Hilton Honors Surpass is offering 130,000 points + 1 free night after spending $3 000 in 6 months with a $150 annual fee.. That's up 1 free night over their standard offer of 130,000 after spending $2000 in 6 months. Offer expires 4/29/25.
Hilton Honors Surpass Credit Card Review
Key Takeaways
The Hilton Honors Surpass Card is ideal for the casual Hilton loyalist. The regular 130,000-point sign-up bonus offers excellent value if you're looking for a Hilton-specific card. While the $150 annual fee is notable, staying at Hilton properties a few times per year makes the perks worthwhile. These benefits include $200 in Hilton statement credits (distributed as $50 quarterly) and complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status. The card also offers valuable spending bonuses, such as earning 6x points on restaurants, groceries, and gas stations, helping you accumulate Hilton Honors points quickly.
Why This Card Could Be Right For You
The 130,000-point sign-up bonus provides great value for the Hilton Honors Surpass Card. It offers a balanced set of benefits for those who enjoy Hilton stays without traveling frequently enough to justify the more expensive Hilton Honors Aspire Card. The $150 annual fee can be offset by perks like complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status and the $200 Hilton statement credit. Remember that this credit comes as $50 quarterly increments, which is important to consider when deciding whether to keep the card long-term.
The earning structure is impressive. The Surpass Card offers:
- 12x points for spending directly with Hilton
- 6x points on restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations
- 4x points on online retail purchases
- 3x points on everything else
When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply
Here are a few scenarios where this card might not be ideal:
- You don’t value Hilton Gold status or stay at Hilton properties often enough to use the statement credits, especially since they are spread throughout the year.
- You travel frequently and prefer Hilton properties, so the higher-fee Hilton Honors Aspire Card ($550 annual fee) could offer more substantial benefits.
What to Know About Hilton Honors
Quality hotels but points go fast with high per night point cost.
- Amex’s one-card-per-lifetime rule makes it difficult to accrue Hilton points using Hilton cards exclusively.
- Hilton is part of the Amex partner reward system and at 2:1 is a decent transfer value.
- Hilton has high quality hotels and excellent coverage both in the US and internationally.
- We recommend this system as more of a filler. Either as a specific destination or an upscale IHG when no Hyatt stays are available.
How The Hilton Honors Surpass Credit Card Fits In The Hilton Honors Ecosystem
The Hilton Honors Surpass Card occupies a strategic middle position in Hilton's credit card lineup with its $150 annual fee. This placement makes it an attractive option for regular Hilton guests who want valuable benefits without paying premium prices.
Hilton's credit card hierarchy offers clear choices for different traveler profiles:
- Entry Level: Hilton Honors American Express ($0 annual fee)
- Offers an 80,000-point sign-up bonus after spending $1,000 in six months
- Provides basic benefits but lacks the premium perks of higher-tier cards
- Best for infrequent Hilton guests who want to earn points with no ongoing cost
- Mid-Tier: Hilton Honors Surpass Card ($150 annual fee)
- Balances cost with meaningful benefits for regular Hilton guests
- Features quarterly $50 statement credits that can offset the annual fee
- Includes automatic Gold status, enhancing the value of each Hilton stay
- Premium: Hilton Honors Aspire Card ($550 annual fee)
- Provides luxury benefits justified only for frequent Hilton travelers
- Significantly more expensive but offers correspondingly greater perks
For business travelers, the Hilton Honors American Express Business card ($195 annual fee) presents an alternative to the Surpass with similar benefits. Its key advantage is that it doesn't count against Chase's 5/24 rule, making it worth considering if you're approaching this limit but still want access to the Hilton ecosystem.
The Surpass card's position makes it particularly valuable for those who might start with the no-fee card but want more benefits as their Hilton stays increase. It also serves as an excellent entry point if you're planning even a single Hilton stay, as the sign-up bonus alone can justify the first year's fee, with the option to downgrade before the second year if needed.
Card Information
| Bonus Points | Minimum Spend | Point Value | Annual Value | Annual Fee |
1st Year Value
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 130,000 | $3,000 | 0.6 ¢ | $51 | $150 |
$699
|
| Best Value | Differentiating Perks | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Stays & Perks | 6x Points restaurants, supermarkets and gas. Complimentary Gold Status. 10 Free Priority Pass airport lounge visits annually. | Amex 4 Credit , Amex 3/90 , No 5/24 , Amex 1/10 |
Spend Categories
All Other = »
3X points
1.8¢ Per Dollar Spent
Gas Stations = »
6X points
3.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
Grocery Stores = »
6X points
3.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
Hotels + »
12X points
7.2¢ Per Dollar Spent
Restaurants = »
6X points
3.6¢ Per Dollar Spent
U.S Online = »
4X points
2.4¢ Per Dollar Spent
Card Benefits
Car Rental Insurance »
Complimentary National Car Rental Executive Club Emerald Status in the USA and Canada .
Complimentary National Car Rental Executive Club Emerald Status in the USA and Canada .
Travel Insurance »
Secondary insurance on your checked baggage.
Secondary insurance on your checked baggage.
No Foreign Transaction Fees »
You will pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases made outside the United States.
You will pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases made outside the United States.
Statement Credits »
$50 in statement credits each quarter at Hilton properties
$50 in statement credits each quarter at Hilton properties
Hotel Perks »
Automatic Gold status includes: free breakfast, late checkout, free WiFi, bottled water, room upgrades (in same category) & 5th night free on reward stays.
Automatic Gold status includes: free breakfast, late checkout, free WiFi, bottled water, room upgrades (in same category) & 5th night free on reward stays.
Purchase Protection »
You're protected for up to 90 days, $1,000 per occurrence, and $50,000 per calendar year.
You're protected for up to 90 days, $1,000 per occurrence, and $50,000 per calendar year.
Extended Warranty »
Get up to 1 additional year on warranties of 5 years or less, up to $10,000 per purchase.
Get up to 1 additional year on warranties of 5 years or less, up to $10,000 per purchase.
Point Transfer Options
Transfer To Spouse/Partner Yes
Transfer To Friends Yes
Travel Partner Transfers
Outside Point System Hilton Honors
Transfers In From
Amex Member Rewards
1:2 86% value retained
Hilton Honors Surpass Application Rules
Amex will decline your application if you already have 4 credit cards (not charge) and apply for a fifth
You'll be declined if you apply for a fourth Amex card in 90 days
Card approval not subject to 5-personal-cards-in-24-months rule
Amex allows only 1 bonus per specific card per lifetime (yours or that version of the card)
Ranking of Cards Offering Hilton Honors
Best for Series
Below is a snapshot of where this card performs best compared to the other cards in our database:
Rank
3rd
Rank
3rd
Rank
2nd
Rank
4th
Rank
2nd
Rank
5th
Rank
5th
Honorable Mention
Breaking Points
February 28, 2025
Hilton Honors Surpass
May 27, 2024
Mini Points - June 2024
- Citi Strata Premier Mastercard - 75,000 bonus points, spend $4000 in 3 months, $95/annual fee.
- Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express card - 5 Free Nights, spend $8000 in 6 months, $125/annual fee.
- Hilton Honors Surpass American Express card - 130,000 points + 1 Free Night, spend $3000 in 6 months, $150/annual fee.
- Hilton Honors Business American Express card - 175,000 points, spend $8000 in 6 months, $195/annual fee.
- Hilton Honors American Express Card - 70,000 points, spend $2000 in 6 months, No annual fee.
- Hilton Honors Aspire American Express Card - 175,000 points, spend $6000 in 6 months, $550/annual fee.
March 5, 2024
Mini Points - March 2024
- Amex Bonvoy Brilliant - Earn 185,000 points after spending $6000 in 6 months, $650 annual fee.
- Amex Bonvoy Bevy - Earn 155,000 points after spending $5000 in 6 months, $250 annual fee.
- Amex Hilton Honors Surpass - Earn 155,000 points after spending $3000 in 6 months, $150 annual fee.
- Amex Hilton Honors Aspire - Earn 175,000 points after spending $6000 in 6 months, $550 annual fee.
- Amex Hilton Honors - Earn 100,000 points after spending $2000 in 6 months, $0 annual fee.
- Wyndham Rewards Earner - 75,000 points after spending $2000 in 6 months, $0 annual fee.
- Wyndham Rewards Earner + - 100,000 points after spending $2000 in 6 months, $75 annual fee.
- Wyndham Rewards Business - 50,000 points after spending $4000 in 3 months + 50,000 points after spending $15,000 in 12 months, $95 annual fee.
October 23, 2023
Mini Points - October 2023
Here are the most recent Limited Time Offers on Cards that are NOT Chase Cards:
- AAdvantage Citi Business Card - 75,000 AA miles after spending $6000 in 6 months $0 annual fee for the first year.
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card - 170,000 Hilton Honors Points after spending $3000 in the first 6 months, $150 annual fee.
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card - 180,000 Hilton Honors Points after spending $6000 in the first 6 months, $550 annual fee.
- Hilton Honors American Express Card - 100,000 Hilton Honors Points after spending $2000 in the first 6 months, No annual fee.