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With the Citibank Hilton Reserve, the free weekend night for spending $10,000 was based on cardmember years and the $40,000 in spending to obtain diamond status was based on a calendar year. So, by spending at least $10,000 in one membership year and the remainder of the $40,000 in the next membership year but same calendar year, the cardholder would have diamond membership for the current and the following calendar year plus two free weekend nights for two $95 annual fees and the opportunity cost of spending the money on the Hilton credit card.

Since many people have better options for spending $40,000 than with the Hilton card, I assumed a 1% loss on Hilton Reserve charges which would make the cost for almost two years of diamond status and two free nights 2*$95 + .01*$40,000 = $580. With the Aspire card, the cardholder would pay 2*$450 = $900 minus the amount of credits utilized and still receive two free nights and diamond status. While the Aspire will make the process simpler and more rewarding for those who take advantage of the $250 credits each year and other benefits, it’s not as if there wasn’t a relatively inexpensive option of obtaining diamond status previously.