Hilton free weekend night certificates from American Express credit cards like the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card or the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card 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 Honors American Express Surpass® Card, or even the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, 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 $450, it comes with an incomparable amount of benefits that can easily offset that. And it starts with a lucrative Hilton free night certificate.
Each year you hold the card, you'll get a free weekend night certificate that can be used for a standard room at almost any Hilton hotel in their entire portfolio (subject to availability). Unlike other hotel credit cards, you get this benefit right off the bat – not after your first full year with the card. And remember: Through Dec. 31, 2022, all free weekend night certificates can be used any night of the week, not just on weekends. The Aspire card also allows you to earn a second free night certificate each year by spending $60,000 or more on the card in a calendar year.
In addition to the powerful free night certificate, 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 a $250 Hilton Resorts statement credit for incidentals charged to your card at participating Hilton resorts, usable for just about anything you charge to your room like spa treatments, restaurant charges, and more. You will also get a $100 Hilton on-property credit when you book at least a two-night paid stay at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties through HiltonHonors.com/aspirecard
If that isn't enough, you'll get an annual $250 airline fee credit for incidental charges on your select airline each year. It works just like the annual airline credits you get from The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Related reading: 10 Great Ways to Maximize Your Amex Airline Credits This Year
And as a cherry on top, the card comes with a Priority Pass Select membership that gives you access to over 1,300 airport lounges across the globe.
Read more: Why the Amex Hilton Aspire Card is the Best Hotel Credit Card
Apply Here for the Hilton Honors Aspire Card (for full disclosure, this is our personal referral link)
All information about the Hilton Aspire Card has been collected independently by Thrifty Traveler and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card also provides a free weekend night certificate, but only after you spend $15,000 on your card in a calendar year. Again, through the end of 2022, these certificates can be used for stays on any night of the week.
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.
The card also provides a Priority Pass Select membership, though you'll be limited to only ten visits each year.
Click Here to learn more about the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Like the Hilton Surpass Card, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card provides a free Hilton award night certificate … but only after you spend $15,000 on your card in a calendar year. You can earn a second weekend night certificate when you spend an additional $45,000 on the card in the same 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.
The card also provides a Priority Pass Select membership – though you'll be limited to only ten visits each year.
Click Here to learn more about the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card.
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!