App-O-Rama Update: Upgrading Hilton HHonors Credit Card to a Hilton HHonors Surpass Credit Card
Please read App-O-Rama Updates: Day 1 before reading this post.
Before my App-O-Rama, I had 4 American Express credit cards: Delta Gold, Hilton HHonors, SPG Personal, and Blue Cash Preferred.
American Express has a cool feature where you can upgrade your Hilton HHonors Credit Card to the Hilton HHonors Surpass Credit Card online with no new credit inquiry. From what I have read online, you need to have your Hilton HHonors Credit Card for at least 11 months before you can upgrade to the Hilton HHonors Surpass Credit Card. Here the link to the upgrade form.
All you do is log into your American Express account or enter your Hilton HHonors Credit Card number. There is even a 50,000 Hilton HHonors sign up bonus after spending $3,000 in 3 months.
If your Hilton HHonors Credit Card is eligible for the upgrade, you will see this screen.
Review the terms and click the Upgrade Now button.
If you are eligible for the upgrade, you should be instantly approved for the Hilton HHonors Surpass Credit Card.
The new Hilton HHonors Surpass Credit Card instantly shows up in your American Express account and replaces the existing Hilton HHonors Credit Card. I haven’t received the Surpass card yet, so I am not sure if the credit card numbers remain the same.
One thing to keep in mind is the generic American Express offer for the Hilton HHonors Surpass Credit Card has a slightly different and higher sign up bonus: 40,000 HH points after your first purchase and an extra 20,000 HH points after spending $3,000 in 3 months. I plan on spending $3,000 on my new Surpass card and sending American Express a direct email asking for the other 10,000 HH points. I will report back in a few months on what happens.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below.
Assuming the $75 fee is not waived one year? Are you paying $75 for 50,000 points right off the bat? What do you now value Hilton points since the devaluation?
You are right, I believe the $75 annual fee is charged right away. I value HH points at 1/2 cent per point, so 50,000 HH points are wort $250 to me. There is no new credit inquiry, so I think the annual fee is worth the benefit. I have several cards that offer HH Gold status, I don’t know what I will do beyond the first year. I most likely will call for a retention bonus and see if they offer me a statement credit against the annual fee.
It says on the initial form that the Amex account number stays the same.
I am away from home this week and will verify at home soon. I’m curious if the expiration date and CVV change or stay the same on the new card.
Was that the card that had the spending amount to reach Diamond?
I think the Citi HH Reserve has Diamond status after you spend $40,000 per year.
So does the Amex Surpass — $40,000 gets you Diamond Status. Did you figure out anything about the extra 10,000 points?
I didn’t try to get the other 10,000 HH points. I’m not sure Hilton diamond is worth the extra spend.
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