As somebody who is of course drawn to journey playing cards that earn transferable rewards, it takes so much for me to be impressed by a cobranded choice. However with regards to the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, I might suggest it to many varieties of vacationers.
The Hilton Surpass was the primary cobranded hotel card that gained me over. Now that I have the card, I’ve totally loved maximizing its advantages, incomes Hilton Honors factors and having fun with Hilton Gold elite standing perks once I stick with the model.
I like how straightforward it’s to discover a Hilton property wherever I journey, and I respect that this card provides excessive potential worth with out an exorbitant annual price.
Whether or not you are a street warrior who loves to remain at Hilton inns and resorts or a semifrequent traveler on the lookout for a card with sensible rewards, the Hilton Surpass is value a glance. Card ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card rating is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
Hilton Surpass: The fundamentals
The Hilton Surpass is a mid-tier Hilton card issued by American Categorical. It earns Hilton Honors factors and is nicely positioned for vacationers who usually keep at Hilton properties however do not wish to pay a sky-high annual price.
The Surpass fees a $150 annual price (see rates and fees), which locations it in the course of Hilton’s cobranded card suite.
My favourite Surpass profit is the up-to-$50 quarterly assertion credit score on eligible Hilton purchases (as much as $200 per calendar yr). For those who maximize this assertion credit score every quarter, the cardboard successfully pays you $50 to carry it.
With the Hilton Surpass, you may obtain complimentary Hilton Gold elite status. You may additionally obtain complimentary National Car Rental elite status (after enrollment within the Emerald Membership program) and journey protections.
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One of the best ways to redeem the Hilton factors you may earn on the Surpass is by reserving award nights. Since Hilton makes use of dynamic award pricing, charges can fluctuate. If in case you have the persistence and suppleness to seek out high-value stays, yow will discover some severe worth with the factors you may earn.
Associated: How much value does the Hilton Honors program provide when you book directly?
Hilton Surpass professionals and cons
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Associated: 5 reasons to get the Hilton Honors Amex Surpass card
Hilton Surpass advantages
For a $150 annual price, the Hilton Surpass packs a punch in advantages. This is what to learn about its perks.
Complimentary Hilton Gold standing
Hilton Gold status is mid-tier elite standing within the Hilton Honors loyalty program.
My favourite Hilton Gold perks are the day by day food-and-beverage credit score (or continental breakfast at choose manufacturers outdoors of the U.S.) for as much as two company and the 80% bonus factors.
Surpass cardmembers can unlock Diamond elite status (the subsequent tier up) in the event that they spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on the cardboard in a calendar yr.
Hilton assertion credit score
Hilton Surpass cardmembers earn as much as $200 again each calendar yr on eligible Hilton purchases. This profit is earned as as much as $50 in assertion credit every quarter.
You should utilize your Hilton assertion credit score in a wide range of methods, corresponding to bookings made instantly with Hilton, incidental fees billed to your room (together with eating and room service), consuming at a restaurant in a Hilton property or buying gadgets from reward outlets in a Hilton property.
I sometimes use my Hilton credit score to shave $50 off impromptu resort stays, weekend getaways or once I have to journey for occasions like birthdays and weddings. Since I am in a part of life the place I am usually on the street for fast journeys, the variety of Hilton properties and the reliability of this quarterly credit score have helped me save money.
Nationwide Automobile Rental standing
Cardmembers additionally obtain complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status after they enroll within the Emerald Membership program.
Government standing perks embrace assured upgrades, Government Space entry and no second-driver charges.
I’ve used this perk when my associate and I rented a automotive for a household journey in Minnesota. Due to my elite standing, we did not should pay an additional price so as to add him as a driver, and we had been capable of choose a car from a better class than the Midsize fee we paid for.
Spending-incentivized free evening reward
For those who put no less than $15,000 of eligible spending in your Hilton Surpass in a calendar yr, you may obtain a free night reward.
Journey and buy protections
The cardboard additionally supplies an honest degree of journey and buy protections, together with:
The Surpass can also be a stable card to tackle worldwide journeys because it does not cost overseas transaction charges.
*Eligibility and profit degree fluctuate by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Please go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for extra particulars. Cardmembers are answerable for the prices charged by third-party service suppliers.
**Eligibility and profit degree fluctuate by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
***Eligibility and profit degree fluctuate by card. Not all car sorts or leases are coated, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by American Categorical Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.
Associated: Is the Hilton Surpass Amex card worth the annual fee?
Learn how to earn and use Hilton factors
Incomes factors
It is simple to earn Hilton factors with the Hilton Surpass. Listed here are the cardboard’s incomes charges:
- 12 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases made instantly with a resort or resort inside the Hilton portfolio
- 6 factors per greenback spent on purchases at U.S. gasoline stations, U.S. eating places and U.S. supermarkets
- 4 factors per greenback spent on U.S. on-line retail purchases
- 3 factors per greenback spent on all different eligible purchases
I most steadily use this card for paid Hilton stays, because it earns a 6% return on my spending (per TPG’s February 2026 valuations). I additionally like to make use of this card at gasoline stations (for a 3% return on my spending) and once I store on-line (to get a 2% return on my spending).
On the subject of the opposite bonus classes, nonetheless, I’ve different playing cards with higher incomes charges, so I do not sometimes use the Surpass once I’m at eating places or the grocery retailer.
Redeeming factors
One of the best ways to redeem Hilton factors is to make use of them at no cost nights at Hilton inns and resorts, and that is how I wish to redeem the rewards I earn with my Surpass.
Since Hilton makes use of dynamic pricing on its rewards, you could have to be versatile and do some further work to seek out good offers. The model’s Points Explorer tool could be useful right here, because it exhibits redemption worth ranges that can assist you resolve.
Hilton’s Factors & Cash choice permits cardmembers to prime off their redemptions with money. Utilizing this methodology, I redeemed 100,000 factors and round $65 for a two-night keep at The Graduate Chapel Hill in North Carolina for a university basketball weekend. This keep would’ve price greater than $1,400 if I had paid in money solely.
One other stable choice for redeeming Hilton factors is to make use of them for premium room awards to improve an upcoming keep. You may also pool your factors with as much as 10 mates or relations to unlock higher-value redemptions.
Lastly, Hilton factors could be redeemed for occasion credit, experiences, Lyft rides, automotive leases, Amazon purchases and even transfers to an inventory of airline companions. Nonetheless, these choices might not supply the most effective worth in your factors, so we typically do not suggest redeeming them this manner.
Associated: Ways to redeem points with the Hilton Honors program
The place the Hilton Surpass falls quick
The Hilton Surpass might not be your best option for each traveler. Listed here are some downsides to weigh:
- Hilton factors aren’t extremely priceless, so that you might not be happy with the model’s redemption charges (particularly in comparison with different applications like World of Hyatt).
- If you need extra perks or automated Diamond elite standing, the Surpass might go away you wanting extra.
- The Surpass does not supply a complimentary annual free evening reward; you must make $15,000 in eligible purchases in your card in a calendar yr to unlock one.
- It’s essential to pay a $150 annual price to carry this card.
Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Aspire
For those who’re a frequent traveler who loves to remain at Hilton properties and desires extra perks whenever you’re there, the Surpass’ premium sibling would be the better option for you.
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card fees a a lot greater $550 annual price (see rates and fees) however supplies automated Diamond elite standing and a free evening reward inside your first cardmember yr and yearly you renew.
The Aspire additionally options extra assertion credit, however take note it does not have a press release credit score for common Hilton purchases just like the Surpass. Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
Associated: Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Aspire: Do you want Gold or Diamond status?
When to use for the Hilton Surpass
The very best time to use for the Hilton Surpass is when it provides no less than 150,000 bonus factors in worth or consists of assertion credit, automated free evening rewards or an introductory $0 annual price for the primary cardmember yr.
New cardmembers can at the moment earn 130,000 bonus factors plus a free evening reward after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Provide ends April 15. This bonus is value $650 plus the worth of a free evening reward, per TPG’s valuations.
Whereas the present supply is not the very best we have seen in the card’s history, it meets our standards for when to use.
American Categorical has a “as soon as per lifetime” rule on card bonuses, which is value contemplating. Nonetheless, having most other Hilton cards will not make you ineligible for this welcome bonus.
Associated: Current welcome offers on Hilton Amex cards
Different playing cards to think about as an alternative of the Hilton Surpass
If the Hilton Surpass is not fairly the match for you, listed here are another choices to think about.
For extra choices, see our checklist of the best travel credit cards.
Associated: Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Business: Which mid-tier Hilton card is better for you?
Backside line
The Hilton Surpass is a wonderful resort card if you happen to usually keep at Hilton inns and resorts and do not wish to pay a excessive annual price. It is the proper match for the way in which I journey, and I’ve totally loved being a cardmember.
After all, if you happen to do not worth Hilton factors extremely, you may be higher off with a card that earns transferable rewards. However, if you wish to actually go all-in on Hilton, chances are you’ll wish to take into account the premium Hilton Aspire, which provides extra perks.
Nonetheless, the potential worth within the Hilton Surpass is excessive, particularly when you think about that you may come out forward if you happen to maximize the quarterly assertion credit score on Hilton purchases. If its mid-tier degree of advantages could be helpful to you and your journey fashion, this could possibly be a wonderful addition to your pockets.
Apply right here: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
For charges and costs of the Hilton Surpass Card, click on here.
For charges and costs of the Hilton Aspire Card, click on here.
For charges and costs of the Hilton Honors Amex Card, click on here.
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