Hilton Honors American Categorical Surpass® Card Assessment 2024

American Categorical lately up to date a few of its Hilton co-branded bank cards, together with the card_name. Among the adjustments—amongst them, Hilton credit and a brand new bonus spending class—add extra worth for cardholders. The latest replace additionally included a major enhance to the cardboard’s annual charge and the lack of one in all its greatest perks—airport lounge entry.

TIME’s Take

Latest updates to the card_name, together with an annual charge enhance from $95 to $150, have put the cardboard in a clumsy center floor. American Categorical and Hilton provide a luxurious card and a no-fee card possibility for loyal Hilton vacationers. With the elevated charge and lack of advantages like airport lounge entry and free evening reward, it is onerous to know if the card_name presents sufficient worth to warrant getting over the opposite card choices. There’s nonetheless a substantial hole between the annual charges of the Surpass card and the card_name, however the Aspire card additionally comes with extra beneficial advantages and perks.

Execs and Cons

Who’s the cardboard for?

The Hilton Honors card_name is for vacationers who ceaselessly keep at Hilton lodges and resorts, and wish entry to further model and journey advantages. It is also possibility for Hilton followers who aren’t able to decide to the premium Hilton Honors American Categorical Aspire Card and its $550 annual charge however nonetheless need to take pleasure in some Hilton advantages not discovered with the no-fee card_name.

Rewards construction

Incomes Hilton factors

The card_name comes with a beneficiant sign-up bonus, which American Categorical lately elevated:

Earn 170,000 Hilton Honors bonus factors after spending $3,000 in purchases throughout the first six months of card membership.

The card_name additionally earns factors on card purchases on the following charges:

• 12 factors per greenback on eligible purchases at taking part lodges or resorts throughout the Hilton portfolio.
• 6 factors per greenback at U.S. eating places, together with takeout and supply.
• 6 factors per greenback at U.S. supermarkets.
• 6 factors per greenback at U.S. gasoline stations.
• 4 factors per greenback on U.S. on-line retail purchases.
• 3 factors per greenback on different eligible purchases.

With a number of bonus classes accessible for points-earning, together with the latest addition of U.S. on-line retail purchases, the card_name presents some ways to shortly increase your factors stability relying in your spending habits. Like most resort playing cards, the card_name reserves its highest bonus fee for purchases with the model.

Redeeming Hilton factors

Award nights at Hilton properties typically begin at 5,000 factors per evening and may run upwards of 95,000 factors for the standard room at most properties. An award evening at a few of Hilton’s extra unique properties goes for 120,000 factors per evening. Hilton makes use of dynamic pricing for its rooms, that means the variety of factors wanted to e-book an award evening will depend on the property and the timing of your keep. You may also e-book stays at Hilton properties utilizing a mixture of factors and cash.

Reserving award stays is one of the simplest ways to get essentially the most worth out of your Hilton factors. Hilton Honors presents different redemption choices, which typically provide much less worth. Listed here are different methods you’ll be able to redeem Hilton factors:

• Switch your factors to twenty+ airline companions.
• Store with factors at Amazon.com.
• Store for merchandise by way of Hilton Honors’ on-line mall.
• Use factors to pay for Lyft rides.
• Redeem factors for automotive leases with Alamo, Nationwide, and Enterprise.
• Redeem factors for VIP experiences like live shows, sporting occasions, and eating.
• Pool factors with one other Hilton Honors member.
• Give factors to a different particular person.
• Share your factors with household or mates.

Level values fluctuate amongst redemptions. At all times test the worth earlier than redeeming Hilton Honors factors.

Options

Whereas the card_name does not provide the posh advantages discovered with the Aspire card, it nonetheless comes with beneficial options and perks that may offset the annual charge if used. They embody:

Hilton Honors Gold standing

The card_name comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Gold standing, which presents advantages like a reduced fee, no resort charges on award stays, an 80% factors bonus on stays, a every day meals and beverage credit score or continental breakfast, and a fifth evening free on award stays.

You may also earn Hilton Honors Diamond standing by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases utilizing your card in a calendar yr.

$200 Hilton credit score

One of many new perks of the card_nameis the addition of $200 in Hilton assertion credit. You possibly can stand up to $50 in assertion credit per quarter for purchases at Hilton properties when utilizing your card.

Free evening reward

Earlier card presents included a free evening reward, however that perk is gone. You possibly can nonetheless earn a free evening reward, nevertheless it requires $15,000 in spending in your card in a calendar yr.

Nationwide Automobile Rental standing

One other new perk included with the card_name is complimentary Emerald Membership Government standing with Nationwide Automobile Rental (enrollment required). Government standing comes with perks like Government Space entry and assured upgrades on choose rental reservations.

No international transaction charges

The cardboard doesn’t cost international transaction charges on purchases made exterior of the U.S. That makes it good for touring internationally.

Journey protections

The card_name comes with just a few journey advantages to guard you when touring. Cardholders obtain secondary automotive rental loss and injury insurance coverage once they use their card to e-book a rental automobile and decline the rental firm’s optionally available collision insurance coverage. Different journey protections embody baggage insurance coverage and 24/7 emergency help by way of the International Help Hotline.

Buying protections

Cardholders additionally obtain shopper protections on eligible card purchases. Buy safety offers protection for brand spanking new card purchases towards theft or injury for as much as 90 days from the acquisition date. Prolonged guarantee safety provides a further yr of guarantee protection on eligible card purchases with an unique producer’s guarantee of 5 years or much less.

The high quality print

Curiosity Charges

• Common annual share fee (APR): 20.99% to 29.99% (variable)
• Buy intro APR: N/A
• Stability switch intro APR: N/A

Charges

• Annual charge: $150
• Stability switch charge: N/A
• Money advance: Both $10 or 5% of the quantity of every money advance, whichever is bigger

What could possibly be improved?

With the elevated annual charge, you may anticipate the card_name to come back with extra elite model advantages as a substitute of eradicating these perks. At $150, the annual charge is tough to justify until you propose to spend appreciable cash in your card to earn rewards or a free evening reward.

Card alternate options

Backside line

The card_name is a mid-range co-branded card sandwiched between two Hilton playing cards with clear goal audiences. One presents an introduction to Hilton Honors perks with out the price of an annual charge. The opposite presents elite Hilton and journey advantages with an elite-sized price ticket. Be aware, although, that holders of that elite Hilton Honors Aspire card are additionally shedding their airline lounge privileges.

Due to its distinctive positioning, the card_name is just proper for Hilton loyalists who fall between these two teams. Among the card’s higher advantages include excessive spending necessities to unlock. For those who plan to spend appreciable cash on the cardboard, although, it’d make extra sense to go for the Hilton Honors Aspire Card regardless of the $550 charge, particularly should you primarily keep at Hilton properties whenever you journey.

Continuously requested questions (FAQs)

Is the card_name value it?

The card_name is well worth the $150 annual charge, offered you spend sufficient cash on the cardboard to earn the sign-up bonus and also you benefit from a lot of the card’s Hilton, journey, and purchasing advantages.

Do you get a free evening with a card_name?

The card_name doesn’t routinely embody a free award evening for cardholders. You possibly can earn a free Hilton Honors award evening after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases along with your card in a calendar yr.

What credit score rating is required for the card_name?

American Categorical doesn’t disclose credit score necessities for its bank cards. You’ll seemingly want good to glorious credit score to qualify for the card_name, which is a FICO rating of no less than 670.

Does the card_name have lounge entry?

The card_name doesn’t include airport lounge entry.