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)
Jul 10, 2017, 6:58 pm
#286
Join Date: Jul 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, HGVC, WN RR, National Exec, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,057
I applied in April 2016 when the promotion was 100,000 points, and 1-year anniversary free weekend night (got the 100k points pretty quick). Here it is 14-15 months later, and still don't have my free night. I have made about 10 phone calls to AX, been "disconnected" at least 3 times; chatted online with AX twice, and had an AX CS rep tell me to call Hilton, it's not their issue; only to have Hilton tell me to call AX. When I did finally reach someone who acts as if they can help me, they only relay that an inquiry has been placed with the marketing department, and tell me to call back in a couple of days. So frustrated with this process!!!
Jul 11, 2017, 7:16 am
#287
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 79
Jul 11, 2017, 9:30 am
#288
Company Representative - Honors by Hilton
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: Hilton Honors
Posts: 1,516
I applied in April 2016 when the promotion was 100,000 points, and 1-year anniversary free weekend night (got the 100k points pretty quick). Here it is 14-15 months later, and still don't have my free night. I have made about 10 phone calls to AX, been "disconnected" at least 3 times; chatted online with AX twice, and had an AX CS rep tell me to call Hilton, it's not their issue; only to have Hilton tell me to call AX. When I did finally reach someone who acts as if they can help me, they only relay that an inquiry has been placed with the marketing department, and tell me to call back in a couple of days. So frustrated with this process!!!
Just sent you a PM to get your Hilton Honors account number.
Thanks!
Lauren
Jul 11, 2017, 10:06 am
#289
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Orange County, Ca
Programs: Marriott, IHG, Hilton, Best Western, SPG, Omni, Southwest, United
Posts: 13
I applied for the card under the 100k promo on 4/10/16. There was some delay in approving and issuing the card, but I had the bonus points posted on 5/2/16. None of the ads I kept from that time mention a Free Weekend Night. Are you sure that was included in the promo you signed up for?
Jul 11, 2017, 10:26 am
#290
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,912
I applied for the card under the 100k promo on 4/10/16. There was some delay in approving and issuing the card, but I had the bonus points posted on 5/2/16. None of the ads I kept from that time mention a Free Weekend Night. Are you sure that was included in the promo you signed up for?
Jul 11, 2017, 12:01 pm
#291
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: New York
Programs: Navy A-4 Skyhawk, B727 FE/FO, S80 FO, B757/767 FO, B737 CA
Posts: 1,342
I did the same thing but used the search on a few bloggers' sites. I did see this though: "You also receive a weekend night certificate each year on your account anniversary." That's for the Hilton Reserve card from April 2016. The write up lists both cards but only the Reserve has this blurb. Any chance the Reserve and Surpass are being confused?
Jul 11, 2017, 3:28 pm
#292
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
I have been loyal to both Hilton and Amex for 20 years and I am still enjoying my vacations to Grand Wailea, The Biltmore etc....However, I am Lifetime Diamond and have began to question using this card over my Chase Sapphire Reserve. Spend is over was over $100k last year on Surplus and about $20k on CSR. Will always keep the actual Hilton spend on the Surpass since it is 12 points per $ (last year about $15k) Most likely with Dining (last year about $30k) to but the other expenses are what I am questioning. Any thoughts?
Jul 11, 2017, 3:36 pm
#293
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Orange County, Ca
Programs: Marriott, IHG, Hilton, Best Western, SPG, Omni, Southwest, United
Posts: 13
I need some help. Just got my first annual fee from my Amex Hilton Surpass.
1. Did my offer back then have 1 free weekend night on the first anniversary (regardless of spend)? Is there a place I can find out if mine did/didn't offer that?
2. If so, when does that weekend night become available for me to use?
I have a trip next month that it could be very useful for. I thought the offer had a free weekend night on the first anniversary, but now I am not sure.
Thank you!
1. Did my offer back then have 1 free weekend night on the first anniversary (regardless of spend)? Is there a place I can find out if mine did/didn't offer that?
2. If so, when does that weekend night become available for me to use?
I have a trip next month that it could be very useful for. I thought the offer had a free weekend night on the first anniversary, but now I am not sure.
Thank you!
Jul 11, 2017, 9:18 pm
#294
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,857
I opened a Surpass a little over a year ago. I made it one of my regular cards because of the 6x points on dining, gas, and groceries. 3x on other spend wasn't the best I could get but it didn't stink, and carrying fewer cards for everyday purchases was easier anyway. Then came the HH devaluation earlier this year. That has dropped the value of HH points low enough that 3x is definitely not worth it to me anymore, and 6x is borderline at best. I downgraded my Surpass card to the no-AF HH Amex and now use my SPG Amex for everyday purchases instead.
I got the Surpass via upgrade in April; reminder is in the calendar to consider downgrading it when the year is up.
Jul 12, 2017, 6:23 pm
#295
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Near TEB and KLX
Posts: 76
https://www.uscreditcardguide.com/am...s-credit-card/
and application link here:
https://cardappdacq.americanexpress....&om_lid=axp6#/
Similarly, the Amex No Fee Hilton card with 75K/1K/3mos is still available until 7/26/2017, link here:
https://www.uscreditcardguide.com/am...n-credit-card/
and application link here:
https://cardappdacq.americanexpress....om_lid=amex7#/
As it is known, one can apply for one of these cards now with their current offers and after 12 mos can request an upgrade/downgrade to the other card with no hard pull and also get whatever HHPoints is on offer then.
Potential total 175K+/- then.
Jul 13, 2017, 8:46 am
#296
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
That certainly was true for a long time, but reports here on FT in recent months suggest that Amex has closed down the option to churn Surpass bonuses via upgrading. Do you have evidence to the contrary?
Jul 13, 2017, 11:49 am
#297
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,423
Have to say impressed how smoothly I got my 100K bonus (upgrade) and 20K for referral. My fiancé is on track to get her 100K bonus too. All posted within days of finishing the activity.
Fiancé didn't have her HH number tied in, but quick call to Amex fixed this. They added the number over the phone and it appeared online when you sign into Amex 24 hours later.
Fiancé didn't have her HH number tied in, but quick call to Amex fixed this. They added the number over the phone and it appeared online when you sign into Amex 24 hours later.
Jul 13, 2017, 12:01 pm
#298
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
Have to say impressed how smoothly I got my 100K bonus (upgrade) and 20K for referral. My fiancé is on track to get her 100K bonus too. All posted within days of finishing the activity.
Fiancé didn't have her HH number tied in, but quick call to Amex fixed this. They added the number over the phone and it appeared online when you sign into Amex 24 hours later.
Fiancé didn't have her HH number tied in, but quick call to Amex fixed this. They added the number over the phone and it appeared online when you sign into Amex 24 hours later.
Jul 13, 2017, 2:46 pm
#299
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Near TEB and KLX
Posts: 76
6. Another option is to first get the no fee version AmEx Hilton credit card for 12 months, then you can upgrade it to the Surpass version without a Hard Pull and receive a bonus of 50k/100k. Here is the link to upgrade with the 50k offer, it’s better to input your credit card number rather than log in, because you may not see the upgrade offer via login.
Last edited by jimbous; Jul 13, 2017 at 3:08 pm