Free annual fee Hilton Honors American Express Card (see rates and fees) can be a surprisingly great addition to anyone’s wallet, whether you’re a seasoned award-winner or a complete newbie.
Even if you don’t stay at Hilton properties often, this card can help you earn rewards with your daily purchases to unlock free nights at thousands of properties worldwide .
Also included in its generous welcome offer, this is a great time to sign up for the Hilton Honors Amex. Here are six reasons you should consider applying for this card now.
welcome offer
American Express is currently offering a high fee welcome offer above Hilton Honors Amex Card: You can earn 70,000 Hilton Honors points and a free one-night bonus after you spend $1,000 on purchases on the card during the first three months of your card membership. Offer ends on July 19.
These 70,000 bonus points are worth $420, according to TPG . latest point and mile pricing. This offer matches the best deal ever and meets our threshold for when should you apply for this card.
As a reminder, American Express restricts applicants earn a welcome offer on the card more than once in a lifetime, so this card could be a great alternative for people who previously held another card Hilton Honors Card and are therefore not eligible for other welcome offers on those cards.
Related: Best boost card offer to sign up now
No annual fee
Even if you just bring a credit card or a card for every year you’re aliveThe annual fee is only worth it if you’re sure you can maximize the benefits to justify this ongoing annual cost.
Yes Hilton honors American Express is the base card in Hilton Credit Card Directory. That means the card doesn’t have a lot of perks going on, but it’s still a great option if you’re looking for something that doesn’t include the upfront cost to carry around in your wallet. By simply paying your money Invoices are on time and completeyou can maximize the full value with no annual fee.
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Related: TPG’s 10 Commandments of Rewarding Credit Cards
Free Silver Elite Status
How often does a card with no annual fee come with free elite status? The Honor Hotel Amex awarded Silver status, the base level of the Hilton Honors program.
While the Hilton Honors Silver won’t give you too many perks, it opens up an important perk that award-winning travelers must have: You’ll get Thursday night free for bonus stays (for stays of up to 20 nights) and you can only imagine how the savings would add up if you stayed at the expensive hotels.
Other perks of Silver elite status include 20% bonus points on stay and two complimentary bottles of water per stay at most properties.
If you spend $20,000 or more on qualifying purchases with Hilton Honors Amex in one calendar year, you’ll even receive Gold elite status until the end of the next calendar year — for specials. rights like breakfast credit and upgrade preferred rooms when available.
Related: How much is Hilton Honors elite status worth?
It’s great with Amex Platinum and Amex Business Cards
The Hilton Honors Amex isn’t just for beginners. In fact, I think it is suitable for those who have brought premium rewards card – detail, Platinum Card® from American Express And Business Platinum® Card from American Express.
Both the consumer and business Amex Platinum cards offer complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status to cardholders. Here is an overview of the benefits that come from this second highest level of elite:
- 80% Points Reward: Earn 8 more points for every dollar spent (4 points for every dollar spent at Home2 Suites and Tru properties).
- Key Bonus: When you reach 40 qualifying nights, you’ll take home 10,000 bonus for every tenth night you stay.
- Free Thursday Night: Earn Free Thursday Night on all reward redemptions.
- Availability Upgrades: At most Hilton brands, you’ll be upgraded to fancy rooms.
- Breakfast Credit: Depending on the Hilton brand, you’ll receive a credit of $10 to $25 per person for you and up to two registered guests.
- Two complimentary bottles of water per stay.
For reasons, TPG appreciates the elite status of Hilton Honors Gold at $1,255 annually. Of course, the exact value will vary depending on how often you frequent the Hilton properties. However, it’s still a great perk that it’s completely free if you bring an Amex Platinum or Amex Business Platinum.
Even if the free Silver elite status is duplicated, the Hilton Honors Amex actually has a good additional earning rate for these two Amex cards:
| Card | Reward and profit ratio based on TPG . valuation |
|---|---|
| Honor Hotel Amex |
|
| Platinum Amex |
|
| Amex trading platinum |
|
If you use your Hilton Amex to pay for stays at Hilton properties and have Hilton Gold status through your Platinum card, here are the points you’ll earn:
- 7 points per dollar (card bonus).
- 10 points per dollar (basic income).
- 8 points per dollar (Gold status bonus).
In other words, you’re taking home at least 25 points for every dollar you spend at Hilton properties, a 15% return rate based on TPG’s valuation. And even this doesn’t take into account any promotions may be in effect at the time of your stay.
In addition, Hilton Honors Amex offers a wide range of daily bonus categories (dining, grocery and gas) that combine nicely with Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum. And if you need to top up your Hilton Honors points balance, remember that Hilton is a American Express transfer partner. For every 1 Membership Rewards point you transfer, you will receive 2 Hilton Honors points.
Plus, you’ll have plenty to score from the welcome offer and enjoy your Gold elite benefits during those stays — win, win.
Related: Guide to Marriott and Hilton Elite Status with Amex Platinum and Business Platinum
It complements other Hilton Honors cards
If you already carry another Hilton Honors card in your wallet (or have had before), why not add this one annual free card for the welcome offer alone?
We all want the chance to get more rewards points and the Hilton Honors Amex has done just that. That’s a lot to overlook — especially if you don’t qualify for the incremental offers on other cards as a member. current (or past) cardholder.
Related: Credit card showdown: Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Amex
You can be targeted to upgrade your card later
Anecdotally, American Express is known to be generous in targeting Hilton Honors cardholders for upgrade offers.
In the future, you may be offered bonus points to upgrade your Hilton Honors Amex to Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® card ($95 annual fee; see rates and fees) or Hilton honors American Express Aspire ($450 annual fee; see rates and fees).
There are no guarantees here, but in the past we have seen Upgrade offer up to 150,000 bonus points. That means you have the ability to upgrade your card, win huge amounts of bonus points, and enhance your benefits — all without filling out a brand new card application (and trading with a new card). other cards). yank your credit report).
Information about the Hilton Aspire hotel has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Hilton Surpass vs Hilton Aspire: Which Card Is Right For You?
bottom line
Normally, we wouldn’t recommend signing up for the annual fee-free card over their counterparts with an annual fee, but there are many valid reasons why the Hilton Honors Amex is a good deal right now. Personally, I’m planning to apply for that welcome bonus on my own — and stack it with my other prizes as an Aspire cardholder.
Now for the tougher decision: Where do I go with hoard free night certificates?
Official app link: Honor Hotel Amex with 70,000 Hilton Honors points and a free one-night bonus after you spend $1,000 on purchases on the card during the first three months of your card membership.
For Hilton Honors Amex Card rates and fees, please click This.
For Hilton Honors Surpass rates and fees, please click This.
For Hilton Honors Aspire Card prices and fees, please click This.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox.
