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.
Welcome Bonus of the Amex Hilton Aspire
The Hilton Aspire Amex currently offers the following welcome bonus: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases within your first 6 months.
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:
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 following benefits 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 or over the phone and quote booking code ZZAAP1. CLEAR Plus: Receive a complimentary membership to CLEAR Plus, 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. National Elite Status: Receive a National Car Rental Executive status, which offers the benefits of Executive area access allowing you to choose any full size and above in the Executive Area and only pay the midsize rate, guaranteed upgrades when you reserve a full-size through luxury vehicle, and one free car rental day for every six car rentals No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll save money on every purchase while traveling internationally since this card doesn’t add the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards impose. Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card.* Trip Delay Insurance: When your trip is significantly delayed due to covered reasons like equipment failures or severe weather, this protection reimburses you for reasonable expenses including lodging, meals, toiletries, and medication. The coverage activates when you pay for travel with your card and extends to family members on the same itinerary, though you’ll need to seek reimbursement from the travel carrier first.* Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance: This protection reimburses you for non-refundable, prepaid travel expenses if you need to cancel before departure or cut your trip short due to covered situations like severe illness or weather events. Coverage activates when you pay for your trip with the card, but it’s important to note that reimbursement only applies for specific covered reasons rather than any cancellation.* Baggage Insurance Plan covers your baggage if it is lost, damaged, or stolen and you purchase your ticket with this card.* * Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Amex Offers: As an American Express cardholder, you can access Amex Offers. These targeted, limited-time promotions provide discounts or bonus points on purchases with select merchants. Offers are added to your card, and you’ll receive either a percentage or dollar amount back as a statement credit when you meet the offer terms. While offers vary and may not always align with your spending habits, this perk can be valuable when an offer matches your preferences. Cell Phone Protection: When you use your card to pay your monthly phone bill, you’ll receive valuable coverage against damage or theft of your device.* Return Protection allows cardholders to receive a refund for purchased items within a certain timeframe for items that merchants may not accept for return.* 90-Day Purchase Protection: Your new purchases are covered against damage and theft for 90 days when you use your card. This protection helps safeguard your eligible items right from the moment you buy them.* Extended Warranty Protection: Your purchases gain an extra year of warranty protection when bought with this card, extending manufacturer warranties of three years or less without the inflated prices of store warranty plans. * Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Travel Benefits
Purchase Benefits
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 certificate 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.
Alternatives to the Hilton Aspire Amex
Now that you know about this credit card’s various benefits and pros and cons, it’s time to see its alternatives.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (review) offers nice rewards at Hilton properties while providing automatic Gold status that includes valuable perks like room upgrades and breakfast benefits. This mid-tier Hilton card hits a sweet spot for occasional Hilton guests who want elite perks without premium card costs. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Rewards: 12x points on eligible purchases made directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio; 6x points at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations; 4x Points on U.S. Online Retail Purchases; 3x points for all other eligible purchases. Main Benefits: Hilton Gold elite status, up to $200 Hilton credit (up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a Hilton property), free night award after eligible spending of $15,000 in a calendar year, and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive Status.
American Express Platinum Card®
American Express Platinum Card® (review) offers the most comprehensive airport lounge network available, giving you access to premium Centurion Lounges plus thousands of other lounges worldwide. You can easily offset the card’s large annual fee through generous credits for Uber, hotels, digital entertainment, Resy dining, and lifestyle brands like lululemon. Earning Points: 5x on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel®, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year; 5x points on on prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com; 1x points on all other purchases. Card Benefits: Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (review) offers automatic Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status and valuable perks like an annual free night certificate that can be used at many premium Marriott properties. The card includes generous monthly restaurant credits and provides elite nights toward status each year, making it a strong choice for Marriott travelers. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Points: 6x Marriott Bonvoy® points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; 3x Marriott Bonvoy® points on restaurants and flights booked directly with airlines; and 2x Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other eligible purchases. Benefits: Marriott Platinum elite status, 25 elite night credits, $300 dining credit (up to $25 per month) at restaurants worldwide, free anniversary free night award (up to 85,000 points), Priority Pass™ airport lounge access, Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit, cell phone protection, travel insurance (trip delay, trip cancellation, baggage insurance, and secondary rental car), and return protection.
Is the Hilton Honors Amex Aspire Card Worth It?
The Hilton Aspire Amex offers exceptional value for frequent Hilton guests, despite its high annual 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.
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.
