Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Quick Snapshot

• Annual Fee: $150
• APR: Variable (typically 19.74%–28.74%)
• Rewards: 12X points at Hilton, 6X at restaurants/gas/supermarkets, 3X on everything else
• Bonus: 155,000 bonus points after $3,000 spend in 6 months
• Best For: Frequent Hilton guests wanting Gold status and premium rewards
• Credit Needed: Good to Excellent (690+)

Overview

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card is the sweet spot for dedicated Hilton travelers who want meaningful elite status benefits and accelerated points earning without an ultra-premium annual fee. With 12X points at Hilton properties, automatic Gold status (including complimentary breakfast and room upgrades), and a $200 annual Hilton resort credit, this card delivers exceptional value for frequent Hilton guests.

Built for travelers who stay at Hilton 5+ nights per year and value elite benefits, the Surpass card provides the perfect balance of earning power and status perks. The free Weekend Night Reward after $15,000 in annual spend essentially pays back the annual fee, while the generous welcome bonus of 155,000 points can cover 3–5 nights at quality Hilton properties.

APR Breakdown

• Purchase APR: Variable (typically 19.74%–28.74%)
• Balance Transfer APR: Variable (typically 19.74%–28.74%)
• Cash Advance APR: Variable (typically 19.74%–28.74%)
• Penalty APR: None

Note: This card is designed to be paid in full each month to maximize rewards value.

Benefits Overview

Hotel Benefits

• Automatic Hilton Honors Gold Status: Enjoy elite benefits at 7,600+ properties worldwide
• $200 Hilton Resort Credit: Annual statement credit for eligible purchases at participating Hilton resorts
• Free Weekend Night Reward: After $15,000 in eligible purchases per calendar year
• 10 Priority Pass™ Select Lounge Visits: Complimentary airport lounge access for 10 visits per year
• No Foreign Transaction Fees: Use internationally without additional charges

Hilton Gold Status Benefits

• Complimentary Breakfast: For cardholder and up to 2 guests at participating properties
• Space Available Room Upgrades: Including Executive Level rooms
• 5th Night Free: On rewards stays (4-night minimum)
• Bonus Points: Earn 80% bonus on base points earned during stays
• Late Checkout: Subject to availability (typically 2 p.m.)
• Digital Check-In with Room Selection: Choose your preferred room
• Priority Room Assignment: Get better rooms when available

Travel Benefits

• Trip Delay Insurance: Coverage for qualified delays
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: Protection for qualified trip disruptions
• Baggage Insurance Plan: Protection for lost or damaged luggage
• Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Secondary coverage worldwide
• Travel Accident Insurance: Coverage for qualified accidents
• Global Assist Hotline: 24/7 emergency assistance while traveling

Everyday Benefits

• Purchase Protection: Coverage on eligible purchases for up to 90 days
• Extended Warranty Protection: Adds an additional year to warranties
• Return Protection: Get refunded for purchases that merchants won't take back
• Fraud Protection: Zero liability for unauthorized charges
• Free Additional Cards: Add authorized users at no cost

Rewards & Points

• 12X Hilton Honors points for eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
• 6X points at U.S. restaurants
• 6X points at U.S. supermarkets
• 6X points at U.S. gas stations
• 3X points on all other eligible purchases

Redemption Options:

• Book free nights at 7,600+ Hilton properties worldwide (starting at 5,000 points per night)
• Upgrade rooms using points
• Book Hilton experiences and events
• Use points for Amazon purchases at checkout
• Donate points to charitable causes
• Transfer points to select airline partners (poor value—not recommended)

Points never expire as long as you have activity in your Hilton Honors account every 24 months.

Welcome Bonus

Earn 155,000 bonus Hilton Honors points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Value: 155,000 Hilton points is typically worth $775–$1,085 in free hotel nights, enough for 3–5 nights at quality Hilton properties. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Fees Summary

• Annual Fee: $150
• Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
• Balance Transfer Fee: 3% of transferred amount (minimum $5)
• Cash Advance Fee: 5% of cash advance amount (minimum $10)
• Late Payment Fee: Up to $40
• Returned Payment Fee: Up to $40

Who This Card Is Best For

Ideal For

• Frequent Hilton guests who stay 5+ nights per year at Hilton properties
• Gold status seekers who value complimentary breakfast and upgrades
• Families and frequent diners maximizing 6X at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas
• Those who spend $15K+ annually earning the free Weekend Night Reward
• Resort travelers who maximize the $200 Hilton resort credit
• Airport lounge visitors using the 10 Priority Pass visits per year
• International travelers benefiting from no foreign transaction fees
• Hilton loyalists wanting premium status without Diamond-level annual fees

Not Good For

• Casual Hilton guests who stay less than 5 nights per year
• Those wanting Diamond status automatically (only available on Aspire)
• Non-Hilton guests who prefer hotel flexibility
• Light spenders who can't reach $15,000 for the free night
• Luxury hotel exclusivists who stay primarily at ultra-premium properties
• Those preferring cash back over hotel-specific points
• Balance carriers (high APR makes this expensive)
• Those who don't use resort credits regularly

Key Pros & Cons

Pros

• Automatic Hilton Gold status with valuable benefits (breakfast, upgrades)
• 12X earning at Hilton properties accelerates free nights quickly
• 6X earning on dining, supermarkets, and gas is excellent
• 3X on everything else provides strong base earning rate
• $200 annual Hilton resort credit effectively reduces fee to $0 (if used)
• Free Weekend Night Reward after $15,000 spend (worth $150–$250)
• 10 Priority Pass lounge visits per year adds travel value
• 155,000-point welcome bonus is substantial
• No foreign transaction fees for international travel
• Complimentary breakfast saves $20–$40 per stay
• Space-available room upgrades enhance stays

Cons

• $150 annual fee requires active Hilton stays to justify
• Hilton points valued at ~0.5¢ each (less than Marriott/Hyatt)
• $200 resort credit only works at participating Hilton resorts
• Weekend Night Reward requires $15,000 annual spend
• Weekend Night Reward is restricted to Friday/Saturday/Sunday
• Priority Pass visits limited to 10 per year (vs. unlimited on Aspire)
• Gold status is lower than Diamond (fewer premium benefits)
• Points devalue during peak travel seasons
• Hilton portfolio quality varies widely by property
• APR is high if you carry a balance

Alternatives to Consider

How the Rewards Add Up

Example Annual Value

If you spend $25,000 per year on typical expenses:

Benefits Value:

• Hilton Gold status (breakfast, upgrades): ~$400 value
• $200 Hilton resort credit: $200
• Free Weekend Night Reward (after $15K): ~$200 value
• 10 Priority Pass visits: ~$300 value
• Total Benefits: ~$1,100

Net Annual Fee: $150 - $1,100 in benefits = effectively -$950 (significant profit if you maximize benefits)

Total Value: 141,000 Hilton points (worth $705–$990 in free nights) + $1,100 in benefits = $1,805–$2,090 in total value, minus $150 annual fee = $1,655–$1,940 net value.

Should You Get This Card?

You Should Get It If...

• You stay at Hilton properties 5+ nights per year
• You value complimentary breakfast and room upgrades (Gold benefits)
• You spend heavily on dining, supermarkets, and gas (6X categories)
• You can reach $15,000 annual spend for the free Weekend Night
• You stay at Hilton resorts and can use the $200 annual credit
• You want occasional airport lounge access (10 Priority Pass visits)
• You travel internationally and benefit from no foreign fees
• You're building Hilton points for aspirational stays
• You appreciate the 3X base earning rate on all purchases

You Should Skip It If...

• You stay at Hilton less than 5 nights per year
• You want automatic Diamond status (only on Aspire card)
• You prefer hotel flexibility over Hilton loyalty
• You can't reach $15,000 spend for the free night reward
• You don't stay at Hilton resorts (resort credit goes unused)
• You prefer cash back over hotel-specific points
• You carry balances month-to-month (high APR)
• You want unlimited airport lounge access (only 10 visits)
• You need premium luxury benefits beyond Gold status
• You can't justify the $150 annual fee with your travel patterns

Apply Now

Apply for Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

Information accurate as of December 2025. Terms and conditions apply. Please visit the issuer's website for the most current information.