The explanation why the Hilton Amex Surpass Card received me over

After I first obtained into the bank card rewards pastime, transferable factors made essentially the most sense to me.

My journey fashion has all the time been versatile. I do not essentially love any resort chain greater than one other, and I’ve lived close to hub cities for a number of airways.

Rewards that I might use wherever, any time — by transferring to a loyalty accomplice or reserving by way of a journey portal — have been my pure alternative. I did not see how a cobranded card match into my technique.

That modified after I determined to use for the Hilton Honors American Specific Surpass® Card. Regardless of what you may suppose, I did not apply as a result of I am now a Hilton loyalist.

Since I hadn’t booked accommodations but for journeys I would deliberate this yr, I used to be interested in how the cardboard’s advantages might elevate my upcoming journey. What if I examined out loyalty to a worldwide chain with hundreds of properties throughout a number of worth factors?

Listed below are six the reason why the Hilton Surpass lastly received me over as somebody who wasn’t excited about cobranded playing cards.

An annual price that is proper for me

I might’ve picked up the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Specific Card (see charges and charges). Nevertheless, I did not need to merely dip my toes right into a cobranded card membership.

As an alternative, I wished to see how the Surpass’ elite standing and assertion credit might elevate my journey expertise. The cardboard’s $0 introductory annual price for the primary yr then $150 annual price (supply ends Aug. 13, 2025; see charges and charges) appeared like a totally affordable price to me contemplating its advantages.

Certain, it would not have as many perks because the top-tier Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire Card, which fees a $550 annual price, however I haven’t got the urge for food for such a excessive annual price at this level.

The knowledge for the Hilton Honors Aspire has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

I additionally wasn’t as impressed with the same playing cards provided by competing resort chains at comparable annual price charges, such because the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card (see charges and charges), the World of Hyatt Credit score Card (see charges and charges) and the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card (see charges and charges).

Thus, I landed on the Surpass.

Associated: Is the Hilton Surpass Amex card well worth the annual price?

My first elite standing

As a result of I’ve traditionally been a free agent, I’ve by no means skilled elite standing perks with any program. Receiving automated mid-tier Hilton Gold standing from a card with a modest annual price was enticing to me.

Hilton Gold standing comes with the next perks:

• A each day food-and-beverage credit score or continental breakfast (relying on the place you keep)
• Elite rollover nights
• The fifth night time free on reward stays
• Area-available room upgrades
• An 80% factors incomes bonus on stays
• 10,000 bonus factors each 10 nights after you’ve got stayed 40 nights in a calendar yr

I noticed myself having fun with the bonus factors, each day food-and-beverage credit and space-available room upgrades essentially the most. The fifth-night-free perk intrigued me, too, despite the fact that it additionally comes with lower-level Silver standing.

In case you spend $40,000 in a calendar yr, you additionally get upgraded to Diamond standing by way of the tip of the following calendar yr. Whereas I do not plan to spend that on this card, I nonetheless suppose spend-incentivized standing for individuals who spend that a lot in a yr is a pleasant perk.

Hilton assertion credit score

Assertion credit are a serious a part of the bank card rewards pastime, and maximizing them is one of the best ways to make sure you’re getting essentially the most worth for the annual price. The Hilton Surpass is not any exception.

The cardboard’s as much as $50 quarterly Hilton assertion credit score (as much as $200 every calendar yr) covers a variety of purchases made instantly with Hilton, together with room charges, incidental fees, room service, restaurant and spa purchases and different fees at institutions inside a property, like reward retailers.

I felt that will be straightforward for me to make use of, and it will primarily wipe away the cardboard’s annual price earlier than the yr was over. I obtained the cardboard in early March and already had plans to make a journey to Louisville, Kentucky, this spring, so my credit score within the first quarter went towards reserving three nights at Tempo by Hilton Louisville Downtown NuLu with money.

I am taking a visit to Europe later this spring and plan on utilizing the second quarter’s credit score on eating and drinks on the Cover by Hilton London Metropolis. Within the fall, I will Las Vegas and can use my credit score on the Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World.

Associated: Tips on how to maximize the assertion credit on the Hilton cobranded bank cards

Bonus classes not coated by my different playing cards 

I like maximizing bonus classes. I take advantage of my American Specific® Gold Card to purchase groceries, my Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and charges) for streaming subscriptions and my Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card to cowl purchases outdoors of bonus classes.

Although my pockets covers many bonus classes, I did not have a card that earned additional on fuel or on-line retailers. Fortunate for me, the Hilton Surpass earns 6 factors per greenback spent on fuel purchases at U.S. fuel stations and 4 factors per greenback spent on U.S. on-line retail purchases.

TPG’s July 2025 valuations place Hilton factors at 0.5 cents per level. The factors earned with my transferable rewards playing cards are extra worthwhile, so I will not be utilizing the Surpass to pay for purchases the place I earn bonus factors through the use of different playing cards (comparable to eating and grocery purchases).

Nevertheless, since I repeatedly spend on fuel and on-line purchases, I am excited to now earn greater than 2 factors per greenback in these classes.

Associated: 5 causes to get the Hilton Surpass Card

Nationwide Automotive Rental standing

One of many card’s extra underrated perks is its complimentary Nationwide Rental Automotive Emerald Membership Govt standing. Enrollment is required, and phrases apply.

Since I usually journey domestically, I see worth in Govt standing perks, like entry to the Govt Space for full-size reservations and above within the U.S. and Canada. Plus, the standing grants assured upgrades and no second driver charges, which is one other strong profit for me since I usually journey with one other individual.

I hire automobiles a number of instances a yr, so I am enthusiastic about how this perk might amplify these experiences.

Associated: Finest rental automotive rewards applications you have to find out about

Welcome bonus and redemption choices

Whereas the welcome supply varies relying on once you apply for the cardboard, I finally utilized when the cardboard provided an attractive limited-time supply.

On the time, new cardmembers might earn 130,000 bonus factors plus a free night time reward after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. This supply is not obtainable.

At present, new cardmembers earn 130,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. There’s a $0 introductory annual price for the primary yr, and a $150 annual price after (see charges and charges).

TPG’s July 2025 valuations place the present bonus at $650. I simply determined that this was an outsize worth for the annual price.

As soon as I met the minimal spending requirement to earn the bonus, I began daydreaming about how I might redeem these rewards for an upcoming two-night keep in London. I used the Factors Explorer instrument to seek for availability for properties with charges as much as 65,000 factors per night time. Two nights would expend the 130,000-point bonus.

As a result of Hilton makes use of dynamic pricing, the worth of your factors can range significantly relying on once you’re planning to make a journey. Nevertheless, there may be loads of worth to be discovered within the Hilton Honors program, particularly if in case you have some flexibility.

For example, I used all 130,000 bonus factors from my Surpass’ welcome supply to guide two nights on the Cover by Hilton London Metropolis this spring. Then, I held onto the free night time reward and determined to make use of it to guide one night time at Cosmopolita Resort Rome, Tapestry Assortment by Hilton. The usual room I booked with this certificates was price virtually $629 or 80,000 Hilton Honors factors.

Associated: Present Hilton Amex card provides

Backside line

A couple of years in the past, I wasn’t positive I might ever be satisfied to use for a cobranded card. A number of components, comparable to those I outlined above, made the Hilton Surpass the most suitable choice for me.

On this course of, I realized you do not have to be fiercely loyal to a specific model to seek out worth in a cobranded card’s advantages. You simply need to see how they match into your total card technique.

Think about your priorities and spending habits earlier than making use of for a brand new card. At TPG, we encourage you to earn transferable factors because of their worth and suppleness, however you do not have to prioritize incomes this forex all the time. Diversifying your rewards portfolio is simply as vital.

To be taught extra, take a look at our full evaluation of the Hilton American Specific Surpass Card.

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Apply right here: Hilton Honors American Specific Surpass Card

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For charges and charges of the Hilton Surpass Card, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Hilton Amex card, click on right here.