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Hilton’s cobranded American Express cards typically offer some sweet introductory bonuses, but for the next few months, they’re even sweeter.
The no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card has increased its introductory offer to 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership. (Offer ends April 5, 2023; see rates and fees.) Meanwhile, the more premium $95 annual fee Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has upped its welcome bonus to 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in the first six months of card membership. (Offer ends April 5, 2023; see rates and fees.)
At press time, the greater portfolio of Hilton hotels and resorts spans 19 brands, from Waldorf Astoria to Conrad to the Curio Collection, with 7,000-plus properties across 123 countries and territories. Hilton Honors points can be redeemed for stays at any of these hotels, where standard rooms cost between 5,000 points and 120,000 points per night, depending on the hotel.
Here’s why you should jump on this opportunity now, before it disappears on April 5, 2023.
A huge bonus on a no-fee card with plenty of perks
It’s rare that we see a 100,000-point bonus on a card with no annual fee, but here we are!
However, a $0 annual fee on the Hilton Honors American Express Card doesn’t mean the card skimps on benefits. In fact, it’s the opposite. The card earns seven points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases, five points per dollar on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations, and three points per dollar on other eligible purchases. So, no matter what you charge to the card, you’ll earn a minimum of three points per dollar spent on eligible purchases. That makes it easy to rack up points quickly.
In addition, cardholders receive automatic first-rung Hilton Honors Silver status. While all Hilton Honors members can get the likes of free Wi-Fi nowadays, Silver status brings added benefits, such as a 20 percent points earning bonus on stays, free bottled water, and the ability to participate in the Hilton Honors “Fifth Night Free” program, in which your fifth night is no cost when booking four nights with points.
Furthermore, with the current promotion, the card’s bonus is easier to earn than in the past. Previous bonuses for this card have required spending up to $5,000 total on purchases in the first six months to earn all the points. With the current offer, all that’s required is spending $2,000 in the first six months to get the bonus.
An even bigger bonus on a low-fee card with even more perks
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has also elevated its welcome offer. Earn an impressive 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in the first six months of card membership. This card has an annual fee of $95, but its benefits are more like those of a card with a high annual fee.
To start, earnings multipliers in select key categories make it easy to amass points quickly through spending. Earn 12 points per dollar at properties in the Hilton portfolio, 6 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations, and 3 points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Then, you get airport lounge access with the card. In fact, you can get 10 free lounge visits to 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges for every year enrolled in Priority Pass Select Membership through the Surpass card (enrollment required). No other personal credit card at this fee level offers such lounge access.
Finally, you’ll score Hilton Honors Gold Status automatically with card membership. Benefits of Gold Status include the following at stays within the Hilton umbrella: space-available room upgrades, complimentary Wi-Fi, and daily on-property food and beverage credits. (The amount of that food and beverage credit varies by brand, but for luxury brands like Waldorf Astoria and Conrad it runs an impressive $50 per room per day, assuming two guests per room.)
Takeaways
Hotel stays are great; free ones are even better. Recently, this writer used 90,000 points per night at a Curio Collection property during the peak of Art Basel Miami, when rooms at said hotel were commanding nearly $1,000 per night. You bet I was smitten with myself for having banked so many Hilton Honors points.
Chances are that with over 7,061 properties under its umbrella, Hilton will have you, too, covered at your next destination. So why not score points—lots of them—with either the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card or the perks-heavy Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card? You’ll thank us once you’re luxuriating at your chic hotel in South Florida, Bora Bora, or Belize and bragging that you didn’t pay a dime for your stay.
This article was originally published in 2022; it was updated on February 10, 2023, with current information. While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they are subject to change at any time, and may have changed or may no longer be available.
