Hilton Honors American Express Overview

The Hilton Honors American Express card has an introductory bonus worth several free nights at a Hilton property, but card members also earn Hilton Honors points at an exceptional rate on Hilton stays and everyday spending.

                By                    Andrea Norris

  • Overview

  • Features

  • How It Stands Out

  • Comparable Options

  • How To Apply

  • Who It’s Best For

  • Points and Rewards

  • 4.8

  • APR

  • 4.5

  • Fees

  • 4.8

  • Customer Service

  • 4.5

Pros

  • 3x to 7x Hilton Honors points earned per dollar spent on most purchases, including U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets
  • Generous welcome offer of 80,000 bonus points
  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • The highest travel rewards are only earned on purchases at Hilton properties
  • Hilton Honors points have a low conversion value, at about half a cent per point

Card member benefits include complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, car rental loss and damage insurance and exclusive access to ticket presales for concerts, sporting events, family events and more.

Key Features

Points/Rewards

The Hilton Honors American Express card is a great rewards card that pays 3x to 7x Hilton Honors points per dollar spent on most purchases. Card members can earn:

  • 7x points on stays and purchases at Hilton properties
  • 5x points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery
  • 5x points on groceries purchased at U.S. supermarkets
  • 5x points on U.S. gas station purchases
  • 3x points on all other eligible purchases

APR

Depending on the card member’s creditworthiness, the card has an annual percentage rate of on purchases.

Fees

The Hilton Honors American Express card has no annual fee, which is not typically the case with travel cards that pay high rewards. International travelers won’t pay any foreign transaction fees. Cash advance fees are $10 or 5% of the advance amount, whichever is greater.

Customer Service

Card members can get customer service by phone any time of the day or night at 1-800-528-4800. Card members who prefer to chat online rather than by phone can simply log in to their online American Express account and click the “Help” button.

How the Hilton Honors American Express Card Stands Out

While many travel cards reward generously on travel purchases, the Hilton Honors American Express card also rewards nicely on important everyday spending, such as purchases at supermarkets, gas stations and restaurants in the U.S.

Even purchases that fall outside other purchase categories earn 3x Hilton Honors points per dollar, making this an attractive travel rewards card option. Card members also receive complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, which means getting every fifth night free on longer Hilton stays.

Comparable Hilton Honors American Express Options

Here are two other cards to consider for those open to staying at hotels besides the Hilton or just looking for a standout travel rewards card.

Hilton Honors vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred

While the Chase Sapphire Preferred® has an annual fee of , cardholders get considerable rewards and perks for that fee.

Booking travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards earns 5x points per dollar spent. Points redeemed to make those travel purchases are worth 25% more than redeeming them in other ways. With Chase’s Pay Yourself BackSM, points are worth 25% more when redeemed for statement credits against existing purchases in rotating select categories.

Sapphire Preferred cardholders also get 2x points per dollar on travel not booked through Chase and 3x points on eligible dining, online grocery and streaming service purchases. All other purchases earn one point per dollar. This is in addition to a 10% annual points bonus on total purchases made during the year.

This card’s attractive introductory bonus can earn eligible cardholders $750 toward travel.

Hilton Honors vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

Those who prefer to earn points for Marriott rather than Hilton might want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® card from Chase.

Like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the card’s $95 annual fee is well worth the rewards. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless allows cardholders to stack rewards points, earning up to 17x points per dollar spent on stays at Marriott properties. Cardholders also earn 3x points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases on grocery stores, gas stations and dining each year. All other purchases earn 2x points per dollar.

Cardholders also get a free one-night hotel stay worth up to 35,000 points per year. The current welcome offer for this card is 100,000 Marriot Bonvoy Points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months.

How To Apply

Those interested in applying for the Hilton Honors American Express card can do so on the American Express, Member FDIC, website. Applicants may wish to prequalify first to determine their eligibility. Prequalification will not affect an applicant’s credit score.

Hilton Honors Rewards members should enter their Hilton Honors Rewards number during the application process to link their number to their Hilton Honors American Express card.

Who the Hilton Honors American Express Card Is Best For

The Hilton Honors American Express card is ideal for Hilton loyalists who want to quickly earn Hilton Honors rewards points on purchases other than just Hilton stays. The ability for new card members to earn 80,000 bonus points when they spend $1,000 in purchases in the first three months makes this card worth considering for frequent travelers.

Final Take

For a card with no annual fee, the Hilton Honors American Express card allows card members to earn a lot of rewards. With the possibility to earn between 3x and 7x Hilton Honors points on every dollar spent, card members can quickly rack up points for free travel stays or other perks.

Those who want to earn Hilton Honors points even faster might consider the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® card for a $95 annual fee.

Cynthia Measom contributed to the reporting for this article.

  • Is Hilton an American Express partner?

  • Hilton is an American Express transfer partner, and American Express issues co-branded Hilton credit cards.

  • How hard is it to get the Hilton Honors American Express card?

  • Applicants need good to excellent credit to qualify for the Hilton American Express, with a minimum credit score of 670.

  • Can I use American Express points for Hilton?

  • American Express Card Members® can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Hilton. One American Express Membership Rewards point equals two Hilton Honors points.

  • How much is 150k Hilton points worth?

  • As with many rewards programs, the value of Hilton Honors points depends on how points are redeemed, but they average about half a cent per point – $0.005. So 150,000 Hilton points are worth about $750.

  • Hilton is an American Express transfer partner, and American Express issues co-branded Hilton credit cards.

  • Applicants need good to excellent credit to qualify for the Hilton American Express, with a minimum credit score of 670.

  • American Express Card Members® can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Hilton. One American Express Membership Rewards point equals two Hilton Honors points.

  • As with many rewards programs, the value of Hilton Honors points depends on how points are redeemed, but they average about half a cent per point – $0.005. So 150,000 Hilton points are worth about $750.

Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise noted, rates are updated periodically. All other information on accounts is accurate as of Sept. 27, 2022.

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