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With the coming changes to the lineup of American Express Hilton cards, there is a limited-time offer for the existing Surpass card between now and the date of the conversion to the new card, which is January 17, 2018.

The normal offer for the Hilton Surpass card is 75,000 points. This has jumped to 100,000 points, but it has never before reached the 125,000 point level, making this the highest bonus ever seen for this card. The details of the offer are:

  • 100,000 Honors points after $3,000 in spend on the card in the first 3 months
  • An additional 25,000 points after another $1,000 in spend within the first 6 months
  • $75 annual fee is not waived the first year.

This Hilton Surpass Amex 125,000-point offer is exclusively available through The Points Guy.

a close up of a credit card

Conversion of the Surpass into a Ascend

Assuming you pull the trigger on this offer, your brand new Surpass card will be turned into the new Hilton Ascend American Express card come January. Given Amex’s once-per-lifetime rule on card bonuses, this will make you ineligible for a future bonus.

Before you think that you can apply for the Surpass, get the bonus, and then downgrade, consider that American Express has new language explicitly calling out gaming of rewards. Be a good customer to the banks. This is a great offer in its own right, and your card will be even better in January.

What can you do with 125,000 Honors points?

Some people rip on Hilton Honors as the Delta of hotel loyalty programs, as their points aren’t worth much. A “typical” Starwood hotel might run you 10,000 SPG points, while the Hilton counterpart might cost 50,000 Honors points. However, the more I use the program, the more I realize that the earning and burning rates aren’t bad. They’re just different.

We’ve previously tackled the best uses of Honors points. I will argue that stretching your points for several nights at a low level property might be the best thing to do. The 125,000 bonus will get you a full week at a hotel that costs 20,000 points, as the fifth night will be free. You could also do a 5 night stay at a place that costs 30,000 points per night. If you’re looking for luxury, 125,000 points is more than enough at one of Hilton’s top-tier properties around the world, such as the Conrad Maldives.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to add to your Hilton point balance, this limited-time offer could be the one for you. Your card will gain even more perks in January, such as the ability to earn an annual free night, 10 PriorityPass lounge passes each year, and no foreign transaction fees.

Featured image courtesy of hilton.com.


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