The concept of getting two bank cards from the same hotel brand could appear unusual, but it surely may really profit your travels.
When you’re a Hilton loyalist, going all-in with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and Hilton Honors American Express 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 couple of instances every year, it is best to contemplate this technique. Here is every thing you’ll want to know.
Obtain precious factors from 2 welcome bonuses
The most effective 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 a whole lot 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 will earn 175,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
With the Surpass, you will 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.
Based on TPG’s December 2025 valuations, 330,000 Hilton bonus factors are value $1,650. These elevated provides finish Jan. 14, 2026, making now a good time to apply.
These 330,000 Hilton factors are sufficient for a three-night keep on choose dates on the luxurious Waldorf Astoria Riviera Maya, or you may stretch them throughout a number of stays by reserving with price range 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 may use it to increase a trip or take a fast weekend getaway.
Whereas it is doable 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 would not provide an computerized reward every year, cardmembers can earn one by spending no less than $15,000 on their card in a calendar yr. That ought to be moderately attainable for the typical spender, particularly if you rent.
When you desire staying at Hiltons over another 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 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 rates and fees) and $150 annual charges (see the Surpass’s rates and fees), 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 will obtain up to $200 biannually (as much as $400 in assertion credit yearly) for eligible Hilton Resorts purchases out of your Aspire. Each of those assertion credit might be mixed when you use them at a participating Hilton Resort. These properties typically provide extra facilities than normal Hilton resorts, corresponding 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 utilize all the Hilton assertion credit and the airline assertion credit score to their fullest every year, you will greater than make up for the annual price of those playing cards.
Reap the advantages of Hilton Diamond standing
When you solely maintain the Hilton Surpass, you will obtain Hilton Gold standing. Whereas Hilton Gold is not dangerous by any means, the Hilton Diamond standing supplied by the Hilton Aspire is a much better fit for loyal Hilton followers, who obtain:
- Greater precedence for space-available room upgrades
- 100% bonus factors on stays
- A 48-hour room assure
- Govt lounge entry
- Premium Wi-Fi
TPG contributing editor for bank cards Matt Moffitt‘s favourite good thing about the Aspire is the complimentary breakfast for two 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 individuals. (Cardmembers get a food-and-beverage credit score when staying at resorts within the U.S.)
If you are going to go all-in on Hilton, it is sensible to offer your self the perfect expertise doable everytime you keep. Opening the Aspire alongside the Surpass will be sure you 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 greatest 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 categories 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 will 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 automobile rental corporations)
|
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 will make sure you earn probably the most Hilton factors doable towards your subsequent keep.
Backside line
Many factors and miles fanatics do not give a lot thought to cobranded resort playing cards, since many people imagine that transferable rewards are king. However when you stick with Hilton for many or all your holidays, combining the Hilton Surpass and Aspire playing cards can significantly elevate your travels.
Simply just be sure you keep track of your cards’ statement credits, as they’re key to making sure you get sufficient worth to justify each card’s annual fee yr after yr.
To study extra, try our opinions of the Hilton Surpass and Hilton Aspire.
Apply right here: Hilton Honors Aspire
Apply right here: Hilton Surpass
For charges and costs of the Hilton Aspire, please click on here.
For charges and costs of the Hilton Surpass, please click on here.