Hilton Macquarie card is enhanced into Hilton HHonors Macquarie card

[serfty]

When was your annual renewal due?

 

[straitman]

When was your annual renewal due?

Mine is due in May.

My plan is to keep it for now and consider how it's working though until renewal and then decide.

 

[serfty]

Mine is due in May.

My plan is to keep it for now and consider how it's working though until renewal and then decide.

Interesting - same May date here ... but I doubt I'll retain mine (It was becoming borderline value for me in any case ).

 

[paultiffen]

I think that this is a positive development in a way.

Unless I'm wrong it's the first direct earn card into a hotel program in Australia. Hoping that others will follow (SPG would be amazing)! Are there any other cards that earn hotel points directly? Some other cards give SPG Gold status but as a Hilton Diamond member I would value the status at at $200+ and Hilton Gold at $100+ (assuming no free ways to get Hilton Gold)

 

[serfty]

Status maybe - but if you can generally earn it anyway then it's less of a benefit.

Old: $1000 worth of spend at Oz hotels would have $800 cost. This $200 discount does reduce the diamond 15 points earn per USD by ~2700 HHonors points.

New: You spend the full $1000 and earn additional 4000 HHonors points. Also you earn an additional 2700 on the non discounted spend. If HHonors points are worth as much as ½¢ each then that's worth (4000 + 2700) * ½¢ = $28.50.

My $200 saving is reduced to $28.50 (maybe) points value - no thanks.

Bye Bye MaQ!

 

[paultiffen]

I guess it comes down to what you spend. I've rarely spent my own money at Hilton's in Australia as I'm a pretty simple man with hotels and would save the money. When I do stay it's for work so as long as it qualifies in the hotel allowance I don't really care how much it costs.

 

[beardoc]

I got this in the mail and immediately went looking for the 20% discount - couldn't find it anywhere. Am extremely disappointed by this - the 20% discount was the most valuable thing for this card! Also, no $99 night anymore - just a free weekend night if you spend money on the card (which I never did). Compared to 2 MR points per dollar on my Amex for spends at Hiltons, 4 Hilton HHonors points per dollar is poor value.

Might have to reassess my hotel strategies. With the old Hilton Macquarie card, HHonors Diamond was completely worth it from a value perspective. It's less worth it now.

 

[coolumbla]

i moved to hilton because of the 20% discount and the gold status i had thought another offer through here
The 20% was the most valuable to me

Fr
I might go back to SPG as i'm gold there even though by the end of the year i will be a "real " diamond at Hilton due mainly to the fact i was getting 20% off!

Frantically checking how many of my bookings will be relevant
Hmm the one i'm paying for is at teh end of October
The ones work are paying for are after that!

I still have one 99 dollar stay left
Best book that !
and give my mother in law the 20% discount card for her stay!

C

 

[coolumbla]

So if i make I my bookings for next year by Nov 1 the 20% discount still applies?

"i have a cunning plan sire" :Baldrick

 

[straitman]

So if i make I my bookings for next year by Nov 1 the 20% discount still applies?

"i have a cunning plan sire" :Baldrick

I plan to do a few of these also :!:

 

[moa999]

While the Diamond route is tempting, I don't value hh points anywhere near as much as airline points

 

[straitman]

While the Diamond route is tempting, I don't value hh points anywhere near as much as airline points

You can convert HH points to AA and a few other airlines points. With AA it is HH divide by 5 to give AA points but still worth much more than HH points since the HH devaluation.

 

[beardoc]

You can convert HH points to AA and a few other airlines points. With AA it is HH divide by 5 to give AA points but still worth much more than HH points since the HH devaluation.

Isn't it 10000 HH points for 1500 AA points?

Use Frequent Flyer Miles, Rail and Car Rental Rewards with Hilton HHonors

 

[serfty]

ISTR It was 6:1 but I have not looked for a year or three.

 

[moa999]

Thus the trade for Diamond is then 40,000 QF points (or maybe more with SQ) versus 6,000 AA points

While HH Diamond was worthwhile re upgrades, unless doing a lot of nights (in which case you would be close to earning it anyway), that loss of points is a big one.

 

[serfty]

Thus the trade for Diamond is then 40,000 QF points (or maybe more with SQ) versus 6,000 AA points

While HH Diamond was worthwhile re upgrades, unless doing a lot of nights (in which case you would be close to earning it anyway), that loss of points is a big one.

It is 10K:1½K, so near enough to 6:1 ...

---

For me the calculation is simple.

In the last 12 months I spent ~$3500; the discount was ~$700 for a net $2800. I also used my $99 night at at Sydney where the going rate was ~$210. So that's an approximate saving of $800 for my $275 annual fee (grandfathered) at a cost of 10,500 HHonors points earn.

Taking the same expenditure under this new 'enhancement' I'd get an additional 14,000 HHonors points @ 4 per $. So I would be 24,500 HHonors points better off at a cost of $810 - using the (generous) ½¢ per point valuation, that's $122 worth.

Summary: An additional 24,500 HHonors points under the 'enhanced' scheme would cost me ~$690.

[Side Note: I can directly purchase 25,000 HHonors points for USD250 (and that is generally considered poor value).]

Conclusion: I will not be renewing this card.

 

[coolumbla]

arrived this morningDear Coolumbla
,

Hilton would like to wish you and your partner, a very Happy Anniversary for next week!

Celebrate your anniversary in style at any Hilton Hotel in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia.
Remember, as a Hilton Macquarie member, you receive20%* off your hotel stay, dining, drinks and room charges.


i suppose it sneaks under teh before nov 1 limit

 

[moa999]

I was more looking at it as a possible new card, attracted by the potential Diamond status.

But the cost of diverting $40,000 spend too a poorer points earning card as well as the additional fee makes it a tough call.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

But the cost of diverting $40,000 spend too a poorer points earning card as well as the additional fee makes it a tough call.

In my estimation, it will very much depend on individual circumstances. Certainly won't be a one size fits all scenario. In my case, as we're renovating, the spend would not be too difficult to maintain and it would be maney spent anyway. Admitedly, I still have to check the worth of diamond compared to getting FFer points offered on other cards.........

 

[beardoc]

I am debating the prospect of booking six months of bookings on all Saturdays at Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne (all three) to guarantee the 20% off, and not guaranteeing each with a credit card. This way I can use the 20% off for a while yet.

I probably won't do it, but I'm disappointed by the short notice to change a major component of the card.