The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is one of the best hotel credit cards on the market.
Despite its $550 annual fee (see rates and fees), its perks easily offset this significant cost — and then some. Plus, its welcome bonus offers significant value.
Currently, new applicants can earn 150,000 points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.
From valuable statement credits to useful elite status and high earning rates, here are seven reasons the Hilton Honors Aspire Card is worth adding to your wallet.
Top-tier elite status
Quite possibly, the most valuable perk that comes with the Hilton Aspire is complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status for the primary cardmember.
Unlike the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, you’ll receive Diamond status without having to meet any minimum spending requirement for as long as your card account is open.
Diamond status includes a 100% points bonus, executive-floor lounge access, free breakfast and room upgrades.
This status tier is typically earned after 30 stays or 60 nights or by earning 120,000 base points in a calendar year, so getting this card offers you a fast track to its benefits.
Related: Hilton Honors elite status: What it is and how to earn it
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Free night certificates
With the Hilton Aspire, you’ll receive one free night reward to use at almost any Hilton property worldwide after opening your account and again each year on your card anniversary.
You’ll also receive a second and third night after spending $30,000 and $60,000 on the card in a calendar year, respectively.
As long as the property is eligible and there’s a room available, this benefit has no exclusions. So, even infrequent travelers should be able to take advantage of this perk and save hundreds of dollars a year.
Maximizing the Aspire’s annual free night reward is the easiest way to recoup its $550 annual fee.
Related: Hilton free night certificates: How to earn them and maximize their value
Fifth night free
As a Diamond member, you’ll receive a fifth night free on award stays booked with Hilton points.
This can significantly reduce the cost of longer stays. It’s cumulative, so if you stay 10 nights, you’ll receive both the fifth and 10th night free.
Airline fee credit
The Hilton Aspire comes with an up to $200 airline incidental fee statement credit annually that can be used to offset travel costs. (Enrollment required; terms apply.)
The credit is divided into up to $50 credits each quarter, and eligible purchases are those made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com.
TPG contributing editor Matt Moffitt uses his Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) for airfare purchases, as it offers superior travel protections. So, instead of using his Aspire for airfare, he uses it to load $50 into his United TravelBank Cash balance each quarter.
Hilton resorts credit
You’ll receive up to a total of $400 in statement credits to spend at eligible Hilton resorts each calendar year. The credit is biannual, meaning you’ll receive up to $200 between January and June and another up to $200 between July and December. (Enrollment required; terms apply.)
The best part about this benefit is that it’s not limited to incidental charges, such as meals and spa treatments; it can also be used toward room rates and taxes.
Putting aside all of the card’s other benefits, the up to $200 airline fee credit and up to $400 resort credit alone more than offset the card’s $550 annual fee.
Related: How to use the up to $400 Hilton Aspire resort credit each year
Impressive earning rates
This is the best card for booking Hilton stays directly.
With your complimentary Diamond status, you’ll earn a total of 34 points per dollar spent on most Hilton stays, a 17% return based on TPG’s August 2025 valuations.
However, it’s not as competitive for other travel purchases as premium cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express or the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Nevertheless, you’ll earn:
- 7 points per dollar spent (a 3.5% return) on flights booked directly with airlines or at amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and dining at U.S. restaurants
- 3 points per dollar spent (a 1.5% return) on all other purchases made with the card
Related: Best Hilton credit cards
On-property credits
When you book a two-night paid stay at a participating Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts or Conrad Hotels & Resorts property, you can receive up to $100 credit for incidentals during your stay.
You need to book through hiltonhonorsaspirecard.com or by phone at 855-292-5757 and either verify your card number or mention code “ZZAAP1.”
Unlike the resort credit, this is just for incidentals and can’t be used to cover the cost of the room or property fees. However, it can still be an extremely valuable perk if you spend at least two nights at eligible properties.
Bottom line
There are many reasons to love the Hilton Aspire. It’s pretty easy to maximize its benefits to more than offset its annual fee, even if you don’t routinely stay at Hilton hotels.
With perks such as top-tier elite status and a high earning rate on Hilton stays, the card sets the standard for premium cobranded hotel credit cards.
To learn more, read our full review of the Hilton Aspire.
Apply here: Hilton Aspire
Related: 4 reasons why the Hilton Aspire Card is the best premium card for families
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Aspire card, click here
