There are only a few days left to use this temporary card benefit to cover your next meal (or two) — here's how
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Since March, we've been keeping close tabs on credit card companies and how they're adjusting benefits for cardholders. Among the many changes is the additional flexibility of travel-related credits.
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Amex announced a host of temporary bonuses and changes in early May, including additional benefits for two popular hotel cards: the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
Eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, qualify for each of the card's hotel credit benefit. However, this ends on Aug. 31, 2020 — just a few days away.
Related reading: A complete guide to credit card benefit changes
Use your card's travel credit toward restaurant purchases
Hilton Aspire card
For the Hilton Aspire card, you and your authorized users will receive up to a total of up to $250 in Hilton resort statement credits each cardmember year. This statement credit is not only limited to incidental charges such as meals and spa treatments but can also be used toward room rates and taxes.
Don't plan on hitting a resort property this year? No problem. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Hilton and Amex announced that you'll be able to use your resort credit without the need to leave town (let alone leave your own home). Eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, through Aug. 31, 2020 will trigger the resort credit benefit.
Related reading: Best credit card for dining
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card
For the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, an up to $300 statement credit when you make eligible purchases at participating Marriott properties is one of the many perks that are offered on the card.
Related: Select Marriott Bonvoy cardholders get 10x on dining, gas
How the statement credit appears
I have a Hilton Aspire card and used a majority of my resort credit earlier this year at the Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa right before travel came to a screeching halt. However, I still had about $30 in remaining resort credit and was pleased to find out that I could use the remainder toward dining.
Back in June, I spent $10.34 through Grubhub on my Hilton Aspire card. Within two days, the charge was credited to my Amex account as a "Hilton Resort Credit."
It's great to see that not only is the perk working as intended; the statement credit is also appearing quickly.
Related reading: Coronavirus-related credit card perks
Other valuable perks of the Hilton Aspire card
There are a host of other benefits on the Hilton Aspire that make this a worthwhile card to carry even with a $450 annual fee (see rates and fees). My favorite is the weekend free night certificate. Last year, I used my weekend night certificate at the Waldorf Astoria Berlin during the weekend of the Berlin Marathon where cash rates were more than $400 per night.
Related reading: Best hotel credit cards that come with an annual free night
Keep in mind that unexpired free weekend night certificates — plus those issued through Dec. 31, 2020 — can now be used on any night of the week. Additionally, any free weekend night certificates earned between May 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, will remain valid for an additional 12 months (24 months total).
All bonus points earned through eligible purchases, if they post to the card member's Hilton Honors account between May 1 and December 31, will be considered base points and will count towards elite tier qualification and lifetime Diamond status.
Other top benefits include Hilton Honors Diamond status -- with free breakfast, lounge access, upgrades and more -- and up to $250 in annual airline fee credits.
Related reading: Review of the Hilton Amex Aspire card
Bottom line
If you have the Hilton Aspire card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, don't squander your credits this year. It's easier than ever to use it towards U.S. restaurants from now through the end of August. With the expansion of this benefit, it increases the value proposition of both of these cards even more.
And that's regardless if you travel halfway around the world — or travel to the door to pick up your delivery.
But don't wait — this limited-time benefit is only available for purchases through Aug. 31, so be sure to lock in those purchases by the end of the month.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire, please click here.