Link: Learn more about the Hilton Honors American Express Card, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card, Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Continue reading: Hilton Honors Amex Card Offers: Up To 175K Points
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Do you get a free night on the aspire card upon approval in addition to the points? I thought I read it is not part of the sign up bonus but part of the card so it is not called out separately. I know you receive one after year one. I received my 175k bonus based on the spending but have not received a free night. The first statement has not dropped and I have not paid the annual fee. Yes I made the spending quickly.
@ Andrew -- With the Hilton Aspire Card you do get a free night award the first year, and it typically posts within a couple of months of opening the card. It's not technically marketed as part of the welcome offer, since it's a core card perk, but you absolutely do get it the first year as well.
This seems to always be overlooked but the Aspire card always includes a FNC as part of its sign up bonus.
@ ML97 -- Yep, you're absolutely right and it's a great point, it's just not technically marketed as part of the card welcome offer.
Hilton's inclusion of many super-pricy SLH properties is a new 'sweet' spot for these free night certificates (if you can find Standard rates). I recall Ben posted about that $4K/night RiverView Ranch in Montana back in 2024 https://onemileatatime.com/deals/redeem-hilton-points-montana-ranch/ (though, I don't think he's been yet.) And, Greg at FM just stayed 2 nights there on points https://frequentmiler.com/loving-riverview-ranch-coffee-break-ep121-9-9-26/ Talk about 'aspirational' properties! Haven't been but would like to, some day.
Ah, I knew when I saw Hilton in the title that 1990 would show up.
How can you say things lie this:
“If you can find Standard Rates”
Yeah, like that is so easy, NOT!
And you know the better part of 100 properties are explicitly forbidden from FNC.
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/marriott-files-trademark-for-marriott-bonvoy-brilliant-business/
And how many devaluations have they had in the last year and a half?
https://upgradedpoints.com/news/hilton-honors-lower-tier-devaluation-2026/
So you are online all day by your own admission.
You rag on other brands and typically with nonsense, although it is true there have been devaluations.
But you say unjustified good things about Hilton and ignore their constant devaluations.
The most obvious answer is you are a Hilton plant.
Fondueisgood, if you’re tracking my ‘hot takes,’ I also repeated say how Aspire is dead the second Hilton caps FNCs. As far as Standard awards, I donno where you’re looking, but they’re available at ample aspirational properties. Sometimes you need to book way in-advance, other times check last-minute. The other programs (IHG, Hyatt, Marriott, even Accor) have their sweet spots, too. I got bones to pick with the 85K certificates (even with the new +25K add-on), because they’re still too limiting when properties will just start at 111K to avoid redemptions. IHG Premier’s 40K is an easy breakeven because it’ll just reduce by that. Hyatt’s Cat 1-4 free nights are done for me; they moved nearly everything worthwhile to Cat 5+ especially after their recent devaluations this year. Accor is fair, I guess, in that it’s set rate, but then there’s little opportunity for optimization. Where are you finding the arbitrage these days? You one of these GHA people? (Other than Ben and Gary, hadn’t even heard of the much before the blogs). Or maybe you’re an Amex FHR or Chase The Edit coupon credit aficionado. Fondue, or fon-dont?
We're getting to the point where 70,000 Hilton points are not even yielding 2 nights at a Hampton Inn. The only sweet spots are hotels at 60k-70k points ceiling during peak times where cash rates are $400+.
@ Trey -- I hear you, but that's also why these offers are so valuable, since they include a free night award, which does actually get you a stay at a great property.
Does the Surpass card potentially provide 2 FNCs the first year, 1 with the SUB and 1 at $15k of spend?
Thanks! I was debating the next card to pick up, but this makes the decision easy.
Hi Ben. Based on this post I got the card to support your site. I asked AI which card I should use for everything else between Citi Prestige and Amex Aspire. Even though the Amex offers 3 points for every dollar, AI said I should still use the Citi Prestige since the points are valued much higher than the Aspire ones. Do you agree with this or is AI hallucinating??
Also AmEx just announced today that they are introducing a Hilton card in Canada for the first time.
@Lucky. I have just applied for it and got accepted.
As for the United Gateway (no fee) card: can I get the bonus if I already have the United Explorer card? Thank you.