The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card comes with the program’s top-tier Diamond status. On paper, Diamond status offers suite upgrades, a food and beverage credit to cover the cost of breakfast (or free breakfast, outside the U.S.) for two daily and a 4 p.m. late check out.
The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
When I opened the card two years ago, little did I know I would seldom receive any of these benefits. This is largely due to inconsistency among Hilton properties and the sheer mass of Hilton Diamond members around the globe.
Here’s why Hilton needs a Diamond+ tier, and this is what it should include.
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As a Hilton Diamond, you’re one of many
KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Let’s face it — for a top-tier status level, Diamond status is too easy to earn.
When you check into a Hilton hotel in the U.S., you’re bound to find yourself in a lobby full of other Diamond members. And with so many Diamond members, hotels can’t differentiate you from everyone else, even if you earned status outright.
This, in itself, is the single biggest reason why Hilton needs a Diamond+ tier in my book.
Related: The award traveler’s guide to Hilton Honors
Suite upgrades — for real
KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY
While I’ve enjoyed Hilton’s massive footprint, suite upgrades are far and few between.
As my colleague pointed out, Diamond elites “may” receive suite upgrades, but they’re currently not guaranteed, even if available. About a year ago, Hilton started offering upgrades 72 hours out, but in my experience, Hilton properties just haven’t been offering their creme de la creme suites to Hilton elites.
Further, once you complete check in on the Hilton Honors app, you’re almost always given a specific room number, which is seldom an upgraded room. Despite the app assuring you that an upgrade has been requested, once you have a specific room number, it’s often the final nail in the coffin for another un-upgraded stay.
A Diamond+ tier should provide waitlisted upgrades to the best available room — then follow through with said upgrades.
Additionally, I’d like to see Diamond+ provide at least five annual nightly suite upgrade certificates that could be used to confirm a suite upgrade at the time of booking. That would bring the program more in line with top-tier Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt status, both of which offer a path to advanced confirmed suite upgrade certificates.
Related: Your ultimate guide to Hilton hotel brands
A proper breakfast
KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY
At the end of 2021, Hilton replaced the daily elite continental breakfast with a food and beverage credit at properties in the U.S.
However, this credit seldom covers a hotel breakfast. My colleague, Ryan Smith, recently stayed at a Hilton Garden Inn property with his wife in Southern California. With his Diamond status, Ryan was offered a $20 food and beverage credit — $10 per person. Unfortunately, breakfast was $14.95 per person at this property.
While paying $4.95 per person for breakfast isn’t the end of the world, it cheapens Diamond status and might make an elite member feel nickel-and-dimed.
This problem extends outside of the U.S., too. On a recent stay at the Conrad Punta de Mita in Mexico, I was offered a $17 daily breakfast credit even though the breakfast buffet cost was $34 per person, plus tax. This was despite Diamond status officially offering a full continental breakfast outside of the U.S.
A Diamond+ tier would provide a proper breakfast, no questions asked, at all Hilton properties globally.
Related: Which hotel has the best free breakfast? TPG ate 10 meals to find the winner
Guaranteed 4 p.m. checkouts
HILTON
As a Diamond member, I’ve been told “no” time after time when asking for a late checkout. And on the rare occasion when it’s not a full “no,” it’s often “how about 1 p.m.?”
A Diamond+ tier should offer guaranteed 4 p.m. checkouts. Again, this would bring Hilton’s top-tier status closer to Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt.
Related: How and when to ask for late checkout at a hotel
Personalized support
HILTON
This is an easy one. When you call the Diamond line, it’s common to run into lengthy hold times before being transferred to an overseas call center.
Last month I tried to redeem two free night certificates from my Aspire card, which must be done over the phone. I was on hold for 25 minutes before being transferred to an agent who was completely unfamiliar with Hilton free night certificates. He insisted that I must have been mistaken and went as far as to suggest that I should just use my points, since I have enough.
After my request to speak with another agent was declined, I called back, waited on hold again and was connected with an agent who was able to help.
Top-tier Hyatt Globalist status entitles you to the My Hyatt Concierge, while top-tier Marriott Ambassador Elite status gives you a designated Ambassador line. In turn, a Diamond+ tier should have its own support line.
Related: 7 ways to redeem points with the Hilton Honors program
Partner benefits
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Hilton leaves you hanging when it comes to partner benefits. Marriott Titanium and Ambassador Elite members are eligible for a status match to United Airlines Premier Silver. In contrast, Hyatt members are eligible to earn bonus points World of Hyatt points on American Airlines. Hyatt and American also periodically run status challenges for partner elites.
A Diamond+ tier should provide partner benefits, too — such as an elite status match on Delta Air Lines, one of the major U.S. carriers without a close hotel ally.
Related: 13 ways to earn more Hilton Honors points
Waived fees
KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY
World of Hyatt is the leader in waiving fees for top-tier elite members, and it would be nice to see Hilton catch up.
While Hilton waives resort fees on award stays, it would be nice to see that benefit extended to stays booked with cash. Similarly, it would be nice to see a Diamond+ tier comp parking fees, which Hyatt Globalist status offers when redeeming points or free night awards.
Related: How I’m spending 4 million Hilton Honors points
Bottom line
When I applied for the Aspire card two years ago, I opened the card primarily for the Diamond status. Fast forward and now, due to the scarcity of late check-outs, skimpy food and beverage credits and near-nonexistent suite upgrades, I’m not feeling the love from Hilton Honors.
A Diamond+ status tier with more robust elite benefits would make road warriors like myself feel more appreciated for their spending at Hilton properties. This would likely have a positive outcome for Hilton too, as frequent travelers could move their stays to Hilton properties to earn Diamond+ if its benefits beat the competition.
Featured photo by Kyle Olsen/The Points Guy.