5 Reasons to Get the Hilton Honors Amex Surpass Card

Hotel co-branded credit cards cater to a very specific audience—after all, if you’re not a frequent guest of that hotel chain, there’s probably not much reason to get a credit card their. But on the other hand, some co-branded hotel card better than others, especially when it comes to the additional benefits that come in handy during your stay at this chain’s properties.

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Cardfor an annual fee of $150 (see prices and fees), is a great example of a co-branded hotel credit card that really delivers value for frequent Hilton guests. It has solid earning potential and offers a level of prestige that can significantly enhance your stays at Hilton properties.

Here are the top five reasons to consider getting the Hilton Honors Amex Surpass card.

Valuable welcome offer

The current offer is 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points plus a free night bonus after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. This offer ends July 31.

Based on TPG June 2024 valuationThose bonus points are worth $780.

Since Hilton has more than 6,300 properties worldwide, there are many ways to use these rewards points, such as staying at DoubleTree by Hilton Universal Orlando in Florida or DoubleTree by Hilton Queenstown Hotel in New Zealand.

Related: 7 Great Ways to Use Your 100,000 Hilton Honors Points and Free Night Rewards

Bonus points for staying at Hilton hotels

If you stay at Hilton hotels regularly — or even semi-regularly — there are few cards that offer as good a return as the Hilton. Hilton Honors Surpass. You’ll earn 12 points per dollar spent on all eligible Hilton purchases, and as of June 2024, TPG value Hilton Honors points are 0.6 cents each; In fact, you’re getting a 7.2% return on your stay at Hilton when you use this card.

There are three other cards that have the potential to beat the Hilton Surpass when it comes to rewards for staying at Hilton:

The information about the Hilton Honors Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

With the first two cards, you will have to book prepaid accommodation through American Express Travel to earn 5 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent on hotels. The Hilton Aspire card has a steep annual fee of $550 (see exchange rates and fees) and your earning rate is only slightly higher (14 points per dollar instead of 12).

Using the Hilton Surpass card, you can book refundable stays directly with Hilton and earn 12 points per dollar without paying a large annual fee. This gives you much more flexibility to move or cancel your vacation if your plans change.

In addition to getting 12 points per dollar at Hilton (which includes all fees charged to your room during your stay), you’ll also get 6 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, super US cities and gas stations in the US, 4 points per dollar in the US. online retail purchases and 3 points per dollar on all other qualifying purchases with the Hilton Surpass card.

Related: Is the Hilton Surpass Amex Card Worth the Annual Fee?

Free elite status

Many hotel chains offer only average benefits, but Hilton is an exception. Hilton Honors Gold elite status is valuable and comes with an 80% bonus on points earned on Hilton stays, room upgrades across most brands (excluding suites), a Daily food and beverage credit (at US hotels only) or continental breakfast (at non-US hotels) and welcome amenities.

The card also comes with the ability to upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond if you spend $40,000 on it in a calendar year — although if you really want to earn Diamond status, you’ll probably be better off with the Hilton Aspire.

In addition, cardholders also get Emerald Club Free National Car Rental Club Operator Status. Must enroll in the Emerald Club Program. This gives you increased access to a car at the same price as a mid-range car, guaranteed upgrades, and no second driver fees.

Related: Hilton Honors Travel Guide for Winners

Fifth night free with award stays

When you redeem Hilton Honors points, you can take the points you’ve earned further if you have them Hilton Honors Pass. Since this card gives you free Hilton Gold elite status, you can take advantage of one of the key benefits of this status: Thursday night free with redemption. That means you’ll save 20% on your points on all five-night reward stays.

Hilton uses a dynamic pricing system, so the value of your fifth free night is calculated by taking the average award rate you pay over your five qualifying nights. Hilton also included clear language in its terms and conditions stating that this benefit only applies to standard rooms. However, this can be a great option to save some points on a longer stay.

Related: Quick point: Get the fourth or fifth night free when staying at the hotel

Hilton statement credit

The Pass the Hilton comes with up to $50 in quarterly statement credits (up to $200 annually) when you use your card to make purchases at Hilton.

Eligible purchases include those made directly with Hilton hotels, including room rates and incidentals like room service or spa treatments, so it can be a great way to enjoy a nice dinner or get a spa treatment or massage.

If you normally pay out of pocket for additional services, this can be a good way to offset the annual fee (see prices and fees) on the Surpass card.

Related: Best hotel credit cards

Last line

The Hilton Surpass card is a great fit for both frequent and occasional Hilton travelers. With healthy earning potential and automatic Hilton Gold elite status, it can be a great addition to your wallet. To learn more about this card, read on. Full review of Hilton Honors Surpass.

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Register here: Hilton Honors Surpass Card with a limited-time welcome bonus ending July 31.

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For Amex Platinum rates and fees, click This.
For Amex Business Platinum rates and fees, click This.
For rates and fees on the Hilton Honors Aspire card, click This.
For rates and fees on the Hilton Honors Surpass card, click This.