Hilton HHonors American Express Platinum Card Hotel Awards

Hilton Auckland, New Zealand, an HHonors Category 6 Hotel

A feature of the Hilton HHonors co-branded American Express Platinum card is the ability to redeem 125,000 points for an AXON 4-night hotel award in a HHonors Category 5 or Category 6 hotel.

Normally, a category 6 hotel will cost 40,000 points per night. HHonors VIP members can get a 6 night or longer award at 175,000 points/6-nights. A VIP 6-night award saves over 11,000 points per night. A category 5 hotel is 35,000 points per night or 150,000 points per 6 nights, a 10,000 points per night savings.

American Express HHonors Platinum card members are automatically enrolled as a Silver elite HHonors member. Silver status is normally earned after 4 stays or 10 nights in a 12-month period. (Periodic offers make Gold elite status a free or low stay special promotion throughout the year).

The problem for many travelers is the desire for an award at less than six nights and this is the value of the HHonors American Express Platinum card and the AXON award available to cardholders.

The AXON award for a 4-night stay at 125,000 points shaves 35,000 points off an otherwise 160,000 point stay for a Category 6 hotel. The savings of 15,000 for a 4-night Category 5 award is not as great, but it is a savings.

Charges to the American Express card earn from 3 to 5 HHonors points per $1 in spending depending on purchase item.