For a limited time, there are some incredible offers from American Express on their Hilton card lineup. Now that all of the Hilton cards have transferred from Citibank, American Express is looking to build the brand by offering bonuses of up to 125,000 Hilton Honors points and more benefits than we’ve ever seen before… even on their no annual fee card!
Which American Express Hilton Credit Card Bonuses Are Available?
American Express offers three consumer Hilton credit cards and one version for businesses.
The consumer Hilton credit cards range from no annual fee to a premium version with an annual fee of $450, while the mid-tier card is $95 per year. Each card offers unique benefits and bonus point earnings that are more lucrative as you pay a higher annual fee.
But the Hilton Honors American Express Business card is offering the biggest sign-up bonus of 125,000 points.
Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Previously, American Express didn’t offer a business version of its Hilton cards, so this credit card is brand new. You’ll earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 within the first three months.
It mirrors the consumer Ascend card with 12x bonus points at Hilton, 6x with selected categories, and 3x everywhere else, all for a $95 annual fee. There are a lot of great 6x bonus categories with the business card:
- Gas stations
- Wireless phone service
- Shipping
- Restaurants
- Flights booked with AmexTravel.com
- Car rentals booked directly
You’ll also receive complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status with the option to move up to Diamond after $40,000 in spend each calendar year. Plus, the card comes with admission to Priority Pass lounges 10 times a year and a free weekend night after $15,000. You can even earn a second free weekend night after an additional $45,000 of spending each calendar year.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
The Hilton Honors American Express credit card is a no annual fee card that is offering 75,000 Hilton Honors points after you meet the minimum spend of $1,000 within the first three months. This is enough points for you to stay one night at almost any Hilton property around the world.
With this no-fee card, you’ll also earn 7x points at Hilton properties and 5x at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations within the United States. All other purchases will earn 3x points.
One really nice benefits is that, before you spend a dollar with Hilton, you’re automatically elevated to Hilton Honors Silver Status. And you have the ability to upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold Status when you spend $20,000 on your Hilton credit card in a calendar year.
This card should be a keeper for anyone’s wallet. No other major hotel chain offers a co-branded credit card without an annual fee. Even if you don’t stay at Hilton properties often, keep this card open, earn bonus points on dining and gas, then redeem for a free night when you earn enough points.
Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card
With the merger of the two Hilton credit card portfolios from American Express and Citibank in early 2018, American Express rebranded and launched the Ascend credit card. The American Express Ascend Card is not only offering a bonus of 100,000 Hilton Honors points, you’ll also receive a free weekend night reward. To earn the bonus points and free night just spend $3,000 in purchases within the first three months.
I’ve used my free weekend nights to spoil my wife, Anna, at luxurious properties like the La Quinta Resort in Palm Springs and the Waldorf Astoria in Rome.
The Hilton Honors American Express Ascend card earns 12x points at Hilton and 6x points at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations in the United States. You’ll also earn 3x Hilton points on all other eligible purchases.
Your Hilton Honors membership will be automatically upgraded to Hilton Honors Gold Status with the Ascend credit card with an automatic upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond Status if you spend $40,000 in a calendar year on the card.
If you like airport lounges while traveling like I do, you’ll receive 10 free Priority Pass lounge visits each year with this card.
As you can see, by upgrading to the $95 annual fee version of the Hilton card you’ll receive an additional 25,000 Hilton Honors points, a free weekend night, 10 Priority Pass visits annually, and the ability to earn more Hilton Honors points on every dollar that you spend. To me, it’s a no-brainer to spend a little bit of money for all of these benefits.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
There are so many premium credit cards in the marketplace that Hilton wanted to create their own. This new card is offering 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $4,000 within the first three months.
Although some people may balk at the $450 annual fee, when you factor in the perks of complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond Status, free weekend nights, and up to $600 in credits, you’re almost losing money if you choose another Hilton credit card.
Not only will you receive one free weeknight night award each year, you have the ability to earn another free weekend reward night after you spend $60,000 within each calendar year. Hilton offers some amazing high-end resorts where you can redeem free nights.
The Aspire card earns 14x points at Hilton, 7x on flights booked with Amex, car rentals and U.S. restaurants. Unfortunately, gas stations and grocery store purchases are not bonused like they are with the lower-tier cards. But, they’ll still earn 3x points like all other purchases.
You’ll also be able to redeem up to $600 in credits each year with your American Express Aspire Card. These credits include:
- Up to $250 each year of card membership for purchases at Hilton resorts
- Up to $250 per calendar year in airline incidental charges
- Up to $100 in credits per 2-night minimum stay at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad Hotels. This credit can be used an unlimited amount of times, but details do apply.
Should I Apply for an American Express Hilton Credit Card Now?
The short answer is yes.
These limited-time offers from American Express are only available through June 27, 2018. You have less than a month to get your credit scores up, pick a card, and apply.
Keep in mind that Amex has not implemented rules like Chase, Bank of America and Citibank which limit your ability to receive new cards. However, they do have a once-per-lifetime rule which states that you cannot receive a bonus for a card you’ve previously owned. Because all of these cards are new, there shouldn’t be a problem, but keep this rule in mind for future applications.