Update: One or more card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers.
They’re finally here!
If you’ve been anticipating the new AMEX Hilton credit cards, the wait is over! Applications are now live for 2 new cards and 2 refreshed cards. And 3 of them have whopper welcome bonuses of up to 100,000 Hilton points after meeting minimum spending requirements!
We wrote about the Hilton Honors American Express Business card earlier today, but now you can apply for all 4 cards!
With the 2 new cards, folks who have already earned the bonus on the other AMEX Hilton cards can still qualify for the big welcome offers!
The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Card and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card have been collected independently by Million Mile Secrets. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Here are the details of the new benefits and bonuses on the cards.
Say Hello to the New AMEX Hilton Card Line-Up!
These are the basic details to help you decide which card is best for your situation. We already have a review of the AMEX Hilton Business card, and reviews for the other 3 cards are on their way soon!
1. Hilton Honors American Express Card
Link: Hilton Honors American Express Card
The no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express card’s bonus hasn’t improved, but the card has. You’ll still earn 50,000 Hilton points after spending $1,000 in purchases on the card within your first 3 months of card membership.
You’ll also get:
- 7 Hilton points per $1 spent at a Hilton hotel or resort
- 5 Hilton points per $1 of eligible purchases at US restaurants, US supermarkets, and US gas stations
- 3 Hilton points for all other eligible purchases on your card
- Complimentary Hilton Silver status, and if you spend $20,000 in a calendar year you’ll earn Hilton Gold status through the end of the next calendar year
- NO foreign transaction fees (new feature!)
- NO annual fee
- Terms & Limitations apply
I love that Hilton has removed foreign transaction fees from this card. If you have any overseas travel coming up, you don’t have to be afraid to bring this along!
2. Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card
Link: Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card
The welcome offer for the Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card is 75,000 Hilton points after spending $2,000 or more in purchases with your new card within the first 3 months of account opening. And another 25,000 Hilton points after you make an additional $1,000 in purchases with your new card within your first 6 months.
- 12 Hilton points per $1 spent at a Hilton hotel or resort
- 6 Hilton points per $1 of eligible purchases at US restaurants, US supermarkets, and US gas stations
- 3 Hilton points for all other eligible purchases on your card
- 1 weekend night after spending $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year
- Complimentary Hilton Gold status, and if you spend $40,000 in a calendar year you’ll earn Hilton Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year
- 10 free airport lounge visits each year once enrolled in complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership
- NO foreign transaction fees
- Terms and limitations apply
The $95 annual fee is NOT waived the first year. But card’s perks can easily offset the annual fee.
If you are able to earn the free weekend night, you save hundreds at an expensive hotel. And the 10 free Priority Pass lounge visits can give you escape from the noisy terminal, and help you avoid paying for expensive airport food.
If you currently have the Hilton Honors™ Surpass® Card from American Express, it will be converted to a Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card. And if you have or have had an AMEX Hilton Surpass card in the past, you will NOT be eligible for the bonus on the AMEX Hilton Ascend.
3. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Link: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Hilton has entered the world of “premium” credit cards with the AMEX Hilton Aspire Card. It has a hefty annual fee of $450 (NOT waived the first year), but comes with enough perks to make it worth the extra cost.
You’ll earn 100,000 Hilton points after spending $4,000 in purchases on the card within your first 3 months of card membership.
Every year you’ll also get 1 weekend night you can use at most Hilton locations! And you’ll get an additional weekend night if you spend $60,000 on your card in a calendar year. So you could end up with a weekend at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui, which costs $800+ per night!
The weekend nights alone can make it worth paying the annual fee!
- 14 Hilton points per $1 spent at a Hilton hotel or resort
- 7 Hilton points per $1 of eligible purchases at US restaurants, flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, and car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies
- 3 Hilton points for all other eligible purchases on your card
- Unlimited free Priority Pass lounge visits
- Complimentary Hilton Diamond status (50% bonus on base points – increasing to 100% bonus later this year), upgrades, late check-out, and choice of My Way Benefit (upgrades, free breakfast, etc.))
- Up to $250 per calendar year in credits for incidental fees charged by your selected airline
- Up to $250 in statement credits each year of card membership for eligible purchases at participating Hilton Resorts
- Up to $100 in credit for qualifying charges at participating Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts when you book a 2-night minimum stay with your card at HiltonHonors.com/AspireCard
- NO foreign transaction fees
- Terms & Limitations apply
This is a no-brainer card if you like staying with Hilton. You’ll get $250 in airline incidental credits and $250 in statement credits at participating Hilton resorts every year! Even after you pay the annual fee, you’re still saving $50 ($250 airline credit + $250 Hilton resort credit – $450 annual fee)!
And you can get $100 in credits on qualify charges (room rates & fees do NOT qualify) for every stay of 2 or more nights at a Waldorf Astoria or Conrad hotel! But you’ll need to book through the AMEX Hilton Aspire card website to verify you’re eligible for the credit.
Automatic Diamond status means you’ll start earning 50% more Hilton points (100% bonus points starting in April) on your base rate right away! And other perks like free premium internet and free breakfast can save you big on stays at expensive hotels.
This card is great if you spend a lot on Hilton stays, because you’ll earn 14 Hilton points per $1 spent Hilton hotels or resorts, which is the highest bonus rate of any Hilton card!
4. Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Link: My Review of the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
AMEX now offers a small business card, which is great news for small business owners trying to stay under the Chase “5/24” rule.
With the AMEX Hilton Business Card, you’ll earn 75,000 Hilton points after spending $3,000 in purchases on the card within your first 3 months of card membership. And another 25,000 Hilton points after you make an additional $1,000 in purchases with your new card within your first 6 months.
The card comes with:
- 12 Hilton points per $1 spent at a Hilton hotel or resort
- 6 Hilton points per $1 of eligible purchases at US restaurants, US gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from US service providers, US purchases for shipping, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and flights booked directly with airlines or with amextravel.com
- 3 Hilton points for all other eligible purchases on your card
- 1 weekend night after spending $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year. And an additional weekend night after spending an additional $45,000 in the same calendar year
- 10 free airport lounge visits each year once enrolled in complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership
- Complimentary Hilton Gold status, and if you spend $40,000 in a calendar year you’ll earn Hilton Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year
- NO foreign transaction fees
- Terms & Limitations apply
There’s a $95 annual fee which is NOT waived the first year.
This could be a great card for business owners who travel frequently, because you’ll earn bonus points on select airfare and rental car expenses. And you can earn up to 2 weekend nights, plus Hilton Diamond status, if you hit certain spending thresholds!
With the automatic Gold status, you’ll be able to avoid paying out of pocket for hotel breakfast. And the 10 free yearly Priority Pass lounge visits will make your airport layover more comfortable.
Bottom Line
AMEX has unveiled their new line-up of Hilton cards! They’ve introduced 2 new cards, and updated 2 old ones. Their refreshed portfolio includes:
- Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- Hilton Honors American Express Business Card – Here’s my review!
New ways to earn miles & points are always exciting! So I’m ecstatic about these new AMEX Hilton cards.
What do you think of the new cards?