Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® from American Express earns up to 3% effective value on dining in Madeen's catalog snapshot. Its annual fee is $150. New applicants may see: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.. Madeen compares this card against the cards you already carry — no bank login required.
- Top category
- Dining
- Effective value
- 3%
- Annual fee
- $150
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Madeen compares public issuer terms with its card-rule catalog. Issuer pages control rewards, fees, benefits, exclusions, and eligibility; Madeen does not issue cards, make approval decisions, or provide financial advice.
What does the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass earn in each category?
Dining is the strongest category at 3% effective value (6x points at about 0.5 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 66% of the 1,547 cards we track in that category. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
Dining is the strongest category at 3% effective value (6x points at about 0.5 cents each). That dining rate ranks higher than about 66% of the 1,547 cards we track in that category.
| Category | Earn rate | Effective value |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Restaurants, cafes, takeout | 6x points | 3% Top category |
| Grocery Supermarkets and grocery stores | 6x points | 3% |
| Gas Gas stations and fuel | 6x points | 3% |
| Travel Flights, hotels, transit | 3x points | 1.5% |
| Other General everyday spend | 4x points | 2% |
Madeen values Hilton Honors at about 0.5 cents each. Madeen compares every card using this cash-equivalent estimate while still showing the raw earn rate for context.
What are the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass reward caps and conditions?
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass has 4 notable cap or condition rule(s) in Madeen's catalog, including activation windows, spend limits, and category exclusions. Review each bullet below before assuming unlimited earn rates. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
- 6X points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- 6X points on gas at U.S. gas stations
- 6X points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets
- 4X points U.S online retail purchases
Who should get the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass?
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 6x points. Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 6x points. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass fits spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 6x points. Madeen ranks its dining effective rate higher than about 66% of the catalog in that category. Compare it against cards you already carry with Madeen — no bank login required.
Best for spenders who put meaningful volume in dining and can earn 6x points. The welcome bonus can help if you can meet the spend requirement.
Compare it against simpler no-fee cards if you want minimum complexity.
Best for dining-heavy spend when the $150 fee fits your usage; confirm issuer terms before applying. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
Pros
- Strongest Madeen category is dining at about 3% effective (6x points).
- No foreign transaction fee listed.
- Welcome bonus may add value if you can meet spend requirements.
Cons
- $150 annual fee requires enough spend in bonus categories to offset.
- Multiple caps, activations, or exclusions may limit headline earn rates.
- Hilton Honors value depends on how you redeem, not straight cash back.
Does the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass have an annual fee, and what's the welcome bonus?
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass has an annual fee of $150 and a foreign transaction fee of None. New applicants may see: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.. Confirm current issuer terms before applying.
- Annual fee
- $150
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Signup bonus
- Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
What benefits come with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass?
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass includes $200 Hilton Credit, Baggage Insurance Plan, Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance in our snapshot. Perks and benefits can change; verify coverage on the issuer site before you rely on them. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
- $200 Hilton Credit
Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. That's up to $200 in statement credits annually.
- Baggage Insurance Plan
Travel more comfortably knowing you can be covered for lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage when you purchase the Entire Fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) on an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage, which includes up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to $1,000 for any High Risk Items such as jewelry and electronics, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip. Please read important exclusions and restrictions.
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance
Getting into your Rental Vehicle can be the start of a great vacation. When you use your Eligible Card to reserve and pay for the Entire Rental and decline the collision damage waiver (CDW) at the Rental Company counter, you can be covered for Damage to or Theft of a Rental Vehicle in a Covered Territory.Please read important exclusions and restrictions. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Coverage is not available for vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage.
- Complimentary Gold Status
Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status with your Hilton Honors Surpass® Card. Plus, spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year.
- Extended Warranty
Why is it that as soon as a Manufacturer's Warranty runs out, something always seems to happen? Use your Eligible Card for Covered Purchases and you can have warranty protection for longer. Extended Warranty matches the Original Manufacturer's Warranty for up to one additional year when you use your Eligible Card. Applies to warranties of 5 years or less on Covered Purchases in the United States or its territories or possessions.
- Free Night Reward
Earn one Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after spending $15,000 on purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Global Assist® Hotline
Whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home, Global Assist® Hotline is available for 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination services, including medical and legal referrals, emergency cash wires, and missing luggage assistance. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Other terms and conditions apply.
- Hilton Honors™ Upgrade to Diamond Status
Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year.
What annual spend bonuses does the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass offer?
- Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year
- Honors Diamond status - spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year
Common questions about the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass
Does the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass have an annual fee?
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass carries an annual fee of $150 in Madeen's catalog snapshot. Issuer terms can change, so confirm the current fee on the issuer's site before you apply. Madeen does not predict approval or prequalification. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
What category earns the most with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass?
Dining is the strongest Madeen category for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass at about 3% effective value, based on our catalog snapshot and standard point valuations. Other categories are listed in the effective-rate table on this page. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
Does the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass charge foreign transaction fees?
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass does not charge a foreign transaction fee in Madeen's catalog snapshot, which can make it stronger for purchases outside the U.S. Issuer terms still control international acceptance and other fees. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
What is the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass welcome bonus?
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass welcome offer in our snapshot: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.. Minimum spend, eligibility, and offer windows are set by the issuer and can change.
Is the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass annual fee worth it?
Whether the $150 annual fee pays off depends on how much you spend in dining and whether you use the card's benefits. Madeen compares effective rates across the cards you already carry without bank login. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
What credit score do you need for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass?
Madeen's catalog lists a typical credit range of Good to Excellent for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass. Issuers decide approval using their own criteria; Madeen does not predict approval odds or prequalification. Madeen summarizes catalog reward rules for comparison only; issuer pages control current fees, caps, exclusions, and eligibility.
How does the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass compare to similar cards?
Compare the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass against Hilton Honors American Express Aspire (3.5% on Dining, $550 fee); Hilton Honors Business (3% on Dining, $95 fee); Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express (2.8% on Dining, $250 fee). Madeen ranks effective value by category and annual fee using the same catalog snapshot dated 2026-05-01.
| Card | Top category | Effective value | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass This card | Dining | 3% | $150 |
American Express | Dining | 3.5% | $550 |
American Express | Dining | 3% | $95 |
American Express | Dining | 2.8% | $250 |
American Express | Dining | 2.8% | $125 |
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