American Express has announced major changes to two of its popular Hilton cobranded credit cards – the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. These changes include both benefits and drawbacks for cardholders.
Let’s start with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card.
Hilton Surpass Card
The Hilton Surpass card is seeing both a higher annual fee and some new benefits:
- Annual Fee Increase – The annual fee is increasing by $55 to $150. This will take effect on February 1, 2024, for existing cardholders.
- Higher Sign-Up Bonus – For a limited time, new cardholders can earn 170,000 Hilton points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.
- New Statement Credits – Cardholders can get up to $200 back annually on Hilton purchases. This breaks down to up to $50 in statement credits each quarter.
- New Bonus Category – The Surpass now earns 4x points on U.S. online retail purchases.
- Free Car Rental Status – Cardholders get complimentary National Emerald Club Executive elite status.
- No More Lounge Access – The 10 annual complimentary Priority Pass visits are being eliminated starting February 1, 2024. Those who already have Priority Pass can use visits through January 31, 2024.
The above is an exact summary of the changes for the Hilton Honors Surpass American Express Card. Here are the changes in more detail.
Annual Fee Increase
The most noticeable change is the annual fee increase from $95 to $150. This $55 jump kicks in on February 1, 2024, for existing cardholders.
An annual fee increase is never welcomed. However, compared to other mid-tier hotel cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card ($95 fee), the Surpass still seems reasonably priced. We’ll analyze later whether the new benefits justify this fee hike.
Improved Welcome Bonus
For new applicants, the sign-up bonus is now 170,000 Hilton points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. This is an excellent increase over the previous 130,000-point bonus. Maxing out this offer could get you over 34 free nights at Hilton’s lowest category 1 hotels.
Quarterly Hilton Credits
One of the most valuable new benefits is up to $200 in annual statement credits on Hilton purchases. This breaks down into $50 credits each quarter. The credits should be fairly easy to use by booking a one-night stay or even just ordering room service or amenities at a Hilton property once per quarter.
While some may find quarterly credits annoying to track, Hilton is a large chain with hotels virtually everywhere. For frequent business travelers or those who already stay at Hiltons, maximizing this perk should be simple.
New Bonus Category
The Surpass now earns an elevated 4x points on U.S. online retail purchases. This is a lucrative category addition when stacked with shopping portals and special merchant offers.
However, Hilton points only value at 0.6 cents each based on MCC estimates. Other cards earn higher fixed-value cash back for online shopping.
Free Car Rental Status
Complimentary National Emerald Club Executive elite status is another new perk. This unlocks midsize car upgrades, guaranteed reservations, and waived underage driver fees. Matching this status to other rental companies can bring even more value.
Lounge Access Removal
Sadly, the Surpass card will no longer include 10 annual complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge visits starting February 1, 2024. This is a major downgrade, especially for frequent travelers who enjoy complimentary food, drinks, and a relaxing lounge space.
The lounge access was a key factor that differentiated this card from the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors Card. For those who used the Priority Pass benefit, losing this perk likely outweighs the positives from the fee increase.
Hilton Aspire Card
The premium Hilton Aspire also has several updates:
- Higher Annual Fee – The annual fee is increasing by $100 to $550. This hits existing cardholders on February 1, 2024.
- Increased Welcome Bonus – New cardholders can earn 180,000 Hilton points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months.
- New Statement Credits – Up to $400 back annually on Hilton resort stays (up to $200 every 6 months) and up to $200 annually on flight purchases ($50 per quarter).
- Complimentary Clear Membership – Cardholders get up to $189 in statement credits each year for a Clear membership.
- Additional Free Night – An additional free night is earned after spending $30,000 in a calendar year.
- Cell Phone Protection – Cardholders are eligible for up to $800 per claim in cell phone repair/replacement coverage.
- No More Lounge Access – Complimentary Priority Pass membership is being discontinued starting February 1, 2024.
- Changes to Airline Fee Credit – The $250 annual airline fee credit is being replaced by a $50 quarterly airfare statement credit starting January 1, 2024.
Next, let’s analyze the premium Hilton Aspire card in Detail.
Increased Annual Fee
Like its sibling, the Aspire also sees a fee jump – from $450 to $550. This lofty fee hits credit histories on February 1, 2024.
This bump pushes the Aspire near the top of the market for luxury hotel cards. The high fee is easier to justify for road warriors who maximize the Aspire’s credits and perks. But more casual travelers may struggle to extract enough value.
New Sign-Up Bonus
For new applicants, Aspire’s welcome bonus is now 180,000 Hilton points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months. This is among the highest offers we’ve seen for the card and is well worth hitting the minimum spend.
Quarterly Flight Credits
A new airfare statement credit offers up to $200 back annually on flight purchases, issued in $50 increments each quarter. This benefit replaces the previous $250 airline fee credit starting in 2024.
Having to use these credits quarterly makes maximizing them more thought-intensive. However, the credits should still be easy for frequent flyers to use. One option is to purchase airline gift cards in $50 increments each quarter.
Annual Hilton Credit
Similarly, Aspire’s annual Hilton resort credit becomes up to $400 issued biannually rather than one $250 credit. This will require planning ahead to optimize, but there isn’t too much extra effort for such substantial statement credits.
Clear Membership Credit
Cardholders now get up to $189 in annual statement credits for paying for a Clear membership, which expedites airport security. Clear is not offered everywhere, so this perk is not useful for all travelers. However, it’s a nice bonus for existing members or those with airports nearby that participate in Clear.
Additional Free Night
A new opportunity to earn a 3rd annual free night after spending $30,000 in a calendar year is incredibly valuable. However, this spending requirement means only those charging huge amounts to the Aspire will reap this benefit.
Cell Phone Coverage
The new Cell Phone Protection is also nice for those prone to cracking screens or losing devices. You can get up to $800 per claim in coverage with just a $50 deductible.
Loss of Lounge Access
Unfortunately, the Aspire is also eliminating complimentary Priority Pass access. This is a huge downgrade, especially given the card’s lofty annual fee. Having unlimited free visits for yourself and guests was an amazing benefit that set Aspire apart.
Losing this perk likely outweighs the positives from the other changes for many cardholders who used the lounges frequently. Those who travel often should consider adding the Priority Pass membership on its own to replace this key travel privilege.
Changing Credits
While the new credits add potential value, managing quarterly or biannual use is not always easy. Notably, the Aspire eliminates the once-per-year $250 airline fee credit altogether rather than converting it to a quarterly benefit.
Our Verdict
Overall, these changes are a mixed bag for Hilton cardholders. The new statement credits and bonus categories provide more opportunities to maximize rewards. However, the lounge access removal is a major loss, especially for a premium card like the Aspire.
The annual fee increases could be justified if cardholders take full advantage of the new perks. However, those benefits do require more frequent usage to maximize value.
Existing cardholders who are unwilling to put in the extra effort may want to consider downgrading or canceling when renewal comes up. As always, it is wise to request a retention offer before closing a card.
