Strategy to obtain US Amex

[glasszon]

But you will have to pay fx fee if you use the card in Australia. The US version doesn’t charge any foreign fee.

That's true, I see the promotion has been expanded to US now, so what I said above can be applied to US cards as well as Canadian cards.

Post automatically merged: Apr 29, 2020

Does anyone here know if the Australian credit scores are very similar to the US ones?
At the moment, my credit score is very good.
So i was wondering if it is good enough to obtain the Hilton Aspire card.

Are you looking to apply via global transfer or Nova reporting? If it's global transfer, Amex relies only on the profile they have with you in Australia and no credit check will be performed.

 

[DC3]

Does anyone here know if the Australian credit scores are very similar to the US ones?
At the moment, my credit score is very good.
So i was wondering if it is good enough to obtain the Hilton Aspire card.

Using Global Transfer, your Oz credit rating will be used, if this is to be your first US credit card.

Edit: No actual credit check is done.
Still typing this post when glasszon posted, above.

 

[MikeeB]

Does anyone here know if the Australian credit scores are very similar to the US ones?
At the moment, my credit score is very good.
So i was wondering if it is good enough to obtain the Hilton Aspire card.

Hey Des,

My credit scores in Oz are excellent with both credit savvy and get credit score, the Score generated by nova credit was just over 700 which I think from my research is a pretty average score in the US. But it was enough to get approved for the basic Hilton card.

I have since received my card thank God, activated it no problem in the US AMEX App. Live chat provided the US bank details no worries to pay my statement.

 

[desafinado74]

That's true, I see the promotion has been expanded to US now, so what I said above can be applied to US cards as well as Canadian cards.

Post automatically merged: Apr 29, 2020

Are you looking to apply via global transfer or Nova reporting? If it's global transfer, Amex relies only on the profile they have with you in Australia and no credit check will be performed.

Hi Glasszon,
Thank you for your reply.
Most likely i will be using Nova Reporting : )

Post automatically merged: Apr 30, 2020

Using Global Transfer, your Oz credit rating will be used, if this is to be your first US credit card.

Edit: No actual credit check is done.
Still typing this post when glasszon posted, above.

Thank you for your reply DC3. Yup, this will be my first American credit card

 

[desafinado74]

Hey Des,

My credit scores in Oz are excellent with both credit savvy and get credit score, the Score generated by nova credit was just over 700 which I think from my research is a pretty average score in the US. But it was enough to get approved for the basic Hilton card.

I have since received my card thank God, activated it no problem in the US AMEX App. Live chat provided the US bank details no worries to pay my statement.

Hi Mike!
Wow, that is great news ! Enjoy your new card !
As for the credit score, i think i better forget about the Aspire card and just go for the Surpass one.
I might get rejected for the Aspire card.

 

[blacksultan]

Hi Mike!
Wow, that is great news ! Enjoy your new card !
As for the credit score, i think i better forget about the Aspire card and just go for the Surpass one.
I might get rejected for the Aspire card.

What makes you think so ? My wife got approved and she doesn’t have a great income or anything .

 

[desafinado74]

What makes you think so ? My wife got approved and she doesn’t have a great income or anything .

Well, i usually tend to err on the side of caution : )

By the way, may i ask , how do you and your wife use the Aspire benefits such as the airline, Waldorf/Conrad and resort credits ?
I think it will be a bit difficult to use these benefits within Australia.

 

[DC3]

... resort credits ?
I think it will be a bit difficult to use these benefits within Australia.

Hint: Surfers for the resort credit.

 

[glasszon]

Hint: Surfers for the resort credit.

Have you been there? That's the only Australian resort, but I am in two minds given the reviews are just so-so. I was planning to try either the Queenstown resort or Conrad Bali before covid-19 started.

Although there might not be a choice this year given covid-19's impact on international travel.

 

[DC3]

Have you been there? That's the only Australian resort, but I am in two minds given the reviews are just so-so. I was planning to try either the Queenstown resort or Conrad Bali before covid-19 started.

Although there might not be a choice this year given covid-19's impact on international travel.

I’ve been to Hilton Surfers heaps of times, right from when it opened until a few months ago. However, it has progressively gone downhill, unfortunately, including the EL F&B offerings (the EL was closed on my most recent visit, and is relocating to a much lower floor, L4 or something). Probably the biggest issue is the noise from nightclubs in the hotel rooms facing towards Cavill Avenue (until 3.00am, or so), but the other rooms are pretty much noise-free. I have no issues with staying there really. Car parking charges were not applied on my last few stays, but I’m not sure whether that is a Diamond thing or whether just an oversight each time.

Queenstown would be a good idea. I may try to get there when things get back to near-normal.

 

[blacksultan]

Well, i usually tend to err on the side of caution : )

By the way, may i ask , how do you and your wife use the Aspire benefits such as the airline, Waldorf/Conrad and resort credits ?
I think it will be a bit difficult to use these benefits within Australia.

Haven’t used it yet . Was planning to use it in the US

 

[Finale]

Waldorf/conrad I found a bit useless as the rates were much higher.

Shame about Airline credits. In the past I got quite a bit of Amazon/American airlines/Delta Gift cards but those charges are no longer reimbursed.

Without being in the US or flying those airlines, the only thing I heard still reimbursed is American Airlines mileage multiplier. If you have bookings with AA (paid or award) they will offer you miles for $xx_. Will be quite expensive. ie I have an award booking for SYD-SIN and the offer is $150 for 5000 miles or $75 for 2000 miles (3c/mile). Better than nothing I guess.

Still waiting on Amex. I heard it's either this Friday or Monday they will have some news about annual fees/credits/benefits (COVID-19 related).

 

[glasszon]

Not exactly beneficial to us, but people on flyertalk said Amex told them the $250 Hilton resort credit can be used in any US restaurants.

Given the above I guess they won't be extending the validity of the Hilton resort credit.

 

[DC3]

Not exactly beneficial to us, but people on flyertalk said Amex told them the $250 Hilton resort credit can be used in any US restaurants.

Given the above I guess they won't be extending the validity of the Hilton resort credit.

Plus 24 months to use the free night for new certificates (i.e., yet to be issued) <redacted>. Plus certificates can be used for a week night, rather than just on the weekend. Plus some other US-centric stuff.

But nothing about Resort credit extension as yet.

Edit: I believe that emails are being (or, to be) sent out about this?

Content about existing certificates since redacted

 

[DC3]

...I guess they won't be extending the validity of the Hilton resort credit.

You might just be heading to Surfers (or maybe Queenstown) to make use of that.

 

[glasszon]

Plus 24 months to use the free night for new certificates (i.e., yet to be issued) and extending existing certificates. Plus certificates can be used for a week night, rather than just on the weekend. Plus some other US-centric stuff.

But nothing about Resort credit extension as yet.

Edit: I believe that emails are being (or, to be) sent out about this?

Not sure, I saw it on Facebook page so far, will have to wait for the official confirmation.

You mentioned existing certificates will be extended, where did you see this? The source I got on Facebook says new certificates that will be issued in this year will have a two year validity, but nothing was said about existing certificates.

Post automatically merged: May 2, 2020

You might just be heading to Surfers (or maybe Queenstown) to make use of that.

Sad, I have been to Gold Coast far too many times already, I hope we can at least go to Queenstown to use the resort credit!

 

[DC3]

... You mentioned existing certificates will be extended, where did you see this? The source I got on Facebook says new certificates that will be issued in this year will have a two year validity, but nothing was said about existing certificates ....

In “yesterday’s posts” (see Post 236, and later):

American Express Announces Two New Hilton Credit Cards - Page 6 - FlyerTalk Forums

Hilton | Hilton Honors - American Express Announces Two New Hilton Credit Cards - Yeah, the statement doesn't show anything in regard to the points, but I'm not worried, because it has been checked thrice

www.flyertalk.com

Edit: I have misread the bit about existing certificates. Just that they can be used any night, but not extended. Sorry.

 

[Finale]

This is an email I got from Hilton on Mar 15 so existing cers have already been extended.

 

[Finale]

So Amex adds new benefits to cards to help the situation but looks like most are useless for us living in Australia.

ie Platinum gets $20/m credit on streaming service & cellphone, Hilton/Marriott credits can be used for US restaurants. Some bonus points etc

Can read more here Amex Cards Add Awesome New Perks For 2020 | One Mile at a Time

My hilton resort credit will expire around July or August. I have Maldives trip in December. They told me I can prepay some of the cost by filling the form. If you guys have a plan to stay at any resort in the future, they might let you prepay too. Not sure if things will be back to normal by the end of the year though.

 

[DC3]

This is an email I got from Hilton on Mar 15 so existing cers have already been extended.

View attachment 216806

Thanks for that. I had an idea that was the deal, but then I couldn’t find anything when I went looking.