In my view, at inception I thought this was bar none one of the best CC value propositions I'd have ever seen, especially taking into consideration the SUB. It's almost as if they're paying the cardmember to enjoy Diamond status. Of course, I do spend a minimum of "X" dollars per year on travel and will always use the benefits, but I assume that's the targeted demographic? Matter of fact, I'm both pleasantly surprised and thankful Amex hasn't nerfed this thing, which I was almost certain would've happened by now.

In short, yes. I am a leisure traveler - when I had an employer who paid for the occasional business trip, I had to use my corporate card anyway. For international travel it is really nice to have Diamond status since properties abroad usually still offer substantial benefits to elites (breakfast, lounge, maybe room upgrades). The free night and airline credit are easy to use. There are a lot of resorts, so it shouldn’t be too hard to use the resort credit naturally, but there are also ways to fudge it. I have not used a Conrad/WA credit because it has been many years since I had the opportunity to stay at one. Just no opportunity - I don’t travel with a credit in mind. One day I am sure it will happen, but even without it the card is profitable for me.

Would be good to know more about your travel style. International or domestic? Resorts or roadside Hampton Inn?

Welcome to Flyertalk!

I find myself in the middle - happy to stick to a brand that's available and worth it. I don't spend more than 2k a year on hotels, though, right now. however I could use the $250 credit at a resort near me easily for a nice staycation.

Hello! I'd say a mix of both. A few domestic trips a year, something international every 2-3 years. 5-10 nights a year typically. Maybe one of those trips is a Hampton inn, another two are probably a resort/embassy suites type place. Never travel for work, we make an OK income, nothing like most of the users on here. So I want to make sure what we do gets us some travel back - I think I am between the Aspire and the venture one X.

Diamond status got us a nice upgrade last month in Hawaii. Using points for a regular room we ended up in a Cottage Suite. It was very nice.

Whether the maneuvers some of us do to take advantage of the various credits for this card are “fudging” and/or “tricks” is semantics (and debatable). Regardless of where one is on that debate, those maneuvers are not unethical or amoral or illegal. Certainly those maneuvers are not nearly as questionable as some of the MS (manufactured spend) maneuvers posted here (covering the word “debit” or "gift" with a finger when asked to show the card, using someone else’s SSN, etc.). Certainly one is NOT a sap if one chooses to not do these maneuvers.

It's not been mentioned on this thread yet but Hilton Diamond status (and hence the Aspire card) had significantly greater value just a short while ago. Hilton in the past couple of years has replaced complimentary breakfast(s) for Diamonds with a breakfast credit (which usually pales in comparison to the actual cost of breakfast).

Even with that recent “devaluation”, consensus of opinions expressed on this and other threads is that the Aspire card, particularly in this age of (relative) unchurnability, is a keeper and well worth the annual fee even for infrequent and/or leisure and/or casual travelers.

Why not both?

That change was for US properties only, as far as I know.

For me it has been somewhat of a mixed impact. While the credit probably generally is less than what we would consume for breakfast, there are times when we visit friends/family and actually don�t use the free breakfast benefit because we want to go out for breakfast with them somewhere else. In the past we are forgoing the free breakfast and paying for the outside breakfast. Now we can use the daily credit to stock up the room with snacks and drinks or have lunch or dinner instead. All things considered, as would prefer a choice (even a couple thousand points as an option would be nice).

First of all, I said that *I* was the sap. But I'm ok with that.

If I have to book a flight with upgraded seats, that I know I'll never take and plan on cancelling...or book a resort that I know I will never stay at...then while you might say there's nothing wrong with that, I would say....I really don't need this pricey credit card.

But I do get more than $450 worth of value every year....I could get more by not being a sap, but I'm ok with that.

I'm pretty sure this is the point -- it's "breakage."

Honestly the AF's -seems like the venture x pays for itself easily without work. The Aspire, you have to definitely take a flight or Jimmy the system to get that AF return. With that said I do think the reward return on the Aspire is higher, but the Venture X is more flexible. Not sure what is best for the casual traveler like myself.

Be careful what you wish for. If they changed it to any airline purchase, they'd also probably change it to $25 off, not $250 off, because they would know everyone would get it. The whole reason it's $250 is because it's not so easy to get.

But the bigger risk is that they'll get rid of the airline "incidental" credit rather than changing it. They already got rid of the airline "incidental" credit on the Amex Gold card.

And, btw, it's not any money spent at a resort that counts, it's only money billed to the resort (whether spent in person or spent online). If there's someplace within the resort that does their own billing, that won't trigger the resort credit. And prepaid online doesn't work in the USA, because USA prepaid rates are billed to Hilton central, not to the individual hotel/resort.

Remember, it's Amex that's giving the airline "incidental" credit, but it's Hilton that's giving the resort credit. So it's not the same "they" in both cases.

Card benefits on partner cards are co-designed between the credit card company and the partner, and you shouldn't assume that all the benefits are coming from the same place.

IMO, if you can use the benefits its absolutely worth trying it out.

In year one you will get:

• 150,000 points - I value this at $750 ($.005 per point)
• 1 Free Night (uncapped value) - I value this at about $250-300. Although you can offset a $1,000 a night hotel, would you pay that much without the certificate? If not, value it at what you would pay
• $250 resort credit
• $250 airline credit

You will also get Diamond status. Up to you after year 1 if you think you got enough benefit from that. If you decide after year 1 to downgrade, keep in mind that the airline credit is calendar year, so use that twice before downgrading.

The Aspire card can very easily pay for itself, much quicker than the new Bonvoy Brilliant can

Thanks - ended up getting approved for it with a 25k CL. I am excited to reap the benefits. Already bought two cheap SW tix to get the credits on hopefully.

Yes thanks to the changes the Bonvoy Brilliant is a way worse value proposition.

Can someone confirm if this card is available for UK residents

Aspire is not offered to markets outside the USA. This doesn't mean it is "impossible" to apply, but you will need some connection to the United States to be approved. See here:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...periences.html