Points · American Express · $150 annual fee
Last verified 2026-09-09. Review issuer source
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass is a $150-a-year points card from American Express. Its best everyday rates are 6x on dining, 6x on gas stations, and 6x on grocery stores; everything else earns 3x. There is also 12x on Hilton Hotels & Resorts, a single-merchant rate. Rewards are Hilton Honors points that only spend inside that program, so we value them at roughly a third of a cent each.
On our reference budget of $24,600 a year it earns $374, which clears the $150 fee with $224 to spare before any credits or perks. The welcome bonus, 130,000 points after $3,000 in 6 months, is the strongest reason to open it in a given year.
Get it if you already fly or stay with Hilton Honors often enough to use the perks. A general travel card earns points that go more places.
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
12X points for eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
4X points U.S online retail purchases
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Earn one Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after spending $15,000 on purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
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.
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.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card Members can enjoy complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status, including perks like Executive Area Access (for full-size reservations and above) in the USA and Canada. Card Members must enroll in the National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status through their American Express online account using their Card.
Sometimes your favorite new purchase gets stolen, accidentally damaged, or lost. But when you use your Eligible Card for Covered Purchases, your Membership can help protect them for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date.
Get free 2-day shipping* on eligible items at a growing network of 100+ online stores with ShopRunner.
Benefit descriptions are the issuer’s and network’s own wording, trimmed for length. Limits and exclusions are in the guide to benefits.
| Card | Annual fee | Rewards earned | Net after fee | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®This card · 6x on dining | $150 | $374 | +$224 | 869th of 1,291 |
| American Express® GoldAmerican Express's most-held other card · 4x on dining | $325 | $594 | +$269 | 547th of 1,291 |
| Savor RewardsThe strongest no-fee card on this budget · 3% on dining | None | $642 | +$642 | 4th of 1,291 |
| Robinhood Gold CardHighest net return on this budget · 3% on everything | $50 | $798 | +$748 | 1st of 1,291 |
Reference budget: groceries $6,000, dining and restaurants $3,600, gas and ev charging $2,400, travel and transit $3,000, online shopping $2,400, entertainment and streaming $1,200, everything else $6,000. Points are valued at 1¢ unless the program is worth less; statement credits, welcome bonuses, and perks are left out. Run it with your own spending.
