Hilton HHonors: Use Citi and AMEX Cards to Maximize Points

Ehtesham writes “…Have you written on how to maximize Hilton bonuses with credit cards? I don't remember seeing anywhere but I may be wrong. I would love to hear your perspective on what to apply for cards in which sequence.”

Great question Ehtesham. I haven't written about this, mainly because I never stay in Hilton hotels, but using credit cards you can rack up a large number of Hilton points pretty quickly. I may even apply for some of these cards in my next app-o-rama, since the one Hilton property in the world I am interested in staying at is the relatively new Conrad Koh Samui. I first want to verify there will actually be AXON availability, however, since there is really no other Hilton property I have any interest in.

Anyway, back to the question: Hilton HHonors credit cards. I'll prioritize the cards in this order, but you could apply for all of these cards at the same time, and even apply for another card or two from Chase or another issuer.

Disclosure: None of the Hilton HHonors card links in this post pay me a referral, but they are the best offers I'm aware of. The Hyatt Card, Ink Plus and Ink Bold links do pay me a referral, and I appreciate the support if you apply via my links.

1. Citi HHonors Visa Signature – 50,000 HHonors Points x2 = 100,000 HHonors points

• 50,000 Points after spending $1500 within the first 6 months
• No annual fee
• Automatic HHonors Silver status
• 6 HHonors Bonus Points for each dollar on hotel stays within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio
• 3 HHonors Bonus Points for each dollar spent at supermarkets, gas stations and drug stores
• 2 HHonors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases
• Churnable every ~3 months

3. Bank of Hawaii Hawaiian Airlines Visa Signature Card – 70,000 HHonors Points

• 35,000 HawaiianMiles after $1000 spend within first 4 months
• HawaiianMiles transfer 1:2 to HHonors points = 70,000 HHonors points
• $79 Annual Fee is NOT waived

Why #3: This is actually tied with the Bank of America Visa Signature Card, since both offer the exact same benefits: 35,000 miles as the signup bonus, which converts at a 1:2 ratio to 70,000 HHonors points. You do have to pay the $79 annual fee, which is not waived, so this card is really just good for the sign-up bonus and not worth keeping past the first year. Note that if for some reason you're not approved for the Visa Signature card, you'll get the Gold card instead with fewer benefits, although fortunately you'll still get the same sign-up bonus.

4. Bank of America Hawaiian Airlines Visa Signature Card – 70,000 HHonors Points

• 35,000 HawaiianMiles after $1000 spend within first 4 months
• HawaiianMiles transfer 1:2 to HHonors points = 70,000 HHonors points
• $79 Annual Fee is NOT waived

5. Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve – 2 Free Weekend Nights (Referral link is for MommyPoints, as I’m not a Citi affiliate) Appears possible to get 2, one for personal and one for business, per this Rapid Travel Chai post

• 2 free weekend nights (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) after $2500 spend within the first 4 months. Most Hilton HHonors category 1-7 properties are eligible, but all-inclusive, Hilton Grand Vacation are excluded, as are Waldorf Astoria properties that do not offer standard rooms.
• Hilton HHonors Gold status as long as you have the card
• 10 HHonors points per $1 spent on hotels in Hilton Worldwide portfolio of brands
• 5 HHonors points per $1 spent on airlines or car rentals
• 3 HHonors points for all other spend
• EMV Chip and Signature card, similar to the Hyatt Card (also see Best EMV Chip Cards in the U.S.)
• No foreign transaction fees
• $95 annual fee is NOT waived

Why #5: This card has a higher annual fee that is not waived, as well as higher minimum spend to get the free nights, which are redeemable only for weekend nights: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, bumping this down to #5. That said, the nice thing about this card compared to the Hilton Surpass is that it confers Hilton HHonors Gold Elite status for as long as you have the card, and also doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, handy if you're staying at international Hilton properties.

6. AMEX Hilton Surpass – 60,000 HHonors Points

• 40,000 HHonors points after first purchase
• 20,000 additional HHonors points after $3000 spend within 3 months
• Free Hilton Gold elite status for first year of card membership, Silver elite status after 1^st year
• After first year, spend $20,000/year for Gold elite status or $40,000/year for Diamond elite status
• 12 Hilton HHonors points per $1 spent at Hilton HHonors brands
• 6 Hilton HHonors points per $1 spent at U.S. stand-alone supermarkets, select major drugstores, gas at stand-alone gas stations, U.S. wireless and home telephone, cable TV and satellite TV
• 3 Hilton HHonors points for all other eligible purchases
• Eligible for AXON awards
• $75 annual fee NOT waived
• 2.7% foreign transaction fee