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)
Jun 23, 2016, 10:02 pm
#121
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,767
There are many other cards offer other "currencies" are better value than HHonors points. So you need to take that into consideration when planning on what cards you want to get.
Jun 23, 2016, 11:53 pm
#122
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
Jun 27, 2016, 6:42 pm
#123
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,767
Met spend on the 100K upgrade offer on June 21. 100K shown included in the balance today, on both accounts in the household. Offers were found at the bottom of AMEX Offers under each account back in Mid April.
Jun 28, 2016, 6:11 am
#124
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: FL, USA
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold
Posts: 1,666
Yes but then you also need to consider the effect of having 4 new cards on your reports as HHonors pts are NOT the most valuable currency out there.
There are many other cards offer other "currencies" are better value than HHonors points. So you need to take that into consideration when planning on what cards you want to get.
There are many other cards offer other "currencies" are better value than HHonors points. So you need to take that into consideration when planning on what cards you want to get.
Thanks.
Jul 21, 2016, 8:56 pm
#125
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: LAX
Posts: 588
Just got a 75k/$3k upgrade offer in my email today. Tempted to bite as I'm currently in a hard pull moratorium due to an upcoming home purchase. Are upgrades still processed without a hard pull? The word "apply" in the email has me a bit spooked...
Also, there is no issue getting the upgrade bonus a second time, correct? I did the upgrade to Surpass/downgrade to regular no-fee HH card dance a few years ago.
Also, there is no issue getting the upgrade bonus a second time, correct? I did the upgrade to Surpass/downgrade to regular no-fee HH card dance a few years ago.
Jul 21, 2016, 9:11 pm
#126
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
Jul 22, 2016, 3:40 pm
#127
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 107
Thanks for the reply! I already applied and was approved for the surpass card.
Now the question is, when the no fee card reaches the 1st year anniversary, and assuming that I get the upgrade offer. Will I still be able to upgrade and receive the points? Or do I have to close the surpass card before that?
Now the question is, when the no fee card reaches the 1st year anniversary, and assuming that I get the upgrade offer. Will I still be able to upgrade and receive the points? Or do I have to close the surpass card before that?
Apparently we were typing at the same time. What I wrote in my last post is applicable to your question. Since we are not fortune tellers no way to now if you can upgrade and receive the bonus points in the future, recommend when you surpass a year with the no-fee account keep checking to see if you have a bonus offer to upgrade and read the T & C carefully. I "think" your best shot would be if the Surpass was closed first as the T & C will likely state that not eligible if you have this card open (perhaps/likely ever as it is now with most of their offers). But that is just my best guess and the fact that I do not recall reading about anyone with multiple Surpass cards open in the past even before AMEX went to the once per lifetime bonus per card.
Aug 2, 2016, 12:06 pm
#128
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 109
So I received the sign up bonuses for both the no fee and the surpass cards, and both cards are still active. The anniversary for the no fee card is coming up soon, and I am hoping to see the upgrade offer. The question is, should I close the existing surpass card before upgrading the no fee card to surpass? And will I be able to receive the upgrade bonus since I have already received the sign up bonus for the surpass card?
Aug 5, 2016, 10:26 am
#129
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: U.S.
Programs: DL,HH,MR,Hertz
Posts: 36
I've got the Hilton Surpass Amex and am thinking of cancelling it to avoid the annual fee. I've got Diamond status through next year so I don't need the card right now, although I will want the card back if I slip below Gold. My thought is to
1. Cancel the Surpass now while I can still get part of the annual fee refunded
2. Hopefully redistribute the Surpass credit limit among my other Amex cards (does Amex do that?)
3. Apply for the regular no-fee Hilton Amex when there's a good sign-up bonus, and then if I drop below Gold at some point, I can then upgrade back to the Surpass.
It feels like there's some catch I'm missing, although I can't find a drawback. Anyone have any thoughts for me? Thanks!
1. Cancel the Surpass now while I can still get part of the annual fee refunded
2. Hopefully redistribute the Surpass credit limit among my other Amex cards (does Amex do that?)
3. Apply for the regular no-fee Hilton Amex when there's a good sign-up bonus, and then if I drop below Gold at some point, I can then upgrade back to the Surpass.
It feels like there's some catch I'm missing, although I can't find a drawback. Anyone have any thoughts for me? Thanks!
Aug 5, 2016, 7:06 pm
#130
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,727
met minimum spend 7/28, all Serve online loads. No bonus yet. Feels longer than usual for Amex 
Maybe a payment and a $1 spend are in order.
Maybe a payment and a $1 spend are in order.
Last edited by italdesign; Aug 5, 2016 at 7:16 pm
Aug 6, 2016, 1:32 pm
#131
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: DCA/RIC
Programs: HH LTD, AA LTG
Posts: 1,015
I've got the Hilton Surpass Amex and am thinking of cancelling it to avoid the annual fee. I've got Diamond status through next year so I don't need the card right now, although I will want the card back if I slip below Gold. My thought is to
1. Cancel the Surpass now while I can still get part of the annual fee refunded
1. Cancel the Surpass now while I can still get part of the annual fee refunded
3. Apply for the regular no-fee Hilton Amex when there's a good sign-up bonus, and then if I drop below Gold at some point, I can then upgrade back to the Surpass.
It feels like there's some catch I'm missing, although I can't find a drawback. Anyone have any thoughts for me? Thanks!
It feels like there's some catch I'm missing, although I can't find a drawback. Anyone have any thoughts for me? Thanks!
Aug 6, 2016, 1:36 pm
#132
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: 747 Upper Deck QF J LAX-BNE; A380 SQ SuiteC+D SYD-SIN & SIN-HKG; 777 CX F HKG-JFK; Park Hyatt Sydney
Posts: 513
Aug 6, 2016, 3:10 pm
#133
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: U.S.
Programs: DL,HH,MR,Hertz
Posts: 36
Thank you so much for the feedback isle-hawg! It sounds like my plan is a go, and I'll just have to see if Amex will reallocate my Surpass limit. And thanks for the tip about needing to wait a year - I'll apply for the regular Hilton Amex sooner rather than later so I'll be eligible if the upgrade offer is still available when I need it.
The rule change about refunding the annual fee was listed in my June Surpass statement, which actually prompted me to start thinking about this.
The rule change about refunding the annual fee was listed in my June Surpass statement, which actually prompted me to start thinking about this.
Aug 6, 2016, 3:26 pm
#134
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: 747 Upper Deck QF J LAX-BNE; A380 SQ SuiteC+D SYD-SIN & SIN-HKG; 777 CX F HKG-JFK; Park Hyatt Sydney
Posts: 513
Aug 12, 2016, 6:16 pm
#135
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: U.S.
Programs: DL,HH,MR,Hertz
Posts: 36
FYI I cancelled my Hilton Surpass Amex today, and they were willing to reallocate the bulk of that credit limit to my other non-Hilton amex cards. It sounded like it was on a case-by-case basis - the person helping me wasn't sure if it would work or if it would need a manual approval, but when he tried to move the limit, it worked.
Now I'm wondering if I can apply for the regular Hilton Amex immediately or if I should wait a month - it did sound like the changes in my credit limit would be frozen for 30 days. I'm concerned that if I apply too soon and they want to allocate limit to the new card rather than grant me additional limit, I'll just be rejected. But the 75k point offer seems to be active now and seems to be about as good as it gets for this card, so I'd hate to miss it. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Now I'm wondering if I can apply for the regular Hilton Amex immediately or if I should wait a month - it did sound like the changes in my credit limit would be frozen for 30 days. I'm concerned that if I apply too soon and they want to allocate limit to the new card rather than grant me additional limit, I'll just be rejected. But the 75k point offer seems to be active now and seems to be about as good as it gets for this card, so I'd hate to miss it. Anyone have any thoughts on this?