Hotel card review
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Gold status for $150, with quarterly Hilton credits that cover a good share of the fee.
Open to new applicantsPartly verified
At a glance
Annual fee$150
Welcome offer130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points plus a Free Night Reward$3,000 in 6 months
IssuerAmerican Express
Rewards programHilton Honors
Foreign transaction feeNone
Welcome offer
130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points plus a Free Night Reward after $3,000 of spending within 6 months.
Offer ends January 13, 2027
Offer ends 13 January 2027 per our source.
Offers vary. Welcome offers on this card can differ by applicant, by referral and by the link you apply through. The figure above is what our source showed on the date given, not a guarantee of what you will be offered.
Earning rates
| Rate | On | Cap or condition |
|---|---|---|
| 12x | Hilton portfolio hotels and resorts booked direct | No cap stated |
| 6x | US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations | No cap stated |
| 4x | US online retail | No cap stated |
| 3x | Everything else | No cap stated |
Benefits and credits
- Hilton Honors Gold status Automatic. Diamond is earned at $40,000 in calendar-year spending.
- Up to $200 Hilton credit Up to $50 per quarter on direct Hilton property purchases.
- Free Night Reward After $15,000 in calendar-year spending.
- National Emerald Club Executive status Enrollment required.
Restrictions worth knowing
- The Hilton credit is quarterly and does not roll over.
- The free night needs $15,000 in spending, which most cardholders will not reach.
- Amex once-per-lifetime bonus rules apply.
How to use it well
- Using the full $200 in quarterly credits turns a $150 fee into a small net gain before you count points or status.
- Gold status is the practical benefit: it typically brings breakfast or a food and drink credit at most Hilton brands.
- If you are chasing Diamond, the Aspire grants it outright rather than at $40,000 in spending.
Sources and freshness
What we checked: Fee, offer, rates, status and credits from AwardWallet, read 2 November 2026. Amex pages could not be opened during this build.
- AwardWallet: Hilton credit cards — read November 2, 2026
Last updated: November 2, 2026.
Other Hilton Honors cards
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card — $550, open to new applicants
- Hilton Honors American Express Card — $0, open to new applicants