American Express Makes Major Changes To Hilton Surpass & Aspire Cards

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
• Old credits only apply if you applied before October 19, 2023.

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 (Effective February 1, 2024, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card will no longer offer a complimentary membership to the Priority Pass™ Select program. Through January 31, 2024, you may still enroll in the benefit by calling the American Express customer service number on the back of your card. If you enrolled in the Priority Pass Select program on or before January 31, 2023, your Priority Pass membership will continue through January 31, 2024 and will be cancelled as of February 1, 2024. If you enrolled in the Priority Pass Select program between February 1, 2023 and January 31, 2024, your membership will continue through October 31, 2024 and will be cancelled as of November 1, 2024. Any unused lounge visits will be forfeited at the time of cancellation.)

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
• An additional Night Reward after you spend an additional $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 (for the Surpass), but that still involves going into a hotel and hoping they actually sell the gift cards.