Hilton Honors Aspire vs Delta SkyMiles Platinum: Which Is Better In 2025?

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here's a breakdown of why we like the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card.

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• The annual companion certificate for a domestic main cabin round-trip flight can provide significant value that helps justify the card's annual fee (See Rates & Fees).
• Cardholders receive practical travel benefits like a first checked bag free on Delta flights and statement credits for everyday purchases like rideshares and dining.

_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company}

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Pros

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• Earn a generous welcome offer of bonus miles after meeting initial spending requirements.
• Receive an annual companion certificate for a domestic main cabin round-trip flight each year you renew your card.
• Accelerate your path to Medallion® status and earn bonus miles on eligible purchases including at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.

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Cons

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• Carries a significant annual fee and does not include complimentary Delta Sky Club® access.
• The annual companion certificate is limited to domestic main cabin flights and comes with notable restrictions.
• Maximizing rewards can be challenging due to complex bonus categories and high spending requirements for certain benefits.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express vs Hilton Honors American Express Aspire

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Categories

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Choosing between a hotel and airline co-branded card can be tough, so let's break down which is better, the Hilton Honors Aspire or Delta SkyMiles Platinum, based on your travel style. Both cards offer premium perks, but they cater to very different types of travelers.

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• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is best for frequent Hilton travelers, particularly those who stay at resort properties. It's designed for users who want to maximize luxury hotel experiences and take full advantage of top-tier elite status perks.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is tailored for loyal Delta Air Lines flyers looking to earn SkyMiles quickly and accelerate their path to Medallion status. It's also a strong choice for couples and families who can leverage its companion travel benefits.

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Redemption

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Points are primarily redeemed for stays across Hilton's portfolio of hotels and resorts. You can also use points for room upgrades, on-property rewards, and transferring to airline partners.

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Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: SkyMiles earned with this card are best used for booking Delta flights, including premium cabin seats and upgrades. Miles can also be redeemed for flights with partner airlines or for non-flight rewards like vacation packages and merchandise.

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Travel Perks

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• Lounge Access: The Hilton Honors Aspire Card includes a Priority Pass Select membership, granting access to a global network of airport lounges. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card offers access to the Delta Sky Club network for a fee when you are flying with Delta.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Neither card charges foreign transaction fees, making them ideal for purchases made abroad.
• Annual Credits and Certificates: With the Hilton Honors Aspire Card, cardholders receive substantial annual statement credits for airline fees and Hilton resort purchases, along with a Free Night Reward each year. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card provides an annual Companion Certificate, good for one round-trip Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American flight.
• Elite Status Perks: The Hilton Honors Aspire Card automatically confers top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status, which includes benefits like space-available room upgrades and executive lounge access. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card helps you reach Delta Medallion status faster by giving you a head start on Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) each year and allowing you to earn more MQDs through spending.

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Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?

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The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card is tailor-made for loyal Hilton guests, particularly those who frequent its resort properties at least once or twice a year. This traveler is someone who can organically use the card's various statement credits and fully leverage the automatic Diamond elite status for perks like complimentary breakfast and room upgrades. Ultimately, it's for the luxury traveler who views the high annual fee as a worthwhile investment for a significantly enhanced hotel experience, as detailed in our full Hilton Aspire Card review.

Who Should Choose the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express?

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The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express card is a strong contender for frequent Delta flyers and those aiming to achieve or maintain Delta Medallion status. It's also particularly valuable for couples and families who can take advantage of the annual companion certificate for a domestic round-trip flight. Ultimately, the card best serves moderate-to-heavy spenders with good to excellent credit who can maximize its travel perks and statement credits, as detailed in this comprehensive review.

Alternatives to Consider

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Perhaps our Hilton Honors Aspire vs Delta SkyMiles Platinum comparison has shown that neither card is the perfect match for your wallet. Fortunately, the world of travel rewards cards is vast, and other options might be a better fit.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – A good to excellent score is typically required for premium travel cards.
• Plan your spending – Make sure you can naturally meet any spending requirements for the welcome offer.
• Review the benefits – Ensure the card’s perks and credits align with your travel and spending habits.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer's rules – Check your eligibility for the Welcome Offer, as some issuers have restrictions for previous cardholders.
• Time your application – Apply before a planned large purchase to help meet the spending requirement for the Welcome Offer.
• Be persistent – If you don't receive the best offer initially, you can often decline and try again later.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Which card offers better airport lounge access?

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The Hilton Honors Aspire Card includes a Priority Pass Select membership, giving you access to over 1,300 lounges globally. In contrast, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card provides entry to Delta Sky Clubs when you're flying with Delta, which is ideal for the airline's loyal customers.

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Which card is better for achieving elite status?

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The Hilton Honors Aspire Card automatically grants you top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status, a significant and immediate perk for hotel stays. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card can help you earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) toward Delta Medallion Status, but it does not grant status outright.

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Can I transfer points between Hilton Honors and Delta SkyMiles?

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You cannot directly transfer points between the Hilton Honors and Delta SkyMiles programs. While both are transfer partners of American Express Membership Rewards, their own points must be redeemed within their respective ecosystems.

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