Hilton’s Surpass and Aspire cards boost rewards, credits and annual fees
“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
BLUEPRINT
Updated 1:03 p.m. UTC Oct. 19, 2023
Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy.
noblige, Getty Images
Some of the offers in this post have been updated or are no longer available. Please see the issuer site for current product information.
Recently, American Express has announced changes to two of its popular premium cards, the American Express® Business Gold Card * The information for the American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. and The Platinum Card® from American Express. These changes reflect the issuer’s ongoing efforts to modernize its card portfolio.
All information about American Express® Business Gold Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
What’s changing in the world of Amex cards? The Amex Business Gold now comes in rose gold, with a big boost to its benefits and price
In line with the current trend, Amex and Hilton have now announced a significant overhaul of two popular hotel cards — the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (terms apply) and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card * The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply). Unfortunately, this news mostly brings negative implications (some positive) for current and prospective cardholders.
All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Effective Oct. 19, 2023, changes are coming to the Surpass and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card * The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. cards that include the introduction of new benefits and statement credits, as well as an increase in annual fees. Both cards also introduced limited-time boosted welcome offers at the time of the update, giving new customers a chance to rack up a large amount of Hilton points. We’ll examine the overhaul to these cards in more detail below.
All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
our partner
Blueprint receives compensation from our partners for featured offers, which impacts how and where the placement is displayed.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
New fee amounts and cardholder benefits for the Hilton Surpass and Hilton Aspire
The following features and benefits of these two Hilton Amex cards have been modified as of Oct. 19, 2023:
Hilton Surpass Card
Annual fee increase: The Hilton Surpass credit card previously charged a $95 annual fee, making it an appealing option for those seeking a mid-range hotel card. But, after the overhaul, this card’s annual fee is now $150.
Removal of Priority Pass Select membership: Before the update, Surpass cardholders could enroll and enjoy 10 visits to Priority Pass airport lounges annually. That benefit was removed in the update, with lounge access set to end on Feb. 1, 2024 for cardholders who enrolled on or before Jan. 31, 2023. Meanwhile, for cardholders who enrolled later, access is set to end Nov. 1, 2024. (Note, it’s still possible to enroll through Jan. 31, 2024, but just know the perk is being sunset).
New bonus category: The Surpass’s earning rates remain the same, at a generous 12 Hilton Honors bonus points per $1 on eligible purchases at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 4 points per $1 on eligible U.S. online retail purchases, 6 points per $1 on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations and 3 points per $1 for other eligible purchases. But now the addition of U.S. online retail purchases as a bonus category gives cardholders an opportunity to rake in even more Hilton points than before.
New Hilton statement credits: A new benefit of the Surpass is that cardholders can earn up to $200 back annually (up to $50 in statement credits each quarter) on qualifying Hilton purchases after you pay with this card. This perk may help ease the sting of the annual fee increase.
Complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status: Cardholders are granted National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® membership upon enrollment, which would otherwise require 12 paid rentals or 40 paid rental days in a calendar year to attain.
Hilton Aspire Card
Annual fee increase: The previous $450 annual fee for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card * The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. may already have seemed exorbitant to all except dedicated Hilton loyalists. However, the truth is that this card has been widely recognized for providing cardholders with a wide range of robust benefits, perks, and credits that could more than offset the annual fee. But with the annual fee for this ultra-premium hotel card increasing to $550, it’s now one of the most expensive co-branded hotel credit cards on the market.
All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Removal of Priority Pass Select membership: Previously, one of the most valuable benefits on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card * The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. was a Priority Pass Select membership upon enrollment. After the change, cardholders Priority Pass memberships will be canceled, with the cancellation date depending on when they enrolled:
All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
- Those who enrolled on or before Jan. 31, 2023 will see their membership end as of Feb. 1, 2024.
- Those who enrolled between Feb. 1, 2023 and Jan. 31, 2024 will see their membership end as of Nov. 1, 2024.
Those who had not yet enrolled as of the Oct. 19, 2023 overhaul to the card are able to enroll through Jan. 31, 2024 by calling the number on the back of their card. But that membership will be relatively short-lived, as per the cancellation timelines above.
Amount increased for Hilton statement credits: Previously, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card * The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. cardholders received an up to $250 Hilton Resort statement credit for eligible purchases made at participating Hilton Resorts per anniversary year. The Hilton Resort statement credit is still available on the refreshed card and has been updated to a total of $400 annually (available as up to $200 semi-annually).
All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Statement credit for airline incidental fees decreased and changed to an airfare credit: The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card * The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. previously offered a $250 statement credit per calendar year toward incidental fees charged by your chosen airline, such as seat assignments, checked bag fees and food and refreshments on flights. With the modifications to the card, this amount now applies specifically to flight purchases instead of incidental fees and is only up to $200 back annually on eligible flight purchases made directly with the airline or through amextravel.com, plus the statement credits are now distributed quarterly — up to $50 every quarter — instead of annually.
All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
New CLEAR® credit: The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card * The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. cardholders can now enroll in CLEAR, the biometric expedited security service, and receive up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year after they sign up and pay for a CLEAR® Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with this card.
All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Additional Free Night Rewards: As a continuing benefit for possessing the card and renewing it annually, cardholders already receive an Annual Free Night Reward. With the card’s latest refresh, cardholders can now earn an additional Free Night Reward after spending $30,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year with the card, and a third Free Night Reward after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year. The uncapped Free Night Reward can be redeemed at almost any Hilton property worldwide (exclusions are listed here).
Complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status: Cardholders receive National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® membership upon enrollment, which generally requires 12 paid rentals or 40 paid rental days in a calendar year to attain.
Cellphone protection added: This new benefit was long overdue, because Amex cellphone protection coverage is already available on more than a dozen premium American Express cards. If your cellphone is accidentally damaged or stolen, you may receive up to $800 per claim, and each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. There’s a limit of two claims per eligible card account in each 12-month period. Terms and conditions apply.¹
Are these new benefits worth the annual fee increase?
Whether the recent additions and changes to the benefits of the Hilton Surpass and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card * The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. cards are worth the increased annual fees ultimately depends on your ability to fully utilize the updated perks, such as the quarterly and semi-annual statement credits.
All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
For Hilton loyalists, and those who travel often, these cards can still be worth getting thanks to the ability to earn valuable rewards, Free Night Rewards, statement credits and elite status that cardholders receive. Even if you only travel occasionally, getting one of these cards has the potential to enhance your experience when staying at Hilton hotels.
With the earning structure of the Surpass card, you have the opportunity to earn thousands of Hilton Honors points annually in the following categories:
- 12 Hilton Honors bonus points per $1 on eligible purchases at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- 4 points per $1 on eligible U.S. online retail purchases.
- 6 points per $1 on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
- 3 points per $1 for other eligible purchases.
It is worth mentioning that the addition of U.S. online retail purchases as a new category on the Surpass card allows cardholders to shop online and accumulate even more points than they could have previously. There is no restriction to the amount of rewards you can earn.
Cardholders also get complimentary Gold status in the Hilton Honors program, up to $200 back a year on qualifying Hilton purchases (up to $50 in statement credits per quarter), and complimentary Emerald Club Executive® status at National Car Rental® upon enrollment.
Although the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card * The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. charges a high annual fee of $550, it offers significant value to cardholders as Hilton’s most premium co-branded card.
All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
The Aspire’s rewards categories are as follows:
- 14 Hilton Honors points per $1 at hotels or resorts in the Hilton Portfolio.
- 7 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and U.S. restaurants.
- 3 points per $1 on other purchases.
In addition to its earning power, the Aspire also provides cardholders with complimentary top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status. Furthermore, it offers one Free Night Reward every year after card renewal — which you can redeem for a stay at a luxury brand hotel such as the Waldorf Astoria or Conrad, within the Hilton portfolio. In addition, cardholders have the chance to earn an additional Free Night Reward by spending $30,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year with the card, and then another Free Night Reward after spending $60,000.
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card * The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. has made some improvements that dedicated Hilton customers may find appealing enough to justify the increased annual fee. It now offers an increased statement credit of up to $400 per anniversary year (previously just $250) for eligible purchases at participating Hilton Resorts, issued semi-annually in the form of up to $200 in statement credits. Additionally, after signing up and paying for a CLEAR Plus membership, you can receive up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year (enrollment required).
All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
However, the discontinuation of Priority Pass benefits from both cards is a huge blow to the cards’ value propositions for frequent travelers — especially those who fly regularly.
The additional statement credits and modified benefits to both of these cards, when maximized to their full potential, can offset the increased annual fees. However, with the changes come some additional hoops to jump through to maximize your card benefits — such as what used to be an annual statement credit now being disbursed (and capped) on a semi-annual or quarterly basis.
If you are not a frequent guest at Hilton hotels and would rather earn points that can be used for flights or stays at hotels that are part of other chains, it may be more beneficial for you to explore our list of best credit cards for travel rewards.
Elevated welcome offers for a limited time
Whether or not you decide either card is worth keeping on an ongoing basis after the changes, you may wish to consider applying to earn a windfall of Hilton points thanks to limited-time welcome offers. Both the Surpass and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card * The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. introduced elevated offers ending Jan. 17, 2024.
All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
The offer for the Surpass card is this: 130,000 Hilton Honors points plus a Free Night Reward after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first six months of card membership. Offer ends 7/31/2024.
And the offer for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card * The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is as follows: 175,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $6,000 in purchases in the first six months of card membership. Offer ends 7/31/24.
All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
¹Coverage for a Stolen or damaged Eligible Cellular Wireless Telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per Eligible Card Account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per Eligible Card Account per 12 month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
*The information for the American Express® Business Gold Card and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
