American Express Hilton Credits

No one likes paying high annual fees. Okay, there is probably someone that likes it, but not the vast majority of us. One way we can justify high annual fees, however, are the perks and benefits that come with a credit card. Examples of these are the American Express Hilton credits. First it was one card, then two, then three, and now we have FOUR cards with such credits. Enough is enough, Amex. At some point, repetitive credits make the juice not worth the squeeze. I think we've reached that breaking point.

Historical American Express Hilton Credits

Until recently, there was only one American Express Hilton credit card with a Hilton credit: the American Express Hilton Aspire. Oftentimes considered one of the best, if not the best hotel cards on the market, this card historically offered a $250 credit per calendar year at select Hilton Resorts worldwide. This credit, combined with a $250 airline incidentals credit per calendar year made the card worthwhile. Even despite the high annual fee. For most, the airline incidentals credit is fairly easy to utilize for full value. We have a guide with the latest data points for what works.

Current State of Affairs

Beginning in early 2024, the addition and reworking of American Express Hilton credits began. First, we discussed why we hated the changes to the Hilton Business card in March 2024. In short, the Hilton Business card lost the perk of earning a Free Night Certificate after $15,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year. At the same time, the card's annual fee was significantly increased and a $240 yearly Hilton Hotels credit was added (up to $60 each calendar quarter).

Not to be outdone, American Express “enhanced” the Hilton Surpass and Hilton Aspire cards in 2024 too. As we covered on the blog in October, these changes followed the same modus operandi: higher annual fees (50%+ and 20%+ increases, respectively) and new credits. The Hilton Surpass added an up to $50 Hilton Hotel credit each calendar quarter, for a total of up to $200 per year.

Meanwhile, the Hilton Aspire nixed the annual $250 Hilton Resort credit. Instead, it added an up to $200 Hilton Resort credit two times per calendar year (split $200 from January 1 to June 30 and $200 July 1 to December 31 each year), for a total of up to $400 per calendar year. Additionally, Hilton Hotels reduced the number of available resorts where you can use this Aspire credit. We outline which properties are eligible in our guide to using the Hilton Aspire resort credits.

Shortly before the end of the year, the American Express Business Platinum joined the party and, you guessed it, added an up to $50 per calendar quarter (up to $200 per calendar year) credit at Hilton Hotels.

Note: all American Express credits require cardholders to enroll for specific benefits and perks. Consult your card's benefit page to review all terms and conditions.

Using the American Express Hilton Credits

As is the case for most credit card “perks,” these American Express Hilton credits are designed for breakage. This happens even for those that frequently stay at Hilton properties. For the Hilton Business, Hilton Surpass, and Business Platinum, you must remember to make a $50+ eligible purchase at Hilton Hotels every calendar quarter to maximize this perk. With the Aspire card, you must make a $200+ eligible purchase at select Hilton resorts twice per year (January 1 to June 30 and again July 1 to December 31) to maximize this benefit. For most folks, this just won't happen. You'll either forget to use each possible credit, it won't align with your travel plans, you'll forget to travel with a specific card, or a combination of these three.

Fortunately, buying Hilton gift cards online has historically triggered this credit. But as we've covered extensively on the blog, and thousands of data points in our Facebook group, there are widespread issues reported with these gift cards. Some properties refuse to accept them. Other properties say they are valid only in the United States. Some Hilton hotels only have success swiping a card for a fraction of the value (oftentimes reported as 80-90% of value). Even if these gift cards worked properly, the Hilton gift card website indicated recently that it was sold out of its stock of gift cards. That makes using these credits much more difficult. This is especially true for the Business Platinum $50 quarterly credit that was added only a few weeks before the end of the quarter.

My Experience & Frustration

Present Time Problems

Sarah and I have too many American Express Hilton credits. Currently, we have the following:

• 2 Hilton Business cards
• 2 Hilton Surpass cards
• a Hilton Aspire
• a Business Platinum

While this may not be nearly as many Hilton credits as some of you, it is too much for us. Each calendar year we must use 8 quarterly credits of $60, 12 quarterly credits of $50, and 2 biannual credits of $200 at select Hilton resorts. Just calculating this and typing it out was frustrating! It is simply too much.

So far in 2024, we have amassed $1,150 in Hilton gift cards. We have used exactly $0 of those so far. Additionally, we infrequently visit Hilton resorts that are eligible for the Aspire credits. So to use those credits this year, we had to prepay for stays in 2025. That, too, is burdensome and takes mental bandwidth. I do not foresee us booking an eligible Hilton resort solely to use a $200 credit. That is the tail wagging the dog and not something I ever plan to do.

Future Solution

So what is our plan? For starters, we are cancelling both our Hilton Business cards as soon as the annual fees are due. We join Mark in his frustration with the devaluations that occurred back in March. To be clear, the “enhancements” were, in fact, major devaluations. We simply cannot justify this card deserving a spot in our wallets, much less 2 spots. Frankly, if the Hilton Surpass lost the ability to earn Free Night Certificates after $15,000 in eligible purchases each calendar year, we'd close both of those too.

Simply put: trying to justify a high annual fee with quarterly or biannual credits is fool's gold and not worth the mental bandwidth required. While I understand that frequent travelers to Hilton properties and/or Hilton resorts might have an easier time using all these credits, even that is a stretch. It is hard to justify these credits at “full value” of the benefit, given the myriad of issues and the sheer number of credits to remember and use.

American Express Hilton Credits: ToP Thoughts

While credit card perks, benefits and credits are typically a good thing, the American Express Hilton credits have gone too far. Annual fees are up across the board and more and more Hilton credits are added. With four different Amex cards now offering some form of a Hilton credit, it is simply becoming too much. I am no longer interested in using specific cards, 2-4 times per year, for minimal perks. If this is the only way to justify a higher annual fee, I'll be canceling more cards in the future.

What are your thoughts on the American Express Hilton credits? Too little, just right or way too much? Let us know over in our Facebook group.