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Old Feb 22, 2025 | 4:39 pm
  #173  
Dr Jabadski
2M
50 Countries Visited
100 Nights
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold 1.2MM (BIS), AA LT Plat (SUBs, BD/Bask), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 4,557
Originally Posted by TTT103
...can't wrap my head around the value proposition of the Aspire card. ...
AF: $550

Semi-annual Hilton Resort credit: $200 x 2 = $400
(Easily obtainable without ever stepping foot in a Hilton property as per many previous reports.)

Quarterly Airline Fee credit: $50 x 4 = $200
(Easily obtainable without ever flying a BIS mile as per many previous reports.)

Annual FNA: ~$250 (conservative estimate)

Total: Net $300 in your pocket EVERY YEAR plus 14 points/$ at Hilton properties plus various other Hilton Diamond perks.

I’ve had the card for 6.5 years, my spreadsheet indicates $3250 in AFs, $1850 Airline Fee credits, 6 prior Annual $250 Resort credits plus 3 more recent Semi-annual $200 Resort credits = $2100, 6 FNAs redeemed (1 DT Vail, 3 Hilton London Paddington, 2 Hilton London Metropole) 1 more valid until Nov 2025, ~$320-$375 each, total ~$2050. Total net profit ~$2750 (plus valid FNA) over 6.5 years.

Interesting choice of words (“can't wrap my head around”) considering that some people consider the card to be a “no brainer”.

Originally Posted by Dr Jabadski
(11/2/2020 Hilton Aspire Card, Moneymaker? thread, Post #1)

… I admit it, even with a high annual fee, I don’t see how AmEx makes any money off this card. Every year, I pay a $450 annual fee and get a $250 Airline Fee credit and a $250 Hilton Resort credit (for staying at the same places I stayed before I had the card) and a free weekend night (which going forward will be good for any night). I don’t stay at high end luxury properties, I’ve used the free night each time for 1 night of a multiple night stay and saved about $300-$350. In 3 years I’ve paid $1350 total fees and received $1500 in direct credits plus about $1000 saved (3 free nights) plus about 400,000-500,000 Honors points without doing anything differently or staying anywhere I wouldn’t stay without the card. … Thank you.
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