100K Hilton Ascend offer despite past Hilton Surpass

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UPDATE 8/29/18: Amex has (finally) specifically added these terms to the Ascend welcome bonus: “Welcome offer not available to applicants who have or have had this Card or the Hilton Honors Surpass Card.”  In other words, now it is official that you cannot get the Ascend bonus if you’ve had the Surpass in the past.
a close up of a credit card

When Amex announced that their Hilton Surpass card would be renamed to “Hilton Honors Ascend Card from American Express”, I speculated that it might be possible to get a new welcome bonus on the Ascend as long as you closed your Surpass card before the transition.  Amex representatives, though, unanimously rejected the idea.  The company line was that the Ascend was not a new product.  Therefore, current and past Surpass cardholders would not be eligible for a welcome bonus.

Early evidence supported the company line.  As I reported in the post “Hilton Conversion Questions Answered: New Ascend bonus? 5/24 effect?,” no one who had applied for the Ascend after having had the Surpass in past had reported success getting a welcome bonus.

Since then, two key things have changed:

  1. Two readers have reported success getting the welcome bonus, even though they had the Surpass in the past.  Both had cancelled their Surpass cards well before the Ascend name was announced.  One cancelled in 2016.  The other cancelled March 2017.
  2. Amex will now warn you during the application process if you’re not eligible for the welcome bonus.  This is key because it means that there is no risk to trying.  If you cancelled your Surpass card before it turned into the Ascend card, you might have a shot at the welcome bonus.

But, should you go for it?

As I write this, there are four distinct Hilton cards available and each has a welcome bonus in the 75K to 125K range.  That means that it is theoretically possible to rack up around 400K points through bonuses alone.  And a couple could theoretically double that.  Since Hilton now allows point pooling, it would be easy to put all 800,000 points together.  That’s pretty insane.

On the other hand, there are plenty of reasons not to go for it:

  1. Except for the business card, each Hilton card will add to your 5/24 count.  This will make it harder to get approved for Chase cards in the future (details here).
  2. You will have to meet each card’s minimum spend requirements to earn the welcome bonus.  And, remember that in some cases Amex has started enforcing rules restricting which types of purchases count.  Keep in mind, though, that our Manufactured Spending Complete Guide lists techniques that are safe for meeting Amex minimum spend.
  3. Amex often (but not always) enforces an unwritten limit of 5 credit cards that each person can have (you can have many more charge cards though).  And since the Hilton cards are credit cards they will each take up a precious slot that you might want to use for other Amex credit card.
  4. Hilton points aren’t the most valuable currency out there.  Our Reasonable Redemption Values (RRVs) currently pegs Hilton points at only 0.45 cents each.  So, while a 100K welcome bonus sounds amazing, it’s good to keep in mind that an average use of those points would be worth about $450.  That’s still very good, but pales in comparison to the top offers available.  See: Top 10+ Credit Card Offers.

Below you’ll find summary information about each Hilton card.  Click the card’s name to go to a Frequent Miler page with more detailed information.

Card Offer and Details
Limited Time Offer - 100K points ⓘ Affiliate
100K after $2K spend in 6 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)
(Offer Expires 4/17/2024)
No Annual Fee
Recent better offer: 70K + free night certificate after $2K spend in 3 months. [Expired 7/19/23]
FM Mini Review: This card isn't particularly rewarding, but it's good to keep primarily for targeted Amex upgrade offers to the Surpass card.
Earning rate: ✦ 7X Hilton spend ✦ 5X US restaurants, US Supermarkets, and US gas stations ✦ 3X on all other eligible purchases
Base: 3X (1.44%)
Dine: 5X (2.4%)
Gas: 5X (2.4%)
Grocery: 5X (2.4%)
Brand: 7X (3.36%)
Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Big spend bonus: Gold elite status with $20K calendar year spend
Noteworthy perks: ✦ Free Silver status; Gold status with $20K spend. ✦ Terms Apply. (Rates & Fees)
175K Points ⓘ Affiliate
Limited-time offer: 175K after $8K spend in first 6 months. Terms apply.
(Offer Expires 6/5/2024)
$195 Annual Fee
FM Mini Review: Easy way to secure Hilton Gold status (which offers free breakfast among other perks). Amex business cards do not count towards 5/24 status so will not hurt chances of applying for Chase cards.
Earning rate: ✦ 12X Hilton spend ✦ 5X on other eligible purchases (on the first $100K in purchases per calendar year, 3X thereafter). ✦ For eligible purchases made from March 28, 2024 through June 30, 2024: 6X on Select Business & Travel Purchases (flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel; car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies; US restaurants; US gas stations; wireless telephone services purchased directly from US service provider; US shipping purchases)
Base: 3X (1.44%)
Brand: 12X (5.76%)
Other: 5X (2.4%)
Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Big spend bonus: Eligible purchases made through June 30, 2024 will count toward a Free Night Award after $15K spend within a calendar year and another Free Night Award after $60K spend. This benefit will no longer be available after June 30, 2024.

Diamond elite status with $40K calendar year spend
Noteworthy perks: ✦ Free Gold status. Diamond status w/ $40K spend. ✦ Terms Apply. (Rates & Fees)
Limited Time Offer - 155K points ⓘ Affiliate
155K after $3K spend in 6 months. Terms apply.
(Offer Expires 4/17/2024)
$150 Annual Fee
Recent better offer: 130K + free night certificate after $2K spend in 3 months [Expired 7/19/23]
FM Mini Review: Easy way to secure Hilton Gold status (which offers free breakfast among other perks). Those who want Diamond status may be better off with the Aspire card.
Earning rate: ✦ 12X Hilton spend ✦ 6X U.S. restaurants, US Supermarkets, and US gas stations ✦ 4X U.S. Online Retail Purchases ✦ 3X on all other eligible purchases
Base: 3X (1.44%)
Dine: 6X (2.88%)
Gas: 6X (2.88%)
Grocery: 6X (2.88%)
Shop: 4X (1.92%)
Brand: 12X (5.76%)
Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Big spend bonus:
✦ Free night award after $15K spend in calendar year ✦ Diamond elite status with $40K calendar year spend ✦ Terms apply
Noteworthy perks: Free Gold status. Diamond status w/ $40K spend. ✦ Up to $200 in Hilton credits ($50 per quarter) ✦ Terms Apply. (Rates & Fees)
Limited Time Offer - 175K Points + free night certificate ⓘ Friend-Referral
175K after $6K spend in first 6 months. Free night certificate every year - first certificate is awarded 8-12 weeks after approval. Terms apply.
(Offer Expires 4/17/2024)
$550 Annual Fee
Information about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.
FM Mini Review: This card is loaded with valuable perks that are more than worth the card's annual fee if you stay in Hilton resorts at least twice per year.
Earning rate: ✦ 14X Hilton spend ✦ 7X US restaurants, flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, select car rental companies ✦ 3X on all other eligible purchases ✦ Terms & Limitations Apply.
Base: 3X (1.44%)
Travel: 7X (3.36%)
Dine: 7X (3.36%)
Brand: 14X (6.72%)
Card Info: Amex Credit Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees.
Big spend bonus: Additional free night awards after $30K and $60K spend in calendar year
Noteworthy perks: ✦Annual Free Night Reward every year upon renewal ✦ Free Diamond Status ✦ Up to $400 Hilton Resort Credit per membership year ($200 semi-annually) ✦ $200 Flight Credit ($50 per quarter for purchases directly with airlines or via Amex Travel) ✦ $100 on-property credit w/ Aspire Card package ✦ Terms Apply. See Rates & Fees

 

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