May 26, 2014, 3:09 pm
Last edit by: rrgg
Hilton HHonors American Express Surpass card. 155,000 points for spending $3,000 in 3 months; $95 annual fee. Offer Expires Apr. 17, 2024
Hilton HHonors American Express Surpass card. 170,000 points for spending $3,000 in 3 months; $95 annual fee. Expired Jan 17 2024
Hilton HHonors American Express Surpass card. 130,000 points for spending $4,000 in 4 months; $95 annual fee. OFFER EXPIRED AUG 28.
Hilton HHonors American Express Ascend card. 75,000 points for spending $2,000 in 3 months+ 25,000 points after additional $1000 in 6 months; $95 annual fee.
Note: For existing Surpass card holders, AMEX verbally confirmed that on or after 20 January 2018, card holders can call in and request cards be converted to Aspire - while maintaining the same credit card number, balance limits, PIN, etc.
Card features:
Check your application status
Linking AmexAscend Surpass to your Hilton Honors account.Many (most?) have reported that a new Hilton Honors number gets assigned by Amex even when they put their existing Hilton Honors number in the application, and it can take several weeks to get this worked out. However, the key to making things go smoothly seems to be an exact match of your name and address between Amex and Hilton, including adding your middle initial to your Hilton Honors account if you use it on your Amex. When everything matches, an Amex rep should be able to update the account number, it should "go through" immediately, and the correct Hilton account number will be reflected on the Amex website in about 2 days.
Is the AmexAscend Surpass churnable?As of May 1, 2014, Amex will not give a signup bonus to card applicants who have held the card in the past ~7 years, even if the applicant has never earned a previous signup bonus for it. However, it is still possible to upgrade an existing Hilton Amex to the Ascend Surpass card to earn a bonus (and reportedly to do this more than once by later downgrading & then upgrading again). The best strategy is to earn a Ascend Surpass signup bonus first, and only afterward pursue the upgrade bonus(es).
For information on other Hilton-branded credit cards, see the wiki at Ongoing offers for Hilton cards issued by Amex or Citi
- Important limitation on this offer: "Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product."
Note: For existing Surpass card holders, AMEX verbally confirmed that on or after 20 January 2018, card holders can call in and request cards be converted to Aspire - while maintaining the same credit card number, balance limits, PIN, etc.
Card features:
- Annual fee:
$95$150, no first-year waiver. - Earning: 12 HHonors points per dollar on Hilton spend; 6 points/$ at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets & gas stations; 4 points for online retail purchases (as of 2023); and 3 points/$ on everything else.
- Elite status: Hilton Gold status for as long as you have the card and Diamond status after $40,000 in annual spend.
- Booking bonus: 500 bonus points for every stay (including award stays) booked directly with Hilton & guaranteed with the card
Check your application status
Linking Amex
Is the Amex
For information on other Hilton-branded credit cards, see the wiki at Ongoing offers for Hilton cards issued by Amex or Citi
The Hilton Honors Surpass Card from American Express (formerly called Ascend)
Mar 16, 2017, 3:46 pm
#166
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: PHL/EWR
Programs: AA, US, WN, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 1,528
Once you are awarded gold status you have it no matter what you do with the card. So if you sign up for a credit card this year that gives you gold status in 2017 you have it until March 2019 since you always get one full calendar year of gold.
Mar 17, 2017, 7:44 am
#167
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,536
Apr 10, 2017, 8:06 am
#170
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,857
So am I reading this correctly? The free weekend night is only provided after your first anniversary, not every year? I guess every year would be too good to be true.
I've gotten some of my best redemptions anywhere out of the free weekend nights from the Citi Hilton Reserve, and would love for the Surpass to have one every year. The $75 AF would be an absolute no brainer (I'm averaging about $400/night value from these).
Also, I've got the 100k upgrade offer on my account, but it doesn't mention this anniversary night anywhere. I guess that's only for new cards, not upgrades?
I've gotten some of my best redemptions anywhere out of the free weekend nights from the Citi Hilton Reserve, and would love for the Surpass to have one every year. The $75 AF would be an absolute no brainer (I'm averaging about $400/night value from these).
Also, I've got the 100k upgrade offer on my account, but it doesn't mention this anniversary night anywhere. I guess that's only for new cards, not upgrades?
Apr 14, 2017, 2:54 pm
#171
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 63
So I never had a Surpass card before, but I do have the no annual fee Hilton Honors Amex. On my account it shows I am eligible for an upgrade with 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in 3 months (no free night included)
Here the link for the terms: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...200-WOC0000467
My question is whats the best option here
1) Apply for the free night version only
2) Apply for the upgrade only
3) Apply for free night first and then upgrade the no-annual fee card?
Will the upgrade in the third option even work for that case since the system may see that I just applied for a surpass. Would I even get all the bonuses (200K + free night).
Has anyone tried this?
Here the link for the terms: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...200-WOC0000467
My question is whats the best option here
1) Apply for the free night version only
2) Apply for the upgrade only
3) Apply for free night first and then upgrade the no-annual fee card?
Will the upgrade in the third option even work for that case since the system may see that I just applied for a surpass. Would I even get all the bonuses (200K + free night).
Has anyone tried this?
Apr 14, 2017, 3:47 pm
#172
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,431
So I never had a Surpass card before, but I do have the no annual fee Hilton Honors Amex. On my account it shows I am eligible for an upgrade with 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in 3 months (no free night included)
Here the link for the terms: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...200-WOC0000467
My question is whats the best option here
1) Apply for the free night version only
2) Apply for the upgrade only
3) Apply for free night first and then upgrade the no-annual fee card?
Will the upgrade in the third option even work for that case since the system may see that I just applied for a surpass. Would I even get all the bonuses (200K + free night).
Has anyone tried this?
Here the link for the terms: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...200-WOC0000467
My question is whats the best option here
1) Apply for the free night version only
2) Apply for the upgrade only
3) Apply for free night first and then upgrade the no-annual fee card?
Will the upgrade in the third option even work for that case since the system may see that I just applied for a surpass. Would I even get all the bonuses (200K + free night).
Has anyone tried this?
I lost out on the free night, but it saved me 1 AMEX slot (even though there are many DP that the 4-credit card limit might not apply anymore) and 1 hard pull. For 1 hard pull, I might as well get the Citi HH Reserve and get 2 free nights.
Apr 14, 2017, 5:21 pm
#173
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 512
I had the same offer and took the upgrade.
I lost out on the free night, but it saved me 1 AMEX slot (even though there are many DP that the 4-credit card limit might not apply anymore) and 1 hard pull. For 1 hard pull, I might as well get the Citi HH Reserve and get 2 free nights.
I lost out on the free night, but it saved me 1 AMEX slot (even though there are many DP that the 4-credit card limit might not apply anymore) and 1 hard pull. For 1 hard pull, I might as well get the Citi HH Reserve and get 2 free nights.
Apr 14, 2017, 9:54 pm
#174
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: BAEC Gold, Delta Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum (US)
Posts: 18,487
My OH had the regular Hilton Amex which was obviously linked to her HHonors account. I just upgraded her to the Surpass card with the latest offer which was approved instantly. How long does the upgrade of HHonors status take to arrange? I assume it is done automatically but is there a "push" required or similar?
She is only Silver at the moment.
Thanks! ^
She is only Silver at the moment.
Thanks! ^
Apr 15, 2017, 10:31 pm
#175
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: MEL KUL
Programs: AA
Posts: 154
Applied for the HH Surpass 100k offer and went to pending surprisingly...
1 Platinum charge card + 1 regular HH Amex + 1 BRG with Amex now.
780+ FICO score
Last approved card was BoA Alaska in Oct 2016, no app-o-rama recently
1 Platinum charge card + 1 regular HH Amex + 1 BRG with Amex now.
780+ FICO score
Last approved card was BoA Alaska in Oct 2016, no app-o-rama recently
Last edited by gameover98; Apr 15, 2017 at 10:44 pm
Apr 26, 2017, 1:46 pm
#178
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,536
Just want to confirm. I have the Surpass Hilton Amex card. Amex has no record of me having the "regular" Amex Hilton card.
Therefore I'm better off applying/getting the regular card, and then cancel the Surpass card and hope for an upgrade offer down the road?
Therefore I'm better off applying/getting the regular card, and then cancel the Surpass card and hope for an upgrade offer down the road?
Apr 26, 2017, 4:26 pm
#180
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,285
Open a new regular Amex HH card to get the sign-up bonus. Downgrade your Surpass to the no-AF regular card. Wait for an upgrade offer on the no-AF card you opened new. Lather, rinse, repeat.