Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
150,000 points welcome · 14x on hotels · $550/yr
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire is the top tier for Hilton loyalists, delivering complimentary Diamond status, an annual Free Night Award, and earning 14 points per dollar at Hilton hotels and resorts plus 7 points on flights, car rentals, and U.S. dining. The $550 annual fee is offset on paper by up to $400 in Hilton resort credits, $200 in flight credits, and up to $219 for CLEAR Plus, but those credits are split into semiannual and quarterly pieces that take real effort to use in full. Amex recently trimmed the welcome bonus from 175,000 to 150,000 points, now earned after $6,000 in spend within six months, which is still a large haul. The catch is that the value depends heavily on staying at Hilton resorts and booking flights in a way that triggers the credits; if you won't use them, the fee becomes hard to justify. Frequent Hilton guests who want top-tier status without earning it through nights will get the most from this card.
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 |