How to maximize the statement credits on Hilton's cobranded credit cards

Statement credits are one of the easiest ways to offset an annual fee — and Hilton Honors American Express cardmembers have more ways to trigger them than you might think. From meals at Hilton restaurants to airline seat upgrades, you may have more options to cash in your statement credits than the official terms imply.

Amex currently issues four Hilton credit cards (three consumer products and one business product), three of which have statement credits to help justify their annual fees.

At first glance, these credits can seem restrictive, but as you'll see below, there are creative (and proven) ways to maximize them.

Surpass and Business Hilton statement credits

The mid-tier Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card both offer quarterly statement credits for Hilton purchases.

The Surpass offers up to $50 per quarter (up to $200 per calendar year in statement credit), while the Business card provides up to $60 per quarter (up to $240 per calendar year in statement credit) for purchases made directly with Hilton properties.

Interestingly, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, which is not a cobranded Hilton card, also provides up to $50 in quarterly Hilton statement credits for eligible purchases (for a total of up to $200 each calendar year). You must have a Hilton for Business membership — free to join — to receive the statement credit on this card. Enrollment required; separate enrollment in Hilton for Business is required.

Official uses for this statement credit

The terms and conditions suggest that only eligible room rates and charges billed to your room will trigger the statement credit.

That means you should reliably earn your statement credit for:

• Bookings made directly through the Hilton website or app (but not through third-party channels such as online travel agencies or Chase Travel℠)
• Incidental charges billed to your room, including dining, room service and spa treatments

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Anecdotal uses for this statement credit

However, many cardmembers have successfully triggered their statement credits on nonstay purchases, such as:

• Dining purchases at a restaurant in a Hilton property
• Gift store purchases at a Hilton property
• Purchasing Hilton gift cards online

Of course, results may vary depending on how the merchant codes the transaction, but these data points suggest there's flexibility even if you're not staying overnight.

For example, TPG Principal Spokesperson Clint Henderson once stopped by the Hampton Inn by Hilton Montreal Downtown for a quick meal — and his purchase triggered his statement credit two days later.

In my own experience, I used my Hilton Business card in 2024 to buy Hilton gift cards online each quarter, and each time the statement credit posted. However, gift cards have been "out of stock" (or the site has had issues) since early 2025, and many travelers report trouble redeeming them. So, if they become available again, I wouldn't recommend buying them.

If you still have Hilton gift cards, here's how to use them. I successfully redeemed mine at a Hilton property in Brazil in March; the process was relatively frictionless but took about 20 minutes.

Aspire flight statement credit

My favorite hotel card, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, offers a quarterly credit of up to $50 on eligible flight purchases made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com (up to a total of $200 in statement credits each calendar year).

Official uses for this statement credit

Airline tickets booked directly with carriers or through Amex Travel should trigger this benefit.

However, you might want to use a different card for airfare purchases, since other travel cards offer stronger protections for delays, cancellations and lost baggage.

For example, I book flights with my Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) because it provides some of the best travel protections available.

Anecdotal uses for this statement credit

We've received data points that the following purchases have also triggered the Aspire's up-to-$50 quarterly airline statement credit:

• Award taxes and fees
• Seat upgrades
• United TravelBank Cash reloads (my personal go-to)

Nick Ewen, TPG's senior editorial director, received his statement credit (after a week) for a seat upgrade to Delta Air Lines Comfort+.

As always, results depend on how the airline codes your purchase.

Aspire Clear Plus credit

The Aspire card also provides up to $209 in Clear Plus statement credits each calendar year (enrollment required; subject to auto-renewal)

This one's straightforward: You can use it for yourself or someone else, and the statement credit should trigger regardless of whose name is on the membership.

That said, Clear Plus has become less seamless over time, with longer lines and redundant ID checks, but since it's effectively no cost with this card, it's still worth keeping active.

Aspire resort statement credit

Finally, you have an up-to-$200 biannual Hilton resort statement credit to use every six months (up to a total of $400 in statement credits each calendar year). This credit can only be used at almost 360 Hilton resorts worldwide, including all-inclusive, beach, golf, luxury and spa resorts.

My 2024 stay

I used this statement credit to partially cover a two-night stay at the Hilton Vallarta Riviera All-Inclusive Resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in 2024.

My 2025 stay

Then, in December 2024, I booked a flexible rate at a Hilton resort in Porto, Portugal, for June 2025. By emailing the property to charge a $200 deposit in December 2024, I triggered my second-half 2024 statement credit in advance.

Then, during my June stay, I used the first-half 2025 statement credit for another $200 in charges — effectively stacking $400 in statement credits for one trip.

My 2026 stay

Next, I plan to use my second-half 2025 statement credit for a deposit on a Hilton stay in Morocco in spring 2026 and apply the first-half 2026 credit to the final payment — again receiving $400 in total value.

Bottom line

Despite what the fine print suggests, Hilton Amex statement credits tend to be more flexible than they look.

Hilton Honors Surpass and Hilton Honors Business cardmembers may not need to stay overnight — dining or shopping at Hilton properties could qualify.

For Hilton Honors Aspire cardmembers, the easiest way to use the flight statement credit is by reloading your United TravelBank balance, though award fees or seat upgrades may also work. As for the resort statement credit, plan ahead as advance deposits can help you trigger it strategically.

Since results depend on how purchases are coded, start small. Then, once you see that credit post, you'll be one step closer to mastering every perk your Hilton Amex has to offer.

Related: Hilton free night certificates: How to earn them and maximize their value