FyrePilot

2 sign up bonuses (amex and chase) and probably about a year or 2 of spending. We put everything on credit cards after having a debit card skimmed and lost about 1500 bucks. So we are somewhat mindful of trying to hit the categories on the cards to get cashback or points. I have 4 cards. One for travel and dining, Costco for dining and gas, A bonvoy amex we only use at bonvoy properties and to pay our westin timeshare annual maitenience, and a 2% cashback card for anything else. My wife has Chase business card she puts all of her business expenses on. We also have the amazon card because so much money gets spent there- but I just look at that like a household utility bill.

I think that trip took the signup bonuses and about a year of spending with Chase. That trip was also booked and locked in just before they took away the maximum point category chart.

elon

Did you pay full standard rate or are you getting these perks when using an airline rate like Z31?

dadman3000

If you had to start right now which cards would you go with Hilton/Bonvoy, im a bit of a novice when comparing cards? I currently use my costco card for literally everything, but feel like im missing out on the hotel game. I live in base, so no need for commuting hotels, just looking to slowly accrue points like you did and cash out on a vacay every so often.

PilotJ3

Im between those two and the AmexPlat. I feel the same way…missing out.

Planetrain

I use the Hilton Surpass Amex. There are 3 tiers:
Hilton Amex
Hilton Amex Surpass
Hilton Amex Aspire

The first one is free, but accumulates points more slowly.
The next 2 accumulate points faster, but they have annual fees.

I can’t comment on the Aspire, but the Surpass is $99/year (going to $150? later this year). At first glance the annual fee looks bad, but they gave 130,000 bonus points when I signed up. That paid for the annual fee for about 5-6 years in hotel points. Surpass also includes $50/quarter of free spending at Hilton brands- your choice: dining, room charges, hotel bookings, etc. If you’re traveling on an overnight, link your card for incidentals at checkin and you have free money for the restaurant.
They also give a reward for one free night at basically any hotel each year after $15k? of spending. I’ve used the reward for ~$600/nt stays at some premium hotels. Easy to book, but requires a phone call.
After so much spending they give you free Diamond level- that gives executive lounge access (almost extinct domestic, better luck int’l), free room upgrades (noticeable about 30-40% of the time, stayed in some BIG rooms on personal travel), double hotel miles, free food credit of about $10-20/nt/pp for the first and second guest.

To me it’s a pretty good deal if you’re hunting for a good hotel card. It was my primary fuel card until I got the Costco credit card. (Costco’s 4% on gas is hard to beat, but Costco doesn’t pay out rewards until the EOY, TVM and all.)

One caveat on Hilton Honors- they are about the worst for devaluation of points. If you get points, you really need to use them and not save them for a special day. What used to be a 20,000 point Hampton Inn pre Covid is about 35,000-40,000 points now. Hiltons were 35,000-50,000 now 40,000-65,000.

170Till5

I would get a Bonvoy card - or whoever has the highest points for signing up. Use it for a year and then cancel and get the other one, and rack up the points. I got the Marriot Bevy card for $250 and 120,000 points over a year ago - which is 4+ hotel stays for $250.. Wait until the promo offers are great to sign up

Hilton has devalued their points greatly. Need like 50,000 Hilton points for a night. You can get hotels with Marriot for 20,000-40,000 points / night.

Big draw to the Amex Gold or Plat is you can transfer Amex points to Hilton or Marriot and get 20% bonus when you transfer when they run a promo. Same with Chase points

dadman3000

Bonvoy currently has a 250k signup bonus, but I have to spend 5k in 3 months which is a lot for me. If I signed up and then later cancelled the credit card like you advised would I be able to keep the points on my account if I didnt end up using them?

freezingflyboy

I've never used (or know what) a Z31 is. I usually just book through the app. The rates are usually as good or better than anything else you're going to find online and often there are special deals. For example, I just booked a Bonvoy property in downtown Atlanta for a family function and for a few bucks more it included tickets to the Georgia Aquarium.

freezingflyboy

Wow, tough to spend 5k in 3 months? In this job? Mind sharing some tips or tricks? Lol

Obviously, you'll want to review the fine print but I would think you'd keep the points even if you cancel the card, as the points are associated with your Bonvoy account, not the credit card. 250K points is a good chunk of Bonvoy, worth 6-7 nights at a lower end "business" hotel (Springhill or Fairfield) or 2-3 nights at a higher end JW, Westin or Autograph Collection. Might even get you a night or two at the Ritz!😝

SonicFlyer

Go buy Visa gift cards from an office supply store or something.