United Club vs Hilton Honors Aspire: Which Is Better In 2025?

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down why we like the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire.

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• Cardholders automatically receive top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status, unlocking premium perks across Hilton properties.
• Although it comes with an annual fee (See Rates & Fees), the card provides hundreds of dollars in annual statement credits for flights and Hilton resort stays.
• The annual Free Night Award alone can offset the card's cost when redeemed at a luxury property (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Automatic top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status provides elite perks like room upgrades, lounge access, and complimentary food and beverage credits.
• A suite of annual statement credits for travel, including credits for Hilton resort stays and flights, helps offset the annual fee.
• An annual uncapped Free Night Award can be redeemed at some of the most aspirational Hilton properties worldwide.

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Cons

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• A significant annual fee makes this card best suited for loyal Hilton guests who can consistently take advantage of its perks.
• The card's statement credits are broken down into smaller increments and are limited to specific property types, which can make them challenging to use fully.
• Points earned are confined to the Hilton Honors program, offering less flexibility than transferable rewards currencies.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire vs United Club

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Categories

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Deciding between premium travel cards can be tough, so let's break down which is better, United Club or Hilton Honors Aspire, based on your travel style.

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• The United Club℠ Card is a premium travel card designed for frequent United Airlines flyers. It's best suited for United loyalists and business travelers who want to maximize their benefits within the airline's ecosystem.
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is tailored for frequent travelers who prefer staying at Hilton properties. This card is ideal for those who visit Hilton hotels and resorts and want to enjoy elite status and property-specific perks.

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Redemption

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United Club℠ Card: Rewards are earned as MileagePlus miles, which can be redeemed for flights on United and its partner airlines. Miles can also be used for other travel-related purchases like seat upgrades, car rentals, and hotel stays booked through the United portal.

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Points are redeemed within the Hilton Honors loyalty program, primarily for free nights at hotels and resorts across the Hilton portfolio. You can also use points for on-property rewards, exclusive experiences, and transfers to airline partners.

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Travel Perks

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• Lounge Access: The United Club℠ Card includes a United Club membership, giving you access to United Club locations and participating Star Alliance partner lounges. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, on the other hand, offers a Priority Pass Select membership, which provides entry to a separate network of over 1,300 lounges globally. Terms apply.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are ideal for international travel, as neither charges foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside the United States.
• Travel Portals: Cardholders of the United Club℠ Card book travel through the United portal, using miles or cash for flights and other travel. Hilton Honors Aspire cardmembers use the AmexTravel.com portal for bookings, though it's often best to book Hilton stays directly to maximize elite benefits and point redemptions.

_{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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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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If you're looking for a data-driven way to choose your next card, a tool like Kudos can help you compare thousands of options to find the best fit for your spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards: Before you apply, you can use your real spending data to simulate your potential earnings with a new card. This feature provides an annual rewards projection and a net value calculation after accounting for any annual fees.
• Personalized matching: Get matched with cards that will earn you the most rewards based on your actual spending history.
• Detailed approval odds: See an analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report before you commit to an application.
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Who Should Choose the United Club?

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The United Club℠ Infinite Card is tailor-made for loyal United Airlines flyers, particularly business and international travelers who can maximize its premium benefits. These cardholders value complimentary United Club membership for comfort and productivity on the go, along with significant savings from free first and second checked bags for themselves and a companion. Furthermore, the card is a strong choice for those chasing MileagePlus Premier status through spending and who appreciate the convenience of Premier Access® services like priority check-in and boarding.

Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?

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The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card is tailor-made for frequent travelers who are loyal to the Hilton brand, staying at their properties at least once or twice per year. This cardholder is typically a luxury traveler who can maximize value by using the annual free night, resort credits, and automatic Diamond status at high-end locations like Conrad or Waldorf Astoria properties. In essence, if you can fully leverage the premium hotel perks to easily offset the annual fee, this premium card is an excellent fit, whereas occasional travelers might want to look elsewhere.

Alternatives to Consider

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The United Club℠ Infinite Card and the Hilton Honors American Express® Aspire Card both offer tremendous value, but they cater to very specific travelers. If you're not loyal to either United Airlines or Hilton, there are other excellent premium travel cards to consider that provide more flexible rewards.

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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 – You will generally need good to excellent credit to be approved for a premium travel card.
• Plan your spending – Ensure you can naturally meet the minimum spend for the welcome offer without forcing purchases.
• Review eligibility rules – Be aware of issuer-specific restrictions, as you may not be eligible for a welcome bonus if you have had the card in the past.

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Application Strategy

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• Align with your loyalty – Choose a card that matches your preferred airline or hotel to maximize benefits.
• Understand benefit thresholds – Some perks, like elite status or free nights, may require meeting a specific spending amount.
• Time your application – Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement faster.

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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Can I access United Clubs with the Hilton Honors Aspire Card?

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No, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card does not provide access to United Club lounges. Its lounge access benefit is for the Priority Pass Select network of lounges.

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Does the United Club Infinite Card offer hotel benefits?

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The United Club℠ Infinite Card focuses primarily on air travel perks with United Airlines and does not include hotel-specific benefits like elite status or free night awards.

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What are the annual fees for the United Club Infinite and Hilton Aspire cards?

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The United Club℠ Infinite Card has a $525 annual fee, while the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has a $550 annual fee. These fees are subject to change, so it's always best to confirm with the issuer.

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