As usual, I get a bit sad if I’m not working on a welcome bonus. When I have a welcome bonus going on I am strategic and dedicated to making it work within the time frame allotted. When I see the welcome bonus hit the account I have nothing but a sense of achievement and gratitude.
Here’s my Hilton Honors Surpass review:
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Hilton Honors Surpass Review and Welcome Bonus
There is usually a welcome bonus when you apply for the Surpass card, and it is usually 130,000 Hilton Honors points if you spend $3000 USD within the first six months of card membership. Sometimes I have seen 130,000 Hilton Honors points AND a free night stay (anywhere without restrictions, which is a great deal). However, this special promotion doesn’t last very long.
The Surpass has a great earn rate.
- 12 times the points at a Hilton property
- 6 times the points spent at US grocery stores
- 6 times the points at US gas stations
- 6 times the points at US restaurants
- 4 times the points at US stores online
- 3 times the points for anything else
The six times the points works out to be around a 2.5% to 3% return which is a pretty decent return. This is based on what you use your Hilton Honors points to book.
Another great pro of this card is that there is no foreign transaction fee. Normally credit cards charge you a 2.5% fee when you are purchasing goods outside of the card’s typical currency.
130,000 Hilton Honors points can get you two nights at the Hilton Garden Inn in Honolulu, Oahu, which would normally be $470 USD.
Surpass Annual Fee
The annual fee of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass is $150 US dollars.
Surpass Eligibility Criteria
There is no minimum income requirement, but you have to have a good credit score to apply for this card.
Surpass Benefits
One of the best benefits of the Surpass is the $50 US quarterly credit. If you don’t use it you lose it. You get $50 US to spend at any Hilton property each quarter. You get the credit a few days after your purchase posts. This basically pays for the annual fee (or you get $50 extra if you use it each quarter). This is $200 annually in quarterly credits.
The other great benefit is automatic Hilton Honors Gold status. Hilton Honors Gold Status gives you upgrades to a better room if it is available.
In addition, Gold status allows you to have a daily Food and Beverage Credit on Hilton Properties in the United States, and if staying at a Hilton outside of the United States, you can get daily continental breakfast.
If you spend more than $15,000 US annually you can also get a free night award. The free night award expires after one year. There are no restrictions to these free night awards, so you could stay somewhere that costs $1000 US a night, even, like the Waldorf Astoria.
Spending more than $40,000 US annually, you can get upgraded to Hilton Honors Diamond Status.
In addition, with this card you can get National Car Rental Emerald Status which allows you to get things like free car upgrades when you rent a car through National.
Surpass Insurance Benefits
There are some decent insurance benefits as well:
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance
- Global Assist Hotline
- Baggage Insurance Plan
- Purchase Protection
- Extended Warranty
Genymoney.ca’s Verdict
The Surpass is a great card with a great welcome bonus- 130,000 Hilton Honors points is nothing to sneeze at. I think having either the Surpass or the Hilton Honors Business American Express Card is sufficient, since either would provide you with Gold status which is something that is helpful for breakfast. You probably don’t need both cards.
So you can technically get $470 USD in hotel stay (or more depending on where you book) and a $50 credit at a Hilton property for net zero dollars spent if you use all the credits. Pretty good if you ask me!
What are your thoughts on the Hilton Surpass card?
GYM is a 40 something millennial writing about personal finance since 2009 and interested in achieving financial freedom through disciplined saving, dividend and ETF investing, and living a minimalist lifestyle. Before you go, check out my recommendations page of financial tools I use to save and invest money. Don’t forget to subscribe for a free dividend yield spreadsheet and the free Young Money Bootcamp PDF.