Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- Best for: Hilton guests who stay in at least three of the year’s four quarters
- What Sets It Apart: Up to $200 a year in Hilton credits, $50 per quarter, against a $150 fee; Gold status with the card
- Cost: $150 annual fee; no foreign transaction fee; 19.74% to 28.74% variable APR
- Features: 130,000 points and a Free Night Reward after $3,000 in purchases in 6 months (apply by Jan. 13, 2027); 12x when you pay Hilton directly; 6x at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations; 4x at U.S. online retailers; 3x elsewhere; Free Night Reward at $15,000 and Diamond status at $40,000 in purchases in a calendar year
- Pros: Four quarterly credits exceed the fee by $50; Gold’s daily food and beverage credit at select U.S. brands; free nights include resort fees
- Cons: Credits capped at $50 a quarter; free night takes $15,000 in spending; points worth about 0.4 cent each by NerdWallet’s estimate; no elite night credits; welcome offer may be off-limits if you have or had this card
Get the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card if you stay at Hilton throughout the year. Its $50 quarterly Hilton credits cover the $150 annual fee once you use three, and Gold status comes with the card. If you stay at Hilton only once or twice a year, choose the no-fee Hilton Honors card instead.
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card costs $150 a year, includes Hilton Honors Gold status, and earns points worth about 0.4 cent each, by NerdWallet’s estimate from real hotel nights booked with points. Its main perk, a Hilton credit, pays at most $50 per calendar quarter, so its value depends on how many of the year’s quarters include a Hilton stay.
Key Features
- $150 annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, and a 19.74% to 28.74% variable interest rate on purchases
- 130,000 bonus points, about $520 at 0.4 cent each, plus a Free Night Reward after $3,000 in purchases in 6 months (apply by Jan. 13, 2027)
- 12x points when you pay Hilton directly; 6x at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations; 4x at U.S. online retailers; 3x on everything else
- Up to $50 a quarter ($200 a year) in statement credits when you pay Hilton directly
- Gold status, plus a Free Night Reward at $15,000 and Diamond status at $40,000 in purchases in a calendar year
Pros
- Hilton stays in all four quarters return $200 in credits, $50 more than the $150 fee
- Gold adds an 80% points bonus on stays, a daily food and beverage credit at select U.S. brands, and room upgrades when space allows
- 6x at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, about 2.4% back
- Free Night Rewards cover a standard room for two, resort fees included
Cons
- Stays in only one or two quarters return $50 to $100, less than the $150 fee
- The spending-based free night takes $15,000 in purchases in a calendar year
- 3x on other purchases is about 1.2% back, less than a no-fee 2% card pays
- No elite night credits toward Hilton status
Open the Surpass if Hilton is your usual hotel and you’ll stay in at least three of the year’s four quarters, enough for three $50 credits to match the $150 fee. Stay less often and the no-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card fits better, while frequent guests who’d use Diamond status and resort credits can step up to the $550 Hilton Honors Aspire Card.
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