Is the annual fee for the Hilton Surpass Amex card justified?

We believe the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is definitely worth its $150 annual fee (see rates and fees) for dedicated Hilton fans, as it provides excellent earning potential and automatic Hilton Gold elite status.

Holding Hilton Gold status grants you perks like complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, and enhanced earnings when staying at Hilton properties, making it one of the most beneficial automatic status perks available.

Read on to learn why this card is a worthwhile investment for its annual fee.

Hilton Surpass sign-up bonus

The Hilton Surpass card provides 165,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 within the first six months of membership. While the highest recorded offer for this card was 180,000 bonus points, it required a significantly higher spending threshold.

The current offer aligns with our criteria for an ideal application opportunity, as those points are valued at $990 based on our June 2024 valuations.

American Express outlines the following conditions for the welcome offer:

You may not qualify for a welcome offer if you currently have or have previously held this Card, the Hilton Honors Amex Ascend Card, or earlier versions of these Cards. Additionally, eligibility may be affected by various factors including your history with credit card balance transfers, your tenure as an American Express Card Member, and the number of credit cards you've opened and closed, among others.

Before you complete your application, Amex will inform you about your eligibility for the bonus.

Accumulate bonus points with Hilton

The Hilton Surpass card rewards you with 12 points for every dollar spent at Hilton hotels and resorts, 6 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery), U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations, 4 points per dollar on U.S. online retail purchases, and 3 points per dollar on all other qualifying purchases.

While the returns on non-Hilton spending may not be extraordinary, you'll still gain substantial rewards from your Hilton expenditures — making it a compelling option for Hilton enthusiasts. It's also noteworthy that the complimentary Hilton Gold status associated with the Hilton Surpass card provides additional bonus points for every dollar spent at Hilton. By using your Hilton Surpass card for eligible Hilton transactions, you can earn 20 points per dollar spent.

Redemption choices

The easiest way to get the most out of your Hilton Honors points is to redeem them for complimentary nights. Keep in mind, though, that Hilton operates on a dynamic pricing model, which can change depending on the season and other factors.

Hilton's Points Explorer page can guide you on how many points are required for a free night across various properties within the Hilton brand. You can also take advantage of Hilton's fifth-night free benefit to stretch your points further.

Hilton Honors also offers members the chance to earn and redeem Hilton points through partners. However, many non-hotel redemption options tend to provide lower value for your points, so it's advisable to avoid those choices.

Elite membership

The Hilton Surpass card provides complimentary Hilton Gold status, which comes with the following benefits:

• 80% bonus points on paid stays
• Room upgrades, subject to availability, up to executive-level accommodations
• Elite rollover nights
• Fifth night complimentary when booking entirely with points
• Daily breakfast or a food and beverage credit

Moreover, if you charge over $40,000 to the card within a calendar year, you’ll achieve Diamond status, which is Hilton's highest tier, valid through the end of the following calendar year.

Cardholders also gain complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status upon enrolling in the Emerald Club program. Terms apply. Benefits include enhanced access to vehicles, guaranteed upgrades, and waived second-driver fees.

If you don’t choose National, you can utilize the elite status for a status match with other car rental companies.

Hilton statement credit

A notable benefit of the Hilton Surpass card that helps offset the annual fee (see rates and fees) is the statement credit available for eligible Hilton purchases. Cardholders can receive up to $50 in statement credits (totaling up to $200 each cardmember year) every quarter for Hilton transactions.

Eligible expenses for the statement credit include those charged directly at a Hilton portfolio property, covering room rates and incidental costs like room service, minibar use, and laundry services.

Even if you don’t stay at a Hilton property every quarter, you might maximize this credit by buying a Hilton gift card online or dining at a Hilton location or shopping at their gift store.

Free night benefit

The Hilton Surpass card grants a free night reward after you spend $15,000 on the card within a calendar year. This reward is valid at nearly any Hilton property around the globe.

If you estimate the value of that free night at $300, that equates to a 2% return on the $15,000 spent.

Additional perks

The Hilton Surpass card offers no foreign transaction fees (refer to rates and fees) when traveling internationally, along with free two-day shipping on eligible purchases via ShopRunner and the Amex "Send & Split" feature, which allows you to share expenses like a group meal with friends. Enrollment is necessary for certain benefits.

Moreover, this card includes the Amex "Plan It" feature, enabling you to spread out payments for larger purchases, and offers secondary rental car insurance covering theft or damage up to $50,000.*

In summary

While the Hilton Surpass may not offer the extensive flexibility or extravagant perks found in some other cards, it can be an excellent choice for regular travelers who favor Hilton. With automatic Gold status, generous points earning potential, and up to $200 in yearly Hilton credits, this card is ideal for loyal Hilton guests.

For more details about the card, check out our comprehensive review of the Hilton Surpass.