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)
#451
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: TrueBlue, Hilton Honors
Posts: 69
Another data point:
Got a new Surpass card, provided my HHonors account # and still, a second, new account was created with points accruing to it.
An email to the Diamond Desk referred me to a phone rep for voice verification. They were unable to immediately merge the accounts but impressed that they were answering the phone after normal business hours.
Jim
Got a new Surpass card, provided my HHonors account # and still, a second, new account was created with points accruing to it.
An email to the Diamond Desk referred me to a phone rep for voice verification. They were unable to immediately merge the accounts but impressed that they were answering the phone after normal business hours.
Jim
#452
Join Date: May 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, UA, DL, NSA, CIA, MIB
Posts: 537
I'm wondering with these changes from Citi to Amex if I should cancel my Citi Hilton cards before they convert to an Amex product so I can apply for the new Amex version and get the signup bonus.
#453
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat Pro, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,008
I applied today for the Amex Surpass with signup bonus. I still hold the Hilton Visa. But I will cancel it in mid-December solely to avoid getting a 2nd Hilton Amex. Cancelling has nothing to do with the Amex signup bonus, you can get that even if you have a Citi Hilton since they are two different entities (this year at least)
#454
Join Date: May 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, UA, DL, NSA, CIA, MIB
Posts: 537
I applied today for the Amex Surpass with signup bonus. I still hold the Hilton Visa. But I will cancel it in mid-December solely to avoid getting a 2nd Hilton Amex. Cancelling has nothing to do with the Amex signup bonus, you can get that even if you have a Citi Hilton since they are two different entities (this year at least)
#455
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Programs: DL 2MM/PM, HH LT <>, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,283
Sounds like calling Amex instead of HHonors was the better idea.
#456
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Programs: DL 2MM/PM, HH LT <>, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,283
My online Amex page, when the new HHonors card is selected, shows a completely different HHonors account number from the one I started with. So, two accounts that need to be merged.
#458
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat Pro, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,008
Turns out Amex Surpass has a new offer they came out with for 100,000 signup points + an add'l $25,000 points if you spend $3k and then another $1k.
Sadly, I received the 75,000 point offer and the new offer came out the day after I called Amex and they said it is corporate policy to not allow someone to get any other offer than the one they were approved for. I spoke to a cancel person a specialist and a regular CS person. All said the same. Sucks!
Sadly, I received the 75,000 point offer and the new offer came out the day after I called Amex and they said it is corporate policy to not allow someone to get any other offer than the one they were approved for. I spoke to a cancel person a specialist and a regular CS person. All said the same. Sucks!
Last edited by TravelinSperry; Nov 3, 2017 at 7:59 am
#459
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Dreamland
Posts: 923
SO I jumped on the Surpass offer a while back for 100k plus a free night at the first anniversary for a $75 fee. It was my understanding that was a one time night (not annual). I'm assuming that I will still get that $75 renewal next year (May 2017)? Should I think otherwise?
#460
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: New York
Programs: Navy A-4 Skyhawk, B727 FE/FO, S80 FO, B757/767 FO, B737 CA
Posts: 1,333
SO I jumped on the Surpass offer a while back for 100k plus a free night at the first anniversary for a $75 fee. It was my understanding that was a one time night (not annual). I'm assuming that I will still get that $75 renewal next year (May 2017)? Should I think otherwise?
#461
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
It's federal law that they can't raise the fee for the first year, which proved very annoying to me when I wanted to upgrade a card a few years ago. I had to get the new card and cancel the old, which was a hassle (new HHonors account to merge, etc.)
#462
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,391
The OP sounded like he was assuming his annual fee would be $75 on renewal and I bet all Surpass members will see their cards converted and will be charged $95 on renewal. On their Renewal date everyone would have had the card for a year and they can legally change it.
The $20 increase is no brainer for being a good deal for people who put at least $15K on the card a year. The NO FTF is a nice feature also but I will probably continue to use my Chase CSR overseas on Hilton stays since Chase gives a better exchange rate than Am Ex and with Hilton points being Devalued who knows what they will be worth but at least I know my Chase points will be four and a half percent.
#463
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 264
#464
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,212
Just looked at my Honors account (to see if my Surpass pts for last month had posted) and it looks like they are already calling it Ascend - and the categories look very confusing, much less straightforward than usual.
Date
Description
Points Earned
Miles Earned
Action
Please allow up to 48 hours to see Base Points, Bonus Points and Miles information. Please note: some hotels in the Hilton portfolio do not participate in the Hilton Honors program; you will not see rewards listed for stays or nights at non-participating hotels.
14 Nov 2017
OPT AMERICAN EXPRESS POINT BONUS
20
0
14 Nov 2017
AX AMERICAN EXPRESS POINT BONUS
675
0
14 Nov 2017
AMEX CARD POINTS ON ELIGIBLE SPEND
6447
0
14 Nov 2017
AMEX ASCEND CARD PTS ON ELIGIBLE SPEND
1281
0
12 Nov 2017
POINTS.COM TRANSFER
-6000
0
Date
Description
Points Earned
Miles Earned
Action
Please allow up to 48 hours to see Base Points, Bonus Points and Miles information. Please note: some hotels in the Hilton portfolio do not participate in the Hilton Honors program; you will not see rewards listed for stays or nights at non-participating hotels.
14 Nov 2017
OPT AMERICAN EXPRESS POINT BONUS
20
0
14 Nov 2017
AX AMERICAN EXPRESS POINT BONUS
675
0
14 Nov 2017
AMEX CARD POINTS ON ELIGIBLE SPEND
6447
0
14 Nov 2017
AMEX ASCEND CARD PTS ON ELIGIBLE SPEND
1281
0
12 Nov 2017
POINTS.COM TRANSFER
-6000
0
#465
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Trinidad & Tobago
Posts: 437
I called Amex, they say 'as long as the merchant is non-US' you will be charged a foreign transaction fee regardless of the currency of the charge.
...still looking for a good replacement for my Sapphire Reserve with no Annual Fee, no Foreign Fees, and a useful signup bonus before January 2018.
...still looking for a good replacement for my Sapphire Reserve with no Annual Fee, no Foreign Fees, and a useful signup bonus before January 2018.
....Works for my needs.