American Express and Hilton Honors have a suite of co-branded credit cards.
In 2023, we saw changes to the personal card portfolio, including the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (review) and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (review). Now changes have just been announced for the only business card in the portfolio, which is the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (review).
As you’d expect, these changes are a mixed bag. The card’s annual fee is increasing significantly, some new benefits are being added, and some benefits are being taken away.
The information and associated card details on this page for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by OMAAT and has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
In this post:
Hilton Business Card annual fee increase to $195
The annual fee on the Hilton Business Card has been increased to $195 (Rates & Fees), which is a $100 increase over the previous $95 annual fee. This is of course a major increase, but there are some significant perks that make the card more compelling, at least for some consumers.
What’s not changing about the Hilton Business Card
What hasn’t been changed about the Hilton Business Card? As before:
- The card offers Hilton Honors Gold status for as long as you have the card, with no spending requirement
- The card offers Hilton Honors Diamond status when you spend $40,000 on the card in a calendar year
- The card earns 12x Hilton Honors points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases
That’s basically all that’s not changing, so this card is very much being overhauled otherwise.
Hilton Business Card positive changes
There are three positive changes that have been made to the Hilton Business Card:
- The card now offers up to $240 in statement credits at Hilton properties each year; you receive $60 per quarter in statement credits, which can be triggered by any eligible purchase at a Hilton property
- The card now offers National Emerald Club Executive status
- The card now offers 5x Hilton Honors points on the first $100,000 spent every calendar year (and then 3x points); I value Hilton Honors points at 0.5 cents, so that’s quite a good return
Hilton Business Card negative changes
Aside from the annual fee increasing, there are three negative changes that have been made to the Hilton Business Card:
- The card no longer offers 10 free Priority Pass visits per year
- The card no longer offers the ability to earn free night certificates (previously, you could earn them when spending $15,000 or $60,000 in a calendar year)
- The card has lost its 6x points bonus categories in favor of offering 5x points on everyday spending (for the first $100,000 every year)
What happens to existing cardmembers?
If you already have the Hilton Business Card, what should you expect in terms of these changes? Well, the positive changes kick in effective immediately, which is great. As far as the phasing out of existing benefits goes:
- Eligible purchases made through June 30, 2024, continue to count toward the free night certificate benefits, so you could still earn two of those
- If you enrolled in Priority Pass on or before June 30, 2023, your membership will expire on July 1, 2024, while if you enrolled on or after July 1, 2023, your membership will expire on April 1, 2025
So in the short term, there’s the opportunity to double dip here, taking advantage of the new perks while also taking advantage of the old perks until they’re phased out.
My take on these Hilton Business Card changes
The changes to the Hilton Business Card are a mixed bag, and whether they’re positive or negative comes down to the individual consumer. Here are my thoughts:
- Of course, no one is going to be happy about the annual fee increasing
- At the same time, if you stay at a Hilton property at least once per quarter, it’s awesome to be able to maximize the up to $240 annual statement credit with Hilton, which more than covers the annual fee
- The ability to earn 5x Hilton Honors points on everyday spending for the first $100,000 every year is awesome, though, for those who are maximizers, it probably doesn’t offset the ability to earn two annual free night awards
- The loss of 10 Priority Pass visits per year is also unfortunate, as this was one of the most attractively priced options for getting a limited number of Priority Pass visits
So I’d say the card is easier to justify than ever before for someone who stays at Hiltons at least once a quarter. Meanwhile, for those who spent exactly $60,000 on the card per year, or those who valued the Priority Pass perks, this is probably negative.
Bottom line
The Hilton Business Card has been refreshed. Its annual fee has been increased to $195.
The good news is that the card now offers up to $240 in statement credits for Hilton stays per year (up to $60 per quarter), making it easy to justify the card. The card also offers an impressive 5x Hilton Honors points per dollar spent (on the first $100,000 every calendar year and then 3x), though that’s coming at the expense of the free night awards, plus the bonus categories. On top of that, the card’s Priority Pass perk has been eliminated.
What do you make of these Hilton Business Card changes?
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (Rates & Fees).
I don't understand how credit card companies can change benefits and earning rates on established card accounts. If they want to modify benefits and terms on new accounts that's one thing but pillaging existing account benefits should be against consumer protection rules.
I've loved my HH Business card and am Diamond with Hilton and have over 2 million points and three certificates waiting to be redeemed but this might be a deal breaker and...
I don't understand how credit card companies can change benefits and earning rates on established card accounts. If they want to modify benefits and terms on new accounts that's one thing but pillaging existing account benefits should be against consumer protection rules.
I've loved my HH Business card and am Diamond with Hilton and have over 2 million points and three certificates waiting to be redeemed but this might be a deal breaker and change my card relationship.
The $60 per quarter is an odd amount, but I am guessing too many people with the Surpass have been buying gift cards for the quarterly credit. Now you either have to buy both a $25 and a $50 card, or a $100 one.
Interesting observation. Though if that is the calculus, I'm surprised Amex hasn't just figured out a way (with Hilton's help) to have the gift card purchases not trigger the credit.
How and where do you buy the gift cards from to use up the quarterly credits?
I thought you had to stay at a hilton in order to get the quarterly credits. Do you just walk into a Hilton property and buy the gift card or is there a website that you can buy Hilton gift cards from and get the credit.
I do not have the card myself, but several Flyertalk users have reported success buying online. If you look under the Hilton Honors Surpass thread, you will see several users posts. One confirms using the buyhiltongiftcards website. Back when the Bonvoy Brilliant had a $300 Marriott credit, I several times bought a gift card and had it post, so this is not that different (just forces you to do it 4 times, though Hilton has...
I do not have the card myself, but several Flyertalk users have reported success buying online. If you look under the Hilton Honors Surpass thread, you will see several users posts. One confirms using the buyhiltongiftcards website. Back when the Bonvoy Brilliant had a $300 Marriott credit, I several times bought a gift card and had it post, so this is not that different (just forces you to do it 4 times, though Hilton has fixed denominations, and $60 is not a choice).
Sad I guess I will be canceling this card. We have good spend and I was allocating $15k to this card every year. Guess this will be my last. Not prepaying for benefits that I have to try and claw back. I guess the bright side is I will be able to acquire the bonvoy brilliant when I am eligible for the bonus at the end of the year or maybe get another aspire. Seems...
Sad I guess I will be canceling this card. We have good spend and I was allocating $15k to this card every year. Guess this will be my last. Not prepaying for benefits that I have to try and claw back. I guess the bright side is I will be able to acquire the bonvoy brilliant when I am eligible for the bonus at the end of the year or maybe get another aspire. Seems like Hyatt is the only program worth anything as a globalist. Didin't know I would be canceling 2 AMEX Cards this year already. Gold because they cut the shipping multiplier and this card oh well.
Accurate headline: Higher fee, worse benefits
5 Hilton points are worth 1.25 cents. Even a single Chase, Amex, CapOne or Citi point is worth more than that, and those points are flexible. And you can get 1.5-2 points per dollar on those cards. So every day spend is out on this card.
Paying $195 up front to tie yourself to Hilton to get the $240 (even assuming you travel quarterly or gift cards work) isn't worth it because you can probably...
5 Hilton points are worth 1.25 cents. Even a single Chase, Amex, CapOne or Citi point is worth more than that, and those points are flexible. And you can get 1.5-2 points per dollar on those cards. So every day spend is out on this card.
Paying $195 up front to tie yourself to Hilton to get the $240 (even assuming you travel quarterly or gift cards work) isn't worth it because you can probably find better deals than always sticking with Hilton everywhere.
I used this card for every day spend because 3x plus FNC at $15k was a very good sweet spot. Now this card has no value at all, either as a coupon book, as every day spend or for hitting certain categories or sweet spots.
I have the Priority Pass from Venture X, so I don't care about it, but I'm sure some others will dump this card for this reason also.
I’ll happily buy all your Hilton points for 0.25. Stay at a 100k night hotel for $250? Sign me up.
When/where have you seen 1 Hilton point get only 0.25 cpp? The lowest I've seen is around 0.35 cpp but that was a while back. Regardless, I'm sure Hilton will devalue to 0.3 cpp in the near future making this card a very lackluster 1.5% rewards card.
I'll keep the card until the annual fee goes to $195, after which I'll say bye-bye to it.
This used to be my favorite credit card because of the free night at $15k spend. Now I'll be earning that last free night and then getting rid of the card. Sad about it, but I'll keep the Aspire.
If you earn a free night though $15K spending, is the night stay still valid after closing the card?
I called and asked the same question this morning. I was told that as long as the free night is credited to your account, you can close the card and keep the free night (and free nights take 8-12 weeks to post). It's going to be a close call for me, since my renewal date is June 28th and I have $0 in spend right now. Going to try and earn the bonus ASAP so it posts and I can close the card out, keeping the free night.
Thanks for the reply! I'd just pay 1040-ES if I were in your situation.
Any way to find an old link? Was just planning on getting this card lol....
@ Daniel -- I haven't seen one, but maybe someone else has...
My Hilton Biz renews in July…… Ugh, otherwise a solid keeper for another year.
Also just contacted customer service and confirmed all current card holders have 3 last days to use the quarterly Hilton credit before end of March.
Annual credits are such a scam. Twice a year split is doable but four?? That’s ridiculous. Will be closing my card.
Pretty sure the change in points earned per dollar spent do not change until July 1.
@ John -- Based on looking at the offer terms, it seems to me like you earn 5x points on all purchases effective immediately, while the 6x points bonus categories apply through June 30. Or where are you seeing something that suggests otherwise?
You're right. I misread that. That's why we follow you!
Hope this data point helps. I signed up for the card about a month before these changes were announced. I just called Amex today and was assured that prior card holders have until December 31 of 2024 to meet the 15 K spend for a free night, not June 30, 2024. I asked the agent to note my account with those instructions. Hope others call in and get the same news I did.
Very negative changes overall.
The 5X on all purchases starts right away, according to the card's new terms on the Amex website, as does the $60/quarter credit.
The 6X categories will also remain until June 30 as well.
So a decent card until June 30, after which it goes in the sock drawer. I will then cancel it when the annual fee comes due in September.
Well, crud. I got this card because of these very changes that were made to the personal card. Guess I'm out of the Hilton credit card family
After the changes last fall this card was better than the Surpass but now I think the Surpass is better.
Loss of free night is major negative. Plus a doubling of annual fee is not great. I will probably let this one go.
Until I hear from DCS, I don’t know what to think.
You spelled Frequent Miler wrong :D