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Whether you want a premium Hilton Honors card or one without an annual fee, one of these four options can be the best Amex Hilton Honors credit card for you. As expected, while each card earns points on Hilton purchases, each card also has its own perks including major welcome bonuses. Earning the bonuses helps you earn more reward nights and can help offset any annual fees. Plus, these are also some of the best hotel credit card offers that new cardholders can earn:
New Card Members can leverage the following offers to make their summer stays with Hilton even more memorable:
- Earn 80,000 points: Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Earn 130,000 points: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- You can earn 130,000 points, Priority Pass (enrollment required): The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
- Earn 150,000 points, Diamond Elite Status: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Card Members can earn 175K Bonus Points after spending $6K on eligible purchases on the Card in the first six months of Card Membership (Terms apply).
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Annual Fee: $0 (See rates & fees)
Welcome Bonus Offer: New The Hilton Honors American Express Card cardholders can earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is the only one of the four that doesn’t have an annual fee. You will benefit the most from this card if you want a secondary credit card or spend less than $15,000 a year on card purchases.
Earning Points
This card offers the following travel benefits:
- 7x Hilton Honors points on all eligible Hilton purchases made on your card directly with a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio
- 5x points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your card at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. supermarkets
- 3x points on all remaining eligible purchases
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status
As an automatic Hilton Honors Silver member, you can immediately enjoy special benefits like getting the 5th night free on reward nights, 2 water bottles per stay, and elite rollover nights. By spending at least $20,000 in total card purchases per calendar year, you’ll automatically bump up to Hilton Honors Gold status through the end of next year.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
Annual Fee: $150 (See Rates & Fees)
Welcome Bonus Offer: New Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card cardholders can earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Plus, earn up to 12x Hilton points for each dollar you spend on eligible Hilton purchases made directly with a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio and 6x points for purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Also, earn 4x points on U.S. online retail purchases and 3x points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
Plus, cardholders get automatic Hilton Honors Gold status. They also get up to $200 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases after using their Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. An additional new benefit includes complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status (enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club® program is required; terms apply).
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card gives you a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
After spending $40,000 in a calendar year, you will be upgraded to Diamond status through the next calendar year. Diamond status is the highest membership tier and gives you access to complimentary access to continental breakfast, executive lounge access, and a 48-hour room guarantee.
The Surpass is a no-brainer if you can use the benefits, which is well worth the annual fee. However, you might prefer the premium Hilton Honors Aspire with an automatic free weekend night if you’re a Hilton loyalist.
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Annual Fee: $195 (See Rates & Fees)
Welcome Bonus Offer: New The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card cardholders earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Business travelers will also like the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card since you have more opportunities to earn unlimited bonus points.
Cardholders earn Hilton Honors bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases on their Card:
- 12x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible Hilton purchases.
- 5x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases made using the Hilton Honors Business Card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3X points thereafter.
- 3x on all other eligible purchases
Additionally, enjoy up to $240 back each year for eligible purchases made directly with Hilton.
Terms and limitations apply.
The other Hilton travel perks are very similar to the personal Hilton Ascend:
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card
- 10 free Priority Pass Select passes each year (enrollment required)
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Annual Fee: $450 (See rates & fees)
Welcome Bonus Offer: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $4,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is a premium rewards credit card. To start things off, you get a free weekend night as soon as your application is approved and with each card anniversary.
You might prefer this card if you stay at Hilton often for these travel benefits:
- Second weekend night certificate after spending $60,000 per year
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status
- $250 Hilton Resort statement credit for eligible purchases at participating Hilton Resorts
- $250 airline fee credit for incidental fees such as checked baggage, in-flight refreshments, and flight change fees
The Hilton Aspire also offers 14-7-3 tiered purchase rewards for the following purchase types:
- 14x points on eligible Hilton purchases at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton Portfolio
- 7x points on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, flights booked directly from airline or AmexTravel.com, and car rentals booked directly from select car rental agencies
- 3x points on all remaining eligible purchases
- Terms apply
Additional Benefits of the Aspire
Although the other Hilton Honors credit cards offer unique Membership Experiences, you can also enjoy concierge service and premium roadside assistance.
If you can use some of the additional travel credits, upgrading to the Hilton Honors Aspire can be your best option. Getting an automatic free weekend night is a huge plus and lets you stay at almost any Hilton portfolio hotel and resort, even the high-end properties that can cost nearly as much as the annual fee.
You might consider the Hilton Honors Aspire if you want to earn Hilton Honors points with every purchase and enjoy Hilton-specific travel benefits. The annual fee is also $245 less than its closest Amex rival, The Platinum Card® from American Express, which is better for flexible travel rewards.
Which Amex Hilton Credit Card Most Benefits Your Travel Style?
American Express offers four different Hilton credit cards, each one complimenting a different travel style with their different types of credit cards. They also each offer a different set of benefits. Whether you only want a card that earns bonus points without an annual fee or you want one with hotel and airline rewards, there is an Amex Hilton credit card for you.
You will see the list of Amex Hilton credit card options according to the number of benefits it offers. If you want a benefit-rich card, start at the top. For a basic Hilton credit card, scroll towards the bottom of this list. Regardless of what you choose, one of these Amex Hilton credit card options is worth considering.
The Crown Jewel: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is a great premium hotel credit card available on the market. Of the four cards, this one has the most Hilton and air travel benefits. While most premium travel rewards Soc 2 cards tilt toward better air travel rewards, this is a good option if you prefer hotel rewards.
While the annual fee is $450 (See rates & fees), this is in line with other premium travel credit cards. If you can use the additional card benefits, it’s well worth the cost.
New cardholders can also earn a welcome bonus offer of 150,000 Hilton Honors points! You only have to spend $4,000 in the first three months.
Earn up to 14x Points on Purchases
On eligible Hilton purchases, you earn 14x points per $1 spent. You also earn 7x points per $1 on these eligible purchases:
- Flights booked directly with airline or AmexTravel.com
- Car rentals booked directly from the agency
- U.S. restaurants
All remaining eligible purchases earn 3x points per $1 spent.
Lavish Hilton Honors Benefits
The additional card benefits are where the Hilton Honors Aspire earns its keep.
You will have instant access to the following:
- One free weekend night reward at the welcome offer and card anniversary
- Second free weekend night after spending $60,000 in annual card purchases
- Hilton Honors Diamond status
- $250 Hilton Resort statement credit
Hilton Honors Diamond is the highest membership tier. You will enjoy exclusive benefits including executive lounge access and a 48-hour room guarantee. Plus, you get a 100% point bonus plus space-available room upgrades.
Air Travel Benefits
The following air travel benefits plus your first free weekend night can offset the annual fee. If you’re a frequent flyer, you will enjoy these benefits:
- Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership
- Baggage insurance up to $3,000 per passenger
You also get premium roadside assistance. With this benefit, you don’t have to pay if you need a jumpstart, tow, or flat tire service.
Travelers Who Want a Free Hotel Night: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
If you spend more than $15,000 annually, consider the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. That spending target is the magic number to earn a Free Night Reward.
Although this Hilton Amex card isn’t as lavish as the Hilton Honors Aspire, it’s still a great card.
You earn 12x points on eligible Hilton purchases charged directly with a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio. And, you get 6x points for each dollar spent on eligible purchases at these U.S.-based purchases:
- Restaurants
- Gas Stations
- Supermarkets
Also, earn 4x points on U.S. online retail purchases and 3x points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
New Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card cardholders can earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
The annual fee is $150 (See Rates & Fees).
Plus, earn up to 12x Hilton points for each dollar you spend on eligible Hilton purchases made directly with a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio and 6x points for purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Also, earn 4x points on U.S. online retail purchases and 3x points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
Travel Benefits
You will enjoy these three key travel benefits:
- Free weekend night certificate after spending $15,000 in a year
- Hilton Honors Gold status
They also get up to $200 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases after using their Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. An additional new benefit includes complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status (enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club® program is required; terms apply).
For many though, this card might only be worth it if you can get the free night. If not, go with the Hilton Honors Credit Card which doesn’t charge an annual fee.
Business Travelers: The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
There’s only one business credit card that Hilton offers—The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card.
You get automatic Hilton Honors Gold Status and 10 free Priority Pass lounge visits (once enrolled).
Purchase Rewards
Cardholders earn Hilton Honors bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases on their Card:
- 12x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible Hilton purchases.
- 5x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases made using the Hilton Honors Business Card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3X points thereafter.
- 3x on all other eligible purchases
Additionally, enjoy up to $240 back each year for eligible purchases made directly with Hilton.
New The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card cardholders earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
No Annual Fee: Hilton Honors American Express Credit Card
Completing the Hilton Amex Card lineup is the Hilton Honors American Express Card. It doesn’t charge an annual fee or foreign transaction fee (See rates & fees). As a result, this can be a perfect secondary credit card to build credit with the easiest credit cards to get approved for. Or, you can use this Hilton card if you spend less than $15,000 annually. Remember, if you spend more than $15,000 in a year, the Hilton Honors Surpass gives you a free night.
You won’t receive much in the way of extra benefits with the Hilton Honors Credit Card, but you earn Hilton Honors points with each purchase. You also get complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status. With this benefit, you can get the 5th night free on 5+ night reward stays.
Earning Points
Cardholders earn Hilton points per $1 on these purchases:
- 7x points on eligible Hilton purchases made on your card directly with property or resort in the Hilton portfolio
- 5x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. supermarkets
- 3x points on all remaining eligible purchases
New The Hilton Honors American Express Card cardholders can earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
It’s one of the easiest welcome bonus offers to earn.
Amex Hilton Credit Cards: A Brief Review of Benefits
With four cards to choose from, you have plenty of options. If you can only pick one Amex Hilton credit card, here’s a quick summary of which one to choose:
- Two free weekend nights and Hilton travel credits: Hilton Honors Aspire
- Nice bonus: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- No annual fee: Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Business travel rewards: The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
All four Amex Hilton credit card options also offer valuable welcome offers (and some of the best credit card offers) as well as other exclusive American Express card privileges.
Hilton Honors Credit Card Offers: Hilton Honors American Express Card vs Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
Between the Hilton Honors American Express Card (no annual fee, up to 7x points on purchases) and the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card ($150 annual fee (See Rates & Fees), up to 12x points on purchases), which one is best for you?
Hilton Honors American Express Card
New The Hilton Honors American Express Card cardholders can earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earning a welcome bonus with a low minimum spend on a no-annual-fee (See rates & fees) credit card is a pretty solid deal.
Pro travel tip: If you’re interested in other no-annual-fee cards, check out the best travel credit cards with no annual fees. You can start earning points/miles/cashback, all without paying an annual fee. It’s a good way to get your feet wet and build up your credit for a premium travel card.
Hilton award nights start at 5,000 points. You might like this Hilton Honors credit card if you want a secondary hotel rewards credit card.
Travel Benefits
Other Hilton Honors American Express Card benefits include the following:
- 7x points on eligible Hilton purchases charged on your card directly with a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio
- 5x points on eligible purchases at U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. restaurants
- 3x points on all remaining eligible purchases
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status
- Car rental loss and damage waiver protection
Upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold Status
As a Hilton Honors Silver member, you get access to the 5th night free when you book your first four nights with points. You can also enjoy elite rollover nights, two free bottles of water, and no resort fees on reward stays.
By spending $20,000, you will automatically upgrade to Gold status and can enjoy some of the following benefits:
- Space-available room upgrades
- Continental breakfast
- Unlimited milestone bonuses
Additional Shopping Benefits
You can also enjoy these shopping benefits for your non-Hilton spending:
- Free 2-day ShopRunner shipping (enrollment required)
- Extended Warranty
- Purchase Protection
- Return Protection
- Exclusive access to ticket presales
- Terms apply
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
New Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card cardholders can earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
The annual fee is $150 (See Rates & Fees).
Cardholders also get up to $200 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases after using their Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. An additional new benefit includes complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status (enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club® program is required; terms apply).
You’ll also get the following benefits:
- Complimentary Gold Status
- Earn a Free Night Reward after spending $15,000 in a calendar year
Additional Hilton Honors Surpass Credit Card Benefits
Plus, earn up to 12x Hilton points for each dollar you spend on eligible Hilton purchases made directly with a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio and 6x points for purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Also, earn 4x points on U.S. online retail purchases and 3x points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status
You will automatically become a Hilton Honors Gold member which is the second-highest membership tier in the Hilton Honors loyalty program. Some of the benefits include getting the 5th night free on a 5+ night award stay, space-available room upgrades, and continental breakfast at Hilton Portfolio hotels and resorts.
By spending $40,000 in a calendar year, your status will automatically be upgraded to Diamond status through the next calendar year. Additional Diamond member benefits include a 48-hour room guarantee, executive lounge access, and elite status gifting.
Additional Shopping Benefits
Although the primary reason to hold the Hilton Honors Surpass is for the Hilton Honors benefits, you can also enjoy these additional shopping benefits:
- Free 2-Day ShopRunner shipping at 140+ online stores
- Up to $1,000 purchase protection on select purchases
- 90-day return protection
- Extended warranty protection
- Travel accident insurance
Who Should Go for the Hilton Honors American Express Credit Card?
You should try for the Hilton Honors American Express Card for these reasons:
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fee
- Earn up to 7x Hilton Honors points
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status
- Upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status after spending $20,000 in a calendar year
Because the Hilton Honors Credit Card doesn’t charge an annual fee or foreign transaction fee, this Hilton Honors credit card is a good option if you want a secondary credit card or you’re a casual Hilton guest who wants to earn Hilton Honors points without paying an annual fee.
This Hilton credit card is open to any applicant with good or excellent credit.
You will benefit the most from this card if you spend less than $15,000 a year in total card purchases. If you spend more than this amount, choose the Hilton Honors Surpass to get a free weekend night certificate which has more value than the Surpass’s $95 annual fee.
New The Hilton Honors American Express Card cardholders can earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Should You Go For The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card?
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a prime option for these reasons:
- Earn up to 12x Hilton Honors points on eligible purchases
- Get a Free Night Reward after spending $15,000 in a calendar year
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status
And of course, don’t forget about the welcome bonus offers.
New Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card cardholders can earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
The annual fee is $150 (See Rates & Fees).
Additional Credit Cards To Use For Hilton Hotel Purchases
A lot of the best travel credit cards can be used to book a Hilton hotel night, but are you using your most beneficial travel credit card when you’re paying for your Hilton stay? You need to consider these suggestions for your Hilton purchases if you don’t already own one to maximize each Hilton Honors stay.
Whether you only stay at a Hilton once a year or at least one day a week, you’ll find a rewards credit card from this list that compliments your travel habits.
The Platinum Card from American Express
Best For: Flexible travel rewards with premium travel benefits.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is more known for its air travel benefits, but it has the highest purchase reward for Hilton hotel stays in the flexible travel rewards category. Hilton is also a 1:1 Membership Rewards® points transfer partner so you can transfer your points to your Hilton Honors account when you need to book a room in addition to booking plane tickets with Membership Rewards.
When you book your Hilton stays through Amextravel.com, you will earn 5x Membership Rewards® points. Cardholders earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, and earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Why Get the Amex Platinum?
Here are the top three reasons why Hilton Honors guests can enjoy the Amex Platinum:
- 5x points on all Hilton stays booked through AmexTravel.com, up to $500,000 spent annually
- Automatic Hilton Honors Gold Status
- 1:1 Hilton point transfers
These Hilton benefits are in addition to these other travel benefits:
- Global Lounge Collection Access
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee reimbursement
- Complimentary Boingo wifi hotspots access
As you can see, the Platinum card is also one of the best credit cards for excellent credit.
New The Platinum Card® from American Express cardmembers can earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $8,000 on purchases on their new Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
The annual fee is $695 (See Rates & Fees) but can be offset with the perks, which are valued at over $1,400.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Best For: Flexible Travel Rewards and 25% Point Redemption Bonus.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x points on dining, and 2x points on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Also, enjoy Chase Sapphire benefits, such as a $50 annual Hotel Credit.
You might prefer the Sapphire Preferred to the co-brand Hilton credit cards if you don’t stay at Hilton properties on a regular basis, but you still want your purchase rewards to be valuable for other methods of award travel.
The main drawback to owning either the Sapphire Preferred is that Hilton Honors isn’t a 1:1 Chase travel partner. As a consolation, you do get a 25% point redemption bonus when you book any travel through Chase making your points worth 1.25 cents each; most rewards points are only worth 1 cent (or less) for other credit cards. This is also why it is one of the best Chase credit cards.
Additional Benefits
Although 1:1 point transfers are usually more lucrative, you can work the 25% point redemption bonus in your favor. Most hotel loyalty points are only worth 1 cent or less where you need at least 10,000 points for a $100 stay. With the Sapphire Preferred, that same $100 stay only requires 8,000 points.
You can literally pay for your flight and Hilton hotel stays entirely with points. You can book your Hilton stays using the 25% redemption bonus. When booking any award travel directly through Chase, you can pay with a combination of points and cash if you don’t want to use all of your points.
New Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Another card worth mentioning is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. This offer is a great option if you like flexibility. You don’t need to stay at a Hilton if you find a better option for your travel needs.
Whether you stay at a Hilton or not, earning 2x miles is pretty grand. Plus, you get up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, along with the ability to earn 2x miles on every purchase. Learn more in this extensive Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review.
However, if you want to earn a few more miles on travel, good news—earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
For a limited time, new Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card cardholders can earn 75,000 miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening, plus they’ll receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit their first cardholder year. Earning the entire bonus is equal to $1,000 in travel!
Credit Cards to Use for Hilton Hotels
As expected, the co-brand Amex Hilton credit cards offer the highest purchase rewards on Hilton purchases and you can also enjoy additional Hilton Honors benefits that flexible rewards cards don’t offer. With four different Amex Hilton credit cards to choose from, there’s an option for every traveler.
Or, if you relish the flexibility of a generic travel rewards card like the Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire, you can go that route, too and still optimize each Hilton stay.
- Earn 80,000 points: Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Earn 130,000 points: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- You can earn 130,000 points, Priority Pass (enrollment required): The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
- Earn 150,000 points, Diamond Elite Status: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Common Traits Among the Amex Hilton Cards
The 4 Amex Hilton cards all have different annual fees and card benefits, but you will find a few common traits between every Hilton credit card:
- 50,000+ points welcome offers
- Earn 7x+ Hilton points on eligible Hilton purchases
Now, let’s look to see which Amex Hilton credit card matches your travel habits the best.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Annual Fee: $0 (See rates & fees)
Intro Bonus Offer: New The Hilton Honors American Express Card cardholders can earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
The entry-level Hilton Honors American Express Card doesn’t charge an annual fee or foreign transaction fee–ever. This can be a great option if you only occasionally stay at Hilton properties or only need a secondary credit card.
Rewards and Benefits
Besides being a fee-free card, you will also enjoy the following benefits:
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status
- 7x Hilton Honors points on eligible Hilton purchases charged on your card directly at a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio
- 5x Hilton Honors points on eligible U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. supermarkets
- 3x Hilton Honors points on eligible remaining purchases per $1 spent
If you make at least $20,000 in card purchases in a year, Hilton will automatically upgrade you to Hilton Honors Gold status for through the next calendar year. Benefits of Hilton Honors Gold include a 25% elite stay bonus and additional on-site amenities at Hilton Portfolio stays.
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a good option if you spend less than $15,000 a year in card purchases. But if you spend more than $15,000 a year, you will most likely benefit more by moving up to the Hilton Surpass Card.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
Intro Bonus Offer: New Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card cardholders can earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
The annual fee is $150 (See Rates & Fees).
If you plan on spending at least $15,000 in card purchases, you get a Free Night Reward.
Rewards
Here’s everything you can earn with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card:
- Up to 12x Hilton points for each dollar you spend on eligible Hilton purchases made directly with a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio
- 6x points on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. supermarkets
- 4x points on U.S. online retail purchases
- 3x points for all remaining eligible purchases
Cardholders also get up to $200 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases after using their Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. An additional new benefit includes complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status (enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club® program is required; terms apply).
If you’re going to spend at least $15,000 on card purchases, the Free Night Reward easily pays the $150 annual fee and can convince you to apply for the Surpass instead of the $0 annual fee Hilton Honors card. Sometimes, you get what you pay for. That holds true with the Hilton Honors Surpass vs. the Hilton Honors Card.
By spending $40,000 in a calendar year, you’ll automatically be upgraded to Hilton Honors Diamond status which offers a 50% elite stay bonus and a 48-hour guarantee.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Annual Fee: $450 (See rates & fees)
Intro Bonus Offer: 150,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
The Hilton Honors Aspire is Hilton’s co-brand premium travel card. Hilton aficionados will need to give this Amex card some serious consideration for Hilton benefits and air travel benefits.
Hilton Benefits
You will enjoy the following Hilton benefits with the Aspire Card:
- One free anniversary weekend night (2nd night after spending $60,000 per year)
- $250 Hilton Resort statement credit
- $100 on-property Hilton credit with 2+ night stay
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status (50% elite travel bonus, 48-hour room guarantee)
Air Travel Benefits
And, you’ll also get these air travel benefits
- $250 Airline Fee Credit
- Priority Pass Select airport lounge access
- Lost baggage protection
Purchase Rewards
While you probably consider the Hilton Aspire for the additional card benefits, it also has the best purchase rewards of all 4 Hilton credits cards too:
- 14x Hilton points for all Hilton purchases
- 7x points for flights booked on AmexTravel.com, car rental agencies, and U.S. restaurants
- 3x points on all remaining purchases
The Amex Hilton Aspire can be a perfect option if you fly regularly and Hilton hotels are your go-to travel oasis. You free weekend night reward is available at any property in the Hilton Portfolio and can potentially pay your $450 annual fee. By spending $60,000 in a single year, the free nights can easily offset the annual fee every single year. Plus, you get instant Diamond status, and a $250 Hilton resort statement credit.
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
Annual Fee: $195 (See Rates & Fees)
Intro Bonus Offer: New The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card cardholders earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is Hilton’s only business credit card, and it can be a good option if you stay at Hilton for your business travels.
Cardholders earn Hilton Honors bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases on their Card:
- 12x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible Hilton purchases.
- 5x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases made using the Hilton Honors Business Card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3X points thereafter.
- 3x on all other eligible purchases
Additionally, enjoy up to $240 back each year for eligible purchases made directly with Hilton.
You can also enjoy a complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card. This gets cardholders a 25% Elite Stay Bonus and Complimentary space-available upgrades.
Additional Benefits
Additionally, there’s the travel benefit of relaxing with 10 free airport lounge visits each year once enrolled in complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. This offers access to over 1,300 lounges in over 140 countries.
You can also receive a complimentary upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status by spending $40,000 in a calendar year. With Diamond status, you will enjoy a 50% elite stay bonus and a 48-hour room guarantee for your last-minute business trips with The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card.
Amex Hilton Honors Credit Cards
With several Hilton cards to choose from, American Express offers a card for every traveler. Whether you only want a secondary credit card to earn enough points for one free night a year or you stay at a Hilton on a nightly basis, there’s a perfect Amex Hilton credit card for you.
Here’s a welcome bonus recap:
- Earn 80,000 points: Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Earn 130,000 points: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- You can earn 130,000 points, Priority Pass (enrollment required): The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
- Earn 150,000 points, Diamond Elite Status: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Summary
In conclusion, American Express has definitely made the Hilton card lineup better. There truly is a Hilton credit card for every traveler. Whether you want a secondary rewards card or a primary card, you can’t go wrong with any of them, especially if you’re a frequent Hilton traveler.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, please click here.
And for rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
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