7 reasons to get the Hilton Amex Aspire Card
Editor's Note
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is one of the most compelling hotel credit cards on the market.
Despite its $550 annual fee (see rates and fees), the Aspire's ongoing perks can easily outweigh that cost — often by a wide margin.
From valuable statement credits to elite status and standout Hilton-specific benefits, this card delivers strong value for both frequent and occasional Hilton guests.
Here are seven reasons why the Hilton Honors Aspire Card is worth a spot in your wallet.
Free night certificates
One of the strongest reasons to hold the Aspire Card is its annual free night reward, which you receive after opening your account and again each year on your card anniversary.
You can also earn additional free night certificates after spending $30,000 and $60,000 on the card in a calendar year.
I've personally received outstanding value from this benefit. Last year, I used my free night certificate for a spring trip to Ireland, staying at Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate just outside Galway. The property was absolutely gorgeous, blending old-world charm with high-end elegance.
Cash rates for that stay were running well over $500 per night, making it an easy win in terms of value and one of my favorite redemptions to date.
As long as a standard room is available, these free night rewards can be used at nearly any Hilton property worldwide, making them one of the easiest ways to recoup the Aspire's annual fee.
Related: Hilton free night certificates: How to earn them and maximize their value
Strong elite status benefits
While Diamond is no longer the absolute top tier in the Hilton Honors program, it remains one of the most rewarding elite statuses you can get automatically from a credit card.
With the Aspire Card, you receive complimentary Diamond status for as long as your account is open — with no spending requirement to maintain it. Diamond status includes:
- Complimentary breakfast (or a food-and-beverage credit at U.S. properties) — the benefit I value most
- Executive lounge access (where available)
- A 100% points bonus on eligible stays
- Space-available room upgrades
Normally, earning Diamond status requires 30 stays, 60 nights or earning 120,000 base points in a calendar year. Getting it automatically via the Aspire can significantly elevate your Hilton stays without the usual time or spending commitment.
Related: Hilton Honors elite status: What it is and how to earn it
Fifth night free
As a Diamond member, you'll receive a fifth night free on award stays booked with Hilton Honors points.
This perk can meaningfully reduce the cost of longer stays and is cumulative — if you book 10 nights on points, you'll receive both the fifth and 10th nights free.
For travelers who book extended Hilton stays, this benefit can stretch their points much further.
Related: How the Hilton Aspire saved me almost $1,000 on a stay at the Waldorf Astoria Versailles
Airline fee credit
The Aspire Card comes with up to $200 in airline incidental fee statement credits each calendar year.
This benefit is divided into up to $50 in statement credits per quarter and applies to eligible purchases made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com.
I personally use this credit to load $50 into my United TravelBank cash balance each quarter, effectively turning it into future airfare credit — a simple and consistent way to get full value from the benefit.
Hilton resorts credit
The Aspire Card also offers up to $400 in statement credits each calendar year for eligible Hilton resort stays — up to $200 from January through June and another up to $200 from July through December.
What makes this statement credit particularly flexible is that it can be applied not just to incidentals like dining or spa treatments, but also to room rates and taxes.
Last summer, I stayed at a Hilton resort in Porto, Portugal; by pairing the Aspire's resort credit with another American Express benefit, I ended up paying just $35 per night for a four-night stay, an excellent return for a resort property during peak season.
Related: How to use the up to $400 Hilton Aspire resort credit each year
Impressive earning rates
The Aspire is one of the best cards to use when booking Hilton stays directly.
With complimentary Diamond status, you'll earn a total of 34 Hilton points per dollar spent on eligible Hilton purchases — a return of 17% based on TPG's January 2026 valuations.
You'll also earn:
- 7 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies and dining at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery)
- 3 points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
For anyone who regularly stays at Hilton properties, these earning rates can add up quickly.
Related: Best Hilton credit cards
Valuable welcome offer
Currently, new Aspire applicants can earn 175,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. This offer ends Jan. 14.
That's a substantial number of points, worth significant value toward free nights at Hilton properties worldwide — including luxury hotels and resorts where nightly cash rates can easily exceed $500.
If you're considering the Aspire, the welcome offer alone can deliver enough value to justify holding the card for at least the first year.
Related: 4 reasons I keep the Hilton Aspire card in my wallet even though I rarely use it
Bottom line
The Hilton Aspire continues to set the standard for premium cobranded hotel credit cards.
Between its annual free night reward, valuable statement credits, strong elite status benefits and excellent earning rates on Hilton stays, it's relatively easy to extract well over $550 in value each year — even if Hilton isn't your only hotel brand.
For travelers who want generous Hilton perks without chasing elite nights, the Aspire remains a standout choice.
To learn more, read our full review of the Hilton Aspire.
Apply here: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex Aspire Card, click here.