This deal has now expired, click here for current American Express deals or here for current Hilton deals.
The Offer
- American Express is offering an 100,000 point Hilton Honors bonus on the Ascend card after $3,000 in spend within the first three months. You also earn a free weekend night certificate after your first anniversary of card membership. This is in addition to the free night award certificate you can earn for spending $15,000 in a calendar year
The Fine Print
- Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product or the Hilton Honors Surpass Card
- Not a new card vs the Surpass
- Annual fee of $95
- Card earns at the following rates:
- 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio worldwide
- 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. restaurants, and U.S. gas stations
- 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on all other eligible purchases
- 10 free priority pass lounge passes
- Complimentary Hilton Honors gold status. Earn Diamond status after spending $40,000 in purchases within a calendar year
- One Weekend Night Reward at a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio after spending $15,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year
- No foreign transaction fees
Our Verdict
The best bonus we’ve seen on this card (or the old Surpass) is 125,000 points after $4,000 in total spend. This offer is 25,000 points less but you get a free night certificate, although keep in mind you’d need to pay the second year annual fee to get that certificate. That makes it basically 25,000 points vs free night certificate -$95 (although you also get the card benefits for an additional year). I try to stay at low cost properties rather than high end ones, so I probably prefer the 125,000 point offer although I recognize that I might be in the minority there and it can be nice/fun to stay at top tier properties using the free night certificates. You can view a list of the best free night certificate redemptions here. If you like staying at top end properties this is a good offer, especially if you can also spend $15,000 to get another free night certificate (that way you can do a nice weekend away).
If you’ve recently signed up for this card then there is basically no chance American Express will match you to this offer. They aren’t known for matching and this has a complicated free night after anniversary component. They might offer you some ‘courtesy points’, to get those you’d need to call in rather than message and also escalate to a manager. For more tips on American Express I’d recommend reading this post. I’ve added this to the best credit card sign up bonuses post.
There are also increased bonuses on the no annual fee Hilton card and business Hilton.
View Comments (26)
@doc I just came back to review the deal I signed up for here bc this cuts thru the bs I want to see and then I read the following: " I try to stay at low cost properties rather than high end ones, so I probably prefer the 125,000 point offer although I recognize that I might be in the minority there and it can be nice/fun to stay at top tier properties using the free night certificates." which is why I love your blog. Transparency, fairness and integrity. Too much lacking in this blogosphere
Got this card with $100k points offer. But no free certificate text for me. Free night certificate only after spending 25k i think. How do i get free night certificate for paying annual fee every year. Also they charged me annual fee at the beginning.
Currently an Amex HHonors no AF card holder. Called in to see if there were any goodwill points available, no, but she offered to upgrade me to this card. Pro-rated AF of $95 based on my anniversary date. 75,000 points after $2,000 in spending in first 90 days. All other benefits same as listed above. (I passed on the offer)
I just received the free night certificate after paying the AF, but if I choose to cancel/downgrade the card, will the free night be voided? Any DP? Thanks!
Similar question - I received the free night certificate email and my fee has posted on the statement, but it doesn't have to be paid until July 4. Can I cancel the card (and ask for the annual fee refund) without affecting the validity of the already-issued certificate?
Jake, out of curiosity, were you able to keep the free night after canceling the card?
I haven't used it yet and can't check its validity right now because you have to call in to book it and use it. They emailed me a custom code on the anniversary that was my certificate ID. I assume it will work fine. The terms and conditions don't say anything about needing that credit card - https://hiltonhonors3.hilton.com/en/about/free-night-terms.html
Be the data point we wish to see
Do you think I can refer my wife, and still get referral bonus?
Yes, shouldn't be a problem. I've referred members of the same household. Only last year there were long delays with referral bonuses posting
So this offer is better than regulat only because of free night for $95. Is that right? Is the reg offer 75K + 25K for same spend just broken down? Thanks
Do you get a free annual night every year for the $95 fee (similar to Marriott)? We applied and received the 75k + 25k offer a month ago, this sounds better if there is a free annual certificate.
With this offer, you only receive one free weekend night only after one year anniversary.
You can receive one more free weekend night by putting more than 15k on your Ascend card in 1 year
Does this repeat in the 2nd year as well after the annual fee and forward? Or is this is a one free weekend night for the lifetime, thanks.
@William Charles
im wondering this too.
only 1 anniversary free night, total, for as long as i hold the card. not 1 free night every year after the first year?
thanks!
Should we expect upgrade offers soon on no fee?
YMMV on them
So even if we can't get the Welcome bonus, we can still get the free night after anniversary? So basically a free night for $95. Seems worth it?
No because the free night is part of the sign-up bonus. It is not an annual free night. Confirmed this with an Amex rep.
Isn't is more like a free night for $190 since you have to pay the first and second year annual fee before getting the free night?
What was the final word on whether or not bonus points would be given to those who had the old Surpass card before? I downgraded my Surpass to the free card before the new line was officially rolled in so I never technically had the Ascend. Am I still eligible for the bonuses? I remember this was a question mark prior to their introduction but I’m sure some know the answer now.
When you get to the application it says, "Welcome bonus offer not available to applicants who have or have had this product or the Hilton Honors Surpass Card."
Instead of:
"25,000 points vs free night certificate + $95"
Shouldn't it be:
"25,000 points vs free night certificate - $95"
Yep, let me make this clearer.
I think you need to update this article: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/four-american-express-hilton-cards-compared/ with the above offer AND the 125k offer on the Ascend card.
Will do