What the Hilton Honors Amex card gives you
The Hilton Honors American Express card is a co-branded credit card issued by American Express in partnership with Hilton Hotels. When you use it for purchases, you earn Hilton Honors points instead of cash back. Those points can be redeemed for free hotel nights, room upgrades, and other Hilton benefits. The card also comes with perks tied directly to Hilton stays — things like automatic elite status, free breakfast, and room upgrades — whether or not you use the card to pay for the room itself.
American Express offers several versions of this card at different annual fee levels. The most common are the standard Hilton Honors card, the Hilton Honors Surpass card, and the Hilton Honors Aspire card. Each tier has a different annual fee, different earning rates, and different perks. The card you choose depends on how often you stay at Hilton properties and how much you value the perks included.
Key Takeaways
- You earn Hilton Honors points on every purchase made with the card, and the earning rate varies by card tier and purchase category.
- The card comes with automatic elite status in the Hilton Honors loyalty program, which means discounts and perks at Hilton hotels even when you don't use the card to book.
- Each card tier has an annual fee, and higher tiers include benefits like free annual night certificates and statement credits that can offset the cost.
- Points earned on the card never expire as long as your account stays active, but you must use the card or your Hilton account at least once every 12 months to keep points from expiring.
How points earning works on each card tier
The standard Hilton Honors card earns 10 points per dollar spent on Hilton purchases and 1 point per dollar on everything else. It has no annual fee. This card is designed for people who stay at Hilton occasionally and want to build points without paying a yearly cost.
The Hilton Honors Surpass card earns 12 points per dollar at Hilton properties, 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. It charges an annual fee (the amount varies by year and offer). The Surpass card also includes a free annual night certificate good for one free night at many Hilton properties each year, which can offset the annual fee if you use it.
The Hilton Honors Aspire card is the premium tier. It earns 15 points per dollar at Hilton properties, 10 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. The annual fee is higher than the Surpass, but it includes multiple annual night certificates, statement credits for resort fees and incidentals, and other luxury perks. This card is meant for frequent Hilton travelers who stay multiple times per year.
Elite status and what it includes
When you open any Hilton Honors Amex card, you automatically receive elite status in the Hilton Honors program. The level of status depends on which card you hold. The standard card gives you Silver Elite status. The Surpass card gives you Gold Elite status. The Aspire card gives you Diamond Elite status.
Elite status means you get perks at Hilton hotels even when you book through a third-party website or pay cash instead of using your card. These perks typically include room upgrades when available, late checkout, complimentary breakfast or dining credits, and bonus points on stays. The higher your elite tier, the better the perks. Diamond Elite members, for example, get the best room upgrades and the most generous dining credits.
Your elite status renews each year as long as you keep the card open. You do not have to spend a certain amount or stay a certain number of nights — the status comes automatically with the card membership.
Annual fees and what they cover
The standard Hilton Honors card has no annual fee, so there is no yearly cost to hold it. The Surpass card charges an annual fee that varies depending on the current offer; American Express updates this periodically. The Aspire card charges a higher annual fee.
Both the Surpass and Aspire cards include benefits designed to offset the annual fee. The Surpass includes one free annual night certificate each year, valid for one free night at many Hilton properties (though some premium properties require additional points). The Aspire includes multiple annual night certificates, a statement credit for resort fees, and a credit toward dining or other incidentals at Hilton properties.
Whether the benefits offset the fee depends on whether you actually use them. If you stay at Hilton hotels at least once a year and redeem your free night certificate, the fee may be worth it. If you rarely stay at Hilton properties, the no-fee standard card is a better choice.
How to redeem points for hotel stays
Points are redeemed through your Hilton Honors account online or through the Hilton app. When you book a hotel room, you can choose to pay with points, pay with cash, or use a combination of both. The number of points required for a free night varies by hotel and by season. Budget properties require fewer points; luxury resorts require more. Peak season nights cost more points than off-season nights at the same property.
You can also transfer points to other Hilton Honors members, use them for airline miles through Hilton's transfer partners, or redeem them for experiences and merchandise. However, redeeming for hotel nights is usually the highest-value use of your points.
Points do not expire as long as you earn or redeem at least once every 12 months. This means you can hold onto points for a long time if you keep using your card or your Hilton account regularly. If your account goes inactive for 12 months, Hilton may expire your points, though you can sometimes reactivate them by contacting Hilton directly.
How to open the card and what you need
You can open a Hilton Honors Amex card through the American Express website or through Hilton's website. The process takes about 10 minutes. You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, current address, and employment information. American Express will run a credit check to determine whether to approve you and what credit limit to offer.
You do not need to be a current Hilton Honors member to open the card, though you will be enrolled automatically when you open it. If you already have a Hilton Honors account, make sure you use the same email address during the process so your new card is linked to your existing account and your points combine.
Once approved, your physical card arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days. You can usually request a digital card number when ready after approval so you can start earning points right away while you wait for the physical card.
Comparing the three card tiers
The three Hilton Honors Amex cards serve different travel patterns and budgets. The standard card works best if you stay at Hilton occasionally or want to earn points on everyday purchases without paying an annual fee. The Surpass card is built for people who stay at Hilton properties several times a year and want higher earning rates plus an annual night certificate. The Aspire card targets frequent luxury travelers who stay multiple times per year and value premium perks like multiple night certificates and resort fee credits.
The table below shows how the cards compare side by side on the features that matter most when choosing between them.
| Feature | Standard Card | Surpass Card | Aspire Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | None | Varies (typically $150) | Varies (typically $450) |
| Points at Hilton | 10 per dollar | 12 per dollar | 15 per dollar |
| Points on flights | 1 per dollar | 5 per dollar | 10 per dollar |
| Elite Status | Silver | Gold | Diamond |
| Annual Night Certificates | None | 1 | Multiple |
| Best For | Occasional Hilton guests | Regular Hilton travelers | Frequent luxury travelers |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to stay at Hilton hotels to make the card worth it?
No. Even if you never stay at a Hilton, you earn points on every purchase you make with the card. The standard card with no annual fee lets you earn 1 point per dollar on everyday purchases. However, the card's best value comes if you do stay at Hilton properties at least occasionally, because that is when you earn bonus points and get elite perks.
Can I use my points at hotels other than Hilton?
Hilton Honors points are designed for Hilton properties only. You cannot redeem them directly at other hotel chains. However, you can transfer points to airline partners through the Hilton Honors program, and then use airline miles to book hotels through those airlines' partners. This is usually less valuable than redeeming for Hilton nights directly.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points stay in your Hilton Honors account even after you close the card. As long as your Hilton account remains active and you earn or redeem points at least once every 12 months, your points will not expire. You can still redeem them for hotel stays or other rewards through the Hilton app or website.
Is there a sign-up bonus when I open the card?
American Express typically offers a sign-up bonus for new cardholders, usually in the form of bonus points after you spend a certain amount in the first few months. The bonus amount and spending requirement change based on current promotions. Check the American Express website for the current offer when you are ready to open the card.
Can I hold more than one Hilton Honors Amex card at the same time?
American Express rules vary on this. Generally, you can hold multiple versions of the Hilton card (for example, both the standard and the Surpass), but there are restrictions on how often you can open new cards and whether you can earn multiple sign-up bonuses. Contact American Express directly to confirm what is allowed under current rules.