Is the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card worth $150/yr?
The honest math on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card: which credits you'd actually use, what its points earn beyond a plain 2% card, and what its protections would cost to buy — against the $150 annual fee.
American Express · $150 annual fee · earns Hilton Honors points
Earning rates
- 12x Hilton portfolio hotels & resorts
- 6x U.S. restaurants
- 6x U.S. supermarkets
- 6x U.S. gas stations
- 4x U.S. online retail
- 3x Everything else
Statement credits (2)
- $200 Hilton Credit — Up to $50 in statement credits each calendar quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio — up to $200 back annually.
- Amex Venue Collection Concessions Credit — 10% back (up to $250/yr) on food & beverage concessions purchases at participating stadiums and arenas in the American Express Venue Collection, through 12/31/2026.
Certificates (1)
- Free Night Reward — One Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on the card in a calendar year.
Protections and perks (8)
- Hilton Honors Gold Status — Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status for as long as you hold the card — an 80% bonus on base points per stay, space-available room upgrades, and (at participating brands) a daily food & beverage credit or breakfast, plus the 5th night free on standard-room award stays of 5+ nights.
- Diamond Status after $40,000 Spend — Spend $40,000 on the card in a calendar year and get Hilton Honors Diamond status — a 100% points bonus, premium Wi-Fi, daily food & beverage credit (or breakfast outside the US), space-available room upgrades, and executive lounge access at select properties — through the end of the following calendar year.
- National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive Status — Complimentary Emerald Club Executive status from National Car Rental after enrolling through your American Express online account — skip the counter, wider car choice.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees — No surcharge on purchases abroad.
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance — Secondary coverage for damage to or theft of a rental car, up to $75,000, when you pay for the entire rental with the card and decline the counter's collision damage waiver.
- Baggage Insurance Plan — Coverage for lost, damaged, or stolen baggage when you pay for the entire fare on a common carrier (plane, train, ship, bus) with the card, in excess of what the carrier covers.
- Purchase Protection — New purchases covered 90 days against accidental damage or theft, up to $1,000 per purchase and $50,000 per calendar year.
- Extended Warranty — Adds up to a year to eligible US manufacturer warranties of 5 years or less.
Card data verified against American Express on 2026-08-21.
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