There are four cobranded American Express – Hilton credit cards.
So, how are the four cards different? How are they similar? Which is best for you?
I created a table below comparing and contrasting each card’s major points earnings, travel perks, and more. After that, we’ll briefly go over some of the things to consider. (Terms apply to all benefits, features, and perks mentioned below.)
| Hilton Honors American Express Card | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | Hilton Honors American Express Business Card | |
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| Consumer or Business Card? | Consumer | Consumer | Consumer | Business |
| Annual Fee | $0 (See Rates and Fees) | $0 Intro Annual Fee, then $95 (See Rates and Fees) | $450 (See Rates and Fees.) | $95 (See Rates and Fees) |
| Current Welcome Offer | See the current welcome offer here. | See the current welcome offer here. | See the current welcome offer here. | See the current welcome offer here. |
Travel Benefits |
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| Hilton Honors Elite Status | Silver.
Spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your card within a calendar year and upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status through the end of the next calendar year. |
Gold.
Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your card within a calendar year and upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year. |
Diamond. | Gold.
Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your card within a calendar year and upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year. |
| Weekend Night Award | No. | Yes.
Spend $15,000 on your card within a calendar year and earn a complimentary weekend night. |
Yes.
One weekend night reward year you hold the card (including the first year!). Plus, earn an additional night after you spend $60,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year. |
Yes.
Spend $15,000 on your card within a calendar year and earn a complimentary weekend night. Spend $60,000 on your card within a calendar year and earn another complimentary weekend night. |
| Priority Pass Select Benefit | No. | Yes.
Ten (10) free visits for you and up to two guests at participating Priority Pass Select airport lounges. (Enrollment required.) |
Yes.
Unlimited visits for you and up to two guests at participating Priority Pass Select airport lounges. (Enrollment required.) |
Yes.
Ten (10) free visits for you and up to two guests at participating Priority Pass Select airport lounges. (Enrollment required.) |
| $250 Annual Airline Fee Credit | No. | No. | Yes.
Receive up to $250 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees like checked bags, in-flight food and beverage, flight change fees, and more. Valid for only one qualifying airline. (Enrollment required.) |
No. |
| $250 Hilton Resort Statement Credit | No. | No. | Yes.
Receive up to $250 in statement credits for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts. |
No. |
| $100 On-Property Credit at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad | No. | No. | Yes.
Book a two (2) night minimum stay at hiltonhonorsaspirecard.com and get up to $100 in credits for qualifying charges made at participating Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts. |
No. |
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Trip Delay Insurance
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None | None | Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. |
None |
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Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
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None | None | The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. |
None |
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Baggage Insurance Plan
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None. | Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Eligible Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible Account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.
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Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Covered Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier Vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.
• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. |
Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Eligible Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible Account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.
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Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
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Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. • Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. • Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. |
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. • Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. • Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. |
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.
• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. |
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. • Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. • Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | None. (See Rates and Fees.) | None. (See Rates and Fees.) | None. (See Rates and Fees.) | None. (See Rates and Fees.) |
| Points Earnings for Charges Made at/on: | ||||
| Hilton Portfolio Hotels or Resorts | 7X | 12X | 14X | 12X |
| Flights Booked Directly with Airlines or at AmexTravel.com | 3X | 3X | 7X | 6X |
| Car Rentals Booked With Select Rental Car Companies | 3X | 3X | 7X | 6X |
| U.S. Restaurants | 5X | 6X | 7X | 6X |
| U.S. Supermarkets | 5X | 6X | 3X | 3X |
| U.S. Gas Stations | 5X | 6X | 3X | 6X |
| Wireless Telephone Service Purchases Directly from U.S. Service Providers | 3X | 3X | 3X | 6X |
| U.S. Purchases for Shipping | 3X | 3X | 3X | 6X |
| All Other Eligible Purchases | 3X | 3X | 3X | 3X |
| Where Can You Apply? | Learn more here. | Learn more here. (Referral offer — not an affiliate link.)
All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has been collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. |
Learn more here. (Referral offer — not an affiliate link.)
All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. |
Learn more here. |
Which Hilton Amex Card is the Best?
Longtime readers probably know what I’m going to say: “the best card” depends on your budget, spending habits, and travel goals and needs.
I have too many Amex cards in my portfolio right now and need to thin the herd. But if I were going to get one of these cards, I’d probably go for the Aspire or Surpass.
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers a lot of bang for its $450 annual fee. (See Rates and Fees.) The $250 airline incidental credit (enrollment required), free Weekend Reward Night each year, and Priority Pass Select membership get you close to recouping that annual fee. And Diamond status is thrown in, too. And if you stay at a Hilton Resort once a year, you get up to $250 back in statement credits for purchases made directly with those properties. And if you’re a Conrad or Waldorf Astoria fan, you can also get $100 backs on an eligible stay.
Combine all those perks and you’re practically making money.
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card doesn’t offer many of the Aspire’s bells and whistles. But its annual fee is $355 cheaper — and waived the first year during this limited-time promotion. It gives you 10 free visits to Priority Pass Select lounges each year. (Enrollment required) But many of us already have a card that gives us unlimited Priority Pass Select visits. And for the Hilton diehards, the card offers a Weekend Reward Night after you spend $15,000 on the card within a calendar year.
I like the Surpass’ card’s point-earning structure: 6X at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations — all places most of us visit on the regular. Plus, 12X on Hilton stays is a decent return.
If it’s a Hilton business card you want, the decision is pretty much made for you. There’s just one: the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card. That card and the consumer/personal Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card are fairly similar.
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is fine for anyone who hasn’t held the card and loves the welcome offer. It’s also a decent option if you’re deathly averse to annual fees. The card’s everyday spending bonus points earnings are close to the Surpass’. But that’s about it.
Final Approach
If you’re in the market for a new Hilton Amex card, I hope our handy-ish, dandy-ish chart above is helpful. Folks who already hold (or have held) one of the Hilton Amexes, please share your thoughts, tip, and recommendations below!
To see rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for the Hilton Honors Aspire American Express Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
