Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
150,000 points welcome · 14x on hotels · $550/yr
The Aspire's case rests on its credits and status rather than its earn rate: an annual Free Night Award at most Hilton properties, up to $400 a year in resort credits paid as $200 semiannually, up to $200 a year in flight credits at $50 per quarter, up to $219 a year toward CLEAR Plus, and automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status. Stack those against the $550 annual fee and the card can pay for itself, but only if you actually stay at participating Hilton resorts and can use the semiannual windows before they expire. Earning is genuinely strong for Hilton loyalists at 14x on eligible Hilton purchases, with 7x on flights, car rentals, and U.S. restaurants and 3x on everything else. American Express raised the welcome offer to 175,000 points in May and pulled it back to 150,000 in July, so the current bonus is 150,000 points after $6,000 of spending in six months. Heavy spenders can earn additional Free Night Rewards at $30,000 and $60,000 in a calendar year, though those thresholds put the extra nights out of reach for most cardholders.
Earn rates & credits
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
Hotels Eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and resorts | 14x |
Airlines Flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com | 7x |
Car Rentals Booked directly with select car rental companies | 7x |
Dining U.S. restaurants | 7x |
Everything Else | 3x |
| Benefit | Value |
|---|---|
Hilton Resort Credit Up to $200 semiannually for eligible purchases at participating Hilton resorts | $200 / 6 mo |
Flight Credit Up to $50 per quarter on eligible flight purchases made directly with airlines or through amextravel.com | $50 /qtr |
CLEAR Plus Credit Up to $219 in statement credits per calendar year for CLEAR Plus airport security membership | $219 /yr |
Property Credit Receive up to a $100 credit for qualifying charges at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties when booking a 2-night minimum stay | $100 |
Venue Collection Concessions Rebate Enroll your card and get 10% back on qualifying concessions purchases at select stadiums and arenas, up to $250 per calendar year | 10% |
| Total annual credits | $819 |
Card details
Regular APR | 19.49%–28.49% variable |
Foreign transaction fee | None |