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Why I’m Moving on From Hilton Diamond Status

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Jessica Merritt
Updated: 
Edited by: Michael Y. Park
Why I’m Moving on From Hilton Diamond Status
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Diamond is the highest status you can get with Hilton Honors, but after holding it for 2 years, I’ve come to realize it may not be worth pursuing anymore.

While Diamond status comes with solid perks, I’ve found that Hilton Honors Gold — which I get automatically with one of my credit cards — offers the benefits that matter most to me. Here’s why I made this decision and how I’ll still make the most of my Hilton stays.

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How I Earned Hilton Honors Diamond Status

Typically, you’ll need to earn Diamond status with 60 nights, 30 stays, or 120,000 base points. I earned Hilton Honors™ Diamond status in 2022 with my Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, which has a $150 annual fee (rates & fees).

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An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.
Earn 130,000 Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 4/15/2026.
130,000 points + 1 Free Night Reward
Up to $650
$150
19.49%-28.49% 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 card application.
Good to Excellent
Why We Like This Card

If you’re someone who loves traveling and loves staying in Hilton hotels, adding a co-branded Hilton hotel card to your wallet is almost a no-brainer. From automatic Hilton elite status to up to $200 in Hilton credits every year, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card can be a great fit for Hilton loyalists looking to up their travel game.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 12x points per $1 at Hilton hotels
  • 6x points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants
  • 4x points per $1 at U.S. online retail purchases
Cons
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • Earn 130,000 Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 4/15/2026.
  • Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold status with your Card. Plus, spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year. Terms and Limitations apply.
  • Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. That’s up to $200 in statement credits annually.
  • Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
  • Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
  • Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
  • Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
  • Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
  • As a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card Member, you can enroll to receive complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status through the link on your American Express online account. After you’re enrolled, you can reserve a rental car by calling National Car Rental directly, using your travel service, or by booking online or through the National Car Rental mobile app. Terms apply.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
  • Whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home, Global Assist® Hotline is available for 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination services, including medical and legal referrals, emergency cash wires, and missing luggage assistance. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Other terms and conditions apply.
  • Pay It Plan It®: Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
  • Points don’t expire while your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is active and in good standing.
  • $150 annual fee.
  • 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.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 19.49%-28.49% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Hilton Honors

In 2022 and 2023, I earned 120,000 base points to earn Diamond status. Most of that was with spending on my Hilton Surpass card, which I used not just for Hilton stays but also for groceries and gas, as it earns bonus points on all of those purchases, which count as base points toward Hilton Honors. I even received bonus points by earning credit card referral bonuses.

Motto by Hilton New York City Times Square entrance
A stay at Motto by Hilton New York City Times Square helped me earn Diamond status. Image Credit: Jessica Merritt

At the end of 2023, I was about 10,000 points short of reaching Diamond status and decided to pay cash for a December booking to get the rest of the way to Diamond that year. I held Diamond status throughout 2024, but I only earned 32,000 base points — which was nowhere near the threshold needed to retain Diamond status for the following year.

How Diamond Status Became out of Reach

With major changes in my spending habits and travel patterns, I’ve been using my Hilton Surpass card less, earning far fewer base points with Hilton Honors.

I’ve applied for more credit cards recently and shifted much of my spending to new cards to earn welcome bonus offers. That took much of my everyday spending off the Hilton Surpass card, previously my go-to for gas and groceries. I still used my Hilton Surpass card to pay for Hilton stays and spent $15,000 on it to earn a Free Night Certificate, but the rest of my spending has shifted elsewhere.

I’ve also spent fewer nights at Hilton properties than in previous years. In 2024, I got The World of Hyatt Credit Card, so I’ve stayed at Hyatt properties instead of Hilton when it makes sense. I’ve also shifted some of my travel nights to Thousand Trails cabins instead of hotels.

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Hilton Honors Gold vs. Diamond Benefits

I receive automatic Hilton Honors Gold status as a Hilton Surpass cardholder, and I’ll be comfortable there. The difference between Gold and Diamond perks doesn’t justify the effort needed to retain Diamond.

Gold status doesn’t have all of the benefits of Diamond, but it delivers great value for my travel style. The daily food and beverage credit often covers a breakfast or snack, and the 80% points earning bonus adds up quickly. Though not guaranteed, room upgrades are still a pleasant surprise, and getting the fifth night free on reward stays can help me stretch points further.

That said, Diamond offers a few perks that Gold doesn’t:

  • 100% points earning bonus on stays (compared to Gold’s 80% bonus)
  • Executive lounge access
  • Diamond status extension
  • Premium Wi-Fi
  • 48-hour room guarantee
  • Elite status gifting
  • Diamond parking spaces

Why Hilton Diamond Status Isn’t Worth It

Although Gold and Diamond both offer space-available room upgrades, Diamond status should, in theory, offer greater upgrade opportunities. That hasn’t been the case in my 2 years as a Diamond member. The last time I was upgraded at a Hilton property was in 2022, when I stayed at the Casa Marina Key West — and I was a Gold member then.

king size bed at Casa Marina
The last Hilton upgrade I got was in 2022 as a Gold member — and the upgraded room needed renovation. Image Credit: Jessica Merritt

I may have gotten upgrades to nicer views or higher floors without being told so at the front desk, and I could probably speak up and ask for upgrades, but the reality is I got upgraded more as a Gold member than Diamond.

Since reaching Diamond, I haven’t visited a Hilton with an executive lounge, as those are few and far between in the U.S. I don’t need premium Wi-Fi and can’t think of a time when I needed a 48-hour room guarantee. Diamond parking spaces are nice but not essential or at every property. Most of the Diamond benefits are wasted on me.

Many of the features I appreciate about Hilton Honors status are available with Gold:

  • 80% points earning bonus on stays
  • Space-available room upgrades
  • Daily food and beverage credit or continental breakfast
  • Milestone bonuses
  • Fifth night free on reward stays
  • No resort fees on reward stays

The status benefit I use the most is the food and beverage credit, which usually gives me $30 per night to spend at the hotel for 2 guests — and I get that with Gold status just by keeping my Hilton Surpass card.

Bottom Line:

The only perks I envision myself missing about Hilton Honors™ Diamond status as I downgrade to Gold are accelerated points earning and the Diamond parking spaces.

How To Get Hilton Diamond Status For No Extra Cost

If I end up missing Diamond status, it’s easy to get it back. All I have to do is apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. Although the Hilton Aspire card has a much higher annual fee of $550 (rates & fees), it has far more benefits.

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

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Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
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 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 4/15/2026.
175,000 points
Up to $875
$550
19.49%-28.49% 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 card application.
Good to Excellent
Why We Like This Card

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 & Cons
Pros
  • 14x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
  • 7x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants
  • 3x points per $1 on all other eligible purchases
Cons
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 4/15/2026.
  • 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 25 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.
  • 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.
  • $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 airlines or via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ using your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
  • $209 CLEAR+ Credit: You can receive up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you sign up and pay for a CLEAR+ Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your eligible 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.
  • $100 Property Credit: Receive up to a $100 credit for qualifying charges at Waldorf Astoria® Hotels & Resorts and Conrad® Hotels & Resorts properties when you book a 2 night minimum stay with your Card at 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.
  • 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.
  • Pay It Plan It®: Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
  • Whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home, Global Assist® Hotline is available for 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination services, including medical and legal referrals, emergency cash wires, and missing luggage assistance. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Other terms and conditions apply.
  • Points don’t expire while your Hilton Honors American Express Card is active and in good standing.
  • $550 annual fee.
  • 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.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 19.49%-28.49% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Hilton Aspire cardholders get automatic Diamond status, which means I could easily get the status back if I decide it’s a mistake to settle on Gold. It also offers a Free Night Reward each year, up to $400 in annual Hilton resort credits, and numerous other benefits that could make getting the card worth it.

Final Thoughts

Sticking with Hilton Honors Gold seems like the right choice for my current travel habits and spending priorities. Gold status gives me the benefits I value the most without the extra effort required to maintain Diamond status. And if I decide I miss having Diamond status, the Hilton Aspire card offers an easy path to get it back.

Featured Image Credit: Daniel Ross
Jessica Merritt's image

About Jessica Merritt

Jessica is a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ (CFEI®) who covers credit cards, travel rewards, and consumer banking for outlets including U.S. News, CNN Underscored, and LendingTree, specializing in helping families maximize points and miles.

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