The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Advertiser disclosure
The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
I turned my Amex Hilton Aspire (up to) $50 airline credit into almost $100 worth of travel — here's how
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Related stories
Quick summary
A premium travel rewards card offers up to $200 in annual airline statement credits, distributed in quarterly increments.
These credits can be used for direct flight purchases or, in some cases, to buy airline points directly from certain carriers.
Strategically using the credit to purchase airline points can yield significantly greater value compared to applying it toward a cash fare.
The card also provides additional travel-related benefits, such as complimentary elite status and annual free night certificates at hotels.
What to consider
Unused quarterly credits are forfeited if not redeemed within the quarter.
Credits typically only apply to purchases made directly with airlines or through the card's official travel portal, not third-party sites like Points.com.
Some airlines may allow point purchases at checkout that qualify for the credit, but this varies by carrier and booking process.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed example showing how using the credit to buy airline points can provide far more value than simply offsetting a cash flight purchase.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
One of the best things about redeeming travel rewards is strategizing how to get the absolute fattest return per point. Airline miles and hotel points can be worth exponentially more than simply redeeming your rewards for cash back, depending on how you use them.
But did you know that you can get outsize value for your statement credits, too? I used an up-to-$50 travel credit from my Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card to book almost $100 in flights. Here’s how it worked.
What is the Amex Hilton Aspire quarterly airline credit?
The Amex Hilton Aspire comes with up to $200 in annual statement credits for flight purchases — doled out in up-to-$50 increments each quarter. American Express states that these credits are good for “flight purchases made directly with an airline, through AmexTravel.com or through the Amex Travel App™ using your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.”
You don’t have to use the full credit each quarter to trigger reimbursement. But it’s important to note that these credits are use-it-or-lose-it; any portion of the credit that goes unredeemed will be forfeited.
These are some of the most straightforward and easy-to-use statement credits you’ll find on a rewards credit card.
Why (and how) I redeemed my Amex Hilton Aspire airline credit for points
To set the stage, my family of three needed flights from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH). The cheapest nonstop route was a steep $350 per person. Even award flights were exorbitant, with one exception: American Airlines seats booked through its partner airline, Qantas.
The awards cost 9,200 Qantas Frequent Flyer points each. By purchasing 21,000 points, I could combine them with my existing modest stash of 7,000 Qantas points to book three seats. Purchasing 21,000 points cost me 662 Australian dollars (or $431.23, at the time).
Purchase order of Qantas miles. QANTAS
Using my Amex Hilton Aspire to pay for these points triggered the card’s quarterly up-to-$50 airline statement credit. In other words, I paid just $381.23 out of pocket.
AMERICAN EXPRESS
Simplifying the math
I paid $431 to purchase 21,000 Qantas points, which means each point cost 2.05 cents. Therefore, one seat at an award price of 9,200 points costs a total of $194.20 ($188.60 plus $5.60 in taxes and fees). If I subtract the $50 Hilton Aspire airline credit, I paid about $144 for one seat, compared to the cash ticket price of $350.
So, how do I quantify my savings from this credit? It’s true enough that this credit saved me a flat $50. But by using it to purchase 2,440 Qantas points instead of simply redeeming it for a $350 American Airlines purchase, I got a much bigger value from it.
Here were my two options:
Pay $350 cash for the American Airlines seat: Using my card statement credit would have saved me $50, bringing my out-of-pocket spending to $300 — offsetting 14% of my flight cost.
Pay $194.20 for an award flight (9,200 Qantas points plus $5.60 in taxes): Using my $50 credit reimbursed me for 2,440 Qantas points — offsetting 26% of my flight cost.
All to say, I received 3.74 cents per Qantas point: ($350 cash fare - $5.60 in fees) / 9,200 points (award price per seat) = 3.74 cents.
That means the 2,440 Qantas points I bought with my $50 Amex Hilton Aspire credit were worth $91.25 (2,440 x 0.0374). That’s a whopping 82% more value from my statement credit by purchasing points instead of paying cash for my fare.
Do other airlines qualify?
It’s worth repeating that the Amex Hilton Aspire’s airline credit is, according to American Express, intended to be used for “flight purchases made directly with an airline, through AmexTravel.com or through the Amex Travel App™.”
Many airlines sell their rewards through a website called Points.com. This is not an airline website — so if you’re interested in buying miles with an airline that uses Points.com as the point of sale, your Amex Hilton Aspire credit will almost certainly not work (I haven’t tested this myself).
That said, the credit should work with an airline that sells miles directly. For example, American Airlines handles the sale of its own miles, so it should trigger the up-to-$50 credit.
Potential work-around for other airlines
While a clunky process, it may also be possible to buy miles from airlines that use Points.com to process points and miles purchases. A handful of carriers allow you to buy miles as a top-up during the booking process.
For example, United Airlines always extends its “Award Accelerator” option at checkout, allowing you to add some miles onto your bill at checkout (instead of buying from Points.com). This should code as a United Airlines purchase. As long as you’ve not booked a basic economy flight, you’ll be able to cancel your flight to receive travel credit — and your miles purchase should remain in your account.
UNITED AIRLINES
Amex Hilton Aspire has other great perks
The card’s up to $200 in annual airline credit is far from the only virtue the Amex Hilton Aspire has to offer. For its $550 annual fee (see ), you’ll also get:
Annual free night rewards: Upon account opening (and after each cardmember anniversary), receive a free night certificate for a standard room at nearly any Hilton hotel. Note that as a cardholder, you can earn up to three free night certificates annually.
Automatic Diamond elite status: Receive Hilton’s current top-tier status, which comes with food and beverage privileges, 100% bonus points on paid Hilton stays, room upgrades (when available), and more.
Up-to-$400 annual Hilton resort credit: Receive up to $200 in reimbursement for expenses at eligible Hilton resort properties biannually (to be used for things like room rate, food, spa, etc.).
Annual Clear+ membership credit: Receive up to a $219 annual statement credit toward a Clear+ membership, a program that can help you cut to the front of the line at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints (enrollment required; subject to auto-renewal).
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card comes with a quarterly statement of up to $50 toward flight purchases made directly with an airline, through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. But in some cases, you can use it to buy airline miles. This can be a much better use of your card statement credit than simply redeeming it to reduce the cash price of a flight.
Again, just note that your credit likely won’t activate unless you’re buying points or miles directly from the airline (as opposed to a third-party seller like Points.com).
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, click .
