I have 24 bank cards proper now, and it’s getting laborious to justify persevering with to pay for the annual charges for all of them since the prices proceed to skyrocket (ahem, The Platinum Card® from American Express).
As laborious as it is to maintain paying the annual price on my Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, it’s one premium card I have not actually thought of downgrading. The card’s advantages simply make it price it to maintain paying $450 a 12 months.
Not solely do you get top-tier Hilton Diamond standing, however there are different priceless perks like a $250 annual Hilton resort credit score, an up-to-$250 yearly airline credit score and a free night time award whenever you open the account and annually in your card anniversary.
Still, even although I’ve had it for a number of years now, I have not completely maximized it. This 12 months, that is going to change.
Here are a few of the most important causes the card stays in my pockets.
The info for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the card issuer.
Top-tier standing
My favourite perk of the Hilton Aspire card is Hilton Diamond standing with zero keep or spending necessities. You get top-tier Hilton standing only for holding the card.
That means you are eligible for suite upgrades, government lounge entry and bonus factors, amongst different perks. No different lodge chain gives top-tier standing only for protecting its branded card. While Hilton is not precisely well-known for assured upgrades or late checkout, it does occur … particularly in case you persistently request these perks at check-in (or by way of an electronic mail forward of time).
You’ll maintain Hilton Diamond standing for so long as you have got the card.
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While I’ve by no means been proactively supplied a set improve, I have been upgraded to larger flooring with nicer views at a number of properties. I’ve heard Diamond members are handled higher at Hilton properties overseas, however I have not skilled that in my restricted stays with Hiltons in Europe.
Valuable welcome provide
The Aspire card’s present welcome provide is 150,000 Hilton Honors factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership. Those 150,000 factors are stable — price $900, in accordance to the newest TPG valuations.
Related studying: Why Hilton’s prime credit score card has me switching my lodge loyalty
Lucrative incomes charges
The Aspire card has some superior incomes energy for Hilton stays and different journey, although it’s in any other case not the greatest card for on a regular basis spending. You’ll earn:
- 14 factors per greenback spent at resorts in the Hilton portfolio
- 7 factors per greenback spent on flights booked straight with airways or by way of amextravel.com and automotive leases booked straight with choose automotive rental corporations
- 7 factors per greenback spent on choose eating
- 3 factors per greenback spent on all different purchases
Just one instance from my stays? A $13 cost at a DoubleTree in June netted me 182 Hilton Honors factors, which TPG values at $1.09. At TPG’s valuation of 0.6 cents per level, that is equal to an 8.4% return. Take that, cash-back card.
As a Hilton Diamond, you get a 100% factors bonus (or 20 factors per greenback at most Hilton properties). That means you may be incomes a complete of 34 factors per greenback if you end up utilizing the card. The worth shortly provides up in case you spend a whole bunch of {dollars} at Hilton properties over the course of a 12 months.
Related: Hilton Honors information
Annual free night time certificates
Since I’ve had my Aspire card, I’ve been ready to use my annual free night time awards at two enjoyable resorts. This summer time, I used my free night time for the charming Niepce Paris Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton. That room would have value me greater than $300 if I had paid money.
Last 12 months, I stayed at the Waldorf Astoria in Chicago for an evening in the fall. If I tried to ebook that very same lodge this 12 months, it would value me greater than $500. That’s a reasonably priceless perk.
$250 annual resort credit score
Every 12 months, you may additionally obtain $250 in assertion credit for choose bills charged to your card at taking part Hilton resorts. This one has been actually robust for me to use since there are solely about 250 resorts that can rely for you to use the credit score.
This 12 months, I received sensible, although, and prioritized utilizing the credit score. I’ve booked a keep for later this 12 months at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, figuring out it will rely. I have not used the credit score for the previous two years, so I’m keen to understand the full worth.
That $250 can be utilized on eating, actions, spa therapies, room charges and taxes — however it would not apply to advance-purchase or nonrefundable charges, so ebook fastidiously.
$250 airline price credit score
I love getting a $250 airline incidental credit score annually I maintain the card. I’ve already earned the complete quantity this 12 months the similar manner I did final 12 months — by paying for pet-in-cabin charges on American Airlines.
You have to choose an airline forward of time and use the card for the purchases. The credit score is just for incidental charges, akin to change or cancellation charges, checked bag charges, pet-in-cabin charges, seat upgrades or lounge passes. Like I stated, I use it to ease the ache of paying for my canine Chilly Willy to fly with me.
Bottom line
Keeping the American Express Hilton Aspire card is a no brainer for me this 12 months. While I have not had many Hilton stays just lately, the few I have had been made extra comfy and rewarding only for holding the card. Free Diamond standing and an opportunity to earn a whopping 34 Hilton factors per greenback spent at Hilton (and that is earlier than any extra promotions) is a reasonably compelling worth proposition.
There are different perks, too, that I did not even point out. Your automated Diamond standing will get you complimentary breakfast on some worldwide stays (on-property credit score at U.S. properties), room upgrades and potential early or late check-in. The card additionally comes with a $100 property credit score at choose higher-end Waldorf Astoria and Conrad resorts.
The welcome bonus is nice, after all, and the free night time reward each time you renew is a good incentive to maintain the card for the lengthy haul. I know I will, even if I query the $450 annual price every time it comes round.
To study extra, learn our full assessment of the Hilton Aspire credit score card.
For charges and charges of the Hilton Aspire Card, click on right here.
