Is the Hilton Honors Surpass American Express Card Worth It?
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Written by
Harlan Vaughn
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
If you like staying at Hilton hotels and log at least a few trips a year, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is practically a shoo-in. Excellent benefits and bonus categories make this card worth picking up and keeping long-term. If you put a decent amount of spend on the card, you’ll be rolling in Hilton points and can earn a free night at nearly any Hilton hotel around the world — including the super fancy ones that usually cost hundreds per night.
If you don’t like Hilton hotels or don’t stay enough to use the benefits, you can save the read and check out our best hotel credit cards for one that’s a better fit. But if you do, you might be looking at the next card in your wallet.
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Quick Verdict
Strong rewards and easy benefits worth using and earning: That’s what you get with the Hilton Surpass Amex Card. Staying at Hilton with some regularity — especially at least once per quarter — will justify the card’s annual fee, and the rest of the benefits are extra. Perks like Hilton Honors Gold elite status, a free night reward after spending $15,000 in a calendar year and no foreign transaction fees make it worth keeping year after year.
But the best thing about this card is the excellent bonus categories: U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases hit some huge line items in the average household’s budget. With enough spending, you could even find yourself with top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond elite status. Of course, with so many Hilton-focused benefits, it’s only worth it if you travel and stay with Hilton. Otherwise, you should consider something else.
Hilton Honors Surpass: At a Glance
- Annual fee: $150
- Welcome offer: Earn 155,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/14/2026.
- Rewards structure: Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio. Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases. Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Statement credits and perks: Up to $200 annual Hilton credit, broken into up to $50 quarterly for Hilton stays, and a free night reward valid at most Hilton properties when you spend $15,000 on the card within a calendar year — plus, cardholders receive automatic Hilton Gold elite status
- Estimated value: $200 for Hilton stays, $200 for a typical Hilton stay (but could be worth more) and $100 for Gold elite benefits make this card worth at least $500, with the potential to be worth much more
Who Should Consider the Hilton Honors Surpass?
I love to find ways for cards to be worthwhile for all types of people. But in this case, there’s only one universe in which this card makes sense, and that’s if you’re a semi-frequent Hilton traveler.
That’s because, as good as the Hilton Surpass’ benefits are, they’re only valuable if you use them. It would be pointless to have this card and let the $50 quarterly Hilton credit pass you by, or not spend enough on the card to earn and use the free night reward.
This card isn’t for speculatively earning Hilton points, thinking you’ll use them down the road. If you like Hilton hotels but are in a travel drought for any reason, go with the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card instead.
Who Should Skip the Hilton Honors Surpass?
On the flip side, there are a few scenarios where this card doesn’t pass muster.
You Often Spend Overseas
I always thought it was weird that a credit card for a global hotel chain mostly rewards spending within the U.S., but it’s a common theme with many American Express credit cards. If you’re a real road warrior — particularly outside the U.S. — this card isn’t an ideal travel companion, despite not having foreign transaction fees.
That adorable cafe in France or amazing ramen place in Japan won’t earn you bonus points. Neither will supermarkets or fuel abroad. If you’re really on the go, you might not want the mental gymnastics of using this card while at home, but having to use another card (or miss out on bonus rewards) when you travel. Outside of Hilton stays, you’ll earn the base 3x Hilton points when you spend internationally.
You Don’t Have Paid Stays
Because the $200 Hilton credit is awarded as up to $50 per quarter, you’ll want to have at least a few paid Hilton stays peppered throughout the year to match or exceed the card’s $150 annual fee. Without a few paid stays earning you statement credits, you’ll have to really lean into the card’s other perks to find meaningful value.
The credit is good for hotels within the Hilton portfolio, which could cover a cheap stay on the road, an airport hotel, or a special event like a birthday or concert. If most of your stays are booked with award points, that’s awesome, but unless you’re earning oodles of them with this card, the best shortcut to value is to already have a few organic paid stays here and there.
You’re a Hilton Superfan
If you really like Hilton hotels, there’s another card that’s a level above this one: the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. Yes, the card’s $550 annual fee is high, but it’s built for the true Hilton loyalist, and the benefits reflect that.
Along with Diamond elite status just for having the card, it also rewards airfare, Hilton resort stays and higher spending on the card in the form of more free night rewards. Think of the Hilton Surpass as for more casual travelers, and the Hilton Aspire as worth it for those who’ll go out of their way to stay primarily with Hilton.
How To Maximize Hilton Honors Surpass’ Value
Have a Paid Stay Each Quarter
This one’s a bit tricky, because you want to keep this credit in the back of your mind but not focus on it too much. Suffice it to say that if you travel every few months, you’ll likely get all four $50 quarterly Hilton credits organically, which is ideal.
As long as you trigger the credit in three out of four quarters per year, you’ll justify the card’s annual fee in statement credits alone. And if you find yourself without a stay planned, you can see if you can get the fourth one to put you beyond.
Spend Around $1,250 per Month
You’ll earn a free night reward certificate when you spend $15,000 in a calendar year using the Hilton Surpass Card, which breaks down to $1,250 per month. Considering the card earns bonus rewards for gas, dining, supermarkets and online retail purchases (all within the U.S.), most households can hit that handily.
It’s best if you spend around that amount or more already, as you never want to overspend just to earn an award or extra points. But considering these line items can be hefty expenses, you could find yourself flush with Hilton points and with a free night at a nice hotel just for doing your regular spending.
Stay at a Fancy Hotel Once in a While
I’m not putting down the Hampton Inns and Embassy Suites of the world, but what’s having Gold elite status if you can’t ever use it? At your typical “on-the-road” hotel, upgrades are sparse, breakfast is usually already included and there aren’t lounges or extra amenities.
Whether you use points, your free night reward or just splurge, you’ll want to get the benefit of your Gold elite status in the form of a breakfast credit, late checkout or suite upgrade. That way, you can get a taste of the good life sometimes — and really get some value from both your card and the elite status it provides.
Final Verdict on the Amex Hilton Honors Surpass Card
I love the Hilton Surpass Amex as a guy with three kids. As a family, we travel a few times a year out of state, sometimes paying if the stay is cheap and Hilton hotels are well located for where we go (meaning we wouldn’t go out of our way for a Hilton hotel, but it usually works out that there’s one around). Maybe you have a job that takes you out of town every so often, or you like to visit other places every few months.
This is the ideal travel profile for the Amex Hilton Surpass Card. On the low end, you could get the Hilton Honors Card with no annual fee, and on the other, the Hilton Aspire is ready to send you to the lap of luxury. If you’re somewhere in the middle, the Hilton Surpass Amex can easily make your stays a little cheaper and more comfortable. And for the price tag, that’s well worth it if Hilton hotels are where you like to travel.
The information related to the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and Hilton Honors American Express Card was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for this product.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Amex Hilton Surpass Card
Does the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass card grant lounge access?
No, the Hilton Surpass doesn’t get you lounge access. But if you spend at least $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year, you’ll get an upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond elite status, which, among other perks, gets you into executive lounges at select Hilton hotels.
What are the Hilton Honors Surpass Amex benefits?
Hilton Surpass Card highlights are a quarterly up to $50 credit toward paid Hilton stays, automatic Hilton Gold elite status and a free night reward once you spend at least $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year. All of these can easily outweigh the card’s annual fee.
How do I get the Hilton Surpass free night?
You can spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year with your Hilton Surpass Card to receive a free night reward, or you can use your Hilton points for an award stay at a vast selection of Hilton hotels.
