- Large sign-up bonus
- $200 in Hilton annual statement credits
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status
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American Express recently updated some of its Hilton co-branded credit cards, including the card_name. Some of the changes—among them, Hilton credits and a new bonus spending category—add more value for cardholders. The recent update also included a significant increase to the card's annual fee and the loss of one of its best perks—airport lounge access.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Credit score needed
credit_score_needed
Annual fees
annual_fees
Welcome offer
bonus_miles_full
Rates & Fees
Pros & cons:
Pros:
Cons:
- $150 annual fee
- No automatic free award night
- No airport lounge benefit
TIME's Take
Recent updates to the card_name, including an annual fee increase from $95 to $150, have put the card in an awkward middle ground. American Express and Hilton offer a luxury card and a no-fee card option for loyal Hilton travelers. With the increased fee and loss of benefits like airport lounge access and free night reward, it's hard to know if the card_name offers enough value to warrant getting over the other card options. There is still a considerable gap between the annual fees of the Surpass card and the card_name, but the Aspire card also comes with more valuable benefits and perks.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Large sign-up bonus
- $200 in Hilton annual statement credits
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status
Cons:
- $150 annual fee
- No automatic free award night
- No airport lounge benefit
Who is the card for?
The Hilton Honors card_name is for travelers who frequently stay at Hilton hotels and resorts, and want access to additional brand and travel benefits. It's also a good option for Hilton fans who aren't ready to commit to the premium Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and its $550 annual fee but still want to enjoy some Hilton benefits not found with the no-fee card_name.
Rewards structure
Earning Hilton points
The card_name comes with a generous sign-up bonus, which American Express recently increased:
Earn 170,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $3,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership.
The card_name also earns points on card purchases at the following rates:
- 12 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- 6 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery.
- 6 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets.
- 6 points per dollar at U.S. gas stations.
- 4 points per dollar on U.S. online retail purchases.
- 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases.
With several bonus categories available for points-earning, including the recent addition of U.S. online retail purchases, the card_name offers many ways to quickly boost your points balance depending on your spending habits. Like most hotel cards, the card_name reserves its highest bonus rate for purchases with the brand.
Redeeming Hilton points
Award nights at Hilton properties generally start at 5,000 points per night and can run upwards of 95,000 points for a standard room at most properties. An award night at some of Hilton's more exclusive properties goes for 120,000 points per night. Hilton uses dynamic pricing for its rooms, meaning the number of points needed to book an award night depends on the property and the timing of your stay. You can also book stays at Hilton properties using a combination of points and money.
Booking award stays is the best way to get the most value from your Hilton points. Hilton Honors offers other redemption options, which generally offer less value. Here are other ways you can redeem Hilton points:
- Transfer your points to 20+ airline partners.
- Shop with points at Amazon.com.
- Shop for merchandise through Hilton Honors' online mall.
- Use points to pay for Lyft rides.
- Redeem points for car rentals with Alamo, National, and Enterprise.
- Redeem points for VIP experiences like concerts, sporting events, and dining.
- Pool points with another Hilton Honors member.
- Give points to another individual.
- Share your points with family or friends.
Point values vary among redemptions. Always check the value before redeeming Hilton Honors points.
Features
While the card_name doesn't offer the luxury benefits found with the Aspire card, it still comes with valuable features and perks that can offset the annual fee if used. They include:
Hilton Honors Gold status
The card_name comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, which offers benefits like a discounted rate, no resort fees on award stays, an 80% points bonus on stays, a daily food and beverage credit or continental breakfast, and a fifth night free on award stays.
You can also earn Hilton Honors Diamond status by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases using your card in a calendar year.
$200 Hilton credit
One of the new perks of the card_nameis the addition of $200 in Hilton statement credits. You can get up to $50 in statement credits per quarter for purchases at Hilton properties when using your card.
Free night reward
Previous card offers included a free night reward, but that perk is gone. You can still earn a free night reward, but it requires $15,000 in spending on your card in a calendar year.
National Car Rental status
Another new perk included with the card_name is complimentary Emerald Club Executive status with National Car Rental (enrollment required). Executive status comes with perks like Executive Area access and guaranteed upgrades on select rental reservations.
No foreign transaction fees
The card does not charge foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside of the U.S. That makes it good for traveling internationally.
Travel protections
The card_name comes with a few travel benefits to protect you when traveling. Cardholders receive secondary car rental loss and damage insurance when they use their card to book a rental vehicle and decline the rental company's optional collision insurance. Other travel protections include baggage insurance and 24/7 emergency assistance through the Global Assist Hotline.
Shopping protections
Cardholders also receive consumer protections on eligible card purchases. Purchase protection provides coverage for new card purchases against theft or damage for up to 90 days from the purchase date. Extended warranty protection gives an additional year of warranty coverage on eligible card purchases with an original manufacturer's warranty of five years or less.
The fine print
Interest Rates
- Regular annual percentage rate (APR): 20.99% to 29.99% (variable)
- Purchase intro APR: N/A
- Balance transfer intro APR: N/A
Fees
- Annual fee: $150
- Balance transfer fee: N/A
- Cash advance: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
What could be improved?
With the increased annual fee, you might expect the card_name to come with more elite brand benefits instead of removing those perks. At $150, the annual fee is hard to justify unless you plan to spend considerable money on your card to earn rewards or a free night reward.
Card alternatives
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit score needed | credit_score_needed | Good, Excellent | credit_score_needed |
| Annual fees | annual_fees | $550 | $0 (Rates & Fees) |
| Bonus rewards | bonus_miles | 180,000 points | bonus_miles |
For rates and fees of the card_name, please visit this URL.
Bottom line
The card_name is a mid-range co-branded card sandwiched between two Hilton cards with clear target audiences. One offers an introduction to Hilton Honors perks without the cost of an annual fee. The other offers elite Hilton and travel benefits with an elite-sized price tag. Note, though, that holders of that elite Hilton Honors Aspire card are also losing their airline lounge privileges.
Because of its unique positioning, the card_name is only right for Hilton loyalists who fall between those two groups. Some of the card's better benefits come with high spending requirements to unlock. If you plan to spend considerable money on the card, though, it might make more sense to opt for the Hilton Honors Aspire Card despite the $550 fee, especially if you primarily stay at Hilton properties when you travel.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Credit score needed
credit_score_needed
Annual fees
annual_fees
Welcome offer
bonus_miles_full
Rates & Fees
Pros & cons:
Pros:
- Large sign-up bonus
- $200 in Hilton annual statement credits
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status
Cons:
- $150 annual fee
- No automatic free award night
- No airport lounge benefit
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Is the card_name worth it?
The card_name is worth the $150 annual fee, provided you spend enough money on the card to earn the sign-up bonus and you take advantage of most of the card's Hilton, travel, and shopping benefits.
Do you get a free night with a card_name?
The card_name does not automatically include a free award night for cardholders. You can earn a free Hilton Honors award night after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card in a calendar year.
What credit score is needed for the card_name?
American Express does not disclose credit requirements for its credit cards. You will likely need good to excellent credit to qualify for the card_name, which is a FICO score of at least 670.
Does the card_name have lounge access?
The card_name does not come with airport lounge access.
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