Is the Hilton Honors AmEx Aspire Card Worth Its Annual Fee?

Although the $550 annual fee isn’t cheap, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is the gem of Hilton’s line of credit cards, as long as you stay at Hilton properties at least a couple of times per year (see rates and fees).

If you take advantage of only the annual $400 in statement credits for expenses at Hilton Resorts (doled out as up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually) and the additional $200 airline incidentals credit toward extras like baggage and Wi-Fi fees (broken out as up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, enrollment required), you’ve already exceeded the annual fee. And that doesn’t even account for the myriad other perks you gain access to, most notably Hilton Honors™ Diamond elite status. Terms apply.

That said, for people looking to earn rewards, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card will likely end up being only a supplemental card in your wallet. The card's value lies less in accruing points for non-Hilton spending, and more in offering you elite perks whenever you stay at Hilton hotels. And for most people who stay at Hilton hotels at least twice a year (and who travel by air every three to four months), the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is easily worth the annual fee.

Benefits of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Welcome bonus

Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Earning rates

In addition to the welcome bonus offer, you can earn unlimited Hilton Honors points by using the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card for your daily purchases.

You'll earn:

• 14x points on Hilton purchases.

• 7x points on flights booked with airlines or through AmEx Travel.

• 7x points on rental cars booked with select rental car companies.

• 7x points on dining at U.S. restaurants.

• 3x points on all other purchases.

Terms apply.

Benefits

• $200 annual flight credit, issued as $50 in statement credits each quarter.

• $400 annual Hilton resort credit, issued as $200 semi-annually.

• Free rewards night every cardholder year.

• Hilton Honors Diamond status.

• $209 CLEAR+® membership credit.

• Cell phone protection.

• Terms apply.

» Learn more: Hilton Honors: The complete guide

The most valuable perks of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

The high annual fee makes the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card built for people who stay at Hilton properties a few times a year and can take advantage of the card's perks.

The welcome bonus offer

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is currently offering this welcome bonus offer: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

The points from the welcome bonus could get several nights at a lower-cost property or even one or two at some high end properties. You'll also receive a free night certificate when you get the card and each year you pay the annual fee. That free night can be used at any Hilton property regardless of cost of award price.

» Learn more: Find out how much your airline miles and hotel points are worth

Hilton Diamond elite status

Diamond status is automatically bestowed to all Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card cardholders. Otherwise, you'd need to stay 60 nights per year at Hilton properties to earn this elite status. Terms apply.

Hilton Diamond status becomes increasingly more valuable the more you travel. Benefits include a welcome gift at check-in, daily complimentary breakfast, executive lounge access and upgrades to suites when available.

Plus, you earn and save more for every stay. You'll earn 100% bonus points on paid stays, and if you’re booking on points, you’re rewarded for longer award stays with your fifth night free.

A complimentary night at almost any Hilton property

You'll receive one complimentary night upon approval of your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, plus an additional one each year when you renew. Additionally, when you spend $60,000 on your card in a calendar year, you'll receive a second complimentary weekend night. Terms apply.

Sure, you can redeem it at the Hampton by Hilton near grandma’s house, but you’ll likely get way more value when you apply it to something like an idyllic paradise vacation. Consider the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort in Southern California, where room rates often exceed $500 per night, and sometimes teeter close to $1,000 depending on the weekend.

Note that of Hilton’s roughly 7,000 properties worldwide, a few are excluded from this perk. View a list of the excluded properties here.

$400 Hilton resort statement credit

During your card year, you'll receive $400 in statement credits for purchases made at participating Hilton hotels and resorts. Not only does this cover incidental charges posted to your room, but it covers the cost of the room itself. Simply charge the room to your card, and you’ll see a credit back on your cardholder account. Terms apply.

Annoyingly though, you won’t receive the $400 in one go. It’s broken out into two, $200 statement credits doled out semi-annually, which means you’d need to visit a Hilton resort two separate times each year (and once each half of the year) to fully take advantage of the credit. Terms apply.

$200 airline fee credit

Every year, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card customers also receive up to $200 back on eligible flight purchases. Each quarter, cardholders are eligible to receive up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for airfare made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com.

To be eligible for this benefit, an airfare purchase must be for a scheduled flight on a passenger carrier and purchased directly from the airline or through amextravel.com, which means charter flights, private jet flights, as well as flights that are part of tours, cruises, or travel packages are not covered. It also won’t cover service fees, ticket cancellation or change fees, interest charges or purchases of cash equivalents. Enrollment required. Terms apply.

Clear+ membership

Clear is a program used at certain airports and stadiums that lets paying members bypass part of the security line. That’s because Clear uses fingerprints and eye scans instead of traditional ID documents, like driver’s licenses or passports, to verify traveler identification, allowing you to skip part of the line at the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint in airports that offer the benefit.

And while the standard price for an annual Clear+ membership is $199, you won’t have to pay for it with this card.

Cardholders are eligible for $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you sign up and pay for a Clear+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your card. Terms apply.

Up to $100 Hilton on-property credit

When you stay at Waldorf Astoria or Conrad hotels, you'll receive up to $100 in credits for charges made to your room. This benefit is limited to the qualifying charges billed to your room, with a cap of $100 per booking.

To qualify, you must book a two-night minimum stay through hiltonhonors.com/aspirecard or by calling Hilton Honors. Terms apply.

Other notable benefits

Car rental loss and damage waiver: When you pay for your rental car with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, you'll be covered in case the car is damaged or stolen. This coverage is secondary to your own auto insurance and does not include liability coverage for damage to other property or injury to individuals. Terms apply.

Cell phone protection: Cardholders can be reimbursed for either the repair or replacement costs (whichever is cheaper) if their phone is damaged or stolen, and it’s listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by the card. The benefit is worth up to a maximum of $800 per claim.

Note that a $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim, and there’s a limit of two approved claims per 12-month period. Terms apply.

Automatic elite status with National Car Rental: Cardholders can enroll to receive automatic Executive tier status in National's Emerald Club program. With Executive tier status, you can choose your preferred car from the Executive Selection area and receive a guaranteed upgrade when renting at least a mid-size car. Plus, as an Emerald Club Executive, you'll earn a complimentary rental day after earning just six rental credits instead of the typical seven rental credits. Terms apply.

No foreign transaction fees: You can use the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card anywhere around the world without fear of extra charges. American Express will not charge you any fees to convert your international purchase into U.S. dollars. Terms apply.

Checked baggage protection: Your luggage is covered for loss, damage or theft when traveling by plane, train, ship or bus. Coverage is up to $3,000 per person per trip, which includes up to $2,000 in checked baggage and $1,000 for high-risk items like jewelry and electronics. Terms apply.

AmEx Offers: American Express cardholders can participate in AmEx Offers to save money and earn additional points. These offers vary based on your profile, spending habits and the type of card that you have. Offers require activation and change on a regular basis, so make it a habit to check out your personalized offers regularly. Enrollment required. Terms apply.

» Learn more: Hilton Honors: The complete guide

Who is the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card right for?

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card delivers handsomely for travelers who stay at middle-tier to luxury Hilton hotels.

You'll receive automatic Hilton Honors™ Diamond status, a complimentary weekend night each year and up to $600 in credits for airfare and at Hilton resorts. Plus, you can enjoy additional benefits like Clear+ membership, cell phone protection and rental car protection.

Big spenders will also benefit from the second complimentary weekend night after spending $30,000 each year, and a third after spending $60,000 each year. Terms apply.

The card combines enough statement credits with luxe extras to please aspirational travelers. The combined statement credits make it incredibly easy to justify the $550 annual fee. Throw in the room upgrades, Hilton lounge access and other perks generally reserved for the well-to-do, and this card can take your travels to the next level.