After I first bought into the bank card rewards passion, transferable factors made essentially the most sense to me.
My journey model has at all times been versatile. I do not essentially love any resort chain greater than one other, and I’ve lived close to hub cities for a number of airways.
Rewards that I might use wherever, any time — by transferring to a loyalty associate or reserving via a journey portal — had been my pure selection. I did not see how a cobranded card match into my technique.
That modified after I determined to use for the Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card. Regardless of what you may assume, I did not apply as a result of I am now a Hilton loyalist.
Since I hadn’t booked motels but for journeys I might deliberate this 12 months, I used to be inquisitive about how the cardboard’s advantages might elevate my upcoming journey. What if I examined out loyalty to a worldwide chain with hundreds of properties throughout a number of value factors?
Listed here are six the explanation why the Hilton Surpass lastly received me over as somebody who wasn’t involved in cobranded playing cards.
An annual charge that is proper for me
I might’ve picked up the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Categorical Card (see charges and costs). Nonetheless, I did not wish to merely dip my toes right into a cobranded card membership.
As a substitute, I needed to see how the Surpass’ elite standing and assertion credit might elevate my journey expertise. The cardboard’s $0 introductory annual charge for the primary 12 months then $150 annual charge (see charges and costs) appeared like a totally cheap price to me contemplating its advantages.
Certain, it would not have as many perks because the top-tier Hilton Honors American Categorical Aspire Card, which expenses a $550 annual charge, however I haven’t got the urge for food for such a excessive annual charge at this level.
Day by day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day publication
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
The data for the Hilton Honors Aspire has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
I additionally wasn’t as impressed with the same playing cards provided by competing resort chains at comparable annual charge charges, such because the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card (see charges and costs), the World of Hyatt Credit score Card (see charges and costs) and the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card (see charges and costs).
Thus, I landed on the Surpass.
Associated: Is the Hilton Surpass Amex card definitely worth the annual charge?
My first elite standing
As a result of I’ve traditionally been a free agent, I’ve by no means skilled elite standing perks with any program. Receiving computerized mid-tier Hilton Gold standing from a card with a modest annual charge was enticing to me.
Hilton Gold standing comes with the next perks:
- A every day food-and-beverage credit score or continental breakfast (relying on the place you keep)
- Elite rollover nights
- The fifth night time free on reward stays
- House-available room upgrades
- An 80% factors incomes bonus on stays
- 10,000 bonus factors each 10 nights after you have stayed 40 nights in a calendar 12 months
I noticed myself having fun with the bonus factors, every day food-and-beverage credit and space-available room upgrades essentially the most. The fifth-night-free perk intrigued me, too, although it additionally comes with lower-level Silver standing.
Should you spend $40,000 in a calendar 12 months, you additionally get upgraded to Diamond standing via the top of the following calendar 12 months. Whereas I do not plan to spend that on this card, I nonetheless assume spend-incentivized standing for individuals who spend that a lot in a 12 months is a pleasant perk.
Hilton assertion credit score
Assertion credit are a significant a part of the bank card rewards passion, and maximizing them is the easiest way to make sure you’re getting essentially the most worth for the annual charge. The Hilton Surpass is not any exception.
The cardboard’s as much as $50 quarterly Hilton assertion credit score (as much as $200 every calendar 12 months) covers a variety of purchases made instantly with Hilton, together with room charges, incidental expenses, room service, restaurant and spa purchases and different expenses at institutions inside a property, like present outlets.
I felt that will be simple for me to make use of, and it will basically wipe away the cardboard’s annual charge earlier than the 12 months was over. I bought the cardboard in early March and already had plans to make a journey to Louisville, Kentucky, this spring, so my credit score within the first quarter went towards reserving three nights at Tempo by Hilton Louisville Downtown NuLu with money.
I am taking a visit to Europe later this spring and plan on utilizing the second quarter’s credit score on eating and drinks on the Cover by Hilton London Metropolis. Within the fall, I’ll Las Vegas and can use my credit score on the Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World.
Associated: The right way to maximize the assertion credit on the Hilton cobranded bank cards
Bonus classes not lined by my different playing cards
I really like maximizing bonus classes. I exploit my American Categorical® Gold Card to purchase groceries, my Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and costs) for streaming subscriptions and my Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card to cowl purchases exterior of bonus classes.
Although my pockets covers many bonus classes, I did not have a card that earned further on gasoline or on-line retailers. Fortunate for me, the Hilton Surpass earns 6 factors per greenback spent on gasoline purchases at U.S. gasoline stations and 4 factors per greenback spent on U.S. on-line retail purchases.
TPG’s July 2025 valuations place Hilton factors at 0.5 cents per level. The factors earned with my transferable rewards playing cards are extra priceless, so I will not be utilizing the Surpass to pay for purchases the place I earn bonus factors by utilizing different playing cards (comparable to eating and grocery purchases).
Nonetheless, since I often spend on gasoline and on-line purchases, I am excited to now earn greater than 2 factors per greenback in these classes.
Associated: 5 causes to get the Hilton Surpass Card
Nationwide Automotive Rental standing
One of many card’s extra underrated perks is its complimentary Nationwide Rental Automotive Emerald Membership Govt standing. Enrollment is required, and phrases apply.
Since I typically journey domestically, I see worth in Govt standing perks, like entry to the Govt Space for full-size reservations and above within the U.S. and Canada. Plus, the standing grants assured upgrades and no second driver charges, which is one other strong profit for me since I typically journey with one other particular person.
I hire automobiles a number of instances a 12 months, so I am enthusiastic about how this perk might amplify these experiences.
Associated: Greatest rental automobile rewards applications it is advisable to learn about
Welcome bonus and redemption choices
Whereas the welcome provide varies relying on once you apply for the cardboard, I finally utilized when the cardboard provided an attractive limited-time provide.
On the time, new cardmembers might earn 130,000 bonus factors plus a free night time reward after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. This provide is now not out there.
At present, new cardmembers earn 130,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. There’s a $0 introductory annual charge for the primary 12 months, and a $150 annual charge after (see charges and costs).
TPG’s July 2025 valuations place the present bonus at $650. I simply determined that this was an outsize worth for the annual charge.
As soon as I met the minimal spending requirement to earn the bonus, I began daydreaming about how I’d redeem these rewards for an upcoming two-night keep in London. I used the Factors Explorer software to seek for availability for properties with charges as much as 65,000 factors per night time. Two nights would expend the 130,000-point bonus.
As a result of Hilton makes use of dynamic pricing, the worth of your factors can range drastically relying on once you’re planning to make a journey. Nonetheless, there’s loads of worth to be discovered within the Hilton Honors program, particularly you probably have some flexibility.
For example, I used all 130,000 bonus factors from my Surpass’ welcome provide to e-book two nights on the Cover by Hilton London Metropolis this spring. Then, I held onto the free night time reward and determined to make use of it to e-book one night time at Cosmopolita Resort Rome, Tapestry Assortment by Hilton. The usual room I booked with this certificates was price nearly $629 or 80,000 Hilton Honors factors.
Associated: Present Hilton Amex card presents
Backside line
A couple of years in the past, I wasn’t certain I might ever be satisfied to use for a cobranded card. A number of elements, comparable to those I outlined above, made the Hilton Surpass the most suitable choice for me.
On this course of, I discovered you do not have to be fiercely loyal to a specific model to seek out worth in a cobranded card’s advantages. You simply should see how they match into your general card technique.
Contemplate your priorities and spending habits earlier than making use of for a brand new card. At TPG, we encourage you to earn transferable factors due to their worth and adaptability, however you do not have to prioritize incomes this forex all the time. Diversifying your rewards portfolio is simply as necessary.
To be taught extra, take a look at our full assessment of the Hilton American Categorical Surpass Card.
Apply right here: Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass Card
For charges and costs of the Hilton Surpass Card, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Hilton Amex card, click on right here.
