6 things to do when you get the Hilton Aspire Amex Card
Editor's Note
Quick summary
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.
The information for the Hilton Aspire Amex card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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.
Diamond is Hilton's top-tier elite status, and 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.
We value Diamond status as one of the best hotel elite statuses for frequent travelers.
Utilize your quarterly airline statement credits
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.
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.
Related: The best credit cards with airline fee credits
Track your Free Night Rewards
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.
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.
- Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
- Conrad Koh Samui
- Conrad Tokyo
- Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa
- Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills
- Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam
- Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem
Maximize Hilton statement credits
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.
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.
Related: How to maximize the statement credits on the Hilton cobranded credit cards
Enroll in a Clear Plus membership
Another neat perk of the Hilton Aspire is the ability to offset the cost of a Clear Plus membership. Cardmembers receive up to $189 in statement credits per year when signing up for Clear Plus and paying with the Hilton Aspire card.
A Clear Plus 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 Plus 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.
Related: How to sign up for Clear for expedited security at airports and stadiums
Sign up for rental car elite status
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).
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.
Related: How you can rent a $100,000 BMW for $3 a day
Bottom line
Hilton makes it easy to extract more than $750 in value from the Hilton Honors Aspire Card each year, easily surpassing the 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 credit and an up to $400 Hilton Resorts statement credit.
Related: Hilton Amex Aspire review
For more information on the Hilton Aspire, check out the following posts:
- Hilton Amex cards with bonuses of up to 100k points
- Maximizing redemptions with Hilton Honors
- 5 great ways to use 150,000 Hilton Honors points
- Putting the Hilton Aspire Card's benefits to use on a trip to Puerto Rico
- 5 Ways to Use the Amex Hilton Aspire's $250 resort credit
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Aspire Card, click here.