Hilton Honors Aspire vs JetBlue Plus: Which Is Better In 2025?

JetBlue Plus Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of why we like the JetBlue Plus Card.

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• It offers a high rewards rate on JetBlue purchases, plus bonus points at restaurants and grocery stores.
• While it carries an annual fee, it includes a free first checked bag and 5,000 anniversary bonus points to help offset the cost.
• The free checked bag benefit can cover the card's annual fee after just two round-trip flights (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Cardholders and their companions receive a free first checked bag on JetBlue-operated flights and get savings on in-flight purchases.
• The rewards program is strong, offering accelerated earnings on JetBlue purchases and giving you a percentage of your points back after redeeming for flights.
• It’s a great option for international travel as it charges no foreign transaction fees and includes a suite of travel protections.

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Cons

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• It lacks premium travel perks common to other travel cards, such as airport lounge access, priority boarding, and credits for expedited security programs.
• The annual statement credit is restricted to JetBlue Vacations packages, which limits its flexibility compared to a general travel credit.
• The card's value is heavily tied to flying with JetBlue, so its benefits are less useful for travelers who are not loyal to the airline.

JetBlue Plus vs Hilton Honors American Express Aspire

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Categories

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When deciding which is better Hilton Honors Aspire or JetBlue Plus, it's crucial to understand that each card caters to a very different type of traveler.

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• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card - This is a hotel credit card designed for frequent Hilton guests, particularly those who stay at resort properties. It is ideal for travelers seeking exceptional hotel benefits, luxury experiences, and automatic top-tier elite status.
• JetBlue Plus Card - This airline credit card is best for casual or moderately frequent JetBlue flyers. It provides core airline perks for those who want valuable benefits without paying for premium extras.

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Redemption

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Points are redeemed primarily for hotel stays across Hilton's extensive portfolio of brands, offering flexibility from standard rooms to premium suites. You can also transfer points to various airline partners to book award flights.

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JetBlue Plus Card: TrueBlue points are used to book any available seat on JetBlue-operated flights, with the point value directly tied to the current cash fare. Points can also be redeemed for flights on partner airlines and toward JetBlue Vacations packages.

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Travel Perks

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• Foreign Transaction Fees: Neither the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card nor the JetBlue Plus Card charges foreign transaction fees, making both suitable for international spending.
• Airport Lounge Access: The Hilton Aspire card includes a Priority Pass Select membership, offering access to a wide network of airport lounges worldwide. The JetBlue Plus card does not come with any lounge access benefits.
• Annual Credits: The Hilton Aspire card provides significant value through annual credits, such as an airline fee credit and a Hilton resort credit (Terms Apply). In contrast, the JetBlue Plus card offers an annual statement credit after purchasing a JetBlue Vacations package.
• Elite Status: A key feature of the Hilton Aspire card is the automatic top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status it confers on the cardholder. The JetBlue Plus card helps you work toward earning JetBlue Mosaic status through spending but does not grant it outright.
• Booking Portals: Hilton Aspire cardmembers can book travel through the American Express Travel portal, while JetBlue Plus cardholders book flights and vacation packages directly on JetBlue's website.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make an informed decision tailored to your spending, a tool like Kudos can help you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards with personalized, data-driven recommendations.

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• Test drive credit cards: Simulate the potential earnings of any card using your actual spending data to see personalized projections before you apply, with no commitment or hard credit pull.
• Approval odds analysis: Understand your chances of getting approved for a card with a detailed analysis based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
• Autofill at checkout: The service automatically suggests and fills in the best card from your wallet at checkout to maximize rewards on every purchase.
• Personalized recommendations: Get matched with the best cards for your spending habits from a database of nearly 3,000 options.

Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?

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The Hilton Honors American Express® Aspire Card is designed for frequent travelers loyal to the Hilton portfolio, particularly those who stay at its properties at least a couple of times per year and can maximize its premium benefits. This card is best for individuals who value guaranteed top-tier Diamond status and its associated perks—like room upgrades and lounge access—without needing to meet traditional stay requirements. As our full Hilton Aspire Card review details, it's a strong choice for luxury-minded travelers who can leverage the annual credits to offset the fee. Terms apply.

Who Should Choose the JetBlue Plus?

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The JetBlue Plus Card hits the sweet spot for casual travelers who are loyal to the airline but don't fly enough to justify a premium card's high annual fee. It's particularly valuable for budget-conscious individuals and families who can save significantly on baggage fees and earn rewards on everyday purchases like groceries and dining. Overall, the JetBlue Plus Card is a strong mid-tier option for those looking to enjoy meaningful perks on a couple of trips per year without a hefty commitment.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Hilton Honors Aspire vs JetBlue Plus comparison has left you feeling like neither card is the right fit, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent travel rewards cards that might better suit your spending habits and travel goals.

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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'll typically need good to excellent credit to be approved for a premium rewards card.
• Review bonus eligibility rules - Many issuers restrict welcome offers if you've previously held the card or one in the same product family.
• Assess the card's benefits - Make sure you can take full advantage of the statement credits and perks to make the card worthwhile.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application before a planned large purchase to help meet spending requirements.
• Check for issuer-specific family card rules that may affect your welcome offer eligibility.
• Plan how you will use any time-sensitive statement credits to maximize their value.

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 is better for earning elite status?

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The American Express® Hilton Honors Aspire Card automatically grants complimentary top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status. The JetBlue Plus Card offers a path to earning Mosaic status through card spending, but it is not an automatic benefit.

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Can I use the Hilton Aspire Card’s airline fee credit for JetBlue flights?

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Yes, you can select JetBlue as your preferred airline to use the annual airline fee credit. Keep in mind this credit typically applies to incidental charges like baggage fees, not airfare, and Terms Apply.

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Which card has a better anniversary bonus?

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The JetBlue Plus Card provides 5,000 bonus points each year on your account anniversary. The Hilton Honors Aspire Card offers one Free Night Reward each year after renewal, which can be redeemed at most Hilton properties worldwide.

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