Hilton Honors American Specific Surpass® Card Overview 2024

American Specific just lately up to date a few of its Hilton co-branded bank cards, together with the card_name. Among the modifications—amongst them, Hilton credit and a brand new bonus spending class—add extra worth for cardholders. The current replace additionally included a major improve to the cardboard’s annual charge and the lack of considered one of its finest perks—airport lounge entry.

TIME’s Take

Latest updates to the card_name, together with an annual charge improve from $95 to $150, have put the cardboard in an ungainly center floor. American Specific and Hilton provide a luxurious card and a no-fee card possibility for loyal Hilton vacationers. With the elevated charge and lack of advantages like airport lounge entry and free evening reward, it is laborious to know if the card_name provides sufficient worth to warrant getting over the opposite card choices. There may be nonetheless a substantial hole between the annual charges of the Surpass card and the card_name, however the Aspire card additionally comes with extra useful advantages and perks.

Execs and Cons

Who’s the cardboard for?

The Hilton Honors card_name is for vacationers who incessantly keep at Hilton motels and resorts, and need entry to further model and journey advantages. It is also a superb possibility for Hilton followers who aren’t able to decide to the premium Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire Card and its $550 annual charge however nonetheless need to take pleasure in some Hilton advantages not discovered with the no-fee card_name.

Rewards construction

Incomes Hilton factors

The card_name comes with a beneficiant sign-up bonus, which American Specific just lately elevated:

Earn 170,000 Hilton Honors bonus factors after spending $3,000 in purchases throughout the first six months of card membership.

The card_name additionally earns factors on card purchases on the following charges:

• 12 factors per greenback on eligible purchases at collaborating motels or resorts throughout the Hilton portfolio.
• 6 factors per greenback at U.S. eating places, together with takeout and supply.
• 6 factors per greenback at U.S. supermarkets.
• 6 factors per greenback at U.S. fuel stations.
• 4 factors per greenback on U.S. on-line retail purchases.
• 3 factors per greenback on different eligible purchases.

With a number of bonus classes accessible for points-earning, together with the current addition of U.S. on-line retail purchases, the card_name provides some ways to rapidly increase your factors steadiness relying in your spending habits. Like most lodge playing cards, the card_name reserves its highest bonus price for purchases with the model.

Redeeming Hilton factors

Award nights at Hilton properties typically begin at 5,000 factors per evening and might run upwards of 95,000 factors for the standard room at most properties. An award evening at a few of Hilton’s extra unique properties goes for 120,000 factors per evening. Hilton makes use of dynamic pricing for its rooms, which means the variety of factors wanted to e book an award evening will depend on the property and the timing of your keep. You can even e book stays at Hilton properties utilizing a mix of factors and cash.

Reserving award stays is one of the best ways to get probably the most worth out of your Hilton factors. Hilton Honors provides different redemption choices, which typically provide much less worth. Listed here are different methods you’ll be able to redeem Hilton factors:

• Switch your factors to twenty+ airline companions.
• Store with factors at Amazon.com.
• Store for merchandise via Hilton Honors’ on-line mall.
• Use factors to pay for Lyft rides.
• Redeem factors for automobile leases with Alamo, Nationwide, and Enterprise.
• Redeem factors for VIP experiences like live shows, sporting occasions, and eating.
• Pool factors with one other Hilton Honors member.
• Give factors to a different particular person.
• Share your factors with household or mates.

Level values fluctuate amongst redemptions. At all times examine the worth earlier than redeeming Hilton Honors factors.

Options

Whereas the card_name would not provide the posh advantages discovered with the Aspire card, it nonetheless comes with useful options and perks that may offset the annual charge if used. They embody:

Hilton Honors Gold standing

The card_name comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Gold standing, which provides advantages like a reduced price, no resort charges on award stays, an 80% factors bonus on stays, a day by day meals and beverage credit score or continental breakfast, and a fifth evening free on award stays.

You can even earn Hilton Honors Diamond standing by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases utilizing your card in a calendar 12 months.

$200 Hilton credit score

One of many new perks of the card_nameis the addition of $200 in Hilton assertion credit. You may stand up to $50 in assertion credit per quarter for purchases at Hilton properties when utilizing your card.

Free evening reward

Earlier card provides included a free evening reward, however that perk is gone. You may nonetheless earn a free evening reward, nevertheless it requires $15,000 in spending in your card in a calendar 12 months.

Nationwide Automobile Rental standing

One other new perk included with the card_name is complimentary Emerald Membership Government standing with Nationwide Automobile Rental (enrollment required). Government standing comes with perks like Government Space entry and assured upgrades on choose rental reservations.

No international transaction charges

The cardboard doesn’t cost international transaction charges on purchases made exterior of the U.S. That makes it good for touring internationally.

Journey protections

The card_name comes with just a few journey advantages to guard you when touring. Cardholders obtain secondary automobile rental loss and harm insurance coverage after they use their card to e book a rental car and decline the rental firm’s non-obligatory collision insurance coverage. Different journey protections embody baggage insurance coverage and 24/7 emergency help via the International Help Hotline.

Purchasing protections

Cardholders additionally obtain client protections on eligible card purchases. Buy safety gives protection for brand spanking new card purchases in opposition to theft or harm for as much as 90 days from the acquisition date. Prolonged guarantee safety provides an extra 12 months of guarantee protection on eligible card purchases with an unique producer’s guarantee of 5 years or much less.

The advantageous print

Curiosity Charges

• Common annual share price (APR): 20.99% to 29.99% (variable)
• Buy intro APR: N/A
• Steadiness switch intro APR: N/A

Charges

• Annual charge: $150
• Steadiness switch charge: N/A
• Money advance: Both $10 or 5% of the quantity of every money advance, whichever is bigger

What could possibly be improved?

With the elevated annual charge, you would possibly count on the card_name to return with extra elite model advantages as an alternative of eradicating these perks. At $150, the annual charge is tough to justify until you propose to spend appreciable cash in your card to earn rewards or a free evening reward.

Card alternate options

Backside line

The card_name is a mid-range co-branded card sandwiched between two Hilton playing cards with clear goal audiences. One provides an introduction to Hilton Honors perks with out the price of an annual charge. The opposite provides elite Hilton and journey advantages with an elite-sized price ticket. Observe, although, that holders of that elite Hilton Honors Aspire card are additionally shedding their airline lounge privileges.

Due to its distinctive positioning, the card_name is simply proper for Hilton loyalists who fall between these two teams. Among the card’s higher advantages include excessive spending necessities to unlock. For those who plan to spend appreciable cash on the cardboard, although, it’d make extra sense to go for the Hilton Honors Aspire Card regardless of the $550 charge, particularly when you primarily keep at Hilton properties if you journey.

Steadily requested questions (FAQs)

Is the card_name value it?

The card_name is well worth the $150 annual charge, offered you spend sufficient cash on the cardboard to earn the sign-up bonus and also you make the most of many of the card’s Hilton, journey, and purchasing advantages.

Do you get a free evening with a card_name?

The card_name doesn’t robotically embody a free award evening for cardholders. You may earn a free Hilton Honors award evening after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases together with your card in a calendar 12 months.

What credit score rating is required for the card_name?

American Specific doesn’t disclose credit score necessities for its bank cards. You’ll possible want good to glorious credit score to qualify for the card_name, which is a FICO rating of at the very least 670.

Does the card_name have lounge entry?

The card_name doesn’t include airport lounge entry.