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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card Review
February 6, 2025
What Is The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card?
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a mid-tier hotel credit card designed for frequent Hilton guests who want to earn Hilton Honors bonus points on their everyday spending and enjoy enhanced benefits during their Hilton stays. This cobranded hotel card offers automatic Hilton Honors Gold elite status, giving cardholders access to valuable perks like complimentary breakfast (offered as a daily food and beverage credit at U.S. properties), room upgrades, and bonus points on eligible purchases at Hilton properties.
With a reasonable annual fee and generous earning rates at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. restaurants, and U.S. gas stations, the Surpass Card balances cost and benefits effectively for travelers who stay at Hilton properties several times per year but may not qualify as ultra-frequent guests.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card Pros & Cons
Before diving into the details, let's review the main advantages and drawbacks of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card:
Pros:
- Automatic Hilton Honors Gold elite status, which includes benefits like room upgrades, complimentary breakfast (as daily food and beverage credit at U.S. properties), and late checkout at Hilton portfolio hotels
- Strong welcome offer typically including a substantial number of Hilton Honors points after meeting spending requirements
- 12x base points on direct Hilton purchases, allowing you to quickly accumulate points for award redemptions
- 6x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations, making it valuable for everyday spending
- Free Night Reward after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year
- Path to Hilton Honors Diamond status by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year
- Complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status
- No foreign transaction fees, making it suitable for international travel
- Fifth night free benefit on award stays of 5+ consecutive nights
Cons:
- Annual fee of $95, which may not be worth it for infrequent Hilton guests
- Hilton points typically have lower value compared to some other hotel loyalty programs
- Dynamic pricing system for award redemptions means point values can fluctuate significantly
- Limited airline transfer partners compared to more flexible travel rewards cards
- No automatic free night certificate just for holding the card (must meet spending threshold)
- No Priority Pass membership (available on higher-tier Hilton co-branded cards)
- Secondary rental car insurance rather than primary coverage
Who Is the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card For?
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is ideally suited for:
Frequent Hilton Guests
If you stay at properties within the Hilton portfolio several times per year, the automatic Gold elite status provides tangible benefits that can enhance your experience and save you money. From room upgrades to complimentary breakfast offered as a daily food and beverage credit at U.S. properties, these perks can quickly offset the annual fee.
Moderate Travelers
For those who travel regularly but not excessively, the Surpass Card strikes a nice balance. It offers meaningful benefits without the steep annual fee of premium travel cards like the Platinum Card® from American Express or the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
Everyday Spenders
With elevated earning rates at common spending categories (6x at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations), the card rewards everyday purchases, not just Hilton stays. This makes it practical for building your Hilton points balance through routine spending.
Value-Conscious Travelers
If you appreciate hotel elite status benefits but don't want to pay a premium annual fee, this card offers one of the best values in hotel co-branded cards. Gold status normally requires 40 nights or 75,000 Base Points of qualifying activity.
Aspirational Redeemers
For those aiming to save points for special trips, the card's earning structure and fifth night free benefit on award redemptions can help you accumulate points faster for those memorable stays at high-end Hilton properties during peak travel periods.
Comparing the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card with Other Credit Cards
When considering the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, it's helpful to compare it with other popular options in the mid-tier travel card category:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card:
- Annual fee: $95
- Sign-up bonus: Substantial points bonus after meeting spending requirements
- Key rewards: 2X points on travel and dining, 1X on other purchases
- Standout feature: 25% more value when redeeming points for travel through Chase TravelSM
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card [rates & fees]:
- Annual fee: $95
- Sign-up bonus: Large miles bonus after meeting spending requirements
- Key rewards: 2X miles on all purchases, 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Standout feature: Miles transferable to travel partners
American Express® Gold Card [rates & fees]:
- Annual fee: $325
- Welcome offer: Substantial points bonus after meeting spending requirements
- Key rewards: 4X points at restaurants (up to $50,000 per year, then 1X) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1X) and 3X on booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com
- Standout feature: Up to $120 dining credit and up to $120 Uber Cash annually. An Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Each card offers unique benefits tailored to different spending habits and preferences. Consider your personal financial goals when choosing the best card for you.
Key Takeaways:
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card excels in offering automatic Hilton Honors Gold elite status, giving cardholders access to valuable perks, etc.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers versatile travel rewards
- Capital One Venture provides simple, flat-rate miles earning
- American Express® Gold Card features strong dining and groceries rewards
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Consider Using Kudos
While the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card offers excellent rewards for Hilton stays and everyday spending, maximizing your credit card rewards shouldn't stop there. To truly optimize your earning potential across all your credit cards, consider downloading Kudos, a free AI-powered browser extension that helps you get the most out of your credit cards when shopping online.
Kudos can help you determine whether to use your Hilton Surpass Card or another card in your wallet for each purchase, ensuring you always earn the maximum rewards possible. This is especially valuable when making online retail purchases where category bonuses might apply differently across your card portfolio.
When booking Hilton stays, Kudos can help you identify if using your Surpass Card is the best option, or if another card might offer better rewards or benefits for that particular booking, helping you extract even more value from your credit cards.
If you're looking to get more out of your credit cards, Kudos is the best free shopping app to use when you shop online. They're currently offering $20 back after your first eligible purchase — just sign-up for free with code "GET20" and make a purchase at a Boost merchant.
Our Expert Takeaway
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card represents excellent value for regular Hilton guests who want automatic Gold elite status and the ability to earn points quickly on both hotel stays and everyday purchases. The card's earning structure at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. restaurants, and U.S. gas stations means you can build your Hilton points balance even when you're not traveling.
The fifth night free benefit on award redemptions and the ability to earn a Free Night Reward through spending further enhance the card's value proposition. While the annual fee of $95 isn't waived the first year, the ongoing benefits and earning potential can easily outweigh this cost for most travelers who stay at Hilton properties even just a few times annually.
For those contemplating a higher-tier travel card, the Surpass offers many premium benefits without the corresponding premium price tag. The automatic Gold status unlocks meaningful enhancements to your Hilton stays without requiring you to meet otherwise steep qualifying criteria.
However, travelers who aren't loyal to Hilton might find more value in a flexible travel rewards card, and ultra-frequent Hilton guests might benefit more from the premium Aspire Card despite its higher annual fee. As with any credit card decision, your specific travel patterns and spending habits should guide your choice.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card FAQ
What credit score do I need for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card?
You'll typically need a good to excellent credit score (670+) to be approved for this card, with the best approval odds coming with scores above 700.
Does the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card have foreign transaction fees?
No, the card has no foreign transaction fees, making it suitable for international travel and stays at Hilton's global properties.
How do I redeem Hilton Honors points earned with the Surpass Card?
Points can be redeemed for stays at Hilton properties, transferred to airline partners (though generally at poor ratios), used for experiences, or applied to online retail purchases through Amazon. You can also use the Points & Money option to combine points with cash for redemptions.
Are there blackout dates when using Hilton Honors points?
Technically, Hilton has "no blackout dates" for standard room rewards, but properties may limit the number of standard rooms available for award redemptions, especially during peak travel periods.
How does the Free Night Reward work with the Surpass Card?
After spending $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year, you'll earn a Free Night Reward, which can be redeemed at virtually any Hilton property worldwide (subject to availability). This reward typically posts to your account 8-12 weeks after meeting the spending threshold.
How do I qualify for Hilton Honors Diamond status with the Surpass Card?
You can earn Diamond status by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year with your Surpass Card. This status will remain valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which it was earned and the following calendar year.
Can I pool points with family or friends?
Yes, Hilton allows you to pool points with up to 10 other Hilton Honors members (for a total of 11 people in a pool), making it easier to accumulate enough points for valuable award redemptions.
Am I eligible for the welcome offer if I've had this card before?
Due to American Express's one-bonus-per-lifetime restrictions, you generally won't be eligible for the welcome offer if you've previously had this specific card. However, having had other Hilton co-branded cards wouldn't affect your eligibility.
Does the Surpass Card offer elite rollover nights?
Yes, any qualifying nights beyond what you needed to reach your current elite tier will roll over to the next year, helping you achieve or maintain status in the following year.
How does the fifth night free benefit work?
When you book an award stay of 5 or more consecutive nights using Hilton Honors points, you'll get the fifth night free (effectively a 20% discount on a 5-night stay). This benefit applies to standard room rewards only and can be used on an unlimited number of stays per calendar year.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
