Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority vs Hilton Honors Aspire: Which Is Better In 2025?

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Breakdown

‍

[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "1066", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Hilton Travelers", "headerHint": "Exceptional Hilton Benefits"} ]]

‍

Why We Like It

‍

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

‍

• The card grants automatic top-tier Hilton Honors™ Diamond Elite Status, unlocking premium perks like room upgrades and lounge access.
• Although it has a significant annual fee (See Rates & Fees), it includes valuable annual credits for flights and Hilton resort stays that help offset the cost.
• The annual free night award certificate can provide enough value to cover the annual fee on its own when used at a luxury property (publisher-formulated estimate).

‍

Pros

‍

• Automatic top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status provides access to premium hotel benefits like room upgrades and executive lounge access.
• Receive an annual Free Night Award valid at nearly any Hilton property, plus a suite of valuable travel and statement credits.
• Strong rewards-earning rates on travel and dining purchases.

‍

Cons

‍

• The high annual fee can be difficult to justify for those who don't travel frequently.
• Many of the card’s statement credits are restricted to specific types of properties or are split into quarterly and semi-annual increments, making them less convenient to use.
• Hilton Honors points are less flexible than transferable rewards currencies, as they can only be used within the Hilton portfolio.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority

‍

Categories

‍

When comparing premium travel cards, the question of which is better, Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority or Hilton Honors Aspire, ultimately depends on your specific travel style and brand loyalty.

‍

• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card - This card is best for frequent Southwest flyers and domestic travelers, particularly those pursuing the Companion Pass® or who often travel with family. It offers the most value to those who can maximize the airline-specific benefits.
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card - This card is tailored for loyal Hilton guests and luxury travelers seeking premium hotel benefits. It is especially valuable for those who want automatic top-tier elite status and frequently stay at Hilton resort properties.

‍

Redemption

‍

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Points are redeemed primarily for flights on Southwest Airlines, though they can also be used for gift cards, merchandise, and other travel experiences through the Rapid Rewards portal. The value of your points is directly tied to the cash price of the flight, offering a straightforward redemption process.

‍

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Points are redeemed for free nights at hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, with no blackout dates. You can also use points for on-property rewards, exclusive experiences, or transfer them to various airline partners.

‍

Travel Perks

‍

• Lounge Access & Premium Travel: The Hilton Aspire card is a clear winner for airport comfort, offering complimentary Priority Pass Select membership which grants access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide. Terms apply and enrollment is required for this benefit. In contrast, the Southwest Priority card does not offer traditional lounge access but provides its own travel-day perk with up to four Upgraded Boardings per year to A1-A15 positions, when available.
• Annual Credits: Both cards help offset their annual fees with statement credits, though they target different types of spending. The Hilton Aspire card provides an annual airline fee credit and a Hilton resort statement credit. The Southwest Priority card offers an annual travel credit for use on Southwest purchases.
• Elite Status: A major draw of the Hilton Aspire card is the automatic top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status it confers upon cardholders, unlocking premium hotel benefits from day one. The Southwest Priority card aids in the journey toward elite status by awarding Tier Qualifying Points (TQPs) based on spending, helping you reach A-List or A-List Preferred status faster. Spending also counts toward earning the highly coveted Companion Pass®.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: For those whose travels take them abroad, both cards are excellent companions. Neither the Hilton Aspire nor the Southwest Priority card charges foreign transaction fees on international purchases.

_{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.}

‍

Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

‍

To make the most informed decision, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated cards using your own spending data.

‍

• Test Drive Cards: The ‘Test Drive’ feature lets you simulate potential earnings from different credit cards using your actual spending data, all without a hard credit pull or commitment.
• Detailed Approval Odds: Get a detailed analysis of your approval odds for new cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you get approved for a card through Kudos and find a better public welcome offer within three months, Kudos will match it.
• Kudos Boost Rewards: Earn extra rewards on top of your credit card points when you shop online at your favorite stores.
• Personalized Recommendations: Receive card recommendations based on your unique spending patterns to maximize your rewards.

Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority?

‍

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is tailor-made for frequent Southwest flyers who can fully leverage its airline-specific perks. It's particularly valuable for loyalists aiming to fast-track their way to A-List status or the highly sought-after Companion Pass® through credit card spending. Ultimately, travelers who fly Southwest multiple times per year will extract the most value from this card’s features, such as the annual travel credit and upgraded boardings.

Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?

‍

The American Express® Hilton Honors Aspire Card is tailor-made for frequent travelers who consistently choose Hilton properties, particularly those who enjoy stays at high-end resorts. According to a recent Aspire Card review, this cardholder is someone who can maximize premium benefits like automatic Diamond elite status, an annual free night award, and various statement credits. Ultimately, it's for the luxury traveler looking to extract significant value from their brand loyalty and justify the card's annual fee through extensive use of its perks.

Alternatives to Consider

‍

So you've seen the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority vs. Hilton Honors American Express® Aspire comparison and you're still not sold? No problem. If neither of these heavy-hitters aligns with your travel style, there are several other fantastic cards that just might.

‍

[[ COMPARE_CARD * {"ids": ["118", "510"], "bestCategoryIds":["17", "18", "19"], "bestForTexts":["Generous Travel Rewards", "$300 Annual Travel Credit"]} ]]

‍

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

‍

Before You Apply

‍

• Check your credit score – You will generally need good to excellent credit for a successful application.
• Plan your spending – Make sure you can meet any spending requirements for a welcome offer organically.
• Review issuer rules – Application policies, like limits on earning welcome offers, can vary between banks.

‍

Application Strategy

‍

• Time your application – Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement for a welcome offer.
• Leverage unique benefits – Consider how a card's welcome offer can help you reach valuable status tiers or perks, like the Southwest Companion Pass®.
• Assess spending-based perks – Evaluate if you can realistically meet spending thresholds for key benefits, such as an annual free night award.

Our Methodology

‍

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.

‍

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

‍

Can I transfer points between Southwest Rapid Rewards and Hilton Honors?

‍

No, you cannot directly transfer points between the Southwest Rapid Rewards and Hilton Honors loyalty programs. Each program operates independently with its own set of transfer partners and redemption rules.

‍

Do the annual credits on these cards offset the annual fees?

‍

Both cards offer substantial annual credits that can help offset, or even exceed, the cost of their annual fees. Your ability to maximize this value depends on whether you can fully utilize the specific credits offered each year.

‍

Can I use my points for things other than flights or hotel stays?

‍

Yes, both programs allow you to redeem points for merchandise, gift cards, and unique experiences. However, redeeming Southwest points for flights and Hilton points for hotel stays generally provides the highest value.

‍