Hilton credit card offers September 2024
Updated 3:27 PM EDT, Wed September 25, 2024
Hilton Hotels
Hilton is one of the largest hotel chains in the world, so it’s easy to find a Hilton hotel just about anywhere. Hilton Honors is the chain’s loyalty program, encompassing familiar brands such as Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites, Hampton and Waldorf Astoria.
If you stay at Hilton properties, even occasionally, opening a co-branded Hilton credit card can be a great strategy to earn more Hilton Honors points and receive benefits that can save you money and even make your travels more comfortable.
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Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025.
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO? credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
American Express issues four Hilton credit cards, and all of them are offering higher-than-normal welcome bonuses until Jan. 8, 2025:
- Hilton Honors American Express Card (terms apply, see rates and fees): 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass? Card (terms apply, see rates and fees): 165,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express * The information for the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. : 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of opening an account
- The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card * The information for the The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. : 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months
All information about Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
The elevated welcome offers come with unchanged spending requirements for all cards except the Amex Hilton Business Card, which now requires new card holders to spend an additional $2,000 compared to the previous offer. Hilton credit card options range from a no annual fee card to a high-end luxury travel card. Let’s take a look at each Hilton card’s welcome bonus and benefits to help you decide which works best for your needs.
Hilton Honors Credit Card welcome bonus offer
If you prefer a card with no annual fee, consider the Amex Hilton Card (terms apply, see rates and fees). This entry-level card is offering 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months.
That’s 20,000 points higher than the previous offer for the same spending requirement. You can expect around $600 in value from this offer (Hilton points are worth 0.6 cents each according to September 2024 valuations from travel website The Points Guy). That’s a good deal from a card that won’t cost you anything to keep year after year.
Plus, card holders receive Hilton Honors Silver status, which is the loyalty program’s lowest tier. Silver status doesn’t come with many benefits (think free bottled water and a 20% bonus on paid stays), but it does unlock one key perk: You’ll get the fifth night free on standard award stays with any level of Hilton Honors status.
Hilton Honors Surpass Credit Card welcome bonus offer
The Amex Hilton Surpass Card is a solid choice for regular Hilton guests, offering new card holders 165,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months. That’s worth around $990 in Hilton stays, and is a 35,000-point increase over the previous offer (with the same spending requirement).
Although the card charges a $150 annual fee (terms apply, see rates and fees), it offers benefits that can help offset the cost. Card holders get mid-level Hilton Honors Gold status, which comes with an 80% points bonus on paid stays, room upgrades when available, and a daily food and beverage credit (or continental breakfast, depending on the brand and region) at Hilton hotels. Plus, the Amex Hilton Surpass Card offers up to $200 annually (up to $50 per quarter) in statement credits toward Hilton purchases, which could make the card quite worthwhile for the frequent traveler.
We receive compensation from our partners for Featured Offer placements, which impacts how and where their offer is displayed.
Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass? Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025.
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO? credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card welcome bonus offer
For die-hard Hilton loyalists looking for a premium travel credit card, the $550-annual-fee Amex Hilton Aspire Card is the way to go. Its welcome bonus of 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of opening an account is worth a whopping $1,050 in Hilton stays. It’s also a 25,000-point increase over the previous offer, for the same spending requirement.
The Amex Hilton Aspire Card comes with a slew of travel perks, including top-tier Hilton Diamond status, which offers 100% points bonuses on paid stays, executive lounge access, better room upgrades and more. The card also comes with up to $400 per year (up to $200 semi-annually) in statement credits toward Hilton resort purchases and up to $200 per year (up to $50 per quarter) toward eligible flight purchases. Plus, after account opening (and each year after you renew the card) you’ll receive a free night reward valid at nearly any Hilton property worldwide.
If you’re able to take advantage of those benefits, the high annual fee on the card can make sense.
Hilton Honors American Express Business Card welcome bonus offer
The Amex Hilton Business Card is a business credit card, so you’ll need to own a business (even a part-time side gig) to be eligible to apply. It’s offering 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months — a 45,000-point increase over the previous offer, with a $2,000 increase in the spending requirement. As with the Aspire bonus, that’s worth $1,050 in stays, but the card has a more manageable $195 annual fee.
The card includes Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $240 per year (up to $60 per quarter) in statement credits toward Hilton purchases. Card holders also receive National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status (enrollment required), which can be handy for business travel.
Which Hilton credit card should you consider?
The best Hilton credit card for you depends on how often you travel, what perks are important to you and how willing you are to pay an annual fee. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the cards to help you narrow down your options:
| Hilton Honors American Express Card | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass? Card | Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express | The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Annual fee
| $0
| $150
| $550
| $195
|
Welcome bonus
| 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months
| 165,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months
| 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of opening an account
| 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months
|
Rewards rates
| 7x points on Hilton purchases
5x points at U.S. restaurants
5x points at U.S. supermarkets
5x points at U.S. gas stations
3x points on other eligible purchases
| 12x points on Hilton purchases
6x points at U.S. restaurants
6x points at U.S. supermarkets
6x points at U.S. gas stations
4x points on U.S. online retail purchases
3x points on other eligible purchases
| 14x points on Hilton purchases
7x points on select travel (including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies)
7x points at U.S. restaurants
3x points on other eligible purchases
| 12x points on Hilton purchases
5x points on other eligible purchases (on the first $100,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 3x points)
|
Elite status
| Hilton Honors Silver
| Hilton Honors Gold
National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive (enrollment required)
| Hilton Honors Diamond
National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive (enrollment required)
| Hilton Honors Gold
National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive (enrollment required)
|
Statement credits and free night
| N/A
| Up to $200 per year (up to $50 per quarter) toward Hilton hotel purchases
| Up to $400 per year (up to $200 semi-annually) toward Hilton resort purchases
Up to $200 per year (up to $50 per quarter) toward eligible flight purchases
Free night reward valid at nearly any Hilton hotel when you open the card and each year when you renew
| Up to $240 per year (up to $60 per quarter) toward Hilton hotel purchases
|
If you stay at Hilton properties occasionally, the no annual fee Hilton Honors American Express Card may offer everything you need. However, thanks to its significantly higher welcome bonus offer and statement credits, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass? Card could make sense for more frequent travelers, especially in the first year.
Welcome bonus points aside, you’ll also get better elite status with the Amex Hilton Surpass Card, and significantly more points on your Hilton purchases — which could be well worth the $150 annual fee. The Amex Hilton Business Card is similar to the Amex Hilton Surpass Card, but with different bonus categories and slightly more generous statement credits for Hilton purchases. Just remember, you’ll need a small business to qualify.
Finally, if you’re a Hilton loyalist and travel often, the Amex Hilton Aspire Card is worth a close look, despite a higher annual fee.
The card’s Diamond elite status and multiple statement credit opportunities can alone offset the annual fee, and that’s not even counting the value of the yearly free night award, which you can use at most Hilton properties (even fancy resorts).
Ultimately, the average traveler will likely be drawn to one of the lower-cost Hilton cards, especially with these strong welcome offers. If you’re not that loyal to Hilton, however, be sure to read our guide to the best hotel credit cards for other options.
Additional reporting by Jennifer Yellin.
To view rates and fees for Hilton Honors American Express Surpass? Card, please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Hilton Honors American Express Card, please visit this page.
All information about Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express and The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines, hotel chain, or other commercial entity and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of such entities.
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended and should not be understood to constitute financial, investment, insurance or legal advice. All individuals are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified financial professional before making any financial, insurance or investment decisions.
Note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed or may no longer be available.
