One of the ways you can really increase your loyalty points is with a brand credit card. We have a Hilton American Express card and use it to help us take reward vacations several times each year. Recently Hilton added new cards to its portfolio. How can you decide with one is right for you?HiltonAmericanExpressCards
Types of Hilton American Express Cards – Which One is Right for You?
There are three types of cards: Traditional Hilton American Express, Acsend, and the Aspire. The benefits for each are different. You will need to think about how you use your card and the value to you of the different benefits in order to make your decision.
| Hilton American Express | Ascend | Aspire |
| earn 50,000 points after you spend $1000 within the first three months of membership | earn 100,000 points after you spend $2000 within the first three months of membership | earn 100,000 points after you spend $4000 within the first three months of membership |
| silver Hilton Honors status | gold Hilton Honors Status | diamond Hilton Honors Status |
| 7X the points for each dollar of purchases charged directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio | 12X the points for each dollar of purchases charged directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio | 14X the points for each dollar of purchases charged directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio |
| 5X the points at restaurants, for groceries or gas | 6X the points at restaurants, for groceries or gas | 7X the points for flights booked directly or with AmExTravel.com, car rentals with select companies or restaurants |
| 3X the points for other purchases | 3X the points for other purchases | 3X the points for other purchases |
| Spend $20,000 and achieve Gold status | Spend $40,000 and achieve Diamond status; Spend $15,000 and get a weekend night reward | annual weekend night reward at renewal and after you spend $60,000 |
| enroll in Priority Pass and get 10 free airport lounge visits | Priority Pass unlimited | |
| $250 statement credit at eligible resorts | ||
| $250 statement credit for airline incidental charges | ||
| $100 statement credit when you book a 2 night stay at the Waldorf or Conrad | ||
| $95 annual fee | $450 annual fee |
Hilton American Express Card – which one is right for you?
If you don’t travel much but want to increase the reward points you earn, the free card option is a good one. We have had this card for years and it has helped us really increase our points balance.
Ascend Hilton American Express Card – which one is right for you?
If you do travel a bit more frequently, whether on business or pleasure the Ascend card might be for you. The reward difference with this card is primarily in the point increase for stays at Hilton Hotels. With 12X the points on stays versus the regular cards 7X reward your points will add up almost twice as fast. For example a room that costs $200/night will earn 1400 points with the traditional card and 2400 points with the Ascend card. Also, if you travel much, the access to the Priority Lounge can be a life saver. We recently had a LONG layover on a trip home. With access to the lounge, my husband and I were able to get some work done while we waited for our flight and we saved money because food and drink were available in the lounge. Airport food is notoriously expensive and traditionally not really good. Lastly, if you charge $40,000 on your card you reach Diamond status. $40,000/year works out to a little over $3333 per month. I am not recommending a shopping spree, but if you can use the card for work expenses and get reimbursed, for regular bills that don’t tack on a huge credit card fee or if you have a big expense and can charge it to your card (wedding expenses, large purchases) you will receive diamond status and all of its benefits like increased points!!!
Aspire American Express Card – which one is right for you?
The American Express Aspire card reminds me of a branded American Express Platinum Card. As a matter of fact, if you already have a platinum card you may want to think about whether it makes sense to switch to this card. The increase in points awarded is not that large, 14X rather than 12X with the Ascend. On a $200/night room that is 400 points. You do get credits for staying at the higher priced hotels, airline charges and unlimited Priority Pass lounge access, but at the $450/yr charge you need to be doing A LOT of high end, long distance traveling to make this worth the fee.