Home › Credit Cards › Reviews

Hilton Honors American Express Card — Full Review [2023]

Name: Hilton Honors American Express Card — Full Review [2023]
Item: Hilton Honors American Express Card
Rating: 4
Author: Alex Miller

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertiser Disclosure for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

U.P. Rating ? The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who are immersed in the credit card world. Please see our card rating methodology for more information. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

"A Powerful Way To Boost Honors Points"

Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, plus great earnings at Hilton, U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. restaurants!

Learn More (at Amex's secure site)

Alex Miller

- Updated: May 21, 2023, 11:43pm CDT|

2Comments

You can’t beat a comfy king-sized bed and room service. For many travelers, it’s the hotel that really makes or breaks an experience. If you’re one of those people, you’ve probably stayed at a Hilton hotel.

Whether your visits are for work or pleasure, the Hilton brand has you covered with more than 6,200 locations in 100 counties and territories.

To enjoy a host of great benefits, you may want to apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Card.

Pros

7x points per $1 on Hilton stays
5x points per $1 at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations
3x points per $1 on all other purchases
Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status
No annual fee (rates and fees)
No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

Not great for those who want multiple redemption options
Offers the least benefits of all Hilton cards

Hilton Honors American Express Card — Snapshot

Welcome Bonus & Info (Partner Content)
- Earn 70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points and a Free Night Reward after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
- No Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Card Categories:
Rewards Center
Hilton Honors Loyalty Program
Customer Service Number
1-800‑954‑0559
Related Articles
- Comparing American Express Hilton Credit Cards
- Best Credit Cards for Hilton Honors Loyalists

Great Card If

You enjoy staying at Hilton hotels and want a card that will quickly rack up points
You will use your card to make all purchases so you can earn even more bonuses
You want a card with no annual fee that doesn’t skimp on benefits
You plan to earn Gold status quickly to take advantage of added benefits

Don't Get If

You don’t usually stay at hotels, or you prefer to stay somewhere besides Hilton when you travel
Your primary goal is to transfer airline points

Hilton Honors American Express Card — Fees

Annual Fee
- $0
Foreign Transaction Fees
None
Interest Rates
- 20.74%-29.74% Variable
Late fees
- Up to $40
- Penalty APR: 29.99% variable
Cash Advance APR
- 29.99% Variable
- Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
Additional Info
Rates and Fees

Hilton Honors Card - Is It Worth It?

C. Baldwin Curio Collection Hilton Hotel in Houston Texas King Guest Room — This comfy king-sized bed is just missing you! Get a Hilton Honors card before your next stay to earn a ton of Honors points. C. Baldwin, Curio Collection by Hilton. Image Credit: Chris Hassan

If you travel a couple of times each year and always stay in Hilton hotels when you do, then the Hilton Honors card could be a perfect option for you.

It’s a great option for budget travelers since the card does not charge an annual fee, but it still allows you to rack up points to later redeem for free hotel nights. Plus, thanks to the complimentary Silver status, you’ll earn 20% extra points on all of your stays.

Hilton Honors Card Top Benefits

Hilton Honors Silver Elite Status

Hilton Honors Silver status cardholders receive a 20% bonus on points earned from each stay (not from purchases), and perks including a fifth night free on award stays, plus no resort fees on award stays.

Plus, you can also spend your way to Gold status after spending $20,000 within a calendar year. Gold offers all of the benefits of Silver status plus an 80% bonus on Hilton Honors base points, space-available room upgrades, and a daily food and beverage credit.

How To Earn and Redeem Your Hilton Honors Points

While it’s easy to just throw all of your purchases on your Hilton Honors card and call it a day, there are also many other great ways to earn Hilton Honors points through the hotel chain’s partnerships.

Earning all of those extra points will help you get ready to redeem your Hilton Honors points faster than you normally would. Don’t forget that, thanks to your complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, you’re going to get your fifth night free on all award stays!

Alternative Cards to the Hilton Honors Card

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

If you’re looking to get even more benefits out of your Hilton stays, then the Hilton Surpass card would be a much better option. Not only does it earn 12x points per $1 at Hilton hotels and 6x points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants, but it also offers complimentary Hilton Gold status.

With that Gold status, you’ll receive complimentary room upgrades (up to executive level), an 80% bonus on points earned from stays, and a daily food and beverage credit or free continental breakfast.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

If you’re looking for a card that opens up your redemption options by earning transferable points, then there are few better options than the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

It earns 5x points per $1 on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points per $1 on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases, and 2x points per $1 on all other travel purchases.

Beyond that, your points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through the Chase travel portal, or you can transfer them at a 1:1 rate to many great travel transfer partners.

The information regarding The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here.

Featured Image Credit: American Express

Frequently asked questions

What are the benefits of the Hilton Honors card?

The card gives you automatic Silver status. You can earn Gold status by spending more than $20,000 on the card in a calendar year.

How do I upgrade to the Hilton Honors card with Gold status?

Become a Gold Status member after spending $20,000 on the card in a calendar year. Another way to qualify is with 20 stays, 40 nights, or 75,000 Hilton Honors base points (not bonus points) within a calendar year. Or you can upgrade to the Hilton Surpass card, which comes with complimentary Gold status.

When do Hilton Honors points expire?

As long as your account remains active, your Hilton Honors points will not expire. To keep your account active, you need to stay at a Hilton hotel or earn or redeem points every 24 months.

Does the Hilton Honors card have a foreign transaction fee?

No, the card does not charge foreign transaction fees.

How do I upgrade the Hilton Honors card to the Hilton Surpass card?

Cardholders can apply to upgrade to the Hilton Surpass card by calling the Amex customer service line.

About Alex Miller

Alex has been traveling for over 25 years and from a young age was lucky enough to set out on numerous family trips all over the world, which gave him the travel bug. Alex has since earned tens of millions of travel points and miles, mainly through maximizing every opportunity to earn the most points possible on each dollar spent.

2 comments

Earn Points

Use Points

Business Credit Card Reviews

Business Guides

Air Travel Guides

Airline Points

Earn & Use Hotel Points