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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

14 valuable benefits of the hilton honors american express aspire card [$6,500+ value].

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14 Valuable Benefits of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card [$6,500+ Value]

1. A Generous Welcome Offer ($900)

2. supercharged earnings at hilton properties worldwide ($350), 3. elevated earnings on travel purchases ($175), 4. earn hilton honors points on every purchase ($450), 5. receive complimentary hilton honors diamond status ($2,500+), 6. 24/7 american express concierge services ($25), 7. receive a free reward night ($1,000), 8. earn a second free reward night ($100), 9. earn a third free reward night ($100), 10. fifth night free ($250), 11. redeem points for free nights ($25), 12. $200 airline credit ($200), 13. $400 hilton resort credit ($400), 14. $100 credit at waldorf astoria and conrad properties ($25), points & money rewards, other ways to redeem your points, travel benefits and protections, shopping and entertainment benefits and protections, alternative hilton honors credit cards from american express, final thoughts.

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Get ready Hilton lovers: the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card  is the ultimate Hilton Honors credit card , delivering premium benefits for discerning frequent travelers whose brand of choice is Hilton.

Sure, it comes with a steep annual fee. This may have discouraged you from digging deeper into the benefits of having the Hilton Aspire card, but procrastinate no longer. We’ve done the digging for you and are sharing all the reasons you might want to consider this card.

Let’s see if the Hilton Aspire card makes sense for you.

Accelerated Earnings

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Paying hundreds of dollars for an annual fee on a co-branded hotel card might seem ridiculous, but you should know that the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is much more than your run-of-the-mill hotel credit card.

The Hilton Aspire card is not only a phenomenal card for Hilton Honors loyalists , but even those who visit Hilton hotels just a few times a year can still get excellent value out of all the benefits that are packed into this card.

So let’s have a look at what makes the card so valuable to travelers.

  • 14x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
  • 7x points per $1 on select travel and at U.S. restaurants
  • 3x points per $1 on all other purchases
  • Complimentary Hilton Diamond status
  • Up to $400 in annual statement credits on purchases with participating Hilton Resorts (up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually)
  • Up to $200 back annually on eligible flight purchases (up to $50 in statement credits each quarter)
  • 1 Free Weekend Night Award each cardmember anniversary
  • $100 credit at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties
  • High annual fee of $550
  • Earn 180,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Aspire card from American Express after you use your new card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership. Plus, enjoy a free Weekend Night Reward within your first year and every year after renewal.
  • Earn 14x Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio .
  • Earn 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants.
  • Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your card.
  • Enjoy up to $400 in Hilton Resort Credits (up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually) on your card each anniversary year when you stay at participating resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
  • Enjoy complimentary Diamond status.
  • $550 annual fee.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 20.74% - 29.74% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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While introductory welcome offers vary, you can expect an initial bonus of Hilton Honors points after meeting specific spending requirements. Welcome offers are a great way to jump-start your point pool and bring your rewards within reach.

Use these Hilton Honors points for reward nights at any Hilton brand , including Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, and Conrad properties worldwide.

Additionally, you may receive a bonus offer to upgrade to the Hilton Aspire card if you are a current cardmember with one of the other Hilton-branded cards.

Use your Hilton Aspire card at Hilton properties and receive 14 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent . These points are in addition to any Hilton Honors points you earn for staying at Hilton properties.

By using this card for an estimated $5,000 in purchases at Hilton properties worldwide per year, you’ll earn 70,000 Hilton points, which we value at $350.

Earn 7 Hilton Honors points for each dollar spent on flights when you book directly with the airlines, on AmexTravel.com , car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies, and for purchases at U.S. restaurants.

If you spend around $5,000 per year on these purchases, you’ll earn 35,000 Hilton points, which we value at $175.

You’ll always earn Hilton Honors points even when you’re not spending at Hilton properties or on travel. Every purchase you make on the card earns 3 Hilton Honors points for each dollar spent .

With an average monthly spending of $2,500 on other purchases, you should expect to earn 90,000 Hilton points per night, which is worth around $450 by our valuations.

Hot Tip: Be sure to sign up for Hilton Honors promotions to earn even more when staying and spending at Hilton properties.

Receiving upgraded status to top-level Hilton Honors Diamond with the Hilton Aspire card is a superb benefit. Normally, achieving Diamond status would require 30 stays, 60 nights, or 120,000 Hilton Honors base points earned annually.

Generally, Hilton Honors elite members enjoy perks such as free bottled water, free Wi-Fi, 10 to 20 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent for their stay, the fifth consecutive night free on rewards stays, late checkout, and other ancillary elite benefits.

Diamond status includes the previously mentioned elite benefits plus much more.

Hilton Honors elite point earning graph

Diamond elite members receive a 100% point bonus on their stay, which equals a total of 20 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent (10 base points per dollar, plus 10 bonus points per dollar).

This earning opportunity is important because these points are awarded just for the stay and don’t include the additional 14 bonus points per dollar you earn for using the Hilton Aspire card. That’s a total of 34 points per dollar spent when paying with your Hilton Aspire card.

Diamond elite members receive upgraded rooms (including suites, when available), access to the hotel executive lounge (where available), breakfast, and a welcome amenity.

We’ll value this at $2,500, but you can certainly get more value with more Hilton stays.

Bottom Line:  If you frequently stay at Hilton properties, having complimentary Diamond elite status can be a huge benefit that you won’t find on other Hilton-branded credit cards. 

Whether you need last-minute tickets to a popular concert, dinner reservations for a special anniversary, or even help to pick out a unique birthday gift, the American Express Concierge is at your service day or night.

We’ll value this benefit at $25.

Free Hotel Nights

Hilton Hotel Berlin at night

Shortly after you’re approved for the Hilton Aspire card, you’ll receive a confirmation that your free night is on its way.

Within 8 to 14 weeks after card opening, you should receive a code you can use for your first free night good for a stay any day of the week (these were previously only good on the weekends ). You will then receive a free night after every subsequent card anniversary.

This could potentially be worth upwards of $3,000, though we’ll peg this at a conservative $1,000.

When you spend $30,000 on your Hilton Aspire card in a calendar year, you will receive an additional free night certificate — we’ll value this benefit at $100 since it requires a hefty amount of spending.

When you spend $60,000 on your Hilton Aspire card in a calendar year, you will receive a coupon code for 1 more free night. We’ll value this benefit at another $100.

When booking award night stays with your Hilton Honors points, you’ll receive the average value of the nights booked credited as the fifth consecutive night free. Just log in to your Hilton Honors account and make your booking. When you request the rate for 5 or more nights using your points, the fifth night free will automatically be calculated.

If you can take advantage of this perk on your reward stays, you’ll make your points stretch further. We’ll value this at $250.

Use your Hilton Honors points for free nights, or use a combination of points and cash to pay for your award night.

Because it’s fairly obvious that Hilton points can be used for free nights at Hilton properties, we’ll peg this at $25.

Bottom Line:  Earning Hilton Honors points to redeem for free nights is great, but receiving a free night shortly after you get your Hilton Aspire card is a real bonus. 

Statement Credits

You’ll receive up to $50 per quarter for airline purchases made directly with the airline or through AmexTravel.com. Although you’ll need to remember to use it every quarter, we’ll still value this at around $200.

Linger a little longer during your Hilton resort stay, as your up to $400 statement credit each card anniversary year includes reimbursement for purchases at a Hilton resort, including additional room nights and upgrades. Advance Purchase rates are excluded. You’ll receive up to $200 semi-annually.

Since this benefit includes room rates, we’ll peg this at the full $400 face value.

Perhaps you’d like to treat yourself to a massage or relax in a rented cabana by the pool. On-site purchases qualify for a $100 statement credit each membership year when you book a 2-night stay or longer at Waldorf Astoria or Conrad properties .

Typically, these room rates are more expensive than the best available rates, so we’ll value this perk at $25.

Bottom Line:  If you utilize all the hotel and airline statement credits, you’ll more than offset the annual fee on the Hilton Aspire card.

Easy Hilton Honors Point Redemptions

When it comes time to redeem the points you’ve earned , using your Hilton Honors points for reward nights can result in the best value, meaning you should be getting at least a one-half cent, or better, of value per point.

One redemption option that is not unique to the Hilton Aspire card but has significant merit is the option to use your Hilton Honors points with Points & Money Rewards . With Points & Money, you’re in control and can use as few or as many points as you want to adjust the price of your room.

Hilton Points and Money

Flexibility is a positive, and having the option to use just a small amount of points to reduce the price versus a predetermined fixed cash or point option is a good thing. You can use as few as 5,000 Hilton Honors points to offset the cost of any room rate, including special Hilton Honors member price specials.

Always check to make sure you’re getting fair value for the points you redeem. Slide the Points & Money tab to see how much your points are worth to determine if it’s a worthy redemption for you.

Hot Tip:  Don’t have enough Hilton Honors points to fund that entire family resort vacation? Just use the Points & Money option to reduce the cost of the room or book 4 nights with points and get the fifth night free. 

Additional redemption options that can yield lesser value for your Hilton Honors points include:

  • Bidding for Experiences:   Take part in auctions for experiences such as cultural, musical, or sporting events, concert performances, and travel packages.
  • Shopping on Amazon: 500 Hilton Honors points equals $1 on Amazon.com.
  • Exchanging Your Points: You can select from airline, rail, and credit card partners.
  • Renting a Vehicle or Purchasing a Cruise: Use your Hilton Honors points for car rentals and cruises.
  • Donating Your Points: 4,000 Hilton Honors points equals a $10 donation via Pointsworthy.

Additional Benefits and Protections

We’ve covered the top benefits of having the Hilton Aspire card, but there are so many more protections and benefits that come with the card.

  • Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance : Use your card to pay for your rental car and receive coverage if the car is damaged or stolen.
  • Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption: If your trip needs to be canceled or is disrupted due to a covered reason, you could receive up to $10,000 per covered trip, up to $20,000 per account per 12-month period.
  • Baggage Insurance Plan : Get up to $3,000 for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage. Terms and conditions apply.
  • Premium Global Assist : Receive legal, financial, and medical emergency assistance services 24/7 worldwide.
  • Concierge Services : Get anytime assistance with reservations and help to make arrangements for any special outing. Terms Apply.
  • American Express Presale and Preferred Seating : Use early access to event tickets and premium seating.
  • Entertainment Access : Go to member-only events and access special experiences.
  • Cell Phone Protection:  Receive up to $800 toward damaged or stolen damaged phones when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with the card. Maximum of 2 claims per year, subject to a $50 deductible.
  • Return Protection : Return an eligible item purchased with your card within 90 days, and if the merchant doesn’t take it back, the purchase price will be refunded.
  • Extended Warranty : An additional year is added to the manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or less on eligible purchases.
  • Purchase Protection : Eligible purchases made with your card are covered when accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost.
  • Auto Purchasing Program : Over 7,000 participating dealers offer thousands of dollars in savings with this program. Plus, you can use your American Express card to pay at least $2,000 toward the purchase price.
  • Terms Apply.

Hot Tip: Curious how this card stacks up to other premium credit cards ? Check out our head-to-head comparison of the Hilton Aspire card vs. The Platinum Card ® from American Express .

If you’re not keen on paying a big annual fee regardless of the associated benefits, you may want to consider the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass ® Card or the Hilton Honors American Express Card — both of these cards are also great options for Hilton loyalists .

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass ® Card

An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.

If you’re someone who loves traveling and loves staying in Hilton hotels, adding a co-branded Hilton hotel card to your wallet is almost a no-brainer. From automatic Hilton elite status to up to $200 in Hilton credits every year, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass ® Card can be a great fit for Hilton loyalists looking to up their travel game.

  • 12x points per $1 at Hilton hotels
  • 6x points per $1 U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants
  • 4x points per $1 at U.S. online retail purchases
  • Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status
  • No foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees )
  • Annual fee of $150 ( rates & fees )
  • Earn 155,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass ® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Get up to $200 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases after you use your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass ® Card.
  • Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
  • Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
  • Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
  • Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
  • Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
  • Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors ™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass ® Card.
  • Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year.
  • Enjoy complimentary National Car Rental ® Emerald Club Executive ® status. Enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club ® program is required. Terms apply.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
  • $150 annual fee.
  • APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
  • Travel Rewards Credit Cards

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Hilton Honors American Express Card

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, plus great earnings at Hilton, U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. restaurants!

You can’t beat a comfy king-sized bed and room service. For many travelers, it’s the hotel that really makes or breaks an experience. If you’re one of those people, you’ve probably stayed at a Hilton hotel.

Whether your visits are for work or pleasure, the Hilton brand has you covered with more than 6,200 locations in 100 counties and territories.

To enjoy a host of great benefits, you may want to apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Card .

  • 7x points per $1 on Hilton stays
  • 5x points per $1 at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations
  • Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status
  • No annual fee ( rates & fees )
  • No foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees )
  • Not great for those who want multiple redemption options
  • Offers the least benefits of all Hilton cards
  • Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 4/17/24.
  • Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
  • Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
  • Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
  • No Annual Fee.
  • No Annual Fee Cards

Hilton Honors Loyalty Program

  • Best Credit Cards for Hilton Honors Loyalists

Here’s how the 3 cards compare:

*All information for the Hilton Aspire card was independently collected by Upgraded Points..

Hot Tip:  If you’re a frequent traveler and Hilton loyalist, the Hilton Aspire card is the ultimate card match for you. If this card provides benefits you won’t use, you might consider the Hilton Surpass card, which also offers a collection of travel benefits and earnings for a lesser annual fee. You’ll still receive Hilton Honors Gold status and generous Hilton and bonus-category earnings. 

If you’re a Hilton fan, it makes sense to have an American Express Hilton-branded credit card such as the Hilton Aspire card . It’s good for free hotel nights, earning Hilton Honors points on every purchase, elite status, statement credits, and all the American Express protections and benefits that come with your card.

Fortunately, American Express has made it easy to carry a card that earns Hilton Honors points by offering 3 great choices.

Even if you stay at Hilton properties just a few times a year, you’ll still find benefit in having a Hilton Honors-branded American Express card.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here . For rates and fees for The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass ® Card, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the hilton fifth night free work.

Just book 5 consecutive nights using your Hilton Honors points and the fifth night will be free, as long as you have Silver status or higher.

Sign in to your Hilton Honors account before searching for a property and use points for your booking.

Insert the dates for all 5 nights and the fifth night free will automatically be calculated. It will be displayed as a discount applied to each night but the discount is calculated as the average cost of the total nights.

How do I redeem Hilton Honors points for hotel nights?

You will first sign in to your Hilton Honors account online and start a hotel booking. Just click the small box that says Use Points located right next to the dates you want to book the hotel.

Once you submit the information, you will see all the rates available for your hotel room for the dates you selected, including how many points the room will cost.

If you select a cash price, you will be given the opportunity to apply points to offset the price before checkout with the Points & Money option.

Which is the best Hilton Honors credit card?

The best Hilton Honors card for you will offer benefits that add value for you personally and has an annual fee with which you’re comfortable paying.

You can’t go wrong with having the Hilton Aspire card if you travel and stay frequently at Hilton properties.

If you prefer not to pay the large annual fee or you won’t utilize all of the benefits on the card, you may want to consider the Hilton Surpass card or the Hilton Honors card.

Both allow you to earn Hilton Honors points on every purchase, plus the Hilton Surpass card gives you elite status as well.

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About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

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Hilton Honors American Express Card — Full Review [2024]

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Is the Hilton Honors AmEx Aspire Card Worth Its Annual Fee?

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Although the $550 annual fee isn’t cheap, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is the gem of Hilton’s line of credit cards, as long as you stay at Hilton properties at least a couple of times per year.

This is the kind of card that when you whip it out at a Hilton property, you’re treated like a VIP. If you take advantage of only the annual $400 in statement credits for expenses at Hilton Resorts (doled out as up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually) and the additional $200 airline incidentals credit toward extras like baggage and Wi-Fi fees (broken out as up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, you’ve already exceeded the annual fee. And that doesn’t even account for the myriad other perks you gain access to, most notably automatic Hilton elite status at the highest tier there is, Hilton Honors™ Diamond. Terms apply.

That said, for people looking to earn rewards, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card will likely end up being only a supplemental card in your wallet. The card's value lies less in accruing points for non-Hilton spending, and more in offering you elite perks whenever you stay at Hilton hotels. And for most people who stay at Hilton hotels at least twice a year (and who travel by air once a quarter), the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is easily worth the annual fee, and here’s why.

New in 2024: An annual fee increase, statement credit changes

In October 2023, AmEx announced that the card’s former $450 annual fee would increase to $550.

With the fee hike came some new perks, the removal of some old ones and some significant changes to existing perks. Here are all those differences as of October 2023:

Changes to existing perks

The $250 Hilton resort statement credit increases to $400 — with a catch: Previously, cardholders received $250 in annual statement credits for purchases made at participating Hilton hotels and resorts.

While it could have been used in multiple, small increments throughout the year, say on meals at the hotel restaurant, the fact that it even covered the cost of the room itself made it pretty easy to use that entire $250 credit in one go upon staying at an eligible Hilton resort. You’d simply have to charge the room to your card, and you’d see a credit back on your cardholder account. Terms apply.

Now, the credit’s value increases to $400, but it might be more annoying for less frequent travelers to use, as it’s broken up into two $200 in statement credits doled out semi-annually. That means you’ll have to stay at a Hilton resort two separate times per year, once in the first half and again in the second half of the year, to take advantage of it. Terms apply.

The $250 airline statement credit decreases to $200 — but it’ll be more flexible: Effective Jan. 1, 2024, a former perk on the card, a $250 Airline Fee Credit, goes away (though card members who enrolled in the benefit before Dec. 31, 2023 can continue to receive their statement credits through the end of the year). That credit covered up to $250 per calendar year toward incidental air travel fees on a qualifying airline selected by the cardholder.

For many travelers, the credit was annoying to use. For starters, it only covered incidentals such as checked bags — but it didn’t cover airfare. Furthermore, because you had to select one airline, you couldn’t use it to pay for your checked bags on a United flight one time and an Alaska flight another time.

With the change, the total value of the airline credit drops down to just $200, but now it covers more than just incidentals. It’ll cover up to $200 annually for eligible purchases of airfare made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com.

Just note that you don’t just get a credit for $200 in one go. You’ll only be eligible for up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, so you’ll lose some value if you don’t book travel every quarter. Terms apply.

New perks added to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Clear Plus membership: Cardholders are eligible for $189 in statement credits per calendar year after you sign up and pay for a Clear Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your card. Terms apply.

Ability to earn an additional free night: Cardholders automatically receive a reward for a free night at a Hilton hotel when they are approved and every year upon renewal. They also had the ability to earn an additional free night after spending $60,000 on their card in a calendar year. Hilton has now added the ability to earn an additional free night after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year. Terms apply.

Automatic elite status with National Car Rental: Cardholders can now enroll to get automatic Executive tier status in National's Emerald Club program . With Executive tier status, you can choose your preferred car from the Executive Selection area (a complimentary upgrade) while only paying the rate for a mid-size car.

Plus, as an Emerald Club Executive, you'll earn a complimentary rental day after earning just six rental credits instead of the typical seven rental credits. Terms apply.

Cell phone protection: Many other top tier travel credit cards offer AmEx cell phone protection already, so with this change, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card joins the club.

Perks going away

Priority Pass Select membership: Priority Pass Select is membership program that gets you access to semi-exclusive airport lounges. Travelers generally enjoy the complimentary food and drinks (even alcoholic beverages) and amenities that come with lounges.

Alas, the perk is going away for cardholders anyway. For existing cardholders who enrolled on or before Jan. 31, 2023, the membership perk is valid through Jan. 31, 2024. Cardholders who enrolled between Feb. 1, 2023, and Jan. 31, 2024, will have membership through Oct. 31, 2024.

The most valuable perks of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

The card also provides numerous benefits, including automatic elite status, annual credits and complimentary nights at your favorite Hilton hotels.

The welcome bonus offer

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is currently offering this welcome bonus offer: Earn 180,000 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. Offer ends 1/17/2024. Terms apply.

Based on NerdWallet's research, Hilton Honors points are valued at 0.5 cent per point . Of course, your redemption value could be better or worse based on the hotel you choose and the dates of your stay.

Hilton used to publish an award chart, making it easier to determine the full value of these points. However, the hotel loyalty program has removed the chart and moved to a variable points system that makes it more difficult.

» Learn more: Find out how much your airline miles and hotel points are worth

aspire travel credit card

The earning power

In addition to the welcome bonus offer, you can earn unlimited Hilton Honors points by using the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card for your daily purchases.

You'll earn:

14x points on Hilton purchases.

7x points on flights booked with airlines or through AmEx Travel.

7x points on rental cars booked with select rental car companies.

7x points on dining at U.S. restaurants.

3x points on all other purchases.

Terms apply.

Automatic Hilton Honors™ Diamond elite status

Diamond status is the highest level within the Hilton Honors loyalty program, and it’s automatically bestowed to all Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card cardholders. Otherwise, you'd need to stay 60 nights per year at Hilton properties to earn this elite status . Terms apply.

Hilton Diamond status becomes increasingly more valuable the more you travel. Benefits include a welcome gift at check-in, daily complimentary breakfast, executive lounge access and upgrades to suites when available.

Plus, you earn and save more for every stay. You'll earn 100% bonus points on paid stays, and if you’re booking on points, you’re rewarded for longer award stays with your fifth night free.

NerdWallet calculated the value of the benefits offered by the major hotel elite status tiers and found that, if optimized, Hilton Diamond status is worth more than $4,000.

aspire travel credit card

Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, California. Photo courtesy of Hilton

A complimentary night at almost any Hilton property

You'll receive one complimentary night upon approval of your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card , plus an additional one each year when you renew. Additionally, when you spend $60,000 on your card in a calendar year, you'll receive a second complimentary weekend night. Terms apply.

Sure, you can redeem it at the Hampton by Hilton near grandma’s house, but you’ll likely get way more value when you apply it to something like an idyllic paradise vacation. Consider the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort in Southern California, where room rates often exceed $500 per night, and sometimes teeter close to $1,000 depending on the weekend.

Note that of Hilton’s roughly 7,000 properties worldwide, a few are excluded from this perk. View a list of the excluded properties here.

$400 Hilton resort statement credit

During your card year, you'll receive $400 in statement credits for purchases made at participating Hilton hotels and resorts. Not only does this cover incidental charges posted to your room, but it covers the cost of the room itself. Simply charge the room to your card, and you’ll see a credit back on your cardholder account. Terms apply.

Annoyingly though, you won’t receive the $400 in one go. It’s broken out into two, $200 statement credits doled out semi-annually, which means you’d need to visit a Hilton resort two separate times each year (and once each half of the year) to fully take advantage of the credit. Terms apply.

$200 airline fee credit

Every year, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card customers also receive up to $200 back on eligible flight purchases . Each quarter, cardholders are eligible to receive up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for airfare made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com. Terms apply.

To be eligible for this benefit, an airfare purchase must be for a scheduled flight on a passenger carrier and purchased directly from the airline or through amextravel.com, which means charter flights, private jet flights, as well as flights that are part of tours, cruises, or travel packages are not covered. It also won’t cover service fees, ticket cancellation or change fees, interest charges or purchases of cash equivalents. Terms apply.

Clear membership

Clear is a program used at certain airports and stadiums that lets paying members bypass part of the security line. That’s because Clear uses biometric data (fingerprints and eye scans) instead of traditional ID documents, like driver’s licenses or passports, to verify traveler identification, allowing you to skip part of the line at the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint in airports that offer the benefit.

And while the standard price for an annual Clear membership is $189, you won’t have to pay for it with this card.

Cardholders are eligible for $189 in statement credits per calendar year after you sign up and pay for a CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your card. Terms apply.

» Learn more: Is Clear worth the cost?

Up to $100 Hilton on-property credit

When you stay at Waldorf Astoria or Conrad hotels, you'll receive up to $100 in credits for charges made to your room. This benefit is limited to the qualifying charges billed to your room, with a cap of $100 per booking.

To qualify, you must book a two-night minimum stay through hiltonhonors.com/aspirecard or by calling Hilton Honors. Terms apply.

Other notable benefits

Car rental loss and damage waiver: When you pay for your rental car with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card , you'll be covered in case the car is damaged or stolen. This coverage is secondary to your own auto insurance and does not include liability coverage for damage to other property or injury to individuals. Terms apply.

Cell phone protection: Cardholders can be reimbursed for either the repair or replacement costs (whichever is cheaper) if their phone is damaged or stolen, and it’s listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by the card. The benefit is worth up to a maximum of $800 per claim.

Note that a $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim, and there’s a limit of two approved claims per 12-month period. Terms apply.

Automatic elite status with National Car Rental: Cardholders can enroll to receive automatic Executive tier status in National's Emerald Club program. With Executive tier status, you can choose your preferred car from the Executive Selection area and receive a guaranteed upgrade when renting at least a mid-size car. Plus, as an Emerald Club Executive , you'll earn a complimentary rental day after earning just six rental credits instead of the typical seven rental credits. Terms apply.

No foreign transaction fees: You can use the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card anywhere around the world without fear of extra charges. American Express will not charge you any fees to convert your international purchase into U.S. dollars. Terms apply.

Checked baggage protection: Your luggage is covered for loss, damage or theft when traveling by plane, train, ship or bus. Coverage is up to $3,000 per person per trip, which includes up to $2,000 in checked baggage and $1,000 for high-risk items like jewelry and electronics. Terms apply.

AmEx Offers: American Express cardholders can participate in AmEx Offers to save money and earn additional points. These offers vary based on your profile, spending habits and the type of card that you have. Offers require activation and change on a regular basis, so make it a habit to check out your personalized offers regularly. Terms apply.

» Learn more: Hilton Honors: The complete guide

Is the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card worth it?

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers a lot of benefits, but you may still find the $550 annual fee tough to stomach.

While many benefits are impossible to assign an exact value to, we estimate that the average cardholder could realistically receive over $1,200 in annual benefits from it.

That figure doesn’t even factor in the opportunity to earn a second or third complimentary weekend night for spending on the card, the $100 credit for Waldorf Astoria or Conrad hotels, cell phone protection and the other benefits that you may or may not use, like the rental car elite status . Plus, don’t forget to account for the welcome bonus offer. Terms apply.

Here's how we came up with these numbers:

Who is the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card right for?

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card delivers handsomely for travelers who stay at middle-tier to luxury Hilton hotels.

You'll receive automatic Hilton Honors™ Diamond status, a complimentary weekend night each year and up to $600 in credits for airfare and at Hilton resorts. Plus, you can enjoy additional benefits like Clear membership, cell phone protection and rental car protection.

Big spenders will also benefit from the second complimentary weekend night after spending $30,000 each year, and a third after spending $60,000 each year. Terms apply.

The card combines enough statement credits with luxe extras to please aspirational travelers. The combined statement credits make it incredibly easy to justify the $550 annual fee. Throw in the room upgrades, Hilton lounge access and other perks generally reserved for the well-to-do, and this card can take your travels to the next level.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

World Of Hyatt Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-9x Earn up to 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt – 4 Bonus Points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member. Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airlines tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships.

30,000 Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

Chase World of Hyatt Business Credit Card

1x-9x Earn 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4 Bonus Points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member. Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent in your top three spend categories each quarter through 12/31/24, then your top two categories each quarter. Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent on fitness club and gym memberships and 1 Bonus Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 60,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

aspire travel credit card

How I got nearly $5,000 in value from my first month with the Hilton Aspire

Eric Rosen

There are plenty of reasons why the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card consistently ranks among our favorite hotel credit cards and is one of the best overall travel credit cards .

Not only does the card confer automatic top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status as long as your card account is open, but cardmembers also receive a free night award certificate each account year, plus annual statement credits that can add up to tremendous value.

The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

American Express touts that you can get over $750 in value from the card each year, but I was able to squeeze even more savings out of it than that just within my first month as a cardmember by applying at the right time and using it for the right expenses.

Here's how I got nearly $5,000 in value from the Hilton Honors American Express Card within one month of opening it.

aspire travel credit card

Applying at the right time: Bonus points and statement credits

I signed up for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card in December. Based on some trip plans and other expenses, I had no trouble spending the $6,000 in purchases within six months required to earn the welcome offer of 180,000 bonus points it offered at the time — slightly higher than the current offer of 175,000 bonus points after making $6,000 in purchases in the first six months of card membership.

Typically, we don't talk much about getting a new card at the end of the calendar year, but it can really pay off. The automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status I received as an Aspire cardmember helped me maximize a holiday trip to the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal , and I was able to take advantage of certain statement credits the card offers both before the end of 2023 and then again in January 2024.

The card recently changed the terms and conditions of various statement credits it offers in addition to raising its annual fee to $550 (see rates and fees ). However, I was still able to maximize some of the old benefits along with the new ones, thanks to my late-in-the-year application and my trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Although we're just over two months into 2024 now, it's never too early to look ahead toward your credit card strategy for the end of the year as those elite status windows close and you consider where your points or miles might come in handy for holiday travel.

The end of the year can be a great time to open a new credit card since you can often double dip on statement credits that reset quarterly or based on the calendar year. It also happens to be a time of higher-than-usual spending for many folks, thanks to travel expenses and holiday purchases, which can help you meet the minimum spending requirements for a welcome offer.

Here is the total tally for the value I was able to get from the card between when I applied in mid-December and a month later in mid-January.

Resort statement credits: $450

aspire travel credit card

Through the end of 2023, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire offered up to $250 in statement credits each calendar year toward eligible purchases at participating Hilton resorts (you can find the whole list here ).

As of 2024, this statement has morphed into a credit of up to $400 on eligible purchases at participating Hilton resorts each calendar year — $200 in the first six months and another $200 in the second six months.

My stay at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal was from Dec. 24 to 29, 2023, and although it was an award stay that did not incur any room charges, the meals, activities and other purchases I made during my stay counted toward last year's statement credit.

Then, I had to make a quick trip to San Diego to visit family the second week in January, so I stayed at the Hilton San Diego/Del Mar, another eligible resort. Room rates were just over $200 at the time, so I saved that amount on my stay.

All told, I had just gotten $450 in statement credits toward hotel stays I would have had to book anyway, all within the first few weeks of having the card.

But I wasn't done yet.

An extra award night: $600

aspire travel credit card

My holiday trip to Cabo was planned at rather the last minute (basically at the same time as when I got my new Hilton Honors Aspire Card).

Even down to the wire, there were standard award nights available at the hotel for 120,000 points each. That meant my five-night stay would have cost 600,000 Hilton Honors points.

However, thanks to the elite status conferred by my new Aspire card, I was able to take advantage of Hilton's fifth-night-free benefit for elite members redeeming points (on stays of up to 20 nights).

Rather than redeeming the total number of points for all five nights of a stay and being refunded for your fifth night, Hilton instead prices the whole stay for the number of points you'd need for four nights. That meant I only needed 480,000 points for my vacation.

TPG values Hilton Honors points at 0.6 cents apiece, so the 120,000 points I saved thanks to my newfound Diamond status courtesy of the Aspire would amount to $720 in value.

I look at it more conservatively, though, by saying that Hilton often offers 100% bonuses on points purchases . You could buy 120,000 points for just $600 during one of these promotions. So, that's the dollar amount I'll peg this benefit at for now. It's still a tremendous amount of value and alone was worth more than the card's $550 annual fee.

Room upgrade: $1,150

aspire travel credit card

My award reservation at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal was for a standard Pacific View Room with a plunge pool and a terrace. However, within a few days of making my reservation, I received a notification that I'd been upgraded to an Ocean View Room (also with a plunge pool and a terrace).

The rooms aren't drastically different since they're the same size and offer the same amenities. Still, they are on opposite sides of the property, and the Ocean View category is slightly closer to the water, providing a view of the beach and the Pacific rather than one of the guest pools.

For the dates I was there, Hilton was selling the Ocean View accommodations for about $230 more per night than the Pacific View category, which meant I was getting an extra $1,150 in value over the course of five nights thanks to my Aspire-conferred Diamond status.

Breakfast credits: $370

aspire travel credit card

Having Hilton Honors Diamond status means you get a daily food and beverage credit at most participating hotels in the U.S. and complimentary continental breakfast for two daily at participating hotels outside the U.S.

At the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, the continental breakfast my partner and I were entitled to based on status was worth $34 per person. It included fresh pastries, a main yogurt dish with granola, oatmeal, cereal, fruit plates, coffee or tea, and a fresh juice of the day. Over the course of five days, this benefit saved us $340.

Then, at the Hilton San Diego/Del Mar, we received $15 per person in dining and beverage credits, which we put toward breakfast on the single morning of our stay, netting us another $30 in value.

Airline fee credits: $100

aspire travel credit card

The Hilton Honors Aspire offers up to $200 in annual airline fee credits. You receive up to $50 in statement credits each calendar quarter for airfare purchases on flights made directly with the airline or through AmexTravel.com.

Shortly after receiving my card in December, I redeemed Etihad Guest miles for an award that also carried a few hundred dollars in fees and taxes, $50 of which was promptly credited back to my Aspire account within about a week of making the charge.

Then, early in January, I made another award redemption, this time for tickets to South America on LATAM for later in the year. The booking came with award fees of $98 total for two tickets, $50 of which was returned to me as a statement credit.

Because I used my card to pay for the taxes and fees for these trips, they should be covered by the Hilton Aspire's various travel protections including trip cancellation and interruption insurance worth up to $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per eligible card per 12-consecutive-month period*; trip delay insurance * of up to $500 per trip with a maximum of two claims per eligible card per consecutive 12-month period; and baggage insurance ** of up to $3,000 for checked and carry-on baggage in case my luggage goes missing.

All told, I already got $100 back in airline fee credits, though I'm going to have to remember to use this benefit quarterly to take full advantage of it — a minor but inconvenient hoop to jump through.

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Free night certificate: $2,270

aspire travel credit card

I have also tentatively redeemed my Hilton Honors Aspire annual free night certificate to maximum effect. This certificate is only valid for standard night awards (meaning it can't be used for upgraded rooms or suites) at nearly any Hilton property worldwide.

At the Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island, which is one of the most exciting hotels opening this year , standard awards are a whopping 130,000 points per night for a King Deluxe Room, but since that's the standard, my free night certificate is still valid. And thanks to the spending I did on my card in the first month, plus the welcome bonus it earned me (yes, in the first month!) and a few thousand Hilton points I had stashed away, I have enough points (260,000) for another two nights at the hotel.

Paid rates for those same nights are a staggering $2,270 each, so my free night certificate is worth almost as much as the combined value of all the other benefits I've taken advantage of so far.

Keep in mind, Hilton Aspire cardmembers can earn a second free night certificate after spending $30,000 on purchases with the card in a calendar year and another free night certificate if they spend $60,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year ... though I probably won't hit those marks.

Unused benefits (so far)

aspire travel credit card

I'm doing pretty well so far, but I haven't even unlocked some of the card's other savings.

One of the Hilton Honors Aspire perks I haven't leveraged yet is a statement credit of up to $189 per year when using the card to pay for a Clear Plus membership . I plan to do that in the next few weeks, though, so I can get through airport security faster.

I'll also be keeping an eye on the value I might be able to reap from things like upgrades and preferred rentals thanks to the card's complimentary National Emerald Club Executive status (after enrollment in the Emerald Club program — terms apply).

And I may choose to pay my cellphone bill with the card since it offers cellphone protection * for repair or theft of the device up to a maximum of $800 per claim, with a limit of two approved claims within a 12-month period and a $50 deductible per claim.

*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Another perk I intend to use is the up-to-$100 Hilton on-property credit that cardholders receive when booking at least a two-night paid stay at eligible Waldorf Astoria or Conrad properties through HiltonHonors.com/aspirecard (or via phone with the booking code "ZZAAP1"). It can be used toward incidentals (not room charges) during your stay.

Plus, I've already received some great Amex Offers on my card that I intend to trigger imminently, including $25 back on a bill of $125 or more at one of my favorite sushi restaurants in Los Angeles and $10 off a Macy's purchase of $60 or more, so I'll be keeping an eye out for other dining, shopping and travel offers.

Bottom line

Thanks to its plethora of perks, the Hilton Honors Aspire Card is among the best travel credit cards. Not only does it offer hundreds of dollars in annual statement credits for things like resort stays and airline fees, but by leveraging its other benefits like free night certificates and Hilton Diamond elite status cleverly, you can glean hundreds — or even thousands— of dollars more in value from the card each year.

My only regret is not getting the card sooner so that I could have been taking advantage of these benefits for a longer time. That said, I think I'm still doing pretty well for less than three months in, and the value I was able to get from it just within the first month has convinced me to keep it for the foreseeable future.

Related reading:

  • Best Hilton cards
  • The best Hilton hotels in the world
  • The best credit cards to reach elite status
  • Which credit cards offer the most lucrative rewards for hotel stays?
  • What are the best hotel rewards programs in the world?
  • Best hotel credit cards

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Aspire Card, click here .

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aspire travel credit card

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Joe Cortez is a personal finance journalist contributing to Bankrate with a decade of experience as a financial journalist and over a decade of experience in the financial industry as a whole.

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Brendan Dyer holds a Master of Fine Arts in Journalism from Western Connecticut State University and worked previously as a content editor for Regional News Network, a hyper-local TV news station contracted by Verizon FiOS1 News. As a national service volunteer, Brendan exercised a passion for helping underserved communities and demographics through direct, community service. He constantly seeks to apply his expertise as a journalist to the field of personal finance with the goal of helping people navigate the complexities of the credit card industry.

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Bottom line

With annual credits that exceed the annual fee and perpetual Diamond elite status, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card offers strong rewards for those who choose to stay at Hilton hotels worldwide.

Image of Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

*The information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.

A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Intro offer

Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you use your new Card to make $4,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

Offer valuation

Offer valuation is not available for this credit card.

Rewards rate

Earn 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your Card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton Portfolio. Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies & at U.S. restaurants. Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.

Regular APR

On This Page

  • Pros and cons
  • Current offer details
  • Value of rewards
  • Key cardholder perks
  • Understanding the fees
  • Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Credit Card vs. other Hilton Honors cards
  • Is this card worth getting?
  • Frequently asked questions

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Credit Card Overview

Hotel credit cards often deliver value exclusively for free hotel nights through collecting points. But what if a hotel card could offer more? The Hilton Honors Aspire Card delivers on those travel dreams. In addition to a solid welcome offer and earning Hilton Honors points on all purchases, this card offers annual airline purchase credits, annual Hilton resort credits and top-tier Diamond elite status. If you want to stay at more Hilton properties around the world, this luxury Hilton Honors American Express Card could help you unlock better experiences and get more free nights.

What are the pros and cons?

Highest points earning among all Hilton Honors American Express credit cards for spending at Hilton properties and certain travel purchases

Solid welcome bonus of 150,000 Hilton Honors points and Hilton Diamond status

Up to $500 in annual credits for qualifying purchases, among other credits

Weekend night award certificates can only be used for Friday, Saturday and Sunday stays, excluding certain all-inclusive and distinctive properties

Primary value comes only from the Hilton Honors program

No bonus earnings for spending at U.S. supermarkets or U.S. gas stations like you would with its sibling Hilton cards

Although the card earns at a high rate, redemptions are also very costly relative to other hotel rewards cards

A deeper look into the current card offer

Quick highlights.

  • Rewards rate : 14X points at participating Hilton hotels or resorts; 7X points on flights booked directly with airlines or via amextravel.com, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and at U.S. restaurants; 3X points on other purchases
  • Welcome offer : Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $4,000 in purchases on the Card within the first three months of Card Membership.
  • Annual fee : $450
  • Purchase intro APR : N/A
  • Balance transfer intro APR : N/A
  • Regular APR : 20.99 percent to 29.99 percent (variable)

Current welcome offer

Among all the Hilton Honors credit cards, the Aspire Card offers the highest welcome offer for your spending. New applicants who have not previously held this card can earn 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $4,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership, starting from the date your card is approved.

Hilton Honors points are worth up to 0.6 cents each. If you were to maximize your value on redemption, your welcome bonus points could be worth as much as $900 in rewards.

If your ultimate goal is to get free nights, the total value from your hotel credit cards is dependent on how you use your points. Room awards start at 5,000 points per night and go to a maximum of 95,000 points per night. With the welcome offer points alone, you could get up to 10 nights with hotel rooms costing 15,000 points per night, three nights in hotel rooms costing 50,000 points per night or one night at a high-end luxury hotel for 95,000 points per night with some extra to spare, depending on the season and room availability.

Travelers who stay primarily at Hilton Hotels worldwide have the most to gain in rewards from the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card. With the highest bonuses for its spending categories among the three Hilton co-branded cards, frequent flyers and road warriors alike can quickly earn Hilton Honors points, which can turn into free hotel rooms around the world.

How you earn

As with most points-earning credit cards, your earnings are based on how much you spend but certain categories earn rewards at a higher rate than others. The biggest rewards from the Hilton Honors Amex Aspire come when you use your card at participating Hilton hotels to earn 14X points. From hotel dining to spa treatments and other experiences, anything you purchase at participating hotel locations with your card that can be charged to your room will qualify for the bonus points. Combined with the 100 percent points bonus you can earn with Hilton Honors Diamond status; qualifying cardholders can earn a total of 34X points on Hilton property purchases.

This card can also help you earn points when you are making future travel plans. Cardholders earn 7X points on purchases in three travel-related categories: airfare, rental cars and U.S. restaurants. However, to get the bonus on airfare, you must use your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card to purchase tickets directly from the airline or by using amextravel.com. For the rental car bonus, cardholders must book their car directly through one of 12 companies:

Purchases for both airline tickets and rental cars made through online travel agencies, wholesale clubs or as part of a vacation package will not count for the 7X points category. This is a standard caveat on cards like this, so it won’t necessarily lower the card’s value relative to other options. 

To earn bonus points for dining, you must use your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card at U.S. restaurants. Bonus points also apply to food delivery and takeout, but you will not earn points at American restaurants in foreign locations, such as an Applebee’s in Canada. Neither will bonus points apply to meals purchased inside nightclubs, convenience stores, grocery stores, nor inside other establishments like a casino or hotel.

However, if you are eating at a restaurant located inside a Hilton hotel and choose to charge the meal to your room, the balance would count as a Hilton hotel purchase, qualifying you for the higher 14X points rate (34X points if you qualify for Diamond status). All other qualifying purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card will earn you 3X points.

How to redeem

There are six ways to use points in the Hilton Honors reward program . They range from free and discounted hotel nights to making purchases on Amazon.com. Which one you should use depends on how much you value your points and how much money you could save by using them one way or the other.

It should be noted, though, that the best way to use Hilton Honors points is toward free or discounted rooms at one of Hilton’s over 6,500 properties worldwide. Rooms can be booked either entirely with points or with a combination of points and cash. However, Hilton redemptions require a lot more points than redemptions with many other rewards programs. This reflects the relatively low value of Hilton points.

Free hotel room nights range in value from 5,000 at low-end properties geared towards casual travelers and families (like Hampton Inn by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn) to 95,000 points for a standard room in high-end luxury properties and resorts around the world. While points will cover part of your stay, you may still be responsible for paying for any extras while staying at the hotel, including resort fees.

If you don’t have enough points to get a free night, you can discount your hotel room night using a combination of points and cash. Your discount is a percentage based on the cost of the room and how many points you want to use. For example, if a room at a Hilton property costs $270 or 70,000 points per night, using 35,000 points could discount the room to $135, or 50 percent of the cash price. Using 17,500 points would give you a 25 percent discount on the room, making your cost before taxes and other fees $204 per night.

Cardholders can also use points for Hilton Honors Experiences, a service that offers access to unique and exclusive events outside of the normal amenities. Some recent experiences include multi-course culinary experiences across Asia, European spirit tastings and more. While these experiences are purchased exclusively with points (usually 25,000 to 50,000 points), room reservations and other transportation must be booked separately.

Some of the worst ways to use points are through partner offers like exchanging points for Lyft rides, using points to book rental cars, shopping with points on Amazon.com or transferring points to airline partners. Using points this way can drop their value as low as 0.2 cents each, which is far lower than their potential when used for hotel rooms.

How much are the rewards worth?

Based on our latest point valuations , Hilton Honors points have a market value of 0.6 cents each. That means if you’re getting a return of 0.6 cents each per point (or more), you’re getting a good redemption value.

To calculate your Hilton Honors points’ value, multiply the cash price of a stay by 100 and divide by the number of points it would take to cover a reward night. For example, a $270 room available for 70,000 points results in a value of just under 0.4 cents per point — not a great return on your points. However, if that same room at a luxury hotel were $540 or 70,000 points, you would almost get a value of 0.8 cents per point, which is above our estimated average point value. As you can see, you’ll have to be mindful of the fluctuating point value when you’re booking your next trip.

Other cardholder perks

Like other high-end or luxury travel and hotel cards, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card isn’t good for just earning loyalty rewards with the card’s issuer, it also comes with a host of perks and features that make your travel more convenient and comfortable. What makes this arguably the best Hilton credit card are the annual credits towards travel, free weekend reward nights and the potential to earn Hilton Honors Diamond status.

Annual airline, resort and on-property credits

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card comes with three types of credits toward your travels. First, cardholders get up to $250 in airline statement credits each year toward one selected air carrier for incidental fees, including seat selection and checked luggage fees. Second, guests at select participating Hilton resorts can access up to $250 in credits for purchases directly at the hotel, including restaurant meals and spa treatments. To get the credits, the process is pretty straight forward. You must use your Hilton Honors Aspire card at the property and charge on-property spending to your room. Finally, if you book a two-night stay at a Waldorf Astoria property through the Aspire card’s online portal, you can get up to $100 in hotel credits to use during your stay.

Given the value of these features, frequent Hilton customers in particular should consider this card despite its $450 annual fee. If you were to use the airline and resort credit each year, you’d save up to $500 per year — $50 more than the annual fee. The $100 credit for staying two nights at a Waldorf Astoria property further extends the gap between the card’s value and its cost. All this comes before even accounting for the value cardholders get from rewards earned via card spend.

Weekend reward night certificates

You will get at least one free weekend reward night certificate to use at most participating HIlton Honors hotels around the world each year after your cardmember anniversary. Additionally, if you spend at least $60,000 on your card each year, you will get a second weekend reward night certificate. As the name suggests, these credits can only be used for a stay on Friday, Saturday or Sunday night.

Hilton Honors Diamond status

Some luxury co-branded cards come with top-tier loyalty status with the associated business. In this case, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card comes with the highest status available: Hilton Honors Diamond status — the only Hilton card that offers this benefit.

Normally earned after staying 42 nights or over 21 unique stays, Diamond status comes with a number of exclusive benefits, including a 100 percent points earning bonus on stays (essentially doubling your Hilton rewards rate), executive lounge access, elite status gifting to another person and a 48-hour room guarantee. Diamond guests also earn all of the benefits from previous tiers, including space-available upgrades, daily food and beverage credits or free continental breakfast (outside of the U.S.) and a fifth night free on standard room reward stays.

Fifth night free on reward stays

If you book five consecutive nights using your Hilton Honors points, you’ll only need to use points to pay for a combined total of four nights. For example, a five-night stay at 70,000 points per night would normally cost a total of 350,000 points, but with the fifth night free benefit, you’d only owe 280,000 points. It’s effectively a 20 percent discount on a five-night stay. 

There are also no redemption caps on this benefit. For example, if you stay at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando, Florida,  you’ll usually pay around $540 or 80,000 points per night. But if you book a reward stay of five consecutive nights, you’ll pay 320,000 points for four nights and receive the fifth free — a savings of 80,000 points.

Rates and fees

Because the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card is a top-tier travel card, it comes with a high annual fee and higher interest rates on purchases. The annual fee is $450, due when you open your card and keep it open every year. This is in line with other high-end travel rewards cards. For instance, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card and The Platinum Card® from American Express charge cardholders $550 and $695, respectively. The card also comes with a relatively higher APR because it pays out rewards to cardholders. If you carry a balance, expect to see a 20.99 percent to 29.99 percent (variable) APR, depending on your creditworthiness.

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card comes with no foreign transaction fees, which is to be expected from a premium travel rewards card.  If you take a cash advance from this card, expect to pay for it through a combination of fees and a higher interest rate. The Hilton Honors Aspire card charges the greater of $10 or 5 percent of the cash advance amount, as well as a 29.99 percent APR until it is paid off.

If you pay your card late or have a payment returned by your financial institution, you could be charged up to $40 on each count, plus a 29.99 percent penalty APR for at least six months.

We tried it: Here's what our experts say

Bankrate credit cards writer Ryan Flanigan uses his Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Credit Card for extra value on luxury Hilton vacations.

I like to stay at high-end Hilton properties, so this card essentially gives me free money to use whenever I go. I’ve often cashed in the uncapped free nights for properties worth well over $1,000 per night. Diamond status always comes in handy for some extra benefits and credits on the property. I like the high earning rates at restaurants and still can’t believe I earn 34X points for on-property spending on the card — I earn enough on one trip to pay for another. — Ryan Flanigan, Writer, Credit Cards

How the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire compares to other hotel cards

By comparison, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card offers many similar credits and added value found on other top-tier travel cards. On the downside, the primary value from Hilton Honors points comes from free Hilton hotel rooms and hotel and airline credits. When you choose the best travel card that’s right for you, you should take into account what you need based on your goals because there is a lot of variety available not only in rewards rates but redemption options as well.

Whether it’s free rooms at Hilton properties, free rooms at other hotels or other travel rewards there are plenty of options to choose from and each comes with different rewards models. Deciding which one is right for you is a matter of personal preference and spending patterns.

Image of Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Earn 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your Card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton Portfolio. Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies & at U.S. restaurants. Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.

Recommended Credit Score

Image of Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines 2X points on all other eligible purchases

Image of The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card vs. the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

If your goal is to get the most out of your hotel stays, both the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offer strong value for your spending. Both cards offer a remarkably high intro offer, a high level of bonus points on purchases at their respective hotel brands and a bonus category for spending at worldwide restaurants and flights booked directly with airlines.

What gives the Hilton Honors Aspire card the edge is the status and annual credits. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card only gives cardholders Platinum Elite status in their loyalty program, the Hilton Honors Aspire card grants top-tier Diamond status as long as the account is in good standing. In addition, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card only offers $300 in calendar year statement credits for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, compared to over $500 in credits for airfare and on-site spending with the Hilton Honors Aspire card, not to mention the unlimited value provided by the fifth night free on reward stays benefit. Unless you stay primarily at Marriott Bonvoy properties, the Hilton Honors Aspire card could present better value.

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card vs. The Platinum Card® from American Express

Choosing between the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card and The Platinum Card from American Express comes down to one central question: would you rather have rewards exclusively for free Hilton hotel nights, or would you rather have flexible points you can use anywhere ? With a $695 annual fee, The Platinum Card comes with a wealth of benefits, including a $200 airline credit, up to $200 hotel credit for Fine Hotels & Resorts (which requires a minimum two-night stay) and Gold status with both Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy. You’ll collect American Express Membership Rewards points on every purchase, which can be transferred to over 20 different travel partners, including airline miles and other hotel programs’ points.

Although it comes with a higher annual fee, The Platinum Card from American Express could be the better choice for travelers who value luxury travel and want control over where and how they use their points. But for more casual travelers who just want to earn free hotel rooms faster, the Aspire card’s annual credits and Diamond status offer tremendous value each year that is potentially unmatched by the Platinum card’s benefits.

Best cards to pair with this card

The key benefit of holding this card is earning points toward free hotel rooms for your everyday spending, on-site credits and free reward nights when you pay with points for four nights or more. It makes the most sense to pair this card with others that can help you reduce travel costs in other ways — either through earning more Hilton Honors points or earning cash back to help you save elsewhere.

One good companion to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card is the American Express® Gold Card . Cardholders earn 4X bonus points at restaurants (including takeout and delivery like Uber Eats) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 each year, then 1X points). In addition, you earn Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to Hilton Honors at a 1:2 ratio of 1,000 Membership Rewards points for 2,000 Hilton Honors points. When used for their respective bonus categories, these cards can make a strong points-earning pair.

If you would rather have the simplicity of cash back to pay for airfare and other experiences, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express can be a great option that will provide plenty of flexibility with how you spend your cash back earnings. Cardholders earn 6 percent cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1 percent) and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3 percent cash back on transit purchases (including taxis or ridesharing, parking, tolls, trains and other public transportation) and 3 percent cash back at gas stations. With multiple unique bonus categories, this card can help you bank money to help offset the cost of everyday expenses. Plus, its $95 annual fee is much lower than the Aspire’s.

Bankrate’s Take: Is the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire worth it?

If you can take advantage of the Hilton Honors points, airline credits and Hilton resort credits each year, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card is absolutely worth holding. This card is great for frequent travelers who only want one high-end card, fans of Hilton hotels, families who take resort vacations yearly and anyone who can take advantage of the over $500 in credits offered to cardholders. Combined with Diamond elite status for the life of the card, there’s a lot to appreciate with this card.

But before you add this card to your wallet, be sure that you can use the points you are earning. If you aren’t committed to regularly staying at Hilton hotels, these points won’t add up to a lot of value for your spending. If you are motivated by overall rewards value instead of Hilton stays, you may be better served by a cash back or flexible points credit card.

For rates and fees of Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, please click here .

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here .

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What credit score do i need for the hilton honors amex aspire card, is the hilton honors amex aspire a good travel card, does the hilton honors aspire card have travel insurance.

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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.

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