If you were to ask me to make a choice, I’d take hotel credit cards over airline credit cards any day. In comparison to airline credit cards, you can earn elite status a lot quicker and enjoy a lot of fantastic perks. While many give Hilton a bad rap for astronomical points pricing in certain cases, you can still derive a great deal of value from the program if you use it strategically. Currently, American Express is offering elevated welcome bonuses on all of their co-branded Hilton credit cards. If you’re looking to slowly dip your toes, then the Hilton Surpass card and its welcome bonus might be worth taking a look at.
ALSO READ: MY LATEST HILTON POINTS REDEMPTION: 0.92 CENTS PER POINT!
HILTON SURPASS CARD WELCOME BONUS
American Express is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 130,000 Hilton Honors points on the Hilton Surpass card. In addition, you’ll also earn one free night certificate.
You’ll earn the welcome bonus after you spend $3,000 in the first 6 months of card membership. For most people, this minimum spend should be pretty easy to meet as you only need to spend $500 per month.
CLICK HERE FOR THE 130,000 POINTS + 1 FREE NIGHT OFFER
HILTON SURPASS CARD: A $150 ANNUAL FEE CARD THAT OFFERS GOLD ELITE STATUS
If you’re not willing to spend $550 for a premium card like the Hilton Aspire Card, then the Hilton Surpass card is a very viable option for a card that charges an annual fee of $150. Also, with the Hilton Surpass card, you’ll automatically get Gold elite status, which I think is arguably the most valuable mid tier status level if you compare the major hotel chains.
You get some of these amazing benefits simply by carrying the Hilton Surpass card in your wallet:
- Complimentary WiFi
- 80% Bonus points earning on stays
- 5th night free on award stays using points
- Free breakfast at all properties in the Hilton portfolio outside the US (breakfast credits in the US)
- Space available room upgrades
Over the last decade, I’ve stayed at Hilton brands all over the world. Some of my favorite elite status benefits have been the 5th night free feature and complimentary breakfast (outside the US).
In addition to the welcome bonus, you can earn a free night certificate after you spend $15,000 in a calendar year.
POINTS EARNING
For a card that charges an annual fee of $150, the points earning potential is pretty solid.
- 12x Hilton Honors points on eligible purchases in the Hilton portfolio
- 6x points on dining (including takeout and delivery), gas and groceries (only in the US)
- 4x points on online retail purchases (US only)
- 3x points on all other purchases
$200 IN CREDITS
This is a brand new benefit that Amex has recently added. You will earn $50 in statement credits each quarter on purchases made with hotels in the Hilton portfolio. Unlike the resort credit on the Hilton Aspire Card, this benefit is a lot easier to use. You simply need to make a qualifying purchase each quarter with a hotel in the Hilton portfolio.
For anyone who stays at Hilton properties every now and then, maxing out the $200 each year should be pretty straightforward.
OTHER BENEFITS
In additional to a stellar points earning potential, the Hilton Surpass card also offer some valuable additional benefits and protections:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Car rental loss and damage insurance
- Add authorized users for no fee
Moreover, Amex has recently added complimentary car rental elite status. For simply carrying the card in your wallet, you’ll earn Emerald Club Executive status with National car rental.
THE PUNDIT’S MANTRA
For a card offer that only requires $3,000 in spend, 130,000 points and a free night certificate is a fantastic welcome bonus indeed. You’ll only need to spend $500 per month in order to meet the minimum spend requirement.
In addition, American Express is running limited time offers on their other co-branded Hilton credit cards as well.
| Credit Card | Welcome Bonus Offer | Application Link | Complimentary Elite Status |
| Hilton Honors Card | 70,000 points + 1 free night | Apply Now | Silver |
| Hilton Surpass Card | 130,000 points + 1 free night | Apply Now | Gold |
| Hilton Aspire Card | 175,000 points + 1 free night certificate | Apply Now | Diamond |
| Hilton Business Card | 175,000 points | Apply Now | Gold |
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Please be clear: in one place you mention a free night certificate after spending $15k in a year and then in closing you only mention a free night certificate w/o the spend requirement. Btw, a similar, but better offer was available earlier in the year offering 155,000 HH points. I suspect that will come around again.
The two free night certificates (FNC) are different:
So if you get the card now and spend $3k in Jun/July, you’ll get one FNC valid until July 2025. If you spend another $12k by the end of this year, you’ll get another FNC in Dec 2024, valid until Dec 2025.
The welcome bonuses keep changing, we never know what offers will come next. Sometimes it’s just points on offer whereas sometimes it’s points + FNCs.