The thought of getting two bank cards from the identical resort model could appear unusual, but it surely might truly profit your travels.
When you’re a Hilton loyalist, going all-in with the Hilton Honors American Categorical Aspire Card and Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card will grant you two welcome bonuses, a breadth of incomes classes, an computerized free night time reward and extra.
Assuming you keep at a Hilton property no less than a number of instances annually, it’s best to contemplate this technique. This is all the pieces it’s essential know.
Obtain worthwhile factors from 2 welcome bonuses
Probably the greatest elements of incomes factors and miles is the flexibility to redeem them for high-value resort stays. Welcome bonuses are a good way to amass plenty of factors or miles shortly.
Collectively, the Hilton Aspire and Hilton Surpass can supercharge your rewards steadiness with their welcome provides. With the Aspire, you may earn 175,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
With the Surpass, you may earn 155,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
That is a grand complete of 330,000 bonus factors throughout each welcome bonuses.
In response to TPG’s December 2025 valuations, 330,000 Hilton bonus factors are price $1,650. These elevated provides finish Jan. 14, 2026, making now an excellent time to use.
These 330,000 Hilton factors are sufficient for a three-night keep on choose dates on the luxurious Waldorf Astoria Riviera Maya, or you might stretch them throughout a number of stays by reserving with funds choices.
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It is simpler to earn a second free night time reward
The Hilton Aspire provides cardmembers an computerized free night time reward every cardmember yr. That is a really helpful profit for Hilton followers. Since you will not want to make use of any factors for this free night time, you might use it to increase a trip or take a fast weekend getaway.
Whereas it is attainable to earn a second free night time award with the Aspire, it is even simpler to take action with the Hilton Surpass. Whereas this card does not provide an computerized reward annually, cardmembers can earn one by spending no less than $15,000 on their card in a calendar yr. That must be fairly attainable for the typical spender, particularly if you happen to lease.
When you want staying at Hiltons over some other model, placing the additional effort in to earn a second free night time reward could make sense. Make it simpler on your self by aiming to earn one on the Surpass.
TPG’s director of content material for bank cards, factors and miles, Carly Helfand, used the free night time rewards she bought by her Hilton playing cards for a part of a keep on the Conrad Algarve this yr.
Maximize financial savings with extra assertion credit
Each the Hilton Aspire and Hilton Surpass provide assertion credit to assist justify their $550 (see the Aspire’s charges and charges) and $150 annual charges (see the Surpass’s charges and charges), respectively. By combining these advantages throughout each playing cards, you may maximize the worth you get out of your Hilton stays.
The Hilton Surpass provides as much as $50 every quarter (as much as $200 in assertion credit yearly) for purchases made straight at a Hilton property, which is nice for protecting your room fee, a meal or a spa remedy. In the meantime, you may obtain as much as $200 biannually (as much as $400 in assertion credit yearly) for eligible Hilton Resorts purchases out of your Aspire. Each of those assertion credit may very well be mixed if you happen to use them at a taking part Hilton Resort. These properties typically provide extra facilities than commonplace Hilton lodges, similar to swimming pools and actions.
The Hilton Aspire additionally provides flight-related assertion credit: as much as $50 every quarter (as much as $200 in assertion credit yearly) for purchases made straight with an airline or by Amex Journey, and as much as $209 in assertion credit every calendar yr for a Clear Plus membership (enrollment required; topic to auto-renewal).
Assuming you employ the entire Hilton assertion credit and the airline assertion credit score to their fullest annually, you may greater than make up for the annual value of those playing cards.
Reap the advantages of Hilton Diamond standing
When you solely maintain the Hilton Surpass, you may obtain Hilton Gold standing. Whereas Hilton Gold is not unhealthy by any means, the Hilton Diamond standing supplied by the Hilton Aspire is a significantly better match for loyal Hilton followers, who obtain:
- Greater precedence for space-available room upgrades
- 100% bonus factors on stays
- A 48-hour room assure
- Government lounge entry
- Premium Wi-Fi
TPG contributing editor for bank cards Matt Moffitt’s favourite advantage of the Aspire is the complimentary breakfast for 2 that he receives when staying at Hilton properties overseas (because of the cardboard’s Diamond standing). He values this at no less than $20 per particular person, including as much as no less than $200 in worth on a five-night keep for 2 folks. (Cardmembers get a food-and-beverage credit score when staying at lodges within the U.S.)
If you are going to go all-in on Hilton, it is smart to offer your self the perfect expertise attainable everytime you keep. Opening the Aspire alongside the Surpass will be sure to get simply that, whereas not forcing you to surrender any of the perks you want on the Surpass.
Earn bonus factors throughout many classes
The Hilton Aspire‘s largest strengths within the earnings division are with Hilton and on eating and choose journey. In the meantime, the Hilton Surpass covers a large breadth of bonus classes for a resort card, that means any gaps within the Aspire’s incomes classes can simply be crammed.
With each the Aspire and Surpass, you may cowl the next bonus classes:
| Class | Which card do you have to use? | Incomes fee (factors per greenback spent) |
|---|---|---|
|
Aspire |
14 |
|
|
Flights booked straight with airways or by Amex Journey
|
Aspire |
7 |
|
Eating at U.S. eating places (together with takeout and supply)
|
Aspire |
7 |
|
Automobile leases booked straight (with choose automotive rental firms)
|
Aspire |
7 |
|
Surpass |
6 |
|
|
Surpass |
6 |
|
|
U.S. on-line retail purchases
|
Surpass |
4 |
Each playing cards earn 3 factors per greenback spent on all different eligible purchases.
By optimizing your technique throughout each playing cards, you may make sure you earn essentially the most Hilton factors attainable towards your subsequent keep.
Backside line
Many factors and miles lovers do not give a lot thought to cobranded resort playing cards, since many people imagine that transferable rewards are king. However if you happen to stick with Hilton for many or your entire holidays, combining the Hilton Surpass and Aspire playing cards can critically elevate your travels.
Simply just remember to preserve monitor of your playing cards’ assertion credit, as they’re key to making sure you get sufficient worth to justify every card’s annual price yr after yr.
To be taught extra, take a look at our critiques of the Hilton Surpass and Hilton Aspire.
Apply right here: Hilton Honors Aspire
Apply right here: Hilton Surpass
For charges and charges of the Hilton Aspire, please click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Hilton Surpass, please click on right here.
