Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Built for regular Hilton guests, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card works best as a hotel loyalty card with some solid everyday bonus categories layered in. It is strongest for travelers who stay with Hilton often enough to use the quarterly Hilton credits and get real value from Gold status, rather than for someone looking for a simple general travel card.

Welcome Offer

Enjoy a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 and earn 130,000 Bonus Points

Annual Fee

$0 introductory annual fee, then $150.

Rec. Credit Score

Good

Good For

Frequent Hilton guests

How to Apply

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Terms Apply. For rates and fees of Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, please visit the American Express website.

Is the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card worth it?

This card is great for...

Hilton hotel stays

Quarterly Hilton credits

Gold status travel perks

This card is worth a look if Hilton is one of your main hotel brands and you can reliably use the up to $200 in annual Hilton statement credits. The combination of 12x points at Hilton properties, complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, and a Free Night Reward after $15,000 in yearly spend gives regular Hilton travelers several clear ways to justify the $150 annual fee. Gold status is especially useful because it adds everyday value to paid stays, not just occasional one-off perks.

For everyone else, the case is less convincing. Hilton points are not especially valuable on a per-point basis, so the strongest returns are concentrated in Hilton stays and Hilton-specific benefits. If you rarely stay at Hilton hotels, or you are unlikely to use the quarterly credits without changing your habits, this can feel like a card that asks you to commit to one hotel ecosystem more than most casual travelers want.

MaxRewards Verdict

A strong mid-tier hotel card for travelers who already stay with Hilton and will use the Hilton credits as part of normal travel. If Hilton is not a regular part of your plans, the rewards and perks are too brand-specific to make this a standout $150 card.

Welcome Offer

Enjoy a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 and earn 130,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/29/26.

≈ $182–$455

What 130,000 Points could be worth, based on how you redeem

Free Night Reward (hotel stays)
5th night free on award stays of 5+ nights (Silver elite status and above)
≈ $455
≈ 0.35¢ per point
Airline transfers
Generally 10:1 to airlines
$260
0.2¢ per point
Amazon 'Shop with Points'
700 points = $1 at Amazon
$182
0.14¢ per point

Required Spend

$3,000

Time Frame

6 Months

Required Spend

$3,000

Time Frame

6 Months

What's your average monthly spend?

$500

You should easily hit the bonus threshold with this spend!

Rewards

Rewards percent based on a valuation of 0.4¢ per Hilton Honors point

The rewards here are easiest to understand as Hilton-first earnings. You get the strongest return on Hilton stays, decent bonus points in a few everyday categories, and a lower value on general purchases unless you are aiming for a Hilton spending milestone.

CategoryEst. yearly spendRateRewards

Hotels & Resorts (Hilton)

Est. yearly spend

Rate4.8%

Rewards

U.S. Restaurants, U.S. Supermarkets, U.S. Gas Stations

Est. yearly spend

Rate2.4%

Rewards

U.S. Online Retail Purchases

Est. yearly spend

Rate1.6%

Rewards

All Other Eligible Purchases

Est. yearly spend

Rate1.2%

Rewards

Est. Annual Rewards

Benefits

$0 / $450

Most of this card’s practical value comes from Hilton-specific benefits you can actually use during the year. The key question is whether the quarterly Hilton credits, hotel status, and spending-based free night fit your normal travel pattern.

Enrollment is required for select benefits

$250/yr

$200/yr

Automatically track your credits with MaxRewards

Our app automatically tracks valuable credits so you don't miss any rewards.

Get the app

$200 Hilton Credit

Autotracked

of $50Every 3 months

Credits

Hilton Honors Bonus Points

Learn more about getting Hilton Honors Bonus Points with your Card.

Insurance

Extended Warranty

When you use your Eligible Card to make a Covered Purchase, you can get up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer’s Warranty. Applies to warranties of 5 years or less on Covered Purchases in the United States or its territories or possessions. Please read important exclusions and restrictions.

Purchase Protection

Sometimes your favorite new purchase gets stolen or accidentally damaged. But when you use your Eligible Card for Covered Purchases, your Membership can help protect them for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date, subject to the Coverage Limits. Up to $1,000 per Covered Purchase, up to $50,000 per calendar year.

Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage for Damage to or Theft of a Rental Vehicle in a Covered Territory when You use your Eligible Card to reserve and pay for the Entire Rental and decline the collision damage waiver (CDW) at the Rental Company counter. Please read important exclusions and restrictions. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Coverage is not available for vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand.

Baggage Insurance Plan

Can provide coverage for lost, damaged or stolen Baggage when traveling on a Common Carrier Vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship or bus) when the Entire Fare has been charged to your Eligible Card. Coverage limits apply. Please read important exclusions and restrictions.

Premium Car Rental Protection Enrollment Required

You can save on car rental coverage with Premium Car Rental Protection, exclusive to American Express Card Members. With Premium Car Rental Protection, you receive primary coverage for Damage to or Theft of a rental vehicle and Accidental Death or Dismemberment coverage every time you rent a vehicle using your Enrolled Card. Enroll your eligible Card today in Premium Car Rental Protection. Enjoy the flexibility of two different car rental insurance plans. Terms apply.

Status & Access

Earn an Upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond Status

You can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year after you spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.

Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status

Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Surpass Card.

Complimentary National Car Rental Status

Enjoy complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status. Enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club program is required. Terms apply.

Amex Special Ticket Access

Card Members can access Amex Presale Tickets and Amex Reserved Tickets to select can’t-miss events and moments across sports, music, and more. Plus, Card Members can enjoy additional perks when attending select events. While supplies last, not all seats may be offered.

Other

Earn a Free Night Reward

Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.

Recommended Minimum Credit

Min: Good

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

Good credit or higher is recommended for this card.

Credit approval is not guaranteed. Meeting the recommended credit range does not ensure approval, and applicants with lower scores may still be considered.

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee

$150

Purchase APR

19.49% - 28.49%

Variable

Cash Advance APR

28.74%

Variable

Foreign Transaction Fee

None

Balance Transfer

None

Cash Advance

$10

Late Payment

$40

For rates and fees of Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, please visit the American Express website.

Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are MaxRewards' alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

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