Hilton Honors AmEx Ascend to Change Name Back to Surpass

The Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card will once again take on the 'Surpass' name, but its key features will remain unchanged.

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Written by Robin Saks Frankel

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On Oct. 19, 2023, American Express announced changes to the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, so this page is out of date. For current offers, see NerdWallet's review of the card.

The Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card is going back to its roots with a name change.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
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Before January 2018 — when a slew of changes rolled out for the AmEx-Hilton credit card portfolio — the card used to be called the Hilton Honors™ Surpass® Card from American Express.

On July 18, 2019, it will revert back to the Surpass name, as the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.

The key features of the card will remain intact, according to an American Express spokesperson. It will continue to offer cardholders:

  • 12X Hilton Honors bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases made directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio.

  • 6X Hilton Honors bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases made at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations.

  • 3X Hilton Honors bonus points for all other eligible purchases.

  • $95-annual fee.

  • Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025. Terms Apply.

  • Terms apply (see rates and fees).

Additional card perks will still include:

  • A weekend night reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year and;

  • 10 complimentary visits to Priority Pass Select airport lounges each calendar year once enrolled.

  • Hilton Honors™ Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year after spending $40,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year.

There will also be one tweak made to a different Hilton AmEx card. On Aug. 1, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire cardmembers can continue to use their $250 Resort Statement Credit benefit for purchases made with participating resort properties for all rates, except when booking an Advanced Purchase rate. All other Hilton rates remain eligible for the $250 Resort Credit benefit for purchases made with participating resort properties.


To view rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, see this page.

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