Highlights

  • A premium hotel card worth holding long term, with a metal card.
  • Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status.
  • One Hilton Free Night Reward in your first cardmember year and after every renewal; earn one more at US$30,000 in calendar-year spending and another at US$60,000.
  • Up to US$400 in Hilton Resort Credits, up to US$200 in Flight Credits, and up to US$219 in CLEAR+ Credits each year.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Issuer: American Express
Payment network: Amex
Card type: Credit card
Annual fee: US$550; no fee for Additional Cards
Foreign transaction fee: None

You earn Hilton Honors Bonus Points, which are deposited into your Hilton Honors account. Redemptions and use are subject to the Hilton Honors terms and conditions.

Welcome Offer

【September 10, 2026 update】 200,000 points:

  • Spend US$6,000 in the first six months to earn 200,000 Hilton Honors points.

Recommended application link 1🔗, recommended application link 2🔗 (select “Personal Cards” at the top of the page to find this card)

Past welcome offers

【March 1, 2026 update】 175,000 points (apply by April 15, 2026).

  • Spend US$6,000 in the first six months.

【October 19, 2023 update】 180,000 points (apply by January 17, 2024).

  • Spend US$6,000 in the first six months.

Everyday Spending

14x: Earn 14x on eligible spending directly with Hilton Portfolio hotels and resorts. Advance bookings must be made through Hilton-operated channels. Hotel dining, spa, and similar charges can also earn the bonus when they are charged to your room and paid with this card at checkout.

7x: Earn 7x at U.S. restaurants, on scheduled-flight tickets purchased directly from passenger airlines or through AmexTravel.com / the Amex Travel App, and directly with Amex-designated major car-rental companies. Charter flights and private jets do not earn the airfare bonus. U.S.-owned restaurants outside the U.S., nightclubs, convenience stores, grocery stores, supermarkets, and restaurants inside hotels, casinos, or event venues that do not code as restaurants are excluded.

3x: Earn 3x on other eligible purchases. Annual fees and interest, cash advances, traveller’s cheques, prepaid-card purchases or reloads, gift cards, person-to-person payments, and other cash equivalents are not eligible purchases. Merchant-category coding, third-party sellers or processors, and some digital-wallet transactions may also prevent you from earning a bonus.

Perks & Insurance

  • Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond Status (Hilton Honors Complimentary Diamond Status)

Available to the Basic Card Member only. Amex says that it can take up to 12 weeks after account opening for Diamond status to be added to your Hilton Honors account. If you cancel the card, the complimentary status ends too. Elite benefits vary by property and remain subject to availability.

  • Up to US$400 in Annual Hilton Resort Credits (US$400 Hilton Resort Credit)

The Basic Card account can receive up to US$200 in statement credits in each half of the year, January–June and July–December, up to US$400 annually. Eligible purchases must be made directly with a participating Hilton Resort. SLH properties and Advance Purchase / Non-Refundable Rates do not qualify. Dining, spa, and other incidentals must be charged to your room and paid with the card at checkout. Basic and Additional Card spending shares the same account limit; credits usually appear 8–12 weeks after the transaction posts.

  • Annual Free Night Reward (Annual Free Night Reward)

The Basic Card Member receives one Free Night Reward in the first cardmember year and after each renewal. Renewal rewards are usually sent to the email address on your Hilton Honors account 8–14 weeks after the renewal month. The reward expires one year after issue, cannot be transferred or redeemed for cash or points, and can book one standard double-occupancy room at participating Hilton Portfolio properties, subject to availability and exclusions. The room rate and applicable resort fees are included, but incidentals and Malaysian tourism tax remain your responsibility.

  • Free Night Rewards after eligible spending (Free Night Reward)

Spend US$30,000 in eligible purchases on the account in a calendar year and the Basic Card Member receives one Free Night Reward; at US$60,000 in total annual spending, the Basic Card Member receives another one. Additional Card spending counts toward the thresholds, but only the Basic Card Member receives the rewards. The reward code is emailed to the address on file about 8–12 weeks after qualifying, with the same redemption rules, expiry, and restrictions as the annual reward.

  • Up to US$200 in Annual Flight Credits (US$200 Flight Credit)

The Basic Card account can receive up to US$50 in statement credits per calendar quarter, up to US$200 annually. Eligible purchases are scheduled passenger-airfare tickets bought directly from an airline, AmexTravel.com, or the Amex Travel App. Charter flights, private jets, and flights in vacation packages do not qualify. Basic and Additional Card spending shares the annual limit; credits usually appear 8–12 weeks after the transaction posts.

  • Up to US$219 in Annual CLEAR+ Credits (US$219 CLEAR+ Credit)

Pay for an annual CLEAR+ membership with the card to receive up to US$219 in statement credits per calendar year. Taxes and fees are excluded, and CLEAR+ membership is subject to automatic-renewal terms.

  • Up to US$100 in Waldorf Astoria / Conrad Property Credits (US$100 Property Credit)

Book an eligible stay of at least two nights through HiltonHonorsAspireCard.com using the Aspire Card Benefit rate, or call Hilton Honors with the specified booking code, at a Waldorf Astoria or Conrad property to receive up to US$100 in property credits per booking. The room rate, taxes, property fees, gratuities, and third-party merchant purchases do not count. Each booking is capped at US$100 regardless of room count, and unused credit expires at checkout.

  • National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive Status (National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® Status)

The Basic Card Member must enrol through their online Amex account. Members already in Emerald Club must also use that page’s link to connect this card. Status benefits, age and credit requirements, advance reservations, availability, and blackout dates remain subject to National’s terms.

  • Global Dining Access by Resy

Add an eligible Aspire card to your Resy account for access to select reservations, Priority Notify, and events. Reservation and event availability is controlled by Resy and participating restaurants, and may not be resold or used commercially.

  • Amex Offers

Enrol in an offer through your online Amex account or the Amex App before making the qualifying purchase. Whether you receive an offer, which merchants participate, and the spending requirements and expiry date all depend on that offer’s terms.

Official insurance certificate🔗

  • Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

Use the card to reserve and pay for the entire rental, decline the full CDW or similar protection at the counter, and have the eligible renter sign the rental agreement. Each rental agreement can cover damage to or theft of an eligible rental vehicle for up to 30 consecutive days, with a maximum benefit of US$75,000. This is secondary coverage and does not include liability insurance. Rentals in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand are excluded, as are rentals that do not meet the payment and CDW-decline requirements, ineligible vehicle types, and other situations listed in the terms.

  • Baggage Insurance Plan

Before a loss, charge the entire fare for the Common Carrier trip to the card. For lost, stolen, or damaged baggage, the combined limit for checked and carry-on baggage is US$3,000 per covered trip, including up to US$2,000 for checked baggage and US$1,000 for High Risk Items. New York residents have different per-item and per-trip limits. This coverage pays after compensation from the carrier or other available coverage.

  • Trip Delay Insurance

Pay for the entire round trip with the card. If a covered reason delays the trip by more than six hours, reasonable additional expenses can be reimbursed up to US$500 per trip, with a maximum of two claims per eligible card in each 12 consecutive month period. This is secondary coverage; covered reasons, exclusions, and claim documents are set out in the official terms.

  • Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

Pay for the entire round trip with the card. If a covered loss cancels or interrupts an eligible traveller’s trip, non-refundable costs can be reimbursed. Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption each have a limit of US$10,000 per trip and US$20,000 per eligible card in each 12 consecutive month period, and both are secondary coverage. Covered losses and exclusions are set out in the official terms.

  • Premium Global Assist® Hotline

When you travel more than 100 miles from home, this provides 24-hour emergency coordination and assistance for medical, legal, financial, and other needs. Emergency medical transportation may be provided at no additional charge when approved and coordinated by the hotline; third-party service-provider costs may still be your responsibility.

  • Purchase Protection

When you use the card to buy an eligible item, accidental damage, loss, or theft within 90 days of purchase can be covered. The maximum is US$10,000 per eligible purchase and US$50,000 per eligible card per calendar year. Coverage, exclusions, and the claims process are governed by the official terms.

  • Extended Warranty

Use the card to buy an eligible item and extend an original manufacturer warranty valid in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory by up to one year. The original warranty and purchased service contract combined cannot exceed five years. The maximum is US$10,000 per item and US$50,000 per eligible card per calendar year. Coverage, exclusions, and the claims process are governed by the official terms.

  • Return Protection

If a merchant will not accept a return, eligible items bought with the card in the United States or its territories may qualify for Return Protection within 90 days of purchase. The maximum is US$300 per item and US$1,000 per card account per calendar year, excluding shipping and handling.

  • Cell Phone Protection

Charge the monthly bill for an eligible mobile line to the card, and coverage begins on the first day of the calendar month after payment. If an eligible phone is stolen or damaged, including a cracked screen, you can receive up to US$800 per claim after a US$50 deductible. Each eligible card account is limited to two claims in a 12-month period, and this is excess coverage. Loss or mysterious disappearance, cosmetic damage, loss while a carrier has custody, rented or prepaid-plan phones, and phones used for resale or professional or commercial purposes on consumer accounts are excluded. Report a loss within 90 days or as soon as reasonably possible, submit written proof of loss within 120 days, and file a police report within 48 hours for theft.

Our take

Most people do not have the time, effort, or spending needed to earn or retain a hotel programme’s top elite tier through stays. That is where the Hilton Aspire stands out. The card gives you Hilton’s highest Diamond status, which can mean breakfast for two, executive-lounge access, and room upgrades at Hilton properties. Use the statement credits well and add the nearly unrestricted annual Free Night Reward, and the annual fee can be easy to offset. With its near-zero effective annual fee and included airport-lounge access, it can suit travellers who want premium perks but hesitate over the high annual fees on Platinum cards. It is also a common first U.S. card for many Canadian applicants.