Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Issued by American Express · $550/yr annual fee
Welcome bonus
175,000 points
After $6,000 spend in 6 months
175K Hilton points (ends July 29, 2026). AF unchanged at $550 (raised from $450 in Oct 2023). $200 annual flight credit ($50 quarterly), $400 Hilton resort credit (split semi-annually), Diamond status.
Key benefits
- ›$200 Hilton resort credit annually
- ›$200 airline incidental credit annually
- ›1 free night reward annually (+ earn a 2nd at $60k spend)
- ›Diamond status automatic — highest Hilton tier
- ›Priority Pass Select unlimited lounge access
- ›No foreign transaction fees
Earn rates
| Hilton hotels | 14× |
| Flights booked direct + car rentals | 7× |
| Dining at restaurants | 7× |
| All else | 3× |
Why this card
Effective AF is ~$150 after the $200 resort credit + $200 airline credit. Diamond status (normally requiring 60 nights/yr) is automatic — the most valuable auto-status benefit of any hotel card. Best for travelers who stay at Hilton properties frequently.
Related guides
Chase Sapphire Reserve in 2026: $795 fee, $2,000+ in credits, and a Park Hyatt run on the welcome bonus
The Sapphire Reserve looks scary at $795 a year. After six months of using mine in 2026, I've already pulled $1,700+ in credits, banked a 150K-point welcome bonus (the all-time-high public offer, ending soon), and booked a 4-night stay at a Park Hyatt that runs over $2,000 a night cash. Here's the playbook.
Authorized users in 2026: when the fee pays off, when it doesn't, and the household point-pooling play most couples miss
The authorized-user math flipped in 2026 — Capital One ended free AU lounge access on Venture X (Feb 1, 2026) and Amex Platinum raised AU fees from $175 for three cards to $195 each. The cards still worth adding an AU on, the dual-loyalty household play that opens transfer options neither of you have alone, and a quiet way to build a kid's credit history along the way.
Transferable Points 101: Why Chase UR, Amex MR, Citi TY, and Capital One Miles Beat Airline-Specific Cards
The single biggest mistake new points players make: collecting United miles on a United card instead of Chase points that can become United miles, or Hyatt nights, or Air Canada miles. Here's the playbook.
Want this card matched to your travel pattern automatically?
Get personalized recommendations