The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers top-tier Hilton Diamond status and valuable travel credits. This premium card provides excellent rewards for Hilton stays and nice perks that can easily offset the annual fee for frequent Hilton guests.
(All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Deals Points and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.)
This credit card review will cover everything you need to know about this card to determine if you should add this card or a different card to your wallet. Let's dive right in.
- Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Hilton Honors Diamond Elite Status
- 14x Points at Hilton Hotels and Resorts
- One Free Night Award at Any Hotel
- $550 Annual Fee and No Foreign Transaction Fees (rates & fees)
Welcome Bonus of the Amex Hilton Aspire
The Hilton Aspire Amex currently offers the following welcome bonus:
Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
It’s worth noting that this bonus is only available to new cardmembers who haven’t held this specific card before. If you’ve had other Hilton co-branded cards in the past, you may still be eligible for this offer.
Earning Points with Hilton Aspire Amex
The Hilton Aspire Amex earns Hilton Honors points at the following rates:
- 14 points per dollar at Hilton Hotels and Resorts.
- 7 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com.
- 7 points per dollar on car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies.
- 7 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery.
- 3 points per dollar on all other purchases.
The Hilton Aspire card offers an exceptional 14x earning rate on Hilton stays, making it ideal for frequent Hilton guests.
The 7x categories cover key travel expenses like flights and dining, though transferable points cards may offer better value for these purchases.
While the 3x base earning rate is decent, this isn’t the best option for everyday non-bonus spending since Hilton Honors points are only worth about 0.51 per point based on our valuations.
Annual Fee of Hilton Aspire Amex
The Hilton Aspire Card has a $550 annual fee (rates & fees). While this may seem steep, the card offers significant benefits that can help offset the cost. You'll receive complimentary Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night reward, up to $400 in Hilton resort credits, up to $200 in airline flight credits, and more.
Hilton Aspire Card Benefits
The Hilton Aspire Amex offers the ollowing benefits a and perks:
Hilton Diamond Status: Receive automatic Hilton Honors Diamond Elite status as long as your account is open. Diamond status offers the benefits of 100% points bonus on eligible hotel stays, room upgrades (if available), executive lounge access, premium Wi-Fi, breakfast or daily food and beverage credit, and fifth night free on award stays.
Free Night Award: Holding the card earns you one free night award at almost every Hilton hotel each year, which can be great for high-end properties.
Earn Additional Free Nights: You can earn additional free night awards when you spend $30,000 and another free night when you spend $60,000 in a calendar year.
Up to $400 in Hilton Resort Credits: Each calendar year, you will receive $400 (up to $200 from January to June and $200 from July to December) in statement credits for eligible purchases at eligible Hilton resorts. Spending includes dining, activities, room rates, and spa treatments.
Up to $200 in Annual Flight Credit: Receive up to $200 in annual flight credits ($50 per quarter) for airfare purchases on flights directly from the airline or through AmexTravel.com.
Up to $100 Hilton Credit: Receive a $100 credit for incidentals when you book a two-night paid stay at the Waldorf Astoria or Conrad properties via HiltonHonors.com/aspirecard over the phcone and quote booking code ZZAAP1.
CLEAR+: Receive a complimentary membership to CLEAR+, which is an airport membership program that allows travelers to expedite their way through airport security using biometric identification such as eye scans or fingerprints.
Redeeming Hilton Honors Points
Hilton Honors points offer flexibility and value for travelers, with over 7,500 properties worldwide available for redemption. While the program uses dynamic pricing instead of a fixed award chart, members can still find excellent deals, especially during peak travel periods. The best way to use Hilton points is typically for hotel stays, where we found during our data study that you should get, on average, about 0.51 cents per point in value.
To maximize your redemptions, search for properties within your point budget during your desired travel dates. Elite members benefit from a fifth night free on award stays, stretching points even further. For those short on points, the Points & Money option allows for customizable combinations of cash and points.
Hilton also offers premium room awards, letting you book suites or rooms with better amenities using points. This can be particularly useful for families or those desiring extra space. Beyond hotel stays, Hilton points can be redeemed for unique experiences through Hilton Honors Experiences, including exclusive events and activities.
While other redemption options exist, such as transferring to airlines, using points for Amazon purchases, or booking car rentals, these typically offer lower value. Focus on hotel stays and experiences to get the most from your Hilton Honors points. With strategic planning, you can turn your points into memorable stays at properties ranging from budget-friendly options to luxury resorts worldwide.
Pros and Cons
Here’s a quick overview of this card’s advantages and disadvantages:
Pros:
Complimentary Elite Status: Receive automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status, the program’s top tier, offering benefits like room upgrades, executive lounge access, and bonus points on stays.
Free Night Rewards: Get an annual free night certificatev valid at almost any Hilton property worldwide, with the ability to earn up to two additional certificates through spending.
Valuable Credits: Receive up to $400 in annual Hilton resort credits and up to $200 in annual airline flight credits, helping offset the card’s annual fee.
Strong Earning Rates: Earn 14x points per dollar at Hilton properties and 7x points in bonus categories like flights and U.S. restaurants.
Cons:
High Annual Fee: The $550 annual fee may be difficult to justify for infrequent Hilton guests or those on a tight budget.
Variable Award Pricing: Hilton uses dynamic pricing for award nights, making it harder to predict how many points you’ll need for a stay.
Resort Credit Restrictions: The $400 Hilton resort credit is split into two $200 credits per year and is only valid at select resort properties, potentially limiting its usefulness.
Is the Hilton Honors Amex Aspire Card Worth It?
The Hilton Aspire Amex offers exceptional value for frequent Hilton guests, despite its high aannual fee.
You’ll get automatic top-tier Diamond status, giving you perks like room upgrades and lounge access at Hilton properties worldwide. The card’s annual free night certificate can easily offset the fee when used at luxury properties, while the Hilton resort and airline fee credits provide even more value. With bonus points on Hilton stays, flights, and dining, you can quickly rack up rewards for future travel.
While it may not be for everyone, if you stay at Hilton hotels regularly and can maximize the credits, this card is definitely worth considering for your wallet.
- Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Hilton Honors Diamond Elite Status
- 14x Points at Hilton Hotels and Resorts
- One Free Night Award at Any Hotel
- $550 Annual Fee and No Foreign Transaction Fees (rates & fees)
For the rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For the rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
