Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card – Full Review [2023]

Great Card If

• You’re a frequent traveler
• Hilton is your hotel of choice, you stay there often, and spend heavily
• You value luxury travel benefits such as lounge access and top hotel loyalty status

Don’t Get If

• You’re not a frequent traveler
• You don’t stay frequently or spend a lot at Hilton hotels
• You’re looking for flexible rewards redemption options
• You’re not interested in paying a $450 annual fee, regardless of any value received

Hilton Aspire Card — Is It Worth It?

If you are someone who travels frequently, loves staying at Hilton hotels, and knows they will get more value out of the benefits of the card relative to the annual fee, then the Hilton Aspire card would absolutely be worth it for you.

While the annual fee might feel a bit steep, when you account for all of the benefits that the card offers like complimentary Hilton Diamond status, a $250 Hilton resort credit, a $250 airline fee credit, Priority Pass lounge access, and a free weekend night award each year, it is easy to see how much value the card can provide.

Hilton Aspire Card Top Benefits

Complimentary Hilton Diamond Status

Perhaps the best benefit of the Hilton Aspire card is that it offers all cardholders top-tier Diamond status in the Hilton Honors program. Usually, you need to spend 60 nights a year in a Hilton hotel in order to achieve Diamond status, but Hilton Aspire cardholders get it right away.

Here are some of the benefits you can expect with Hilton Honors Diamond status:

• 100% point bonus on stays
• Room upgrades, including suites
• Complimentary breakfast
• Executive Lounge access
• Welcome amenities

Anniversary Free Night Certificate

Each year on your account anniversary, Hilton Aspire cardholders receive 1 free night certificate that can be used at almost any Hilton hotel within its portfolio.

This benefit alone can drastically help offset the annual fee, as many of the most expensive hotels in the Hilton portfolio can cost hundreds of dollars per night.

$250 Annual Hilton Resort Credit

Each cardmember year, you’ll receive $250 in statement credits for incidentals at participating Hilton resorts. This $250 can be used on items like dining, activities, and spa treatments.

$250 Annual Airline Fee Credit

As with other airline fee credits offered from American Express cards, each year you’ll receive $250 in statement credits for incidentals from an airline of your choice. However, the credit only applies to incidental fees like change or cancellation fees, checked bag fees, internet fees, etc.

Priority Pass Select Membership

Hilton Aspire cardholders receive a Priority Pass Select membership that allows you and 2 traveling companions to visit over 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide.

$100 Credit at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad Properties

When you book a 2-night stay or longer at Waldorf Astoria or Conrad properties, your room rate (not including prepaid and non-refundable rates) and on-site purchases qualify for a $100 statement credit each membership year.

How To Earn and Redeem Your Hilton Honors Points

Put simply, the Hilton Aspire card is great at earning points thanks to the complimentary Diamond status it offers and 14x points per $1 it earns on Hilton stays. However, that isn’t the only way to earn Hilton Honors points, in fact, there are tons of great ways to earn Hilton Honors points outside of using your card.

Once you’ve earned a large balance of Hilton Honors points you can put them to good use by redeeming them at one of the many great Hilton hotels worldwide — plus you get your fifth night free on award stays!

Alternative Cards to the Hilton Aspire Card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express^® Card

As far as premium hotel cards go, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card is really the only other option. This card is perfectly suited for those who prefer Marriott hotels to Hilton hotels and want to take advantage of benefits like automatic Gold Elite status, an annual free night certificate, and a $300 annual Marriott statement credit.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

If there is one card that is all about the benefits, it is the Amex Platinum card. The Amex Platinum card offers Gold status with both Marriott and Hilton hotels upon enrollment and offers access to 1,400+ airport lounges. Cardholders are also eligible for statement credits for Uber Cash, airline fees, Saks, prepaid hotels, Equinox, digital entertainment, CLEAR, and Walmart+.

Check out our head-to-head detailed comparison of the Amex Platinum card vs. the Hilton Aspire card.

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

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.