I am a natural attracted to travel cards that pay transferable rewards. It takes me so much to be impressed with ‘cobranded’ option. And if I’m talking about the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, that is what many types of travelers would recommend.
I was greeted by the first cobranded hotel card that won me over, the Hilton Surpass. Having the card, I’ve really enjoyed making the most of it. Hilton Honors points and Hilton Gold elite status perks when I stay with the brand.
How easy is it to find a Hilton property wherever I go, and I appreciate this card offers high potential value without an expensive annual fee.
The Hilton Surpass is a good read for anyone who loves to stay at Hilton hotels and resorts or if you’re – the semifrequent traveler looking for. ****Card rating* 1-2**[/math]
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Hilton Surpass: The basics
An American Express mid-tier Hilton card issued by the Hilton Surpass is a mid level Hilton Card. Hilton Honors points, it is a good position for travelers who frequent Hilton properties but don’t want to pay hefty annual fee.
The Surpass charges $150 a year (see rates and fees), which puts it in the middle of Hilton’s cobranded card suite.
A Surpass benefit that I’m referring to is the up-to-$50 quarterly statement credit on eligible Hilton purchases (up to $200 per calendar year) and my favorite surpass advantage. Using the most of this statement credit in each quarter, it is effectively paid to you $50 to hold that statement card.
KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
The Hilton Surpass allows you to get free Hilton Gold elite status with the Hilton. You’ll also be granted free National Car Rental elite status (after joining the Emerald Club program) and travel protections.
If you’re able to redeem the Hilton points that you earn on the Surpass, it is best to book award nights. Rates can vary depending on Hilton’s dynamic award pricing, since it uses a different approach to its award-winning awards. With the points you’ll earn, if you have the patience and flexibility to find high-value stays, you can get some serious value.
Related: How much value does the Hilton Honors program provide when you book directly?
Hilton Surpass pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| — | — |
| * Annual Hilton credit * Hilton Honors Gold status, with the opportunity to earn Diamond status with spending * No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees ) * Reasonable annual fee | * Dynamic award pricing can require many points for a redemption * Ties you to Hilton properties |
Related: 5 reasons to get the Hilton Honors Amex Surpass card
Hilton Surpass benefits
For a $150 annual fee, the Hilton Surpass packs a punch in benefits. Here’s what to know about its perks.
Complimentary Hilton Gold status
Hilton Gold status is mid-tier elite status in the Hilton Honors loyalty program.
Hilton Gold’s perks are the daily food-and-beverage credit (or continental breakfast at select brands outside of the U.S.) that is my favorite Hilton gold tidbit? S. For as many as two guests and the 80% bonus points, he has been able to write for a .
MATT MOFFITT/THE POINTS GUY
In a calendar year, Surpass cardmembers can activate Diamond elite status (the next tier up) by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases on the card in an appropriate month.
Hilton statement credit
Hilton Surpass cardmembers receive as much as $200 back every calendar year on eligible Hilton purchases. Each quarter, as much as $50 in statement credits are credited to this benefit from s.
You can use your Hilton statement credit in a number of ways, including bookings directly with the Hilton, incidental charges charged to your room (including dining and room service), eating at ‘a restaurant in an area on hd or buying items from gift shops in one of the properties that are located in this Hilton property.
Hilton credit is used to shave 50 dollars off weekend getaways, hotel stays or when I have to travel for birthdays and wedding events. The number of Hilton properties and the reliability of this quarterly credit has saved me cash since I’m in a phase of life where I am often on the road for quick trips.
National Car Rental status
Cardmembers also receive complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status after they enroll in the Emerald Club program.
Executive status perks include guaranteed upgrades, Executive Area access and no second-driver fees.
LUKE SHARRETT/BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES
I’ve used this as a perk when my boyfriend and I rent sane for mnc family trip in Minnesota. Because of my affluent status, we didn’t have to pay an extra fee for adding him as he was able to drive from supper class cars and were unable to choose the car that went up in our Midsize rate.
Spending-incentivized free night reward
A calendar year, if you spend at least $15,000 of your Hilton Surpass’s eligible spending for the night and put it on that list, you will get a free night reward.
Travel and purchase protections
The card also provides a decent level of travel and purchase protections, including:
- Access to
Amex’s Global Assist Hotline
*
- Baggage insurance
**
- Extended warranty
**
- Purchase protection
**
- Secondary car rental insurance
***
The Surpass is also a solid card to take on international trips since it doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.
Card *Eligibility and benefit level vary depending on card, as well as the degree of benefits. s are terms, conditions and limitations. Visit americanexpress for . See com/benefitsguide for more information on paraphrasingr. Third-party services providers charge the costs of s to cardmember?
The level of benefit and * *Eligibility are different from card to card, but may be more or less dependent on the language. There are terms, conditions and limitations on . Read AmericanExpress Click on the . details, com/benefitsguide.’ For paraphrasingr. The AMEX Assurance Company underwrites policies of .
Card card levels vary depending on * *+Eligibility and benefit level. This does not cover all car types or rental, and geographic restrictions apply to vehicle categories. There are terms, conditions and limitations on . Visit americanexpress for . Details at com/benefitsguide For example, see details. AMEX assurance company writes policies that underwrite them. U.S. Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. – Coverage is provided by coverage through the company’s own travel related services provider, American Express Transportation Related Service Co.
Related: Is the Hilton Surpass Amex card worth the annual fee?
How to earn and use Hilton points
Earning points
It’s easy to earn Hilton points with the Hilton Surpass. Here are the card’s earning rates:
- 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio
- 6 points per dollar spent on purchases at U.S. gas stations, U.S. restaurants and U.S. supermarkets
- 4 points per dollar spent on U.S. online retail purchases
- 3 points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
The card earns 6% return on my spending (per TPG’S February 2026 valuations) and is the most common way for paid Hilton stays. Also I would like to use this card at gas stations (for 3% return on my spending) and when I shop online (to get 2% return for my spend)
The other bonus categories are the same, but I have cards with higher earning rates so when I’m at restaurants or the grocery store it is not usually using the Surpass.
Redeeming points
Hilton points should be used for free nights at Hilton hotels and resorts, which is the best way to redeem my Surpass rewards I earn with a hotel’s stay.
Hilton uses dynamic pricing on its rewards, so if you have to be flexible and do some extra work for deals as it’s not always the case. Here can help with the brand’s Points Explorer tool, which shows redemption price ranges for deciding what to buy.
The Points & Money option in Hilton’s Point is where cardmember can top off their redemptions with cash. I used this way to earn 100,000 points and about $65 for a two-night stay at The Graduate Chapel Hill in North Carolina for college basketball weekend. Would this stay have been more than $1.400 if I had paid in cash all the way?
AUGUSTA STONE/THE POINTS GUY
A good way to redeem Hilton points is by putting them for premium room awards on an next stay. For example, you may also pool your points with up to 10 friends or family members so that higher-value redemptions can be triggered.
Lastly, Hilton points can be used for event credits, experiences, Lyft rides, car rentals, Amazon purchases and even transfers to a list of airline partners. But, for your points, these options may not be the best value and so we don’t generally recommend redeeming them this way.
Related: Ways to redeem points with the Hilton Honors program
Where the Hilton Surpass falls short
The Hilton Surpass may not be the best choice for every traveler. Here are some downsides to weigh:
It’s not worth the extra money that is earned by * Hilton points, so you may not be happy with the brand’redeeming rate (particularly compared to other programmes such as those like this).
World of Hyatt
).
- If you want more perks or automatic Diamond elite status, the Surpass may leave you wanting more.
For example, * The Surpass does not provide a free annual free night reward; you must make $15,000 in eligible purchases on your card in yearly calendar year to unlock one of the cards. - You must pay a $150 annual fee to hold this card.
Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Aspire
A frequent traveler who loves to stay at Hilton properties and wants more perks when you’re there, the Surpass’ premium sibling may be better for you.
The annual fee (see rates and fees) for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is much higher, but it provides a free night reward within your first cardmember year and every year you renew.
The Aspire also has more statement credits, but keep in mind that it doesn’t have a statement credit for general Hilton purchases such as the Surpass. In order to get selected benefits, you must be enrolled.
Related: Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Aspire: Do you want Gold or Diamond status?
When to apply for the Hilton Surpass
If you have a chance to apply for the Hilton Surpass, which offers at least 150,000 bonus points in value or includes statement credits, automatic free night rewards or an initial $0 annual fee (for the first cardmember year) it’s time.
The first six months of card membership is spent $3,000 on purchases to earn 130,000 bonus points and a free night reward for new cardmembers. Term of offer is April 15 for s. According to TPG’s valuations, this bonus is $650 plus the value of a free night reward.
Although this isn’t the highest we have ever seen in the history of the card, it meets our criteria for applying to apply.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The card bonuses are a good example of an American Express’s “once per lifetime” rule on card bonus, which is worth considering. Yet, if you have the majority of Hilton cards, you won’t be eligible for this welcome bonus.
Related: Current welcome offers on Hilton Amex cards
Other cards to consider instead of the Hilton Surpass
If the Hilton Surpass isn’t quite the fit for you, here are some other options to consider.
- If you don’t want to pay an annual fee: The
Hilton Honors American Express Card
What’s the simplest Hilton Honora card? It gives you a free Silver status and earns Hilton points, but doesn’t charge an annual fee (see See below).
rates and fees
). To learn more, read our
full review of the Hilton Honors Amex
.
- If you want to earn more flexible rewards: The
American Express Platinum Card®
earns flexible
Membership Rewards points
You can transfer to Hilton Honors at a 12 ratio, or . But you don’t just get Hilton redemptions with Membership Rewards points, they also transfer to the same phraser.
19 other partners
that could unlock higher value. Amex Platinum cardmembers also receive Hilton Gold status (enrollment required). To learn more, read our
full review of the Amex Platinum
.
- If you own a business: The
Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
For business owners loyal to Hilton, is a good option? It offers similar benefits to the Surpass but also provides business management tools. For more information, read our review of paraphrasingr.
full review of the Hilton Amex Business
.
For additional options, see our list of the best travel credit cards.
Related: Hilton Surpass vs. Hilton Business: Which mid-tier Hilton card is better for you?
Bottom line
If you stay at Hilton hotels and resorts regularly, but don’t want to pay a high annual fee, the Hilton Surpass is incredibly good hotel card. I think it’s the best way to go, and I’ve really loved being a cardmember.
But if you don’t value Hilton points very much, of course, then it’s the best card to get transferable rewards. However, if you really want to go all-in on Hilton, then the premium Hilton Aspire is more of those benefits.
The Hilton Surpass is worth it, but the potential value in this deal – especially when you think that one can come out ahead if you take advantage of your quarterly statement credit on Hilton purchases. It’s an excellent addition to your wallet if its mid-tier value would be useful for you and your travel style.
Apply here: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
For rates and fees of the Hilton Surpass Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex Card, click here.
Thanks for reading Hilton Honors Surpass Amex review: Solid mid-tier hotel card
