Quote from Savings Beagle on September 29, 2020, 3:13 pm

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Card both have increased sign-up bonus offers available.

My referral links are currently providing a higher sign-up bonus...that may change at any time.  Be sure to check the current sign-up bonus amounts against American Express' publicly available amounts and go with the better deal.

As of now - January 2021 - the higher referral bonus on the Surpass card comes with a higher, $3,000, spend requirement.  The base Hilton Honors card has a higher referral bonus but the spend amount is the same.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

(referral link providing me a points bonus for approved applications)

130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points (may be 150,000 via my referral link albeit with a higher spend) after spending $2,000 within the first 3 months from card approval.

Points Earning

• 12 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent at Hilton hotels and resorts
• 6 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants and U.S. supermarkets
• 6 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent at U.S. gas stations
• 3 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent on all other purchases

Complimentary Hilton Gold Status.  Gold status provides free breakfast during your Hilton stays (some restrictions/exclusions), which is a really nice perk and a money-saver.

Annual Fee: $95

 

Hilton Honors American Express Card

(referral link providing me a points bonus for approved applications)

80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points (may be 100,000 via my referral link) after spending $1,000 within the first 3 months from card approval.

Points Earning

• 7 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent at Hilton hotels and resorts
• 5 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants and U.S. supermarkets
• 5 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent at U.S. gas stations
• 3 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent on all other purchases

Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status.

Annual Fee: No annual fee

Both of these cards provide access to Amex Offers that can make an annual fee card more than worth the yearly charge and a no annual fee a really nice money-maker.

We do see these levels of sign-up bonuses occasionally throughout a typical year.  So this isn't an extraordinary deal.  However, if you want to start building your Hilton points for when we can travel more easily, this might be a good opportunity.

Keep in mind American Express' once-in-a-lifetime bonus rule, though.  If you've received a sign-up bonus for either of these cards in the past, you won't receive the bonus again.  Although, 7 years does seem to be the cut off points at which you may be able to get a sign-up bonus again.