What is the average credit score needed to get approved for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card?

It's recommended that you have a good credit score before applying for this credit card. That means you usually need a credit score of at least 670 to get approval.

Does the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card report to all three credit bureaus?

Yes. The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card reports all your credit activities to the three credit bureaus.

Is the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card application process lengthy? Can you prequalify?

The application process is typically very smooth, often with immediate processing. However, if the application status remains pending, it might take up to 60 days to get feedback. If this happens, you'll be notified by mail once a decision is made.

What information is needed to apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card?

You need to fill out your personal identifying details such as name, date of birth and Social Security number, along with financial information such as your total annual income and source of income.

Does the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card have good customer service or satisfaction?

Yes. According to J.D. Power's 2020 survey, Amex earned the highest customer satisfaction score in a pool of 12 card issuers.

Does the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card have a mobile app or the option to pay or manage your account online?

The Surpass card has a mobile app that is downloadable on Apple, Android or BlackBerry devices. You can also manage your account online through its website.

Does the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card raise credit limits automatically or charge for limit increases?

[Amex increases credit limits](https://www.moneygeek.com/credit-cards/advice/increase-credit-limit-with-american-express/) from time to time if you use your card often and pay off the balance on time.

Does the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card offer the option to freeze your credit/account or have other security features?

You can freeze your account using the Amex App. For more assistance, you can call the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card phone number.

Does American Express offer other credit cards besides the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card?

American Express offers a wide range of credit cards with different rewards and benefits tailored to your lifestyle and interests.

MoneyGeek’s Take

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card Review

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a good option for avid travelers and frequent guests at Hilton hotels and resorts. The card comes with a robust rewards system and a great sign-up bonus.

Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 1/15/2023

Reviewed By

Brett Holzhauer

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

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.

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is ideal for earning and redeeming Hilton points. It has an annual fee of $95. However, it's pretty easy to offset the fee through its various valuable bonus categories. It has no foreign transaction fee, which is something we always like to see on travel cards.

Card Details to Know Up Front

Bonus, Fee or Feature
Has or Not
Has Annual Fee
Has Balance Transfer Offer
Has APR Offer
Cash Back Rewards
Travel Rewards
Hotel Benefits
Airline Benefits
Has Rewarding Welcome Offer
Has Foreign Transaction Fee
Recommended Credit
Good–Excellent

Click to see this card’s rates, fees and how they compare to other cards in our dataset.

OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE

Credit Card Details at a Glance
Pros & Cons Explained
Bonuses & Rewards Explained
Our Verdict: Is This Card for You?

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card at a Glance

If you regularly stay at Hilton properties, the American Hilton Honors Surpass Card can go a long way for you. Take a look at some of its key features before we take a deeper dive.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
An excellent credit card for earning Hilton Honors points.
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $95Annual Fee
- 3–12 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 12xRewards Rate at Hotels
- 6xRewards Rate on Groceries
Pros
Opportunities for significant bonus points
Get Hilton Honors Gold status automatically
High reward rates across different categories
Spend-based weekend reward night
Pay no foreign transaction fees
Access to American Express Experiences
Additional cards

Cons
Annual fee of $95
Balance transfer and cash advance fees
Penalty APR may apply in case of late/returned payments
No travel insurance
No purchase protection and extended warranty
No hotel credits
Spend $2,000 on purchases in the first three months to earn 130,000 bonus points.
Spend at properties within the Hilton portfolio to earn 12x points.
Spend at U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. restaurants to earn 6x points.
Earns 3x points through all other purchases.
Redeem your reward points for free nights, VIP access to events, Lyft rides, shopping at Amazon.com and Hilton Honors' online mall or car rentals.
Can convert your points to miles with the program’s airline partners or share them with other Hilton Honors members.
Qualify for a free Hilton Honors weekend night reward from if you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year.
Get ten complimentary airport lounge visits every 12 months by enrolling in the Priority Pass Select program.
Get automatic Hilton Honors Gold status with your new card. If you spend $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year, you stand to get Hilton Honors Diamond status, which remains valid for a year.
Fraud protection offers safeguard against possible misuse of your card.
Get access to American Express features such as Send & Split and Pay It Plan It.
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.

Pros & Cons Explained

While the American Express Hilton Honors Surpass Card benefits are enticing, it's important to take a closer look at what this card excels at and what would make it a better travel card.

Pros

Benefits
Description
Free weekend award night
When you spend $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year, you get a complimentary weekend reward night which you can use at any Hilton property worldwide.
Hilton elite status
You earn complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status with this card after enrolling in the Hilton Honors program. The benefits of Gold Status include free wifi, the option to select your room, room upgrades (when available) and free bottled water.
Complimentary Priority Pass Select
This membership features 10 free airport lounge passes each year. You get access to more than 1,200 airport lounges around the globe.

Cons

Drawbacks
Description
Limited reward redemptions
Hilton points have low redemption value when used at non-Hilton properties. Therefore, you have to redeem your points through Hilton to get their full value.
High spending requirement for elite status
While the card comes with Gold status, you’ll have to make $40,000 in purchases each year to upgrade to Diamond status.

LOOKING FOR THE BEST CREDIT CARDS OF 2022?

MoneyGeek selects the best credit cards for our readers every year by analyzing the ins and outs of every card in our database. Take a look at our picks for the best travel credit cards.

Bonuses & Rewards Explained

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card earns 12 points per dollar for eligible purchases at Hilton properties worldwide. You earn six points per dollar spent on eligible purchases in U.S. supermarkets, restaurants and gas stations. Any other eligible purchases will yield points at a rate of three points per dollar.

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has an impressive welcome bonus of 130,000 Hilton points if you spend $2,000 in purchases within the first three months of opening an account. Further, you earn an additional 50,000 points after purchases of $10,000 in your first six months.

You can redeem the rewards by logging in to your Hilton Honors account. The lowest amount you can redeem is 5,000 points if you’re paying using both cash and points. However, the rate of redemption for Hilton bonus points is dynamic and changes depending on demand and seasons.

Luckily, there are no blackout dates for points redemption, which increases the hotel availability. Hilton offers an option to combine cash and points, with a value-per-point of around 0.5 cents each.

Hilton also offers a points pooling option that allows Hilton Honors members to combine points with other cardholders to make a meaningful redemption.

Other Features Explained

There are many Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card benefits. Here are other valuable perks that could make your next stay much more relaxed.

Card Feature
Description
Purchase protection
The card covers damage or theft for purchases up to $1,000 within the first 90 days after buying the item.
Baggage insurance
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card covers lost, stolen or damaged checked and carry-on baggage if the tickets are purchased using the card.
Car rental loss and damage insurance
This credit card provides secondary compensation for qualified rental vehicles.
Global Assist Hotline
This 24/7 service assists before and during travel for emergency services such as lost passports.
Presales and preferred seating
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card provides the chance to buy event tickets before the public and access preferred seating.
Free ShopRunner subscription
You'll have free two-day shipping and returns with chosen merchants if you use this card.
Travel accident insurance
For tickets charged on your card, you're eligible for coverage in the event an accident occurs that disrupts or suspends your travel plans.
Customer service
American Express has the best reputation for customer satisfaction among credit card issuers. In J.D. Power's 2020 survey, Amex took the top spot over 11 other issuers.

MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

As Hilton uses dynamic pricing for rewards redemptions, the best way you can maximize your redemptions through the Hilton Honors program is by targeting properties that cost relatively few points per booking compared to other Hilton hotels.

Understanding the Fine Print

Card Feature
Amount or Rate
APR
19.99% – 28.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$95
Cash Back Rewards
Rewards Rate
3–12 Points per $1*
Airline Benefits
Rewards Rate on Groceries
6x
Rewards Rate on Gas
6x
Rewards Rate on Dining
6x
Rewards Rate on Entertainment
3x
Rewards Rate on Online Shopping
3x
Rewards Rate on TV, Phone, Internet Services
3x
Rewards Rate on Air Travel
3x
Rewards Rate at Hotels
12x
Balance Transfer Fee
Unspecified
Balance Transfer APR
Unspecified
Late Fees
Up to $40
Cash Advance Fee
$10 or 5%, whichever is greater
Cash Advance APR
29.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fee
None

Cash Advance Fee
If you take a cash advance against your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card credit limit, you’ll pay a fee of 5% or $10.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has a high variable APR of 19.99% – 28.99% .

FINDING YOUR CARD'S RATES AND FEES

You may compare this card with cards you already have by checking their fees and features in your last billing statement. Alternatively, you can find this information through the credit card agreement database maintained by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Who Should & Shouldn’t Consider Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card?

Other Considerations for Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Before completing the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card application, you need to know how you’ll use the card. Using this card alone or pairing it with other cards might have an influence on your experience.

Things to Consider if This Will Be Your First or Only Credit Card

To make this card your first or only credit card, you should consider the high APR when making purchases or transferring balances. Additionally, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card credit score range is 670–850. You need at least a good credit score to be approved for this card.

Things to Consider if This Will Be an Additional Card in Your Wallet

A card with no foreign transaction fees can be ideal when used as an additional card. You won't have to pay for any purchases made abroad during your travels. Other benefits include free stays and ten free Priority Pass Lounge visits every year.

The card's high annual fee may be something you want to consider. The good thing is, the card has rewards that easily outweigh its fees if you regularly pay off your balance.

WHY TRUST OUR REVIEWS

At MoneyGeek, we use a systematic methodology and review process when determining the best credit cards. The well-planned process involves collecting details from the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau’s database, updating data points to provide for easy comparisons, determining average spending profiles, considering the annual and introductory bonuses, establishing the long-term value of the credit card and carrying out a regular review and re-ranking procedure.

How Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card Compares to Other Cards

The card has no foreign transaction fees. Its rewards are lucrative and have excellent sign-up bonuses. However, the factors you’d consider when comparing it with other cards will largely depend on what you want from the card.

Quick Comparison of Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Annual fee: $95
Purchase APR: 19.99% – 28.99% variable
International transaction fee: 0%
Cash back: N/A
Best for: Travelers who regularly stay at Hilton properties

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Annual fee: $95
Purchase APR: 20.24% – 27.24% variable
International transaction fee: 0%
Cash back: N/A
Best for: Frequent travelers looking for elite status and superb travel rewards

Other Helpful Decision-Making Q&As

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card that might help you make a well-informed decision.

Still not sure about this card? Consider these options.

If you’re still not convinced whether this card may be the best option for you, you can check out other travel credit cards and compare their perks. If you’re looking for other credit categories, you might want to consider some of the best cash back credit cards.

View All Credit Cards

Learn more about credit cards in general

sources

American Express. "Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card." Accessed September 15, 2021.
Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. "Credit Card Agreement Database." Accessed September 9, 2021.
J.D. Power. "U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study." Accessed September 9, 2021.

*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more aboutour editorial policies andexpert editorial team.
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