Hilton free weekend night certificates from American Express credit cards like the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card or the *Hilton Surpass*Â are some of the most lucrative free night rewards out there. If you've got one due to expire soon, you may be able to get yet another extension.
In normal times, these certificates expire every time your Hilton card comes up for renewal. Like many hotel chains and travel companies, Hilton was generous with automatic extensions for these perks throughout the worst of the pandemic. In fact, Hilton made them even more powerful by allowing these certificates to be used any day of the week – not just weekend nights – through the end of 2022. Yet as travel bounces back to normal, those long extensions are likely out of the picture.
But that doesn't mean all hope is lost. Our experience (and others, too!) shows that you might be able to get another extension upon request to ensure you can put these valuable free night certificates to use.
Read on for everything you need to know.
How to Get Another Extension on Your Hilton Free Night Certificate
Thrifty Traveler founder Jared Kamrowski holds the Hilton Aspire Card from American Express. Among the laundry list of perks that make this the most-valuable hotel credit card in the world, you get an annual free weekend night certificate that can be used at any Hilton property in the world – at least so long as there is standard room award availability.
After several extensions throughout the pandemic, Jared's certificate was set to expire on Dec. 31, 2022. But after sorting through some of his travel plans, he was hoping to use the certificate at some point in January. After a quick phone call to the Hilton customer service line, Jared was connected with a representative … who was happy to extend his certificate by two weeks in order to make it available for his trip. This representative said Hilton can extend certificates by up to a month upon request.
Jared isn't alone here. That also checks out with the experience of Nick Reyes at Frequent Miler.
Just remember: If your certificate is set to expire at the end of this year and you receive an extension into early next year, you'll need to book your travel before year-end if you want to use it on any night of the week. Booking travel after the first of the year will result in only being able to use it on a weekend night.
All that said, your experience might vary wildly from agent to agent. Some agents seem more willing than others to provide an extension. If you don't initially get the extension you hoped for, hang up and call again.
One of the benefits of holding the Hilton Aspire Card is automatic top-tier Hilton Diamond elite status. Data points suggest that they may be more willing to accommodate Diamond members, so if you have a certificate earned from the *Hilton Surpass*, it's possible the agents may not be as accommodating if you don't hold Diamond elite status.
How to Earn Hilton Free Night Certificates
Hilton and American Express team up to issue a handful of different co-branded credit cards, with many offering these free award night certificates as a perk.
On some, getting a Hilton free night certificate is as easy as keeping the card open and paying your annual fee. On others, you'll need to spend a certain amount each year to get one.
Here's a full breakdown of American Express cards that can get you Hilton's free night award certificates.
Related Reading: The Best Ways to Maximize Your Hilton Free Night Certificates
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
We think the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express might just be the best hotel card, period.
While it clocks in with an annual fee of $550, it comes with an incomparable amount of benefits that can easily offset that. And it starts with a lucrative Hilton free night certificate.
You'll get a free night certificate right off the bat with the Aspire Card – typically within eight to 12 weeks of opening the card – and again every year you re-up your card. You can also earn a second free night certificate after spending $30,000 in a calendar year, plus a third after spending $60,000 annually.
That's up to three free Hilton nights each year potentially on the table, even before you factor in any points you'd earn on the card. And these are some of the most valuable free hotel nights you can get.
In addition to the powerful free night certificate(s), the Hilton Aspire Card also provides automatic Hilton Honors top-tier Diamond status just for holding the card. It's the only hotel card that will give you top status, unlocking benefits like room upgrades, hotel club lounge access, and certificates of up to $25 each day to use for dining during your stay.
The card also provides up to $400 in resort credits split up into two yearly installments: $200 from January through June, then another $200 from July through December.
If that isn't enough, you'll also get up to $200 in what they call “flight credits,” meaning they can easily be used for airfare outright. Just use your Hilton Aspire Card to pay for a ticket and the credit should kick in.
This benefit works differently than Amex's other airline credits, though, with $50 available every three months. These are use-it-or-lose-it benefits, so every quarter you forget to use it would mean you'd lose $50.
All information about the Hilton Aspire Card has been collected independently by Thrifty Traveler and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
We consider the Hilton Aspire Card the best hotel credit card, period – read our guide to see why!
Learn more about the Hilton Honors Aspire Card. (for full disclosure, this is our personal referral link)
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
The *Hilton Surpass* also provides a free weekend night certificate, but only after you spend $15,000 on your card in a calendar year.
You'll also get Hilton Honors Gold status just for holding the card. This will get you free breakfast at almost any Hilton hotel abroad, or a daily food and beverage credit at U.S. properties.
Learn more about the *Hilton Surpass*.
Bottom Line
Many Hilton free night certificates are set to expire on Dec. 31, 2022. But by calling Hilton, you may be able to get an extension on your certificate expiration.
Just remember – if you're aiming to use it in 2023, you'll need to book your travel before year-end if you want to use it on any night of the week.
Why do you say it won’t be able to be used any day of the week? Does the extension cause that restriction to come back into play? I have already used certificates for weekday reservations next year.
Interesting. So as long as you book this year, even for a stay next year, they are honoring the any night of the week policy?
I didn’t get any pushback from the agent I spoke with. Maybe YMMV?
I was told to call in the day of expiration or up to 3 days after. Called back in to the rewards line, explained my situation, was transferred to customer care where they were able to extend for 11 months.
wow they extended it by 11 month? how many did they extend and what did you tell them if you dont mind me asking. i tried calling in and was only offered an extension of 2 weeks
how did you get 11 months!