Hilton HHonors Surpass Card from American Express Review

The Hilton HHonors Surpass Card from American Express is no longer offered. You can find similar cards on our Best American Express Credit Cards page.

This day and age, everyone wants a hotel credit card that has something more to offer them than just a line of credit. There are cards out there that offer everything from airline miles to cash back.

American Express has been in the business of extending credit to consumers for over a century, making them a well trusted name in the lending industry. If you want a card that offers extras, you may consider the Hilton HHonors Surpass Card from American Express.

Benefits and Rewards

Many of the credit cards out there that let you earn points to use toward travel or other rewards typically give you a point for every dollar you spend. Not everyone wants the flight rewards! Get hotel rewards by earning your points and make your hotel stays cheaper when you travel. With the Hilton HHonors Surpass Card from American Express, you can earn 3X points on eligible purchases with your card, 6X points when you shop at restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations within the U.S. and 12X points when you use your card with a participating Hilton hotel or resort. Use your card to book your Hilton stay, and get an extra 500 bonus points.

Climb the ranks with this card, with complimentary Gold status just for opening the card! Then, if you spend $40,000 annually on eligible purchases, you will reach diamond status. This gives you added benefits and rewards along with the features that come standard with the card. Even if diamond status doesn’t seem within reach for you, take advantage of the 75,000 Hilton HHonors bonus points that are awarded to you when you spend $3,000 in purchases with your card within three months of opening your account.

Other travel related benefits with the Hilton HHonors Surpass Card from American Express include car rental loss and damage insurance, access to their Global Assist hotline, baggage insurance plans and travel accident insurance. For your convenience, American Express also offers protection against fraudulent charges, year end summaries of purchases and payment history, and online and mobile banking services.

If security is high on your priority list, as it should be for everyone, then you can rest assured in knowing that you are protected. Chip technology has made it easier for you to shop securely, no matter where you are. The Hilton HHonors Surpass Card offers this chip technology to ensure that cardholders have a safe experience when using their card.

Rates and Fees

Rates

• Min APR: 15.49%
• Max APR: 19.49%
• Balance Transfer: 15.49% – 19.49%
• Cash Advance: 25.49%

Fees

• Annual: $75
• Late Payment: $37
• Balance Transfer: $5 or 3%
• Foreign Transaction: 2.7%

When choosing a card, the rates and fees probably trump the benefits and rewards that come with the card. For this card, the annual membership fee will cost you $75. You are sure to save at least that much, however, with your rewards points toward your hotel stays. If you travel a lot and prefer to stay in quality hotels at a good price, then the annual membership fee will be worth it in the long run.

The annual percentage rate will range anywhere from 15.49% to 19.49% for purchases. Balance transfers that are made within the first thirty days of having your card also hold this same interest rate, ranging from 15.49% to 19.49%. If you choose to get a cash advance with your card, interest rates will be a little bit higher (25.49%).

The highest interest rate you may be charged is 29.49% as a penalty APR. This will apply to your account if you make a payment that is returned, or if you make your payments later than the due date. If you are assessed the penalty APR, you can expect it to remain for six months before your account becomes eligible for a review. In the mean time, you must make on time payments with no returned payments.

Other fees that are associated with this card include fees for balance transfers at 3% or $5, fees for cash advances at 3% or $5, and foreign transaction fees that total 2.7% of the total transaction once it has been converted to U.S. dollars. Penalty fees ranging up to $37 may also be assessed for those late payments and returned payments we talked about earlier.

Final Thoughts

For those that love to travel and stay in style, the Hilton HHonors Surpass Card from American Express may be an ideal credit card. It offers not only great rewards, but has a pretty reasonable interest rate (depending on creditworthiness and ability to make your payments on time). If you have been looking for a card and are sick of only seeing cards that offer sky miles as a reward, this card partnered with Hilton may be your new best friend.

Not satisfied? Check out some of the best American Express credit cards that we have reviewed.