Premium hotel credit cards offer some amazing benefits, elite status and other perks. However, they also carry hefty annual fees. The Hilton Aspire card is one such credit card, with an annual fee of $550. However, if you stay at Hilton properties a few times during the year, then the card gives you multiple options to maximize value during your stays.
Currently, American Express is offering an elevated welcome bonus on the card as well. Last year, American Express increased the annual fee on the card and added new credits. If you apply now and maximize these credits tactfully, you can extract amazing value from the card in the first year of card membership.
Hilton Aspire Card Welcome Bonus
Enjoying the all inclusive Hilton Playa del Carmen
With this limited time offer on the Hilton Aspire card, you’ll earn a welcome bonus of 175,000 Hilton Honors points. In addition, you’ll earn one free night certificate upon approval. Each year, after you pay the annual fee, you’ll earn another free night certificates. Free night certificates are valid for one year post issuance. You’ll earn the welcome bonus after you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months of card membership.
Click Here for the 175,000 points + 1 free night offer
Timing your Application
Now you may ask, why now instead of next month? The main reason is the way the credits are structured. Let’s say you’re now sure about keeping this card long term. Even if you want to keep it for one year, here’s how much value you can extract if you were to apply now.
View from our room at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hawaii
$400 Resort Credit
Each year, the card gives you $400 in resort credits. These are broken down into two buckets. You get:
- $200 in credits from January 1 to Jun 30
- $200 in credits from July 1 to Dec 31
If you were to apply now, you can use up to $600 in statement credits in the first year itself by using $200 now in June and then another $400 until your next annual fee is charged.
The Conrad Maldives yielded well over 2 cents per point in redemption value!
Bear in mind, these credits only work at properties that Hilton classifies as resorts. You need to click on this link to check which properties qualify. You can refer to this post to know more about how the benefit works.
$200 Flight Credit
You will earn $50 in statement credits each quarter, when you buy airline tickets directly with an airline or via amextravel.com. If you apply now, then you can potentially earn $250 in credits in the first year of card membership:
- $50 in June 2024
- $50 for Jul-Sep 2024
- $50 for Oct-Dec 2024
- $50 for Jan-Mar 2025
- $50 for Apr-Jun 2025
- $50 for Jul 2025
Even if you decide to cancel the card in July 2025, you would’ve earned $300 in statement credits just from the flight credit benefits.
By simply keeping the card for one year and maxing out these two credits, you would earn a total of $900 in credits ($600 + $300) in the first year of card membership. This would be in addition to the welcome bonus and all the other benefits that you would receive any way. You can read this post to know more about how this benefit works.
Other Credits
Loved the massive villa and the view of the hills at Hilton Shillim, India
You will also earn the following credits with this card, in addition to the aforementioned credits.
- $189 in credits for a Clear Plus Membership
- $100 in property credit on select bookings with Waldorf Astoria and Conrad Hotels and Resorts
Other Offers
Spectacular view at breakfast at the Conrad Koh Samui, Thailand
American Express is also offering elevated welcome bonuses on their other credit cards with Hilton. If you’re looking for options with a lower annual fee, then you can consider one of these credit cards.
- Hilton Surpass Card: 130,000 points + 1 free night as a welcome bonus
- Hilton Honors Card: (no annual fee): 70,000 points + 1 free night as a welcome bonus
- Hilton Business Card: 175,000 points welcome bonus
The Pundit’s Mantra
This limited time offer is available until July 31, 2024. If you’re looking to maximize the credits, then it would be better to apply now in June instead of July, given the way these credits are structured.
Which is your favorite co-branded Hilton credit card? Tell us in the comments section.
Apply Now for the 175,000 points + 1 free night offer
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Hi, Can you apply for AE Hilton cards more than once if you’ve cancelled one? Thx
I’m waiting until July myself. I don’t cycle cards so will keep it long term and am good with the SUB plus recurring credits in valuing the card. Been Diamond for many years but likely won’t qualify this year (can use my 1 year extension for 2025) so don’t need it just for that (although will be nice in future years to not need to focus on Hilton as much since still 3-5 years from lifetime Diamond. My larger valuation is the overall credits (which I will easily use for Hilton’s and likely at least 3 of the airfare credits… Read more »
I already have the Amex green card, do I get a hard pull for getting this Amex hilton Aspire card? Thanks!
Yes, it’s a fresh credit card application.