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If you’re comparing premium travel rewards cards, chances are you’re a frequent traveler, you value premium travel benefits, and you’re looking for a card that delivers it all.
Premium travel rewards cards such as the 2 we are comparing today offer a collection of benefits every frequent traveler can use. The challenge is to find the card best suited for your particular spending profile that has benefits that align with your priorities. You’ll also want to make sure the card you select allows you to redeem your rewards for what matters to you most. That’s a tall order to fill, but premium travel credit cards are designed to meet the challenge.
We’re going to be comparing The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, 2 cards that shine for delivering benefits to frequent travelers. We’ll look at the value of each card’s welcome offer, how they measure up with earnings and redemptions, and review the benefits associated with each card.
Both cards are stellar examples of premium travel rewards cards, but they shine for different reasons. Let’s look at what makes each of these cards the right choice for the matching frequent traveler.
Amex Platinum Card vs. Hilton Aspire Card — Summary
Prior to getting into the specific details of each card, let’s start with an overview of our 2 featured cards.
A welcome offer for a travel rewards credit card is a valuable benefit you can earn immediately after being approved for the card. The Amex Platinum card and the Hilton Aspire card each have a generous offer for which you can qualify by meeting the minimum spending requirements in the initial specified time period.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the current welcome offers and card highlights.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points
$1,760
$695
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.
Pros
The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges,Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5x points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year)
5x points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
$189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
$100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
Membership Rewards points can be redeemed for travel for 1 cent per point. With this valuation, a 50,000-point welcome bonus could be redeemed for $500 in travel and a 100,000-point bonus for $1,000 in travel.
However, your welcome bonus could be worth much more as it is possible to receive greater value when transferring points to travel partners.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.
All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.
Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.
Earn 180,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Aspire card from American Express after you use your new card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.
180,000 points
$900
$550
20.74% - 29.74% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Paying hundreds of dollars for an annual fee on a co-branded hotel card might seem ridiculous, but you should know that the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is much more than your run-of-the-mill hotel credit card.
The Hilton Aspire card is not only a phenomenal card for Hilton Honors loyalists, but even those who visit Hilton hotels just a few times a year can still get excellent value out of all the benefits that are packed into this card.
So let’s have a look at what makes the card so valuable to travelers.
Pros
14x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
7x points per $1 on select travel and at U.S. restaurants
3x points per $1 on all other purchases
Complimentary Hilton Diamond status
Up to $400 in annual statement credits on purchases with participating Hilton Resorts (up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually)
Up to $200 back annually on eligible flight purchases (up to $50 in statement credits each quarter)
1 Free Weekend Night Award each cardmember anniversary
$100 credit at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties
Cons
High annual fee of $550
Earn 180,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Aspire card from American Express after you use your new card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership. Plus, enjoy a free Weekend Night Reward within your first year and every year after renewal.
Earn 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants.
Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your card.
Enjoy up to $400 in Hilton Resort Credits (up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually) on your card each anniversary year when you stay at participating resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
While welcome bonuses vary, bonuses on the Hilton Aspire card can range from 100,000 Hilton Honors points up to 150,000 Hilton Honors points after completing minimum spending requirements within the first 90 days after card approval.
The value of a welcome bonus will depend on the selected hotel and dates for which you’re redeeming points. However, you can generally count on a value of at least 0.5 cents per Hilton Honors point. This valuation would equate to $750 in value for a 150,000-point welcome bonus, but it is possible to receive much greater value depending on the specific hotel redemption.
Bottom Line: The ultimate value of a welcome bonus will depend on how you redeem your points. You can determine the value you’re receiving for your redeemed points by first finding the cash price of the travel in which you’re interested, then dividing that price by the number of points you’d be redeeming. This will give you the value per point you’ll receive for your chosen redemption.
Membership Rewards Points vs. Hilton Honors Points
Both cards we’re comparing earn well on travel purchases. The Amex Platinum card earns greater on flights and prepaid hotels while the Hilton Aspire card has a slightly broader range of categories for elevated earnings.
Here’s how the cards compare when it comes to earnings.
Comparing Earning Potential
While earnings vary widely on these 2 cards, the value you receive for your points at redemption time ultimately determines which is the more valuable rewards currency for your situation.
Membership Rewards points are some of the most valuable travel rewards points you can earn because of their flexibility at redemption time.
Here’s how you earn points on each of these cards.
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Amex Platinum Card
Hilton Aspire Card
5x points for flights purchased directly with the airlines or flights booked through AmexTravel.com, and premium flights booked with the International Airline Program, up to $500,000 in purchases each calendar year.
5x points for prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
1 point spent on all other purchases
Terms apply.
14x points at Hilton properties
7x points on flights purchased directly from the airlines, on AmexTravel.com, car rentals booked with select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants
3x points on all other purchases
Terms apply.
Bottom Line: If you spend a lot on flights and prepaid hotels, you’ll earn well on the Amex Platinum card. If you’re a Hilton loyalist, the earnings on the Hilton Aspire card add up substantially when spending at Hilton and on flights, rental cars, and dining.
Comparing Redemption Options
When it’s time to redeem your points, you’ll find greater flexibility with Membership Rewards points. This is because you can redeem points for travel or have the additional option of transferring points to the Amex transfer partners for even greater potential value.
Hilton Honors points can be redeemed at nearly 6,500 hotel properties worldwide using variable award pricing. You can also redeem Hilton Honors points by transferring to airline partners, but at a lesser value.
While both cards offer a variety of redemption options, just a few offer the best value for your points.
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Card
Best Redemption Options
Additional Redemption Options
Amex Platinum Card
Transfer to airline partners
Redeem for flights on AmexTravel.com
Transfer to hotel partners, redeem for travel other than flights on AmexTravel.com, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, Amazon, Ticketmaster, donate points
Hilton Aspire Card
Redeem for free hotel rooms
Fifth-night free redemptions
Transfer to travel partners, bid for experiences, gift cards, Amazon, car rental, cruise, donate points
Bottom Line: Transferring Membership Rewards points to airline partners and redeeming Hilton Honors points for free hotel rooms can result in the best value for your points. While redemption options vary in value, you’ll want to strive to exceed 1 cent per point in value for your Membership Rewards points and 0.5 cents per point in value for Hilton Honors points.
Airport Lounge Access
Complimentary lounge access to places like The Centurion Lounge at Miami International Airport is a welcome benefit for frequent travelers. Image Credit: The Centurion Lounge
Frequent travelers value the sanctuary, culinary options, and refreshment aspects of premium airport lounge access. Fortunately, you’ll find complimentary access to over 1,400 lounge properties worldwide with either of the cards we’re comparing.
The value of airport lounge access can be significant. Here is a sampling of current comparative lounge membership costs.
Delta Sky Club — $545 single annual membership, additional guests $29 per person, per visit
Priority Pass — $469 single annual membership, additional guests $35 per person, per visit
Depending on the frequency of travel, receiving complimentary lounge access with access for guests could be worth hundreds (if not thousands), of dollars annually.
Let’s look at the level of airport lounge access each card provides.
Amex Platinum Lounge Networks
The Amex Platinum card excels in offering complimentary access to a wide selection of global lounge networks including the prestigious Centurion Lounge network. Access is provided (except where noted) for the primary cardholder plus up to 2 additional guests.
Centurion Lounge — Complimentary guest access for up to 2 guests is unlocked after spending $75,000 in a calendar year
Delta Sky Club (cardholder access only; must be flying the same day with Delta)
Amex Platinum Card — Authorized users have full worldwide lounge access with the same cardholder and guest privileges as the primary member. You can add authorized users for a $195 annual fee per person (rates & fees).
Bottom Line: Both the Amex Platinum card and Hilton Aspire card provide a wide variety of lounge experience options but the Amex Platinum card wins with its unique additional access to Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Club, Escape Lounges — The Centurion Studio Partner, Lufthansa Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and Virgin Clubhouses. Both Amex Platinum card primary cardholders and authorized users also have full lounge access privileges versus the Hilton Aspire card’s limitation to just the primary cardholder.
Hotel and Rental Car Program Benefits
Enjoy the benefits of complimentary Hilton Honors elite status at a property like the Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa. Image Credit: Hilton
Hotel Program Benefits — Amex Platinum Card
While you might not expect a high level of hotel elite benefits from a general travel rewards card, the Amex Platinum card fares quite well within this category.
Receive upgraded rooms, free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast or a food and beverage credit in the U.S., and earn 18 points per dollar spent at Hilton properties.
Be sure to enroll for these benefits via your online Amex Platinum card account under the Rewards and Benefits section.
Stay 2 nights or more and receive a $100 credit towards on-site qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities. Additionally, you’ll earn 5x Membership Rewards on prepaid bookings.
Hotel Program Benefits — Hilton Aspire Card
You should expect a premium hotel credit card to have a nice collection of elite-style benefits and the Hilton Aspire card delivers. The Hilton Aspire card offers top elite status, elevated earnings, free hotel nights, and more.
Avis Preferred Club — 25% discount on base rates and 1 car class upgrade when available
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards — Hertz President’s Circle status; receive a 1 car class upgrade when you rent an intermediate size vehicle or greater
National Emerald Club Executive — Preferred car selection, easy returns, 1 class upgrade when renting full size or greater, accelerated earnings towards free rentals
Bottom Line: The Amex Platinum card offers a broad collection of hotel and car rental program benefits. The Hilton Aspire card excels in creating an elevated experience, accelerated earnings, and perks specifically designed for those who frequent Hilton properties.
Statement Credits and Additional Benefits
Statement credits provide direct economic value that can help to offset any annual fee you’ll have to pay on a card.
Here are the statement credits you can expect to receive from specific purchases made on your Amex Platinum card or Hilton Aspire card:
Bottom Line: The Amex Platinum card offers the opportunity for over $1,700 in statement credits while the Hilton Aspire card offers just ~$800. However, the ultimate amount of value you actually receive will depend on how many of these statement credit offers you will actually use.
Travel Benefits and Protections
Since both the Amex Platinum card and Hilton Aspire card are premium cards issued by American Express, the list of travel benefits and protections is similar for each card. The benefits listed apply to both cards unless specifically noted:
Trip Cancellation/Interruption — Purchase your common carrier ticket with your card and you, plus any eligible travelers, may qualify for cancellation or trip disruption due to unexpected or unforeseen events. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per trip, $20,000 per card account for each 12-month period.
International Airline Program (Amex Platinum Card Only) — Access 20 international airlines to book discounted premium flights.
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance — Use either card to pay for your rental car, decline the rental car agency’s collision damage waiver coverage, and receive secondary car rental insurance if the car is damaged or stolen. Cardholders also have the option to purchase Premium Protection for 1 low price that covers the entire rental period. Terms apply.
Baggage Insurance Plan — Lost, damaged, or stolen baggage is covered for up $3,000. Coverage is excess over other insurance.
Premium Global Assist — Legal, financial, and medical emergency assistance services are provided 24/7 worldwide.
Concierge Services — You’re just a call away from help with reservations and assistance making your travel arrangements.
No Foreign Transaction Fees — Neither of our featured cards charges foreign transaction fees.
Hot Tip: Benefits that come with premium travel rewards cards frequently require registration before benefits will be activated. When you receive your card, sign in to your online card account and you register for any desired benefits under the benefits section.
Shopping Benefits and Protections
Use Amex Offers to realize substantial savings on card purchases. Image Credit: American Express
The Amex Platinum card and Hilton Aspire card offer these shopping benefits and protections:
TRUECar Auto Purchasing Program — Save thousands of dollars on your vehicle purchase, plus use your American Express card to pay at least $2,000 or more towards the purchase.
Amex Offers — Receive potentially significant savings with ongoing offers for rebates and bonus points on specific purchases.
American Express Presale and Preferred Seating — Members receive early access to event tickets and priority seating.
Entertainment Access — Receive access to member-only events and special experiences.
Return Protection — If an item you purchased is not accepted as a return by the merchant within 90 days of purchase, the purchase price could be refunded. Limits apply.
Extended Warranty — Up to 1 additional year is added to the manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or less on eligible purchases.
Purchase Protection — Pay for your eligible purchase and receive up to $10,000 per occurrence ($50,000 per account per calendar year) if the item is accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost. Coverage is provided for 120 days (90 days in New York) from the date of purchase.
Bottom Line: When we compare the Amex Platinum card with the Hilton Aspire card, both deliver plenty of benefits that can save you money, protect you when you travel, grant special entertainment access, and provide travel assistance when you need it.
Adding Additional Users
Authorized users receive some of the same benefits as primary cardholders.
While there is no additional fee to add authorized users to your Hilton Aspire card, they will not receive lounge access, hotel elite status, or additional statement credits. The charges made by authorized users earn points that are credited to the primary cardholder account. Authorized users do receive travel and shopping benefits/protections.
Bottom Line: When we compare benefits for authorized users, the Amex Platinum card offers significantly more benefits. However, you will have to pay a fee to add authorized users to the card.
Final Thoughts
While there are definitely benefit overlaps between these 2 cards, deciding between the 2 cards is not difficult.
If you are a Hilton loyalist, you’ll benefit greatly from having the Hilton Aspire card.
If you’re a frequent international traveler, enjoy Centurion Lounges, purchase a lot of flights, and have little hotel loyalty, you may fare better with the Amex Platinum card.
Both cards offer significant value when matched with the right frequent traveler.
Learn more about some additional great choices for the best travel rewards cards in our related article on this specific topic.
For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car rental loss or damage coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance benefits of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. For the baggage insurance plan benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the extended warranty and purchase protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the Premium Global Assist Hotline benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, card members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. For the return protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car rental loss or damage coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance benefits of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the extended warranty and purchase protection benefit of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the Premium Global Assist Hotline benefit of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, card members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. For the return protection benefit of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
Featured Image Credit: Upgraded Points
Frequently Asked Questions
Which card is better, the Amex Platinum card or the Hilton Aspire card?
The card that is better for you will depend on your priorities. If you are a Hilton loyalist, the Hilton Aspire card is a very good choice for significant earnings at Hilton properties, top elite status, airport lounge access, and good value redemptions at Hilton.
If you’re a frequent traveler, have little hotel loyalty, but spend a lot on flights and prepaid hotels, you’re going to find a better value with the Amex Platinum card.
The Amex Platinum card is also the better card for worldwide lounge access and includes access to a greater collection of lounges than the Hilton Aspire card, including Centurion Lounges.
Are American Express cards worth the annual fee?
American Express premium travel rewards cards are worth paying an annual fee if you can use most of the benefits offered by the card you select.
If a card provides worldwide airport lounge access, for example, and you’d normally be purchasing this annual membership, having a card with complimentary lounge access would make economic sense.
If you’ll utilize the statement credits, elite benefits, and travel protections that come with the card, you can realize more than enough value to offset the cost of an annual fee.
Do Membership Rewards points expire?
As long as you have 1 Membership Rewards-earning card open and active, your points will not expire.
If you decide to close your card, you should redeem or transfer your points prior to closure to avoid forfeiting your points.
Do Hilton Honors points expire?
Hilton Honors points do not expire as long as you have activity in your account within any 12-month period.
Activity is defined as earning or redeeming Hilton Honors points.
You do not need to have a Hilton Honors credit card open to keep points active as once points are earned, they are deposited into your Hilton Honors account and are then subject to the terms associated with that account.
Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
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