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)
Dec 3, 2019, 4:48 pm
#766
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 595
I haven't received an email confirmation as of yet, but I just logged in to my Hilton account after noticing these responses. My status was upgraded end of cycle...diamond is this girls best friend
Dec 3, 2019, 7:39 pm
#767
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 413
I upgraded my free AMEX Hilton card to Ascend (now Surpass) in March 2019 and paid a partial annual fee. The full $95 fee posted a few weeks ago. I don’t use the card much as I also have the Aspire. If I downgrade the Surpass now, will I be at risk for having the upgrade bonus clawed back? I believe the terms say card closures <1 year raise their eyebrows but I don’t know about downgrades.
I believe best practice is to keep the card for a full year after upgrading to ensure you don't come under Amex's scrutiny. I believe if you downgrade mid-year (i.e. midway through your new $95 annual fee year), they will credit you back a partial refund. Downside is they don't downgrade you until the end of the billing cycle where you asked for the downgrade, so you'll probably end up paying 13 months of the annual fee.
Dec 10, 2019, 3:03 am
#768
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,063
This was a free night that was awarded, along with 130,000 Hilton points, as part of a signup bonus for a new account.
Dec 10, 2019, 3:07 am
#769
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,063
I signed up for the 130k points + free weekend night offer on the Surpass card that expired on August 28, 2019. I hit the minimum spend in 2 months and received the 130k points but I have not yet received the free weekend night certificate. I did a customer service chat with Amex tonight and the customer service representative is telling me I will get the free weekend night after the first anniversary of card membership. I'm fairly certain this is not correct, but all the links for this offer are expired so I cant check the fine print. Can anyone confirm I should get the free weekend night upon hitting the minimum spend and not a year later?
https://travelupdate.boardingarea.co...-1-free-night/
Dec 15, 2019, 3:10 am
#771
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,063
I signed up for the 130k points + free weekend night offer on the Surpass card that expired on August 28, 2019. I hit the minimum spend in 2 months and received the 130k points but I have not yet received the free weekend night certificate. I did a customer service chat with Amex tonight and the customer service representative is telling me I will get the free weekend night after the first anniversary of card membership. I'm fairly certain this is not correct, but all the links for this offer are expired so I cant check the fine print. Can anyone confirm I should get the free weekend night upon hitting the minimum spend and not a year later?
Today, I finally got my email from Hilton with my award certificate that expires December 13, 2020
Jan 4, 2020, 6:14 am
#772
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Delta Platinum, HH Diamond
Posts: 362
providing the datapoint for $40K annual spend reached in mid December:
Diamond upgrade occurred after Dec statement closed on 12/26, and status expires in March 2021.
Diamond upgrade occurred after Dec statement closed on 12/26, and status expires in March 2021.
Last edited by budblab; Jan 4, 2020 at 6:15 am Reason: add data
Jan 22, 2020, 9:42 am
#773
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 470
Is this card worth getting and/or renewing? I am looking for hotels credit cards and although it seems a generous point offer of 120K...but seems redemption value is bad. Like you need around 40K for one night at an average room/hotel with them. And not sure if those points are inclusive or you need to pay extra for fees/taxes (someone confirms please). But seems many downgrade and upgrade from and to the non annual fee version...what about the business version? Does it show in your credit report? Can you downgrade to a non fee version?
Jan 22, 2020, 3:19 pm
#774
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: flyover country
Posts: 2,435
Is this card worth getting and/or renewing?
I think so, if only for the Gold status, which means breakfast at some brands. (I no longer travel on Other People's Money.)
I am looking for hotels credit cards and although it seems a generous point offer of 120K...but seems redemption value is bad.
Concur. But the five nights for the price of four can be useful, if you would otherwise stay five nights.
And not sure if those points are inclusive or you need to pay extra for fees/taxes (someone confirms please).
I have never needed to pay extra, but I have never used points plus cash with Hilton, nor stayed at a resort on points.
I think so, if only for the Gold status, which means breakfast at some brands. (I no longer travel on Other People's Money.)
I am looking for hotels credit cards and although it seems a generous point offer of 120K...but seems redemption value is bad.
Concur. But the five nights for the price of four can be useful, if you would otherwise stay five nights.
And not sure if those points are inclusive or you need to pay extra for fees/taxes (someone confirms please).
I have never needed to pay extra, but I have never used points plus cash with Hilton, nor stayed at a resort on points.
Jan 22, 2020, 5:50 pm
#775
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
Is this card worth getting and/or renewing?
I think so, if only for the Gold status, which means breakfast at some brands. (I no longer travel on Other People's Money.)
I am looking for hotels credit cards and although it seems a generous point offer of 120K...but seems redemption value is bad.
Concur. But the five nights for the price of four can be useful, if you would otherwise stay five nights.
And not sure if those points are inclusive or you need to pay extra for fees/taxes (someone confirms please).
I have never needed to pay extra, but I have never used points plus cash with Hilton, nor stayed at a resort on points.
I think so, if only for the Gold status, which means breakfast at some brands. (I no longer travel on Other People's Money.)
I am looking for hotels credit cards and although it seems a generous point offer of 120K...but seems redemption value is bad.
Concur. But the five nights for the price of four can be useful, if you would otherwise stay five nights.
And not sure if those points are inclusive or you need to pay extra for fees/taxes (someone confirms please).
I have never needed to pay extra, but I have never used points plus cash with Hilton, nor stayed at a resort on points.
If you book a Hilton hotel on points, you pay no taxes and no resort fees, no matter which card you use.
Jan 23, 2020, 8:09 am
#776
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: flyover country
Posts: 2,435
Eujeanie, you do realize that you responded to my response to good_boy_1234, don't you? Since your quote of my post replaced my formatting, it looks like I was talking to myself and you responded to me, when I think your response was directed to the questions that good_boy_1234 asked.
I don't understand the free night at 15,000 points. Please elaborate.
I don't understand the free night at 15,000 points. Please elaborate.
Jan 23, 2020, 8:14 am
#777
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
Eujeanie, you do realize that you responded to my response to good_boy_1234, don't you? Since your quote of my post replaced my formatting, it looks like I was talking to myself and you responded to me, when I think your response was directed to the questions that good_boy_1234 asked.
I don't understand the free night at 15,000 points. Please elaborate.
I don't understand the free night at 15,000 points. Please elaborate.
Jan 23, 2020, 8:45 am
#778
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: flyover country
Posts: 2,435
You were, and I appreciate your contributions. But you weren't answering a question asked by the person you quoted.
Well, that makes sense, now that you pointed it out. I should have seen that.
Apparently that makes two of us.
Apparently that makes two of us.
Jan 29, 2020, 7:41 am
#779
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 183
Just looked back at the receipt - every day we were billed a 'Tourist Tax' of 2.42. So it was actually closer to $15ish for the total stay.
Jan 29, 2020, 7:52 am
#780
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: California
Programs: American, SWA, United, IHG,Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,843
I have the hhv on hold and was told there is no taxes or resort fee. That’s why I held one for June. I don’t see any taxes or fees in the confirmation either.
with some of the bonuses Hilton offered specifically for card holders I think the surpass card is worth keeping. And I’m very stingy with credit card fees. Like last quarter of 2019. A card holder earned about 50 points per Dollar. So even at its Hilton peso redemption rate. It’s fine. You can’t earn Marriott points that fast. IHG comes close. Only if you can meet all the accelerate criteria’s.
Not to mention gold status and free breakfast and 10 visits to priority pass lounges.
with some of the bonuses Hilton offered specifically for card holders I think the surpass card is worth keeping. And I’m very stingy with credit card fees. Like last quarter of 2019. A card holder earned about 50 points per Dollar. So even at its Hilton peso redemption rate. It’s fine. You can’t earn Marriott points that fast. IHG comes close. Only if you can meet all the accelerate criteria’s.
Not to mention gold status and free breakfast and 10 visits to priority pass lounges.