Transferring Amex To Virgin To Hilton – AwardWallet Account Expiration Reminder

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I recently received a couple of notifications from AwardWallet which reminded me of a few things. First, it reminded me of an account expiration. Second, it reminded me how I’m on a roll with hotel point earning promotions lately. The AwardWallet notifications illustrated that my Hilton Honors points are set to expire this fall. But the notification gave me plenty of time to figure out a transfer option that would keep my Hilton Honors points alive for another year.

Hilton Honors accounts require activity every 12 months or the points in the account will expire. Since I needed to have an activity by the fall, I had plenty of time to facilitate a into my Hilton Honors account. I also knew that my Virgin Atlantic mile balance was close to the 10k transfer threshold where I can transfer Virgin Atlantic miles into Hilton Honors points at a 1:2 ratio. So after receiving the AwardWallet expiration notice, I set out to transfer points at a favorable ratio and keep my Hilton Honors account alive.

What Is AwardWallet

An AwardWallet account allows you to track your points and miles across a number of programs. Whatever your favorite loyalty program is, you’ll likely find it in their tracking system. From Starbucks Card Rewards, Delta SkyMiles, Starwood Preferred Guest, and even Kroger Brands, you are likely to find your loyalty program. Once you sign up and enter your loyalty programs, you will be able to track all of your points, miles and rewards in one place.

If you don’t already have an AwardWallet account, consider signing up with our AwardWallet referral code and you’ll receive an automatic upgrade to the AwardWallet Plus account. Alternatively you can use our referral link. I use the service myself and will be awarded a small number of bonus points for each reader who signs up with AwardWallet through my referral link. I run giveaways from time to time to give out free upgrades earned through my referral link. Feel free to post your AwardWallet referral link in the comments as a way to pay it forward.

  • Navigate to AwardWallet’s website
    • Sign up for a new account or log in if you have never had an AwardWallet Plus account
  • Or use our referral link
  • Enter promotion code “pointsmilesandmartinis†at sign up
    • Receive a free upgrade to the AwardWallet Plus account
    • This code will only work if you have never upgraded to an AwardWallet Plus account
    • If you already have an account, but have never been upgraded to a Plus account you can apply the code to your account

Award Wallet Notifications

I received a reminder that my Hilton Honors points will expire this fall. Since I had plenty of time, I looked at my other account balances to see which transfers would help keep my Hilton Honors account active, but also give me a favorable exchange ratio.

a screenshot of a computer

Account Expiration Notification

I noticed that my Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles account balance was close to the 10k transfer threshold to transfer into Hilton Honors points. So I decided to first transfer points into Virgin Atlantic and then transfer the miles into Hilton Honors account at a 1:2 ratio.

a close up of a message

While I was reading my AwardWallet notification, I realized that August was a good month for my Starwood Preferred Guest point balance. The SPG Nice Choice promotion posted to my account as well as quite a few of the SPG Green Choice awards.

a graph of blue bars

Balance History By Program In An Email

American Express Membership Rewards To Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Miles

First, I logged into my Virgin Atlantic account and verified the transfer details.

  • Transfer 1 Flying Club mile for every 2 Hilton Honors points
  • Minimum Transfer Level: 10,000 miles and then in increments of 5,000 miles
  • Call the Flying Club helpline to transfer miles into your Hilton Honors account

a screenshot of a hotel

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Miles To Hilton Honors Points

Next, I logged into my American Express Membership Rewards account. I linked up my Virgin Atlantic Flying Club program instantly. Then I instantly transferred American Express Membership Rewards into my Virgin Atlantic Flying Club program to bring my mile balance up to 10,500.

a screenshot of a computer

Lastly, I called up the Virgin Atlantic Helpline and facilitated the transfer from Flying Club miles into Hilton Honors points at a 1:2 ratio.

Transfer Process Recap

  • 1,000 Amex + 9,500 Virgin = 20,000 Hilton + 500 Virgin
  • Started with 9,500 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club mile balance
  • Transferred 1,000 American Express Membership Rewards into Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • New Virgin Atlantic Flying Club balance increased to 10,500 (just over the 10,000 transfer threshold)
    • Note: I am basically leaving 500 Virgin Atlantic miles in my account but I am getting a 1:2 transfer ratio on the 500 MR points that put my account over the 10k transfer threshold
  • Transferred 10,000 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles into Hilton Honors
  • Ended up with 20,000 Hilton Honors points

Bottom Line

Thanks to AwardWallet’s notification email, I received an early notice that my Hilton Honors points will expire this fall. I had enough time to perform a two part transfer from American Express Membership Rewards to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Miles to Hilton Honors points. The transfer from American Express to Virgin Atlantic put my mile balance over the 10,000 threshold to transfer into Hilton Honors at a 1:2 ratio.

If you don’t already have an AwardWallet account consider using our promotion code below.

  • Navigate to AwardWallet’s website
    • Sign up for a new account or log in if you have never had an AwardWallet Plus account
  • Or use our referral link
  • Enter promotion code “pointsmilesandmartinis†at sign up
    • Receive a free upgrade to the AwardWallet Plus account
    • This code will only work if you have never upgraded to an AwardWallet Plus account
    • If you already have an account, but have never been upgraded to a Plus account you can apply the code to your account

I use the service myself and will be awarded a small number of bonus points for each reader who signs up with AwardWallet through my referral link. I run giveaways from time to time to give out free upgrades earned through my referral link. Feel free to post your AwardWallet referral link in the comments as a way to pay it forward.

a close up of a boat

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About The Weekly Flyer

The Weekly Flyer writes about travel from a business traveler perspective. He travels the world every week accumulating points and miles along the way.

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Comments

  1. You forgot to mention a transfer from Virgin to Priority Club given that Amex does not transfer to priority anymore

  2. Should you have waited til the expiration date was closer to maximize the amount of time til your points expire?

  3. Another method that you can use when you don’t have any points you want to transfer is purchase a soda or something through the Hilton Dining portal.

  4. Instead of doing all that.. you can just sign up for Topguest and add your Hilton HHonor account & Foursquare account. Then stop by a neighborhood Hilton (or even the vicinity), and check in using foursquare. It automatically gives you 50 HHonors points for each check in.

  5. Is the rate still 1:2? I am seeing 1:1 on Virgin’s website and trying to find the key to get 1:2

  6. In your experience how long did it take for the entire cycle to complete? I’m in need of some HH points fast and have plenty of MR points.

  7. Seems like a big loss of value for only 20000 Hilton Points. I just charged $5 in gas on my hilton card….

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