaluation and a couple of overseas trips planned of this year, I am pondering giving up the Surpass, and replacing it with something else.  My only other card is a credit union visa.  So, should I ...

1. keep the Surpass or change it to the no-fee regular HH AmEx card?

2. get a new card with no foreign transaction, and if so what? 

Free hotel stays are usually what I benefit the most from on card points.  As I don't stay enough to get status, a card that provides status goes a long ways.  Airline priv's are also a bonus, although being in northern new england, I have not been able to consolidate travel on a single carrier family.  At one point, I was premier exec with united, and still have 50k+ points with them, but these days I don't travel enough.  Car rental coverage and warranty extension are very helpful as well.

Yes, I've read Dan's postings, but still unsure on best course of action. 

Your advice is appreciated.

[Dan]

Dump anything HH, their program has gone down the can.

Pickup a SPG card which can be used at Starwood hotels or transferred at favorable ratios into dozens of airlines and get a Chase UR card like Ink Plus or Sapphire Preferred where points can be transferred to Hyatt, BA, United, Korean, Southwest, Marriott, Priority Club, and Amtrak..

[peace123]

who threw closure party? I mean hilton cards.   Hampton inn shows 60,000 points a night. The conrad shows 95,000 points a night.

If I had that many points with hyatt or starwood, I would be staying 10 to 25 nights

[Moishebatchy]

who threw closure party? I mean hilton cards.

Huh??!!

[peace123]

Huh??!!

closure-rama= opposite of App-0 rama


the first one  can be done by  you or the card companies

[mpond]

Dump anything HH, their program has gone down the can.

Pickup a SPG card which can be used at Starwood hotels or transferred at favorable ratios into dozens of airlines and get a Chase UR card like Ink Plus or Sapphire Preferred where points can be transferred to Hyatt, BA, United, Korean, Southwest, Marriott, Priority Club, and Amtrak..

Thanks Dan, some follow up if you don't mind:

1. I assume this mean two pulls (AmEx and Chase), correct?  No tricks/etc available for single?

2. Should I just primarily spend on the SPG, and use the Chase for foreign purchases?  (~$35-42k annual total spend on card)

3. Should I really get a Chase card given that its fee is higher than I probably have yearly in foreign transaction fees (and credit union visa is flat 1%)?

4. Will AmEx allow me to switch cards from HH to SPG, or do I need to separate open/close accounts?

[yuneeq]

Thanks Dan, some follow up if you don't mind:

1. I assume this mean two pulls (AmEx and Chase), correct?  No tricks/etc available for single?

2. Should I just primarily spend on the SPG, and use the Chase for foreign purchases?  (~$35-42k annual total spend on card)

3. Should I really get a Chase card given that its fee is higher than I probably have yearly in foreign transaction fees (and credit union visa is flat 1%)?

4. Will AmEx allow me to switch cards from HH to SPG, or do I need to separate open/close accounts?

1) It will be 2 pulls. Not the end in the world for you as you never opened cards in the recent past. Maximize your pulls by doing an app-o-rama.

2) Yes

3) Get sapphire preferred. Annual fee is waived first year, Spending with 1% foreign fees card is much worse given that you aren't accumulating any points. With SP, you get 2x UR points are on travel and dining, 1 point for regular purchases (worth around 1.5cents), plus am extra 7% points bonus for your total points every year.

4) Probably not. You should be able to move over the CL though.

[Dan]

1. Yes, but pulls are not that big of a deal. They go away soon enough.
2. Depends on your spend categories.
3. The Chase Sapphire Preferred, Ink Bold, and Ink Plus have no forex fees and are the way to go abroad.
4. They may but why would you want to? You can signup for a SPG consumer and business card and get the signup bonus on each with just 1 pull.

[mpond]

Thank you both.

I'm not having much luck finding the fine print on the Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa and MasterCard, just the general info pages.  As near as I can gather, pros for the MC are Sams Club (don't care) and some additional car rental coverage over SPG AmEx & CSP Visa (which I probably won't care about).  Any pros to the Visa?  And where can I find a list of the addt'l countries for rental coverage?

Also, if SPG is to be my main card, should I get the regular or business version?  I understand that the business version won't impact my score, but am assuming showing regular usage on a personal card is a good thing.

[smart brit]

Why wouldn't you get both the business and consumer card with 1 pull

[mpond]

Why wouldn't you get both the business and consumer card with 1 pull

Unsure if I'd meet the spend requirement for bonus on 3 cards.

[smart brit]

Unsure if I'd meet the spend requirement for bonus on 3 cards.

amazon payments?

[mpond]

Possibility. 

So, the recommendation is to get SPG AmEx personal & biz, plus CSP?

And is that CSP Visa or MC? 

[MEIR613]

Possibility. 

So, the recommendation is to get SPG AmEx personal & biz, plus CSP?

And is that CSP Visa or MC?

Visa

Why not through in UA or Freedom.

[mpond]

Visa

Any reason?  What are the pros over MC?

Why not through in UA or Freedom.

You tell me :)

[SPLP]

Any reason?  What are the pros over MC?

You tell me

you got enough info now---just do something!! your trying to be "PERFECT"  you lived with almost no cards in the past , anything you do will be better -just do it!-- you will not be sorry

[MEIR613]

Any reason?  What are the pros over MC?

Supporting the site.

You tell me

I'm telling you.

[smart brit]

Supporting the site.

like
But would add it's supporting the site that is continually supporting us

[Moishebatchy]

You tell me

Definitely UA.