Please use my link to sign up to the card if you are interested after reading the blog. As of 5/21/19 the link is for 150,000 bonus points. I will receive 20,000 points for a referral.
Recently American Express offered me to upgrade from the Hilton Ascend card to the Hilton Aspire card for 150,000 bonus points with $4,000 spend in 3 months; however, the Aspire card comes with a $450 fee! You might get frightened by the annual fee because there are plenty of no annual fee credit cards out there. Yes indeed $450 sounds a lot; yet, this credit card will make the $450 fee worth it in the first year with the bonus alone.
After reviewing the benefits you will see why this card is worth it.
- 150,000 bonus points worth around $900
- Diamond Status which gives you free breakfast at most Hiltons and room upgrades.
- 14 points per dollar spent at Hilton
- 7 points per dollar on on flights booked directly with airlines or amex travel, select car rental companies and at US restaurants. (I would rather use other cards on these purchases)
- Free weekend award night after opening your account and on your card-opening anniversary each year. You can get another weekend award night if you spend $60k per year on the card, but I wouldn’t bother with that.
- $250 Hilton Resort credit. This would be credit for spa, activities, food and drinks. Not on the room charge.
- $250 annual credit for airline fees. Purchases on airlines food, drinks, extra baggage, extra legroom and etc. Not for the purchase of the actual ticket.
- $100 property credit when you book at least a two night paid stay at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties through HiltonHonors.com/aspirecard you’ll receive up to a $100 credit for incidentals at properties.
- Priority Pass membership. This will give you unlimited visits to Priority Pass lounges at airports where you receive free food and drinks while you wait for your flight.
The sign up bonus of 150,000 points can be used to book any hotels in the Hilton chain and after a year you will receive the free weekend anniversary night benefit which could be worth $400-$700 if you book a higher tiered hotel in the Hilton chain.
One weekend night at the Grand Wailea Waldorf Maui
The Priority Pass that comes with this card would give you free snacks and light meals before you catch the flight which of course you don’t have to spend more money. Most lounges during breakfast will have buffet style of eggs, bacon, cereal, toast, potatoes. coffee and etc. Lunch and dinner would have more of small sandwiches and soups. They also provide soda and juices. On top of that they have a fully stocked bar. Moreover, the Diamond status would give you free breakfast and room upgrades, which could get a value of around $1000. For instance, if you stay at Hilton a couple times a year and fly 4-5 times a year, if breakfast costs $30 per person at the hotel and staying at a Hilton 4 nights twice a year $30 X 2 people = $60 X 8 breakfasts = $480. Flying four times a year would put you at the airport 8 times looking for lounge access to eat and a couple drinks. $30 meal X 2 people = $60, $60 X 8 visits = $480 + $40 for drinks = $520. $520 Priority pass benefit + $480 for Hilton breakfasts already gives you a value of $1,000. Now you get the idea.
Here is my experience using this card. I recently made a trip to Florida and stayed at a Hilton timeshare for 3 nights and received the $250 credit from drinks and food at the resort which brought the $450 annual fee down to $200. Then using a $200 airline fee credit for extra legroom on JetBlue flights for 2 travelers which brought the $450 annual fee down to $0. Wait a minute, this card offers $250 annual credit for airlines, that means I still have $50 airline credits to use toward my next trip. Therefore, each year I will be making $50 on the card without counting the rest of the benefits. I also enjoyed the benefits of the Priority Pass by having breakfast at Orlando airport at The Club MCO with all you can eat breakfast and drinks.
This card is great for someone that travels at least a couple times a year and is willing to stay at a Hilton. The $450 annual fee would be a wash with the credits you receive.
However, this card might not be for people who don’t accumulate airline fees or don’t want to stay at Hilton.
Please use sign up here to the card if you are interested. As of 5/21/19 the link is for 150,000 bonus points