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Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business vs Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business comes from Chase at $299/yr; the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire from American Express at $550/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($79,125 more in estimated value) than the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire's. Get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business first; revisit the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business | Hilton Honors American Express Aspire |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $299 | $550 |
| Sign-up bonus | 80,000 points | 175,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $80,000 | $875 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $5,000 in 3 mo | $6,000 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | Chase | American Express |
| Card category | travel | hotel |
| Best earning category (Travel) | 4x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business
$299/yr · 80,000 points
Read the full review
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
$550/yr · 175,000 points
Editorial take: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire
Pretty much a no-brainer if you stay at Hilton hotels. The $550 annual fee pays for itself with just the free night reward alone, which can be used at any standard room property, even $1,000+ per night hotels.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business or Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business has the bigger bonus, 80,000 points, worth roughly $80,000, versus 175,000 points (~$875) on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire.
- Is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business's $299 annual fee worth it compared to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- At $299/yr, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Chase and American Express) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business or the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business: $5,000 spend in 3 months. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire: $6,000 in 6 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.