Hilton’s Amex card portfolio provides some great value to its cardholders. While I think there are good things to be said about all of these cards, there’s a special place in my heart for the Amex Hilton Aspire. However, the $450 annual fee is high, and at a time when many aren’t traveling due to the coronavirus, it begs the question: Is the Hilton Aspire card annual fee worth it?
YES, the Hilton Aspire Card annual fee is worth it – I’d pay more than $450 for this card, even when I’m not traveling due to coronavirus. Read on to see how you can get over $1,300 in value from this card each year!
The secret to getting amazing value with Hilton is having Diamond status – and the Hilton Amex Aspire Card is the only way to get it just by holding a credit card.
7 biggest benefits to Hilton Diamond Status
1. UPDATES (improvements) to card benefits during COVID-19 crisis
In response to people not traveling during COVID-19, Amex really upped its game to make the Hilton Amex Aspire card annual fee worth it. Now, the $250 Hilton annual resort credit can be used for takeout, delivery, and restaurant purchases from June 1, 2020 through August 31, 2020. Previously, you could only use a $250 credit on official Hilton resort properties, not just Hilton hotels, although it did apply to room rates. Now for a limited time, you can use the $250 towards any restaurant.
![Hilton's message about the card improvements states, "More rewarding takeout & delivery. [Amex Hilton Aspire] Card Members that have not fully used the $250 Hilton Resort statement credit benefit will be able to have remaining credits applied to U.S. restaurant purchases, including takeout and delivery, from June 1, 2020 through August 31, 2020."](https://i0.wp.com/www.luxuryonpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/free-delivery.png?resize=641%2C280&ssl=1)
2. Automatic upgrades, to suites if available
Upgrades can happen every time you stay a Hilton hotel – even if you didn’t pay any cash for the stay. In my experience, the suite upgrades have been routinely awesome – see my reviews of the Conrad Osaka and the Roosevelt Waldorf Astoria New Orleans for just a couple examples. They’re not guaranteed, but you are entitled to an upgrade if it’s available.
3. Free breakfast.
This is actually a benefit to Hilton Gold elites too, and you can get Gold status with the Amex Platinum and the Hilton Honors Business cards too.
One of my favorite free breakfasts was what I experienced at the Waldorf Astoria Berlin. The delicious buffet breakfast there, with unlimited champagne, was worth at least $50 per person per day, and my partner and I stayed there for five days. This is one easy way to make the Hilton Aspire card annual fee worth it.
4. Free Executive Lounge access.
An Executive Lounge is an area only available to people who paid extra for those rooms, and Diamond elites. Some of the lounges are truly spectacular, as in the Conrad Osaka review. All of them generally provide a quiet area to relax, with free beverages, free breakfast, and evening receptions.
5. Free additional amenity.
The exact amenity is left up to the discretion of each Hilton hotel, but in my experience, they’re all pretty awesome. We’ve gotten personalized notes with Hokkaido strawberries and sweets; and generous food and beverage credits. The least-impressive amenity is still very welcome: Extra bonus points, even for stays paid for with points.
6. Fifth award nights are free, and double points earning rates on paid stays.
This is a benefit to Silver and Gold Hilton Elites too, which can be earned with the Amex Platinum and the Hilton Honors Business cards too. Stack up enough points and/or weekend nights to stay for 4 award nights in a row and you can actually stay for 5 at no additional points cost. When I stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Berlin for 5 nights, I only paid for 4 nights – making my stay even more valuable.
Hilton points are generally easy to earn, at 10 points per dollar on paid stays for a non-elite member. Diamond elites receive 20 points per dollar. Diamond elites using their Hilton Amex Aspire card receive an additional 14 points per dollar, for a total return of 34 points per dollar for a paid Hilton stay. Yes, it’s true that Hilton points aren’t worth as much as, say, Chase Ultimate Rewards points, but 34 points per dollar represents about a 17% discount on your paid stays.
7. The $450 Hilton Aspire card annual fee gets offset by benefits totaling over $1300!!
You can offset the $450 annual fee VERY easily if you travel to a high-end property at least once a year.
The Hilton Aspire card provides you a free weekend night anywhere in the world, every year. This can easily be worth $800, if you’re traveling to an expensive city and staying in a high-end property such as the Conrad New York.
And, in a recent update to the card due to the COVID-19 crisis, your free “weekend nights” can be used any day of the week:
Value: Up to $800
We already talked about the $250 Hilton Resort Credit that can be used towards restaurants for a limited time.
Value: Up to $250
You get an additional $250 in airline fee credits too. It used to be possible to buy $250 in some airline gift cards, which would be reimbursed to your card, and then use those airline gift cards to book flights. But now those gift cards are not being reimbursed. Still, you can use the $250 fee credits towards things like seat assignments, pet fees, checked bag fees, etc.
Value: Up to $250
Value so far: Up to $1300, which doesn’t even include these additional benefits:
- Priority Pass Select membership
- ShopRunner free 2-day shipping.
- $100 property credit at Waldorf Astoria & Conrad properties, if you book a 2-night minimum stay using reference code ZZAAP1 over the phone.
- All of the value in free food and drinks from being a Hilton Diamond elite with Executive Lounge access, welcome amenities, free breakfast, etc.
Bottom Line: Is the Hilton Aspire Card Annual Fee Worth It?
Yes. In fact, I believe the Hilton Amex Aspire Card $250 annual fee is an absolute steal.
