The Hilton Honors Surpass Card from American Express is a mid-tier hotel rewards credit card designed for Hilton enthusiasts. It slots between the no-annual-fee Hilton Amex and the premium Hilton Aspire, offering elevated perks without a sky-high fee. As of June 2025, the Surpass card comes with a limited-time welcome bonus of 130,000 Hilton Honors points (more on that below). With automatic Hilton Gold status, generous category bonuses, and new annual statement credits, the Surpass card packs a lot of value for its price. This review covers all the key details – from the 130K welcome offer to earning rates, benefits, and how it compares to other Hilton cards – to help you decide if the Surpass is a fit for your wallet.
Limited-Time 130K Point Welcome Offer
The Hilton Surpass’s welcome bonus is especially enticing right now. New cardmembers can earn 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $3,000 within the first 6 months. This offer is available for a limited time and is slated to end on August 13, 2025. The bonus alone is worth around $650 based on our June 2025 point valuations (Hilton points at ~$0.005 each). That’s a solid head start toward free hotel nights.
In addition, the Surpass’s $150 annual fee is waived for the first year as part of this promotion. Essentially, you can try the card for a year and rack up the bonus points without paying the fee up front. Remember that Amex’s once-per-lifetime rule applies to welcome offers, so if you’ve had a Surpass (or its predecessor Ascend) before, you may not be eligible.
If you are eligible, this 130K offer is a great opportunity. Keep in mind the spending requirement: $3,000 in 6 months is about $500 per month on the card.
Annual Fee and Long-Term Value
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card carries a standard $150 annual fee (waived the first year). This represents a $55 increase from its previous $95 fee, introduced when new benefits were added in 2023. At first glance, $150/year is a moderate cost, but the card’s perks can more than offset it if you take advantage of them.
For instance, the Surpass offers up to $200 in Hilton statement credits each year (we’ll detail this shortly), which can fully cover the annual fee if utilized. In fact, using just a portion of those credits already compensates for the fee. Additionally, complimentary Hilton Gold elite status (included with the card) easily delivers value through free breakfast and extra points on stays – benefits that could save you hundreds on a week-long Hilton vacation.
Frequent Hilton guests will likely find the $150 fee well worth it. Even occasional travelers can come out ahead with a single Hilton stay per quarter, thanks to the credits and Gold perks. However, if you don’t plan to use the Hilton credits or stay at Hiltons often, you’ll want to weigh the fee against the card’s rewards on everyday spending. The good news is there’s no authorized user fee for adding family members, and no foreign transaction fees (so you won’t incur extra charges abroad).
Earning Hilton Honors Points with the Surpass
One of the Surpass card’s biggest strengths is its high earning rate on Hilton purchases and common everyday spending categories. This card helps you stockpile Hilton Honors points quickly through bonus multipliers. Here’s how the earning structure breaks down:
12X Points at Hilton Hotels
Pay for hotel stays within the Hilton portfolio (Hilton, Conrad, Waldorf Astoria, etc.) with the Surpass, and you’ll earn 12 Hilton Honors points per dollar. That’s an exceptionally high rate – using our valuation, 12X equates to about a 6% return in value on Hilton spending. On top of that, these points are in addition to the base points and elite bonuses you get from Hilton for the stay.
For example, a $200 Hilton hotel night would net 2,400 points from the card alone, plus Hilton would separately award base points and your Gold elite 80% bonus. Those points stack up fast. (As a nice extra, if you book your Hilton stay through Hilton’s own website/app and pay with the Surpass, you even get a 500-point bonus on the reservation.)
6X Points on U.S. Dining, Groceries & Gas
The Surpass also rewards everyday spending by earning 6 Hilton Honors points per $1 at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. These are common expenses for most people, so it’s easy to earn bonus points on your day-to-day life. A dinner out or a trip to the grocery store will net 6X points, roughly a 3% return in Hilton points value.
Few hotel credit cards offer such strong multipliers on groceries and dining. If you funnel your food and gas purchases onto this card, you’ll accelerate your rewards without extra effort. (Note: the 6X applies to purchases within the U.S.; overseas dining/groceries would earn at the regular 3X rate.)
4X Points on U.S. Online Retail Purchases
A unique perk of the Surpass is earning 4 points per $1 on purchases from U.S. online retail merchants. In an era where we all shop online frequently (Amazon, anyone?), this is a useful bonus category. Whether you’re ordering from large e-commerce sites or smaller U.S.-based online stores, paying with the Surpass can earn a solid 4X. That’s roughly a 2% return on all your online shopping, on top of any other discounts or cashback from the retailer.
This category is fairly broad – everything from buying clothes or gadgets on a U.S. website to online subscriptions could qualify as an online retail purchase. If a lot of your spending has moved online, this 4X category gives the Surpass an edge over cards that only bonus in-person retail.
3X Points on Other Purchases
For any expenses that don’t fall into the above categories, the Surpass earns 3 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases. A 3X base earning rate (effectively ~1.5% back in value) is decent for a general spend rate on a hotel card. This ensures that every purchase you put on the Surpass earns something – even if it’s not a Hilton stay or bonus category, you’re still getting triple points.
While you might have other cards that earn higher rewards on generic purchases (like a 2% cash back card), it can still make sense to use the Surpass for miscellaneous spending if you’re aiming to boost your Hilton points balance. All told, the combination of 12X, 6X, 4X, and 3X tiers means the Surpass can rack up points quickly across a variety of your spending.
Travel with No Foreign Transaction Fees
A noteworthy feature for travelers is that the Hilton Surpass does not charge foreign transaction fees. Many basic cards tack on ~3% fees for purchases made outside the U.S., which can really add up when traveling abroad. With the Surpass, you can swipe (or tap) it internationally with zero extra fees, paying only the price of the purchase converted to USD. This makes the card a good companion on overseas trips.
For example, if you use the Surpass to pay a €500 hotel bill in Europe, you won’t incur an additional fee (which would otherwise be around $15 with a 3% fee card). The charges will post at the standard exchange rate with no surcharge. This benefit pairs nicely with the fact that Hilton has a global footprint – you can use your Surpass at Hiltons worldwide and earn 12X points, all without worrying about foreign fees.
Even for non-Hilton expenses abroad (restaurants, tours, etc.), it’s comforting to know you can use this card freely. The Surpass essentially functions as a travel card in this regard, so you don’t need a separate no-FTF credit card when globetrotting. It’s a small detail, but it saves money and hassle for international travelers.
Valuable Benefits of the Hilton Surpass Card
Beyond points earning, the Surpass card comes with a suite of benefits and travel perks that add significant value, especially for Hilton loyalists. These benefits can improve your hotel experiences and provide peace of mind on purchases. Here are the key Surpass perks to know:
Get Automatic Hilton Gold Status
When you have the Hilton Surpass card, you automatically get Hilton Honors Gold status. You don’t need to stay at any hotels or earn points to get it. Gold status gives you great hotel perks: free breakfast or a food credit, free room upgrades (if available), 80% more points on your paid stays, late checkout, and a free fifth night when you book five nights with points.
Usually, you’d have to stay 40 nights a year or earn 75,000 Hilton points to get Gold. But with this card, you get it just for being a cardholder. If you stay at Hilton hotels even just a few times a year, Gold status could save you hundreds of dollars.
Upgrade to Diamond Status by Spending More
If you spend $40,000 or more in a year with the Surpass card, you’ll be upgraded to Hilton’s highest level: Diamond status. Diamond gives you everything Gold does, plus lounge access (free snacks, drinks, and breakfast), better chances for room upgrades, and even more bonus points (100% instead of 80%).
Normally, you’d need to stay 60 nights a year to get Diamond status. With this card, you can spend your way there instead. That’s helpful for people who spend a lot or run a business. Once you qualify, your Diamond status lasts the rest of that year and all of the next one. Even if you don’t hit the $40K, you still keep your Gold benefits.
Free Night After $15,000 Spend
If you spend $15,000 or more in one calendar year with the Surpass card, you’ll earn a Free Night Reward. You can use this for a one-night stay at most Hilton hotels, including fancy resorts that might normally cost over $500 a night or 80,000+ points.
There are usually no point caps, so this free night can be used at very high-end locations. It’s best used at luxury hotels for the most value. These free nights often apply to weekend stays (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday), but Hilton sometimes lets you use them any night.
The free night reward is valid for a year. You can even combine it with the 5th Night Free perk: use points for four nights and the free night for the fifth. If you hit the $15K spend, this perk alone can easily be worth hundreds.
$200 Hilton Statement Credits Each Year
The Surpass card gives you up to $200 a year in statement credits for Hilton spending. You can get $50 back every quarter when you spend at Hilton hotels. This includes things like your room bill, food at the hotel, or spa services.
Spend $50+ in a quarter and get $50 back automatically. That’s like a built-in rebate every few months. To use the full $200, just make sure you stay or spend at a Hilton at least once per quarter. It’s a smart way to make your annual fee worth it, especially if you travel a few times a year.
You don’t need to sign up for this credit – it happens automatically when you use the card at Hilton.
Free Executive Status at National Car Rental
With TheMilesAcademy’s Hilton Surpass card, you also get free Emerald Club Executive status with National Car Rental. This means you get free car upgrades when available, can pick nicer cars from the Executive lot, and skip the lines for faster service.
You also get to add another driver at no extra cost. This can save you money and make renting a car easier when you’re traveling with someone.
To activate this benefit, you just need to sign up through your American Express account. It’s a quick, one-time setup. While this perk isn’t about hotels, it fits well with the card’s travel-friendly features and can come in handy for road trips or vacations.
Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty
TheMilesAcademy’s Hilton Surpass card comes with purchase protection and an extended warranty, thanks to American Express. If you buy something with the card and it gets damaged or stolen within 90 days, you may get a refund or a replacement (up to $1,000 per item, $50,000 max per year).
Also, if the item you bought came with a warranty of 5 years or less, Amex adds an extra year for free. So if your TV breaks after the original warranty ends but it’s still within that extra year, you’re covered.
These protections apply automatically when you use the Surpass card. Just keep your receipts and warranty info in case you need to file a claim. It’s easy to forget this benefit until something goes wrong – but when it does, it can save you a lot of money.
Savings with Amex Offers
TheMilesAcademy wants you to get even more from the Surpass card. That’s where Amex Offers come in. These are special deals you can add to your card through your online account or the Amex app.
For example, you might see a deal like “Spend $50 at a store, get $10 back” or “Earn bonus points for booking with an airline.” These offers change often and cover all kinds of places — from restaurants to online shops, travel services, and more.
When you find one you like, just click to add it to your card, then use your card to pay. The savings or bonus points show up automatically. Some people save hundreds each year just by using Amex Offers regularly.
Since the Surpass card has no foreign transaction fees, you can even use these deals while traveling outside the U.S., depending on the offer.
This perk isn’t unique to the Surpass — all Amex cards have it — but it adds even more value to your membership. Think of it like a rotating set of coupons or bonus deals built into your card.
So if you keep an eye on your Amex dashboard and use the right offers, you’ll get money back or more points without doing anything extra. It’s another reason the Surpass card delivers great value all year round.
Is the Hilton Surpass Card Worth It?
If you stay at Hilton hotels even just a few times a year, the Hilton Surpass card is probably worth it. For $150 a year, you get automatic Gold status, up to $200 in Hilton credits, and a chance to earn a free night every year. Just a couple of hotel stays with free breakfast and those $50 credits can save you more than the card’s fee.
You also earn 12 points per dollar at Hilton hotels, and 6 points at U.S. supermarkets, gas stations, and restaurants. That makes it easy to rack up Hilton points for your next trip. So if you’re a regular Hilton guest, this card basically pays for itself — and then some.
Even if you’re not 100% loyal to Hilton, the card still makes sense. The 6X points on groceries and dining are strong for any card, especially if you like collecting hotel points. And the welcome bonus (usually 130,000 points or more) can score you 4+ nights at mid-level Hiltons, or 1–2 nights at fancy ones.
But if you rarely stay at Hilton hotels, this card might not be worth it. You won’t get much use out of the Gold perks or Hilton credits. A basic travel rewards or cash back card might fit you better. Also, if you’re a big-time Hilton traveler wanting top-tier perks, the Hilton Aspire card gives you Diamond status — though the fee is much higher.
For most travelers, the Surpass hits a great balance. You get strong benefits for a reasonable fee. If you use just a few of the perks each year, you’ll likely come out ahead. The first year often has no fee, so it’s low risk to give it a try.
Mid-Tier Card Showdown: Surpass vs. Other Options
How does the Surpass stack up against other Hilton cards and competitors? Here’s a quick showdown to put it in context:
| Card | Annual Fee | Key Perks | Drawbacks | Best For | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card(TheMilesAcademy Pick) | $150 | – Hilton Gold status- 12X at Hilton hotels- 6X at U.S. groceries, gas, dining- Free Night after $15K spend- $200 Hilton credits- Path to Diamond with $40K spend | – No Diamond unless you spend $40K- No free night unless you hit $15K spend | People who stay at Hilton a few times a year and want top perks without a huge fee | Apply Now |
| Hilton Honors American Express Card (No Annual Fee) | $0 | – 7X at Hilton hotels- 5X at U.S. gas, groceries, dining- Silver status included | – No free night- No Gold status- Lower earn rates- No Hilton credits | Casual Hilton fans who want a $0-fee card or a downgrade option | Apply Now |
| The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card | $195 | – Hilton Gold status- 12X at Hilton hotels- 5X on most other spend (up to $100K)- $240 in Hilton credits- Path to Diamond with $40K spend | – No free night reward- Higher annual fee- No 6X/4X categories | Small business owners who want easy flat rewards + Hilton perks | Apply Now |
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card (by Chase) | ~$95 | – Free Night every year- 6X at Marriott hotels- 15 Elite Night Credits | – Only Silver status- Less rewarding on everyday spend | Marriott loyalists looking for a low-fee free night card | Apply Now |
| IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (by Chase) | ~$99 | – Free Night every year- IHG Platinum status- Up to 26X at IHG hotels | – Extra spend required for 2nd night- Lower bonus rates on food/gas/grocery | IHG travelers who want hotel perks and a solid annual free night | Apply Now |
TheMilesAcademy Recommends the Hilton Honors Surpass Card
The Hilton Honors Surpass Card is one of the best mid-level hotel cards in 2025. With a big 130,000-point welcome bonus, automatic Gold status, up to $200 in Hilton credits, and strong point-earning categories, it offers a lot for the $150 annual fee.
If you stay at Hilton hotels a few times a year, this card gives you real value — like free breakfast, room upgrades, and extra points. Even if you already have another travel card, the Surpass is worth considering just for the free night after $15K spend and 6X points on things like groceries and dining.
The new Hilton credit (up to $50 back per quarter) adds even more value. If you use just that and enjoy Gold benefits during a couple of trips, the card can easily pay for itself. Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees when you travel internationally.
After your first year (which is often free with promos), ask yourself: did this card save me money or give me great travel perks? For many, the answer will be yes.
Compared to the ultra-premium Hilton Aspire or the no-fee Hilton Honors card, the Surpass hits a nice middle ground. It’s affordable but still delivers VIP-style treatment.
If you want to earn more Hilton points from everyday spending and enjoy better stays at Hilton hotels, the Surpass is a smart move. At TheMilesAcademy, we recommend it for travelers who want solid rewards, real benefits, and a card that turns your usual spending into free hotel nights.
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