UPDATE: This offer has expired.
American Express recently launched many new Hilton co-branded credit cards, but there are two cards that come with a similar welcome offer, benefits, and a $95 annual fee. The main difference between these two cards is that one is for personal accounts and the other is for business accounts. The personal version is replacing the previously known Hilton American Express Surpass and the business version is a brand new product. The personal version is not being launched as a “new” product which means that anyone who has had the Hilton Surpass card in the past will not be eligible for the welcome bonus.
- Key Links:
- Hilton Honors Ascend Card from American Express – Earn 75,000 Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership, and 25,000 Bonus Points after you make another $1,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 6 months. *Terms apply.
- Hilton Honors American Express Business Card – Earn 75,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your Card in the first 3 months of Card Membership, and 25,000 Bonus Points after you make another $1,000 in purchases on your Card in your first 6 months. *Terms apply.
Personal Version
Both cards come with a $95 a year fee while the previous Surpass version only had a $75 a year fee. For those that had the Surpass card and now have the Ascend card, your new annual fee will also increase to $95 for those up for renewal on or after February 2, 2018. While an increase in fee isn’t great, this card does have some increased benefits, which include:
- Free weekend night certificate – Spend $15,000 on purchases on the card in a calendar year and you’ll receive a free night certificate which you can use on a weekend at most Hilton hotels. You can receive this free night every year once you meet the spend threshold.
- Priority Pass lounge access – You’ll receive 10 complimentary Priority Pass lounge passes per year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Earn 12x points on Hilton purchases, 6x points at US grocery stores, US restaurants, and US gas station, 3x points on everything else.
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status – if you spend $40,000 on the card in the calendar year, you’ll receive Diamond status.
Business Version
This is a brand new card so everyone is eligible for the welcome offer (as long as you are approved for the card). You can learn more about this card in detail here. This card also has some great benefits, including:
- Free weekend night certificate – Spend $15,000 on purchases on the card in a calendar year and you’ll receive a free night certificate which you can use on a weekend at most Hilton hotels. You can receive this free night every year once you meet the spend threshold.
- Priority Pass lounge access – You’ll receive 10 complimentary Priority Pass lounge passes per year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Earn 12x points on Hilton purchases, 6x points at select business travel purchases (i.e., flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, US restaurants, and US gas station, etc.), 3x points on everything else.
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status – if you spend $40,000 on the card in the calendar year, you’ll receive Diamond status.
What are 100,000 Hilton Points Worth?
Last year Hilton introduced an entirely new program. Instead of “Hilton HHonors”, they are now “Hilton Honors” and the name change came along with an entirely new redemption process. Hilton got rid of their award chart and you’ll now be charged a certain number of points depending on the price of the hotel, although it is not a fixed rate. They also introduced a points and cash option where you can pick the amount of points and cash you’d like to use based on a sliding scale for every hotel stay.
Ultimately, the 100,000 points from the welcome bonus can get you anywhere from 20 nights at a low level category to 1 free night at a high level category. Remember, since this card gives you automatic status, you’ll receive your 5th night free when using points for your stay.
Below is the old reward chart that they got rid of. So the points required will not exceed the higher range amount for each category.
My thoughts…
If you are able to spend $15,000 on this card and receive the free weekend night certificate, that can be worth around $250 per year. That definitely pays for the annual fee, plus more! Also, having Hilton Gold status is a great status to have if you plan on staying at Hilton properties throughout the year. Even though this is a mid-tier status, you’ll still receive complimentary breakfast, free internet, a possible upgrade and concierge floor, etc. You’ll also receive your 5th night free on award redemptions. You can read more about the perks of Hilton status here.
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