[Expired] Hilton Cardholders: Take Advantage of These Expiring Credits Before 12/31

Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available.

The Hilton Honors American Express^® Aspire Card or the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card got a major refresh this past fall, with new and improved benefits to get excited about.

Some of these changes went into effect immediately when they were first announced on October 19, 2023. That means legacy cardholders have a few statement credits to use up before they expire in a few days.

You don’t want to leave money on the table, so let’s dive into how you can use up these credits during the final days of December.

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express^® Aspire Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Hilton Aspire Card Credits

There were many new Hilton card changes to the hotel chain’s top credit card.

The Hilton Aspire card’s new $550 annual fee may sting, but there are several ways to cushion the impact. Every year, cardholders receive a $200 flight credit (up to $50 in statement credits each quarter), as well as a $209 CLEAR+ credit (upon enrollment) that covers the entire cost of an annual membership.

If you opened the Hilton Aspire card in your wallet before October 19, you can take advantage of the $50 airline credit for Q4 of 2023. Better yet, Hilton changed the terms of this flight credit so it can be used on any purchases made directly with an airline or through AmexTravel.com. (Previously, the airline credit was restricted to ancillary purchases with one preselected airline).

$50 may not seem like much — and you may not have an immediate need to book a flight before the year ends. But it might be worth it to look for a cheap one-way ticket and pay for it with the Hilton Aspire card. That way, even if your travel plans change, you can likely cancel the flight and get a credit for a future trip.

Major domestic carriers, including American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and United, now offer a flexible cancellation policy for travelers. It’s important to be aware that booking a basic economy ticket does not allow for cancellations or refunds, nor does it provide future flight credit.

Plus, if you (or a loved one) don’t already have CLEAR, you can sign up and pay with the Hilton Aspire card and get reimbursed for your membership. An annual membership costs $209, which means the CLEAR+ statement credit effectively wipes out this charge altogether.

Hilton Surpass Card Credit

The Hilton Surpass card has an increased $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 annual fee (rates & fees), but it can easily be justified thanks to the annual $200 Hilton credit (upon enrollment).

Cardholders receive up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly in the Hilton portfolio — up to $200 annually. For the final quarter of 2023, that means legacy cardholders have a $50 Hilton credit that’s due to expire very soon.

Whether you have an upcoming stay at a Hilton hotel in the next few days or need to book a future reservation, you’ll receive a $50 statement credit when you take advantage of this expiring credit. Incidental charges, such as dining, spa treatments, or other charges at a hotel, are all eligible, but they must be charged to the Hilton Surpass card to qualify.

Final Thoughts

If you have either Hilton card in your wallet, now’s a good time to use them up before the calendar resets to 2024. You can easily save a good chunk of change on a future flight or hotel booking or even a CLEAR Plus membership to kickstart the new year.