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The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is one of the best premium credit cards out there. While the card's annual fee is a steep $550(Rates & Fees), it packs several benefits that more than justify the cost of keeping it in your wallet every year. One of these benefits is a flight credit of up to $200 that you can use each calendar year — broken down into $50 per quarter.
Here's what you need to know about the Hilton Aspire‘s $200 flight credit and some tips on maximizing it for its full value.
How Does the Hilton Aspire’s $200 Flight Credit Work?
Those with the Hilton Aspire can receive up to $50 in quarterly statement credits (up to $200 annually) on flight purchases made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com.
That means you can receive a quarterly reimbursement of up to $50 for:
- Airfare purchases made directly with an airline.
- Airfare purchases made through the Amex Travel portal.
Better yet, there's no need to enroll to take advantage of the benefit or select an airline at the beginning of the year. All you have to do is charge the purchase directly to your Hilton Aspire and allow 8-12 weeks for the statement credit to post to your account. But in our experience, the credit appears much faster than that.
The Hilton Aspire flight credit is pretty versatile and you might find it more useful than The Platinum Card® from American Express‘s airline fee credit. Mainly, the latter is only valid for up to $200 worth of incidental purchases with your selected airline. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Related: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card Comprehensive Review
Things the Hilton Aspire flight credit doesn’t cover
The language in the terms and conditions is clear. The Hilton Aspire‘s flight credit won't provide you with statement credits for the following purchases:
- Charter flights.
- Private jet flights.
- Flights that are part of tours.
- Cruises.
- Travel packages.
- Ticketing or similar service fees.
- Ticket cancellation or change fees.
- Interest charges or purchases of cash equivalents.
- Flight purchases made through third-party agencies.
That said, some readers have reported success with having the following items trigger their quarterly credits — even though they're not explicitly stated as being eligible:
- Baggage fees.
- Inflight Wi-Fi purchases charged directly by the airline and not a third-party provider.
- Inflight food and beverage purchases.
- Airline gift cards.
- United Travel Bank deposits.
Purchase the above with caution; your specific results may vary.
How I Use the Hilton Aspire Flight Credit
One of the main limitations of the Hilton Aspire flight credit is that you're only allotted $50 per quarter. It's a use-it-or-lose-it benefit. And if you don't book flights every quarter, rest assured, there are still plenty of things you can do to ensure you get top value out of your credit so you don't lose out.
For example, I like to purchase a cheap Southwest flight several months out using my Hilton Aspire card — around $50 or so. After my $50 statement credit appears in my account, I'll cancel the flight and collect a Southwest flight credit.
Then, when the next quarter rolls around, I'll make another booking using my Southwest flight credit and then charge at least $50 to my Hilton Aspire. After the statement credit posts, I'll repeat the process.
Over time, the Southwest flight credits add up, and I can book a flight I'll actually take. With just a little effort, I can turn my quarterly credits into a free flight!
Related: Which Hilton Honors Credit Card Is Right for You?
Final Thoughts
The Hilton Aspire is an excellent premium card to have in your wallet. Up to $200 worth of annual flight credits is just the icing on top of other headline benefits like complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status, an annual free night certificate, a $400 resort credit, and much more. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
And if you already have the card, let this serve as a reminder to use your flight credit! There are plenty of ways to extract a full $50 worth of value out of it every quarter — even if you don't book a flight you'll actually take.
- Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Card Members can earn 14X Points on purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Card Members can earn 7X Points on purchases of Flights booked directly with airlines or flights booked through American Express Travel, Car rentals purchased directly from select car rental companies, and purchases at U.S. Restaurants.
- Card Members can earn 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.
- Enhance your hotel stay with complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status and enjoy a world of hotel privileges and benefits. Get exclusive perks at any of Hilton's 24 hotel brands, like a 100% Bonus on Base Points earned on every stay, Premium Wi-Fi and space-available room upgrades at select properties, and more.
- Enjoy an Annual Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors in your first year of Card Membership and every year upon Card renewal.
- $400 Hilton Resort Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts on your Hilton Honors Aspire Card. That's up to $400 back annually.
- $200 Flight Credit: Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com using your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
- Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you can earn an additional Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend an additional $30,000 (for a total of $60,000) in purchases on your Card in the same calendar year.
- $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: You can receive up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you sign up and pay for a CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your eligible Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
- $100 Property Credit: How it Works: To receive up to $100 in credits for qualifying hotel charges, book a 2-night minimum stay at participating Waldorf Astoria® Hotels & Resorts and Conrad® Hotels & Resorts with your Card through hiltonhonorsaspirecard.com and select the Aspire Card Benefit rate option on the booking page or call Hilton Honors at (855) 292-5757 with the proper booking reference. See Terms & Conditions for further details.
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card Members can enjoy complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status, including perks like Executive Area Access (for full-size reservations and above) in the USA and Canada. Card Members must enroll in the National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status through their American Express online account using their Card. Terms apply.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
- 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly through select rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants
- 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card (Rates & Fees)
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