American Express has made major changes to the Hilton Surpass and Hilton Aspire cards.
Annual fee increases will go into effect on 2/14/24 for existing cardholders
Increased sign up bonuses good through 1/17/24
New benefits now live for new & existing cardholders
American Express Hilton Surpass
Annual fee increase from $95 to $150
Sign up bonus of 170,000 points after $3,000 in spend within the first three months
Up to $200 back in statement credits annually for eligible Hilton purchases made with your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card directly at participating Hilton properties (up to $50 in statement credits each quarter)
4X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on U.S online retail purchases
Free national Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status
10 free priority passes per year benefit is being removed
American Express Hilton Aspire
Annual fee increase from $450 to $550
Sign up bonus of 180,000 points after $6,000 in spend within the first six months
Free national Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status
Up to $400 in statement credits annually for eligible purchases made with your Hilton Honors Aspire Card directly at participating Hilton Resorts (up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually)
Up to $200 in statement credits annually on eligible flight purchases (up to $50 in statement credits each quarter) made on your Hilton Honors Aspire Card
$189 in statement credits per calendar year after you sign up and pay for a CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Hilton Honors Aspire Card
One Free Night Reward after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year
Cell phone protection: You can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month’s wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period
The following benefits will be removed:
Priority pass membership (1/31/24)
$250 airline free credit (12/31/23)
$250 statement credit for Hilton resorts (12/31/23)
Our Verdict
American Express seems intent on increasing the annual fee across all cards and introducing statement credits that can be difficult to use. Frustrating for some to lose priority pass access as well. Surpass has offered 130,000 points + free night certificate in the past, bonus on the Aspire is the best we have seen (I think).
Overall I see these as negative changes as quarterly credits are very annoying to use. It should be possible to purchase a $50 Hilton gift card at reception and it trigger the credit, but that still involves going into a hotel and hoping they actually sell the gift cards.