Amex Hilton Honors Credit Cards: Comparing the Benefits & Perks [2024]

With 18 hotel brands and 7,000+ properties in 122 countries and territories, it’s no wonder so many travelers are fans of Hilton. You’re sure to find a property that fits your style and budget, no matter where you travel.

The Hilton Honors loyalty program, one of the industry’s best, focuses successfully on rewarding Hilton loyalists and is complemented nicely by the collection of Hilton Honors credit card offerings that also support brand loyalty.

And just as the Hilton brand has a property for every type of traveler, its branded credit cards follow suit with several tailored card options. American Express has created Hilton Honors-branded cards that match your spending patterns, the frequency with which you stay at Hilton, and the level of benefits you desire.

If you stay at Hilton properties, even occasionally, you can benefit from free hotel nights, elite-status perks, and even worldwide lounge access simply by having a Hilton Honors-branded credit card.

With several Hilton Honors cards to choose from, join us as we explore the benefits of each Hilton Honors card to seek out which one is best for you.

The Best Hilton Honors Credit Cards — Overview

Hilton co-branded credit cards have it all — a welcome offer worth several free hotel nights, accelerated Hilton Honors points earnings, and complimentary elite status. But that’s not all. You’ll find cards with worldwide airport lounge access, statement credits for specific purchases, and additional travel benefits.

Before we get into more of the key benefits of each Hilton co-branded card, let’s take a look at a high-level comparison of welcome offers, annual fees, and Hilton Honors-specific benefits.

Card	Welcome Offer and Annual Fee	Earnings and Hilton Honors Benefits
Hilton Honors American Express Card	Earn 100,000 points after spending $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months. Offer ends 4/17/24. $0 annual fee (see rates & fees)	7x points at Hilton 6x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations Complimentary Silver elite status Spend $20,000 for Gold elite status
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card	Earn 155,000 points after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first 6 months $150 annual fee (rates & fees)	12x points at Hilton 6x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations 4x points at U.S. online retail purchases Free annual hotel night certificate after spending $15,000 on the card Complimentary Gold elite status Spend $40,000 for Diamond elite status
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card	Earn 180,000 points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months. $550 annual fee	14x points at Hilton 7x points on flights via AmexTravel.com or directly with airlines, rental cars, and at U.S. restaurants Up to $400 Hilton Resort credit; Up to $200 airlines incidental credit Complimentary Diamond elite status Free annual hotel night certificate Up to $100 hotel credit at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card	Limited Time Offer: Earn 175,000 points after spending $8,000 in purchases in the first 6 months. $195 annual fee (see rates & fees)	12x points at Hilton Enhanced: 5x points on other purchases on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3x points thereafter Complimentary Gold elite status Spend $40,000 for Diamond elite status $240 back each year for eligible purchases made directly with Hilton

Now that we have a good foundation of how the cards compare in these key categories, let’s look closer at some of the additional benefits offered by each of these Hilton co-branded American Express cards.

The Hilton Honors American Express Card

If you’re seeking a no-annual-fee card that offers elite benefits, accelerated earnings when staying at Hilton properties, and additional earnings on everyday spending, the Hilton Honors card may work well for you.

Top Reasons To Get the Hilton Honors Card

• 7x points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
• 5x points at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations
• 3x points for all other eligible purchases
• No annual fee
• Complimentary Silver elite status

The Perfect Cardholder

The perfect cardholder will value the exceptional earning power of the Hilton Honors card and use it for everyday purchases such as groceries, gas, and dining out, so points add up fast.

They may also have a family who looks forward to an annual vacation. Hilton Honors members receive the fifth consecutive award night free, making those points you’ve earned on your Hilton Honors card go much further.

Bottom Line: If Hilton is your brand of choice, you want accelerated earnings, and you value base-level elite benefits but don’t want to pay an annual fee, the Hilton Honors card could be a solid fit.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card

The Hilton Surpass card is popular because it kicks things up a notch over the Hilton Honors card with several additional benefits and greater earnings — and all without a high annual fee.

Top Reasons To Get the Hilton Surpass Card

• 12x points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
• 6x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations
• 4x points at U.S. online retail purchases
• 3x points on all other purchases
• Free Night Reward after spending $15,000 in a calendar year
• Hilton Honors Gold elite status
• Ability to earn Diamond elite status after spending $40,000 in a calendar year

The Perfect Cardholder

The perfect cardholder is comfortable paying a relatively low annual fee to reap the associated benefits of higher earning and Hilton Honors Gold elite status.

The cardholder is a traveler but not necessarily a frequent one as they can maximize the value of the card with just a few trips each year.

Add the value of earning 12x points at Hilton hotels and resorts, plus 6x points on everyday spending, and the card becomes worthy for the traveler who stays, even occasionally, at Hilton.

Bottom Line: The Hilton Surpass card delivers great value for a relatively low annual fee. The complimentary elite status and higher earnings all create value worth more than the annual fee.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

The Hilton Aspire card offers great benefits and shines as a premium travel rewards card. The card offers extraordinary earnings, complimentary top-level Hilton Honors elite status, statement credits for select purchases, and free hotel nights.

Top Reasons To Get the Hilton Aspire Card

• 14x points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
• 7x points on flights via AmexTravel.com or directly with airlines, rental cars, and at U.S. restaurants
• 3x points on all other purchases
• Complimentary top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond elite status
• Free Night Reward each cardmember anniversary
• Up to $200 airline credit
• Up to $400 Hilton resort credit
• Up to $100 hotel credit at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties

The Perfect Cardholder

The perfect cardholder is a frequent traveler. In addition to staying frequently at Hilton properties, they also value luxury travel perks and the benefits of top-tier elite status.

Hot Tip: Curious how this card stacks up to another premium travel rewards credit card? Check out our head-to-head comparison of the Hilton Aspire card vs. The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

Own a business and stay at Hilton properties? The Hilton Business Amex card ensures you’ll be enjoying elite status while you travel.

Top Reasons To Get the Hilton Business Amex Card

• 12x points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
• 5x points on other purchases for the first $100,000 each calendar year; 3x points thereafter
• Hilton Honors Gold elite status
• Ability to earn Diamond elite status after spending $40,000 on the card in a calendar year
• $240 back each year for eligible purchases made directly with Hilton

The Perfect Cardholder

The frequent business traveler who appreciates luxury travel benefits, spends a lot on travel, and chooses Hilton as their brand of choice is the perfect cardholder. They’re also savvy and understand the value they’ll receive for such a low annual fee.

If you’re a small business owner or head of a much larger enterprise, you’ll experience elevated earnings on purchases business travelers make most often and accumulate points quickly.

Complimentary Elite Status With Hilton Honors Credit Cards

The Value of Hilton Honors Elite Status

Prior to securing a Hilton Honors card, you’ll want to sign up for the Hilton Honors rewards program. Just for signing up, you’ll receive perks such as member discounts, free Wi-Fi, and late checkout.

The benefits of elite status are many and grow increasingly more valuable the higher you climb on the elite-status ladder.

Benefits	Member 0 to 9 nights/year	Silver 10 to 39 nights/year	Gold 40 to 59 nights/year	Diamond 60 to 74 nights/year
Guaranteed Member Discount	X	X	X	X
Points Towards Free Nights	X	20%	80%	100%
No Resort Fees on Award Stays	X	X	X	X
Digital Check-in and Choose Your Room	X	X	X	X
Digital Key	X	X	X	X
In-room and Lobby Wi-Fi	Standard	Standard	Standard	Premium
Second Guest Stays Free	X	X	X	X
Late Checkout	X	X	X	X
Free Transfer of Points and Points Pooling	X	X	X	X
Fifth Standard Rewards Night Free		X	X	X
2 Bottles of Water		X	X	X
Elite Tier Rollover Nights		X	X	X
Space-available Room Upgrade			Up to Executive Room Type	Up to 1-Bedroom Suite Room Type
Complimentary Breakfast at all hotels			X	X
Unlimited Milestone Bonuses			X	X
72-Hour Early Upgrade			X	X
Executive Lounge Access				X
Diamond Status Extension				X
48-Hour Room Guarantee				X
Elite Status Gifting				X

Hilton Honors-branded Cards Provide a Faster Path to Elite Status

Normally you’d need to have 4 stays or 10 nights per year to reach Silver elite status, 20 stays or 40 nights for Gold, and 30 stays or 60 nights for Diamond. You can also reach these elite levels when earning 10,000, 75,000, and 120,000 base points, respectively, by spending at Hilton properties.

Update: See how Hilton Honors has adjusted 2022 and 2023 points and status expiration, elite qualification, free night awards, and more in this article: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Hotel Elite Status Extensions, Changes, and Updates.

If you want complimentary Hilton Honors elite status without having to worry about the number of stays, nights, or amount you spend at Hilton each year, holding a Hilton Honors credit card can solve that dilemma.

 

Hilton Honors Card	Comes With:	Spend Your Way To:
Hilton Honors card	Silver	Gold after spending $20,000 on the card in a calendar year
Hilton Surpass card Hilton Business Amex card	Gold	Platinum after spending $40,000 on the card in a calendar year
Hilton Aspire card	Diamond	N/A

To learn more about Hilton Honors elite status, the associated benefits, and how to qualify, explore our comprehensive guide to Hilton status.

Bottom Line: For complimentary Hilton Honors elite status, there’s no faster or easier way to acquire it than having a Hilton Honors-branded credit card. 

Where Your Hilton Honors Points Can Take You

A welcome offer on a Hilton Honors-branded card can exceed 100,000 Hilton Honors points. A free hotel night can range from 5,000 points per night at the very low end, however, you’re likely to spend as much as 95,000 or more — per night — for a luxury resort property.

Here are just a couple of redemption examples:

Conrad Bali (Indonesia) 

The recently renovated Conrad Bali is a luxurious beachfront resort; its Balinese-inspired rooms offer private balconies or terraces, flat-screen TVs, and granite bathrooms.

There are 3 restaurants to choose from, featuring Asian and seafood cuisine, as well as a poolside bar and a lobby lounge. The resort also has lagoon-style swimming pools, a spa, gym, Kura-Kura Kids Club, and cultural activities on offer.

We found standard room rates for 42,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

One of Hilton’s best-value hotels, the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Kuala Lumpur is a 5-star property located in The Intermark shopping complex (which offers plenty of retailers and restaurants).

Rooms feature space to work, a minibar, a flat-screen TV, and an open-concept marble bathroom with a separate walk-in rain shower.

There are 4 eateries, as well as an outdoor saltwater pool, executive lounge, and 24-hour fitness center.

To stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Kuala Lumpur, you’ll need to redeem just 20,000 Hilton Honors points per night for a standard room. You could also secure a Hilton Garden Inn nearby for as few as 7,000 points.

Prices were accurate at the time of writing. Be sure to check current pricing prior to booking. 

Hot Tip: If you want more ideas for properties you can book with your Hilton Honors points, here are the best ways to redeem Hilton points for maximum value and the best Hilton luxury hotels you can book with points.

Additional Card Benefits

All Hilton Honors-branded cards come with additional travel/shopping benefits and protections. Let’s take a look.

Travel Benefits and Protections

• Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Pay for your rental car in full with your eligible card and receive secondary rental car coverage if the car is damaged or stolen. You’ll also have the option to purchase Premium Protection for one low fee that covers the entire rental period ($12.95 to $24.95). Limits apply
• Premium Global Assist: 24/7 worldwide assistance for legal, financial, and medical emergency referral services.

Shopping Benefits and Protections

• Purchase Protection: Receive coverage for up to 90 days from the date of purchase for eligible items purchased with your card. The maximum limit for coverage is $1,000 per incident on all Hilton Honors cards with the exception of the Hilton Aspire card which has a $10,000 limit.
• Extended Warranty: Eligible items purchased with your card that have manufacturer’s warranties of 5 years or less receive 1 additional year. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per item.

Please note that this is not a complete list of card benefits and that the coverage descriptions are abbreviated. You can find a list of all associated benefits by accessing the specific card’s Guide to Benefits.

Final Thoughts

Just as there’s a Hilton property suited for every type of traveler, there’s a Hilton Honors card that matches up with the needs of every type of Hilton traveler.

• The Hilton Honors card offers good earning potential, complimentary elite status, and has no annual fee.
• The Hilton Surpass card has a low annual fee but comes with accelerated earnings, 10 airport lounge passes, and Gold elite status.
• For the frequent traveler who wants it all, the premium Hilton Aspire card wraps up top-tier elite status, high earning potential, free hotel nights, and hundreds of dollars in statement credits.
• For the business owner, the Hilton Business Amex card delivers elevated earnings and luxury benefits.

There truly is a Hilton Honors card for every type of Hilton traveler.

For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car rental loss or damage coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for covered persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all covered persons per covered trip. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the extended warranty and purchase protection benefits of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card, when an American Express^® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.  For the Global Assist Hotline benefit of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card, you can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car rental loss or damage coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for covered persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on baggage, 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. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the extended warranty and purchase protection benefits of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, when an American Express^® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the Premium Global Assist Hotline benefit of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, you can rely on the Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Plus, we may provide emergency medical transportation assistance and related services. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.