10 Hilton Aspire Benefits You Didn’t Know About
-
Written by
Harlan Vaughn
-
Edited by
Jasmin Baron, CCC™
If you like Hilton hotels, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is quite nearly a must-have. With it, you’ll get an elite status boost, stronger earnings at Hilton and several other Hilton-focused benefits. It’s a “coupon book” style of credit card, meaning it’s squarely on you to use and track the various benefits.
However, the upside is strong, which makes the Hilton Honors Aspire card well worth it for most travelers — if you don’t mind the annual fee.
400+ Credit Cards
Analyzed independently across 50+ data points in 30+ product categories
Reviewed
By a team of credit card experts with an average of 9+ years of experience
Trusted by
More than one million monthly readers seeking unbiased credit card guidance
CardCritics™ editorial team is dedicated to providing unbiased credit card reviews, advice and comprehensive comparisons. Our team of credit card experts uses rigorous data-driven methodologies to evaluate every card feature, fee structure and rewards program. In most instances, our experts are longtime members or holders of the very programs and cards they review, so they have firsthand experience maximizing them. We maintain complete editorial independence — our ratings and recommendations are never influenced by advertiser relationships or affiliate partnerships. You can learn more about our editorial standards, transparent review process and how we make money to understand how we help you make informed financial decisions.
1. Strong Earning Rates
Spending on the Hilton Aspire Amex is a boon for Hilton points, particularly at Hilton hotels, where you’ll earn 14x points for eligible purchases made directly with Hilton. That’s in addition to the points you’ll earn as a Diamond guest, which is 3 to 10 points per dollar spent, along with 100% bonus points.
So, at the max, you stand to earn up to 34x Hilton points at many brands within the Hilton portfolio, which is a tremendous earning proposition. The card also earns:
- 7x points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel®
- 7x points on car rentals booked directly
- 7x points on dining at U.S. restaurants
- 3x points for all other eligible purchases
Even if all you use the card for is Hilton stays, it’s worth it for the earning power, which places it squarely among the best hotel credit cards.
2. Annual Free Night Reward
This might be my favorite benefit: an annual free night reward at most Hilton hotels. There are some exclusions, namely the most ultra-fancy hotels, but many luxurious hotels are included.
Some of the hotels have nightly rates that can best the card’s annual fee, so it’s a chance to splurge — and you get one every year upon card renewal.
If you’re a big spender, you can earn another by spending $30,000 on your card within a calendar year and one more when you spend $60,000 in purchases. But even if those amounts are too much, the one you get with the card can be valuable on its own.
3. Elite Status
Diamond used to be the highest Hilton elite status tier. These days, it’s just below Hilton Diamond Reserve status. However, Diamond can still get you some nifty perks, like space-available room upgrades up to a one-bedroom suite, executive lounge access and premium Wi-Fi.
Typically, you’d need 25 stays, 50 nights or $11,500 in spending with Hilton to earn that level of status. But with the Amex Hilton Aspire, it’s yours just for having the card. Depending on how often you stay with Hilton, the value of these extras can add up quickly.
I’ve gotten some memorable upgrades and lots of extras, like a small welcome gift, thanks to Diamond elite status in the past.
4. Fifth Night Free on Award Stays
When you have Silver elite status or higher, you get the fifth night free when booking standard award nights with Hilton points. And because the Hilton Aspire Amex comes with Diamond elite status, you get to enjoy that benefit as an extension of having the card.
Five nights at the same hotel can be an odd amount of time, but I’ve greatly enjoyed using this benefit over the years. It’s especially handy if you’re visiting family or planning a longer trip to a new or beloved destination for deeper exploration.
5. Flight Credit
If you fly often, you can earn $50 per quarter in statement credits when you purchase a flight directly from an airline or book through Amex Travel and pay with your card. It’s handy to pair with the elevated Hilton points-earning on airline purchases.
But the onus of using the benefit is on you. If you forget to use it for one quarter, it’s gone. The benefit doesn’t roll over, so you’ll want to pay extra attention if it’s of interest.
6. Hilton Resort Credit
Twice a year, from January to June and again from July to December, you can get up to $200 in statement credits at a participating Hilton resort when you pay with the card. For this purpose, “resorts” usually have that in the hotel’s name, but if there’s doubt, you can cross-check with an official list that Hilton provides.
The good thing about this benefit is that you can use it for spa treatments, drinks or dinner, or other purchases made within a participating hotel, as long as it’s charged to your room and you pay with the card. It’s a good benefit to combine with the fifth night free on award stays.
7. CLEAR+® Credit
CLEAR+ is available at more than 55 domestic airports, helping you move to the front of the security line. When you pay for the membership with your Hilton Aspire Amex, you can receive up to $209 in statement credits per year toward your CLEAR+ membership fee. This is a benefit on a couple of the best American Express credit cards as well.
I’ve had mixed results with CLEAR+. Sometimes it’s a revelation, and I find myself whisked through security in just a few minutes. Other times, the lines are so long that it’s actually easier to go through TSA PreCheck or even regular security. You may also not get much out of this benefit if CLEAR+ isn’t available at the airports you like to fly from.
That said, it’s handy when it works, and because it’s essentially free for cardholders, there’s nothing to lose by registering.
8. Waldorf and Conrad Property Credit
This is pretty niche, but you can get up to $100 in property credit when you stay at a Waldorf Astoria or Conrad hotel for at least two paid nights. These hotels tend to be on the pricey side, but if you’re celebrating or have a special event, having an extra $100 to play with during your stay is a nice perk. Even better, it’s unlimited, so you can use the benefit as much as you want. You’re only limited by the higher prices at these luxury properties.
9. National Car Rental Elite Status
As a Hilton Aspire cardholder, you can get Emerald Club Executive status, which gets you Executive Area Access and a few other perks when you rent from National. It’s nice to be able to select your own full-size or higher car, but again, it’s only useful if you rent directly from National and enroll in the benefit.
It’s nothing I’d go out of my way to use, personally, but it’s included with the card, so there’s no downside to enrolling.
10. Cell Phone Protection
If you use your Hilton Aspire Amex to pay your monthly wireless bill, the card’s built-in cell phone insurance can cover you for up to $800 per claim in the event of damage or theft to your phone — up to two approved claims per 12-month period.
There are no bonus points for paying your cell phone bill with the Hilton Aspire Card, but if you don’t have another card that offers it, or if you’d prefer to rest easy knowing your phone is covered, it’s a nice added benefit.
The information related to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and Hilton Honors American Express Card was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for this product.
For the Cell Phone Protection benefit on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, Coverage for a Stolen or damaged Eligible Cellular Wireless Telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per Eligible Card Account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per Eligible Card Account per 12 month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amex Hilton Aspire Benefits
What are the downsides of the Hilton Aspire Card?
The Hilton Aspire Amex has a $550 annual fee, which is the biggest downside for most. It takes a lot of thought before committing to a card with a steep annual cost.
Just know that American Express may let you downgrade your card if it’s not a fit — and Hilton has cheaper cards, such as the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and Hilton Honors American Express Card, that may be a better option for more casual travelers. In that way, you’re committing for one year at a time and can change cards with your travel patterns.
Does the Hilton Aspire Card have airport lounge access?
No, the Hilton Aspire doesn’t offer airport lounge access. Most of the benefits are focused on Hilton, not necessarily broad travel (although there are a couple of travel benefits as well). Consider one of the best credit cards for airport lounge access instead.
Is the Hilton Honors Aspire Card any good?
If you love staying at Hilton, then yes, the Hilton Aspire Card is a great option. If you don’t, then no. In that way, it depends entirely on how you like to travel. If you often fly and stay at Hilton hotels, the card can be well worth the annual fee many times over.
