Amex Hilton cards: Increased welcome offers (up to 175K)

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If you’ve had Hilton on your mind (like we have), the offers on all of the Hilton Honors credit cards have increased today, with three out of the four offering between 165K-175K Hilton points.

These offers are also available via referral, so if you currently have one of them and want to refer a Player 2 or 3 or other family member or friend, keep in mind that you can earn more total points doing so.

a pool with a deck and chairs on the side

The Offers & Key Card Details

Card Offer and Details
100K points ⓘ Affiliate
100K points after $2K spend within the first 6 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)
(Offer Expires 1/8/2025)
No Annual Fee
After clicking through, be sure to choose the card you want on the landing page.
Recent better offer: (Expired 7/31/24) 70K points + free night certificate after $2K spend within the first 6 months.
FM Mini Review: This card isn't particularly rewarding, but it's good to keep primarily for targeted Amex upgrade offers to the Surpass card.
Earning rate: ✦ 7X Hilton eligible Hilton purchases ✦ 5X US restaurants, US Supermarkets, and US gas stations ✦ 3X on all other eligible purchases
Base: 3X (1.44%)
Dine: 5X (2.4%)
Gas: 5X (2.4%)
Grocery: 5X (2.4%)
Brand: 7X (3.36%)
Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Big spend bonus: Gold elite status with $20K calendar year spend
Noteworthy perks: ✦ Free Silver status; Gold status with $20K spend. ✦ Terms Apply. (Rates & Fees)
Card Offer and Details
165K points ⓘ Affiliate
165K points after $3K spend within the first 6 months. Terms apply.
(Offer Expires 1/8/2025)
$150 Annual Fee
Recent better offer: (Expired 7/31/24) 130K points + free night certificate after $3K spend within the first 6 months.
FM Mini Review: Easy way to secure Hilton Gold status (which offers free breakfast among other perks). Those who want Diamond status may be better off with the Aspire card.
Earning rate: ✦ 12X Hilton spend ✦ 6X U.S. restaurants, US Supermarkets, and US gas stations ✦ 4X U.S. Online Retail Purchases ✦ 3X on all other eligible purchases
Base: 3X (1.44%)
Dine: 6X (2.88%)
Gas: 6X (2.88%)
Grocery: 6X (2.88%)
Shop: 4X (1.92%)
Brand: 12X (5.76%)
Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Big spend bonus:
✦ Free night award after $15K spend in calendar year ✦ Diamond elite status with $40K calendar year spend ✦ Terms apply
Noteworthy perks: Free Gold status. Diamond status w/ $40K spend. ✦ Up to $200 in Hilton credits ($50 per quarter) ✦ Terms Apply. (Rates & Fees)
Card Offer and Details
175K Points + free night certificate ⓘ Friend-Referral
175K after $6K spend in first 6 months. Free night certificate every year - first certificate is awarded 8-12 weeks after approval. Terms apply.
(Offer Expires 1/8/2025)
$550 Annual Fee
Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.
FM Mini Review: This card is loaded with valuable perks that are more than worth the card's annual fee if you stay in Hilton resorts at least twice per year.
Earning rate: ✦ 14X Hilton spend ✦ 7X US restaurants, flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, select car rental companies ✦ 3X on all other eligible purchases ✦ Terms & Limitations Apply.
Base: 3X (1.44%)
Travel: 7X (3.36%)
Dine: 7X (3.36%)
Brand: 14X (6.72%)
Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Big spend bonus: Additional free night awards after $30K and $60K spend in calendar year
Noteworthy perks: ✦Annual Free Night Reward every year upon renewal ✦ Free Diamond Status ✦ Up to $400 Hilton Resort Credit per calendar year ($200 semi-annually) ✦ $200 Flight Credit ($50 per quarter for purchases directly with airlines or via Amex Travel) ✦ $199 CLEAR (R) Plus fee credit per calendar year ✦ $100 on-property credit w/ Aspire Card package ✦ Terms Apply. See Rates & Fees
Card Offer and Details
175K Points ⓘ Affiliate
175K after $8K spend in first 6 months. Terms apply.
(Offer Expires 1/8/2025)
$195 Annual Fee
Recent better offer: None
FM Mini Review: Easy way to secure Hilton Gold status (which offers free breakfast among other perks). Amex business cards do not count towards 5/24 status so will not hurt chances of applying for Chase cards.
Earning rate: ✦ 12X Hilton spend ✦ 5X on other eligible purchases (on the first $100K in purchases per calendar year, 3X thereafter).
Base: 3X (1.44%)
Brand: 12X (5.76%)
Other: 5X (2.4%)
Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Big spend bonus: Diamond elite status with $40K calendar year spend
Noteworthy perks: ✦ Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status. Diamond status w/ $40K spend. ✦ Up to $240 in annual credits for Hilton purchases (Up to $60 per quarter) ✦ Complimentary National Car Rental(R) Emerald Club Executive(R) status (enroll through the link on your American Express online account) ✦ Terms Apply. (Rates & Fees)

Quick Thoughts

There’s no doubt that we’ve seen some amazing offers on cards with transferable currencies over the past couple of years. However, as hotel card offers go, these increased Hilton offers are pretty good all things considered.

Our latest analysis of Hilton points pegged the value right around half a cent per point, which makes these offers very good in terms of return on spend. For Hilton fans, the Surpass card is particularly attractive given good category bonuses and the chance to spend toward an annual free night certificate. Unlike with other chains, Hilton free night certificates are uncapped — and now that they are valid at SLH properties, they are even more desirable than before.

I wouldn’t necessarily prioritize these offers over other cards, though keep in mind that the business card wouldn’t add to your 5/24 count, which makes it the most attractive of the bunch of you don’t need the Surpass card’s category bonus for U.S. Supermarket spend. Separately, while the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors consumer card doesn’t often get much attention, it offers a great bonus for a card with no annual fee.

If you’re looking to jumpstart your Hilton Honors points balance, these offers could certainly be worth a look.

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Sergio

Hey Nick, what’s the consensus nowadays on the family language for these cards? I want the aspire but would hate to miss out on the other 2’s SUBs. You think its safe to go for the Aspire right now and get the others later?

Daniel A

Hi Nick and FM team, Aspire is missing the “Recent best offers” section. I always appreciate that section as it helps me decide if I’m on the fence. Thanks!

Last edited 2 months ago by Daniel A
Geoff

This is typically the highest. It was just 150k for a bout a month i think but prior to that was 175k. I don’t think they posted “recent best offer” as this is it.

Andrew

Do you know how long you have to wait before application and upgrading a card with AMEX? Want the Aspire, but not able to qualify for the SUB, so looking to the Surpass instead.

Joseph N.

No way. I got the no AF version when the sign up was 75000, and 75000 HH points then was worth WAY more than 100000 is now.