Big Changes for Hilton Business Card
American Express revealed today major changes for the Hilton Honors Business Card. It will now be a metal card, some new benefits are added and there’s a new welcome bonus. But they’re outweighed by the negatives which include a higher annual fee, no Free Night Rewards and no Priority Pass membership. Let’s go over all the changes.
Welcome Bonus
- Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Offer expires 06/05/2024.
- LEARN MORE
Higher Annual Fee
The annual fee on the card is going up by $100 which is a substantial increase. It is more than doubling from $95 to $195. The new fee applies to new cardmembers who apply starting today.
For existing Card Members who had their Card before March 28, 2024, the new fee will go into effect on or after July 1, 2024, as Card Members come up on their anniversary date.
New: $240 Annual Hilton Credit
Basic Hilton Honors American Express Business Card Members can receive up to a total of $60 in statement credits each calendar quarter (January through March, April through June, July through September, and October through December) for up to $240 back annually, for eligible purchases charged directly with a property within the Hilton portfolio on their Card Account, including bookings and incidental charges. For a booking to be eligible for a statement credit, the booking must be made directly through a reservation channel operated by Hilton. Bookings or purchases made through a third party other than Hilton, such as an online travel website, will not be eligible for statement credit(s). For incidental charges (including charges made at restaurants, spas, and other establishments within the hotel property) to be eligible for a statement credit, the incidental charge must be charged to your room and paid for with the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card at checkout.
New: National Emerald Executive
Basic Hilton Honors American Express Business Card Members are required to enroll in the National Car Rental® Emerald Club through their American Express online account to access Executive® status. Basic Hilton Honors American Express Business Card Members who are already enrolled in the National Car Rental Emerald Club can upgrade to Executive status by linking their Card to their Emerald Club account using the link provided on their American Express online account.
New: Design
The card now have a new design and will be a metal card instead of plastic. We’ll file that under positive changes I guess.
Going Away: Hilton Honors Free Night Rewards
Eligible purchases made through June 30, 2024 will count toward the Hilton Honors Free Night Rewards benefit. After June 30, 2024 the Hilton Honors Free Night Rewards benefit will no longer be available on your Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, and you will no longer be able to earn Free Night Reward(s) as a benefit of your card
Going Away: Priority Pass Select
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card will no longer offer a complimentary membership to the Priority Pass Select program per the following schedule:
- Priority Pass Select Membership Enrollment Deadline: Through June 30, 2024, you may still enroll in the benefit by calling the American Express customer service number on the back of your card.
- When Your Priority Pass Select Membership Will End: If you enrolled in the Priority Pass Select program on or before June 30, 2023, your Priority Pass membership will continue through June 30, 2024 and will be cancelled as of July 1, 2024. If you enrolled in the Priority Pass Select program between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, your membership will continue through March 31, 2025 and will be cancelled as of April 1, 2025. Any unused lounge visits will be forfeited at the time of cancellation.
Changes to Earning Rates
Starting right away, you will earn 5X points on all Eligible Purchases on the first $100K in purchases per calendar year, 3X Points thereafter. But this is a new benefits that replaces the 6X categories which are then going away after June 30, 2024.
So starting on July 1, 2024 you will no longer earn:
- 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service producers and U.S. purchases for shipping
- 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on U.S. restaurants, flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, and car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies
You will continue to earn 12X per dollar for purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio.
What’s Not Changing
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status
- Upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond Status: Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year.
- 12X at Hilton: Earn 12X per dollar for purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio.
Notes for Current Cardholders
- You have just a few days (until March 31) to use this quarters $60 credit. Not sure if online gift card purchase works. Safest is to purchase at a Hilton hotel if they have them.
- You have until June 30 to complete $15,000 in spending to earn this year’s Free Night Reward.
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