Back in January, Hilton began teaming up with American Express to offer co-branded credit cards. This replaced Hilton’s card agreement with Citibank. The Citi Hilton cards converted to American Express cards. I’m sure by now we’ve all updated our information with any merchants we use for recurring automatic payments. And I’ve mentioned before that now these cards feature no foreign transaction fees.

Many Hilton loyalists were excited by this transition from Citibank to American Express because it increased the Hilton co-branded offerings, which equated to more opportunities to earn Hilton points.
Change, even good change, can lead to confusion, and recently a reader asked me what the different benefits were on the four co-branded Hilton American Express cards. Good question!

BENEFITS OF THE 4 HILTON HONORS CREDIT CARDS

** All of these cards apart from the Aspire are offering increased bonuses right now**

HILTON HONORS AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD

• No annual fee
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status. Earn Gold status after spending $20,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year.
• 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio worldwide
• 5x Hilton Honors Bonus Points at U.S. grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations
• 3x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on all other eligible purchases

HILTON HONORS AMERICAN EXPRESS ASCEND CARD

• $95 annual fee
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status. Earn Diamond status after spending $40,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year.
• 10 free Priority Pass Lounge passes
• One Weekend Night Reward at a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio after spending $15,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year
• 12x Hilton Honor Bonus Points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio worldwide
• 6x Hilton Honor Bonus Points at U.S. grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations
• 3x Hilton Honor Bonus Points on all other eligible purchases

HILTON HONORS AMERICAN EXPRESS ASPIRE CARD

• $450 annual fee
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status
• $250 Airline incidental fee statement credit
• $250 Hilton Resort credit
• $100 on-property credit at Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts when booking the exclusive Aspire Card package through their site
• One Weekend Night Reward at a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio with your new card and each year of card Membership
• An additional Weekend Night Reward at a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio after spending $60,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year
• Unlimited Priority Pass Lounge passes
• Access to 24/7 American Express concierge
• 14x Hilton Honors Bonus Points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio worldwide
• 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and at U.S. restaurants
• 3x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases

HILTON HONORS AMERICAN EXPRESS BUSINESS CARD

• $95 annual fee
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status. Earn Diamond status after spending $40,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year.
• One Weekend Night Reward at a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio after spending $15,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year
• A second Weekend Night Reward at a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio after spending $60,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year
• 10 free Priority Pass Lounge passes
• 12x Hilton Honors Bonus Points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
• 6x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. purchases for shipping
• 6x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on U.S. restaurants, flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel, and car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies
• 3x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on all other eligible purchases.

I hope this helps you figure out which card is best for you. And don’t forget to make sure that all those Hilton points you’ll accrue don’t expire! Which Hilton Hotel do you have in mind for an aspirational award?

P.S. If anyone is interested in applying for the new big offer on the American Express Hilton Honors Credit Card, please use my referral link. You can get 75,000 Hilton Honors Points after spending $1,000 in 3 months. Thank you for your support!