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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.
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6 things to do when you get the Hilton Aspire Amex Card
Credit card writer Danyal Ahmed is an avid traveler, averaging about 100,000 aeronautical miles per year. He regularly applies that knowledge and his expertise in credit cards to his role as a credit card writer at TPG.
Darren holds the Guinness World Record as the planet's most prolific professional blogger, a feat he achieved in 2010. He's a seasoned storyteller, instructor and communicator, working across marketing, editorial and public relations for some of the world's most progressive brands. He's an explorer at heart, having traversed nearly 50 countries and all 50 US states. He's flown over one million miles on Delta alone, and takes pride in facilitating unforgettable excursions using points and miles.
also contributed to this story
September 23, 2024 • 7 min read
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Quick summary
This guide details how to maximize a premium hotel card's benefits, including top-tier hotel elite status, annual resort credits and free night rewards.
Cardholders can receive complimentary elite status, which provides perks like free breakfast, lounge access and room upgrades at participating hotels.
Annual and semi-annual statement credits are available for eligible resort purchases and airline expenses, with specific timing and usage requirements.
Additional benefits include credits for expedited airport security memberships and complimentary rental car elite status after enrollment.
What to consider
Some offers mentioned in the article are no longer available.
Statement credits are divided into quarterly or semi-annual periods and do not roll over if unused.
Free night rewards are issued after account opening and on anniversaries, with additional nights available after reaching specific spend thresholds.
What you'll miss from the article
Step-by-step instructions for activating benefits, tracking credits and maximizing free night rewards at high-value properties.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here
From complimentary top-tier Diamond elite status to up to $400 in Hilton resort statement credits, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is a favorite among TPGers.
If you've recently added this card to your wallet or plan to do so soon, here's a task list of items you should do to take full advantage of its perks.
Confirm your Hilton Diamond status
If you apply for the Hilton Aspire online, you're asked to input your Hilton Honors member number during the process. If you did that, your account should be upgraded to Diamond status within days after the card's arrival. If it doesn't, dial the number on the back of your card and request the upgrade.
HILTON
With Hilton Diamond status, you can circumvent stay and spend requirements just by holding this credit card. It's a fabulous perk that entitles the cardholder and a guest to free breakfast at almost every Hilton portfolio property, executive lounge access where available, space-available room upgrades and boosted bonus points on paid stays.
The Hilton Aspire comes with an annual up to $200 airline credit divided into up to $50 statement credits each calendar quarter. Eligible purchases include airfare purchased directly from an airline or booked through AmexTravel.com.
CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
Once you receive your card, be sure to stay on top of the quarterly statement credit with reminders or by checking your monthly statements. Planning your trips throughout the year would be a good idea to ensure you can maximize the credits each quarter.
With the Hilton Aspire Card, you'll receive one free night reward for almost any Hilton property worldwide after opening your account and again each year on your cardmember anniversary. You'll also receive a second free night reward when you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year and a third free night reward when you spend $60,000 in a calendar year.
This benefit has no exclusions as long as the property is eligible and there's a room available. Thus, even infrequent travelers should be able to take advantage of this perk and save hundreds of dollars a year.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WALDORF ASTORIA MALDIVES/FACEBOOK
Just keep an eye on your email. You'll receive one email informing you that your free night reward number and booking instructions will arrive within eight to 14 weeks.
To maximize this perk, I recommend scoping out some of Hilton's most aspirational properties (a few are suggested below). Certain hotels charge upward of $1,000 — or 95,000 Hilton points — per night. If you can supplement an award stay with a free weekend night, all the better.
Cardmembers receive up to $400 annually in Hilton Resort statement credits, divided into up to $200 semi-annually (Jan-June & July-Dec). Eligible purchases at Hilton Resorts include activities, dining, spa treatments, other incidentals and even room rates and taxes. You can visit Hilton.com/Resorts for a full list of participating properties.
WALDORF ASTORIA MALDIVES ITHAAFUSHI/FACEBOOK
Keep track of your bi-annual statement credit by setting reminders or planning your vacations so that at least you can utilize the credit during both halves of the year. You're eligible for the credit every six months, but credits don't roll over.
Cardmembers also receive up to a $100 Hilton on-property credit when booking at least a two-night paid stay at participating Waldorf Astoria or Conrad properties through HiltonHonors.com/aspirecard. The $100 credit covers incidentals during your stay.
I'd recommend putting the statement credits toward an extended stay at the resort where you're cashing in your free night reward, making it easy to track where you're using each perk. Enrollment required for select benefits.
Another neat perk of the Hilton Aspire is the ability to offset the cost of a Clear+ membership. Cardmembers receive up to $209 in statement credits per year when signing up for Clear+ and paying with the Hilton Aspire card (subject to auto-renewal).
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
A Clear+ membership is a great addition to any frequent travelers toolkit as it allows you to expedite security at select U.S. airports, an extremely beneficial perk when TSA PreCheck is backed up or closed.
If you don't already have a Clear+ membership, register for one and pay for it with your Hilton Aspire card. If you do have a membership, change your payment method to your Aspire to ensure you'll get the statement credit.
A useful perk of the Hilton Aspire is complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status. Cardmembers will receive their complimentary status after enrollment in the Emerald Club program (terms apply).
BECKER BREDEL/ULLSTEIN BILD VIA GETTY IMAGES
Emerald Club Executive status includes benefits such as a guaranteed car (up to full-size), access to faster free rental days, executive area access, and no fee for second drivers.
Hilton makes it easy to extract more than $750 in value from the Hilton Honors Aspire Card each year, easily surpassing the $550 annual fee (see rates and fees). Even occasional Hilton travelers can get excellent value from the complimentary Diamond status, including an up to $200 annual airline fee statement credit and an up to $400 Hilton Resorts statement credit.
Apply here: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
For more information on the Hilton Aspire, check out the following posts:
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Aspire Card, click here.
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.
