Hilton Honors American Express Card review

How to apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Card

1. Click Apply now..
2. Complete the application with information like your Social Security number, home address, income source and total annual income.
3. Review and submit your application.

Hilton Honors American Express Card benefits

• Annual fee: None. A $0 annual fee (Terms apply, see rates & fees) means it’s easy to keep the card long term. Also, you needn’t worry about earning enough points to make the card worth paying for. This is the only Hilton Honors American Express Card that has no annual fee. Other versions come with annual fees that range from $95 to $450.
• Welcome offer: 100,000 Hilton Honors American Express Card bonus Points. After you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, you’ll earn 100,000 Hilton Honors American Express Card Bonus Points. Redeem points for hotel stays and rewards in travel, dining, shopping and more. Plus, earn a $100 statement credit when you make your first purchase within the same time frame. Hilton Honors American Express Card Bonus Points tend to be worth around 0.5 cents a point. Given that rate, 100,000 points are worth around $500. That’s a generous welcome offer, considering it’s easy to earn and the card has no annual fee.
• Rewards: Earn up to 7x Hilton Honors American Express Card Bonus Points. Earn 7x points on eligible purchases within the Hilton Portfolio of hotels and resorts.

  Earn 5x points when you spend at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations. And earn 3x points on all other eligible purchases.

You’ll also like …

• Complimentary upgrade to Hilton Honors Silver. Silver status rewards you with a 20% bonus on Hilton Honors Base Points you earn, as well as a complimentary fifth night when you book five nights or more in one stay with points. The point bonus may be valuable if you’re trying to reach Gold status in the Hilton Honors program. Otherwise, Silver might not offer much of note. Even as a regular member of Hilton Honors — that’s the membership tier below Silver — you’ll get perks like digital check-in, complimentary in-room Wi-Fi and late checkout.
• No foreign transaction fee. You won’t incur fees when you use your card abroad or at foreign websites, making it an excellent card to take on vacation or business trips. Typically, providers charge a 3% fee each time you use your card for an international transaction. It doesn’t sound like much, but it can add up over a trip spanning several days.
• Travel protection. You’ll have access to the American Express Global Assist Hotline, which you can call for legal, medical, financial and other emergency assistance while on vacation. Get complimentary car rental insurance, which covers your rental against collision damage or theft.
• Purchase benefits. You’ll receive extended warranties on eligible items you buy with your card. You might also qualify for a refund from American Express if a merchant won’t accept a product as a return up to 90 days after your purchase. Finally, your eligible items are covered against theft and accidental damage through Purchase Protection.
• ShopRunner benefits. Get a complimentary ShopRunner membership and enjoy free two-day shipping and returns on purchases from more than 140 online stores in ShopRunner’s network, including Eddie Bauer, Express, Harry & David, Kay Jewelers, NBA Store and Neiman Marcus.
• Cardmember-only entertainment. As a cardholder, you’ll have access to select events and ticket presales.

What to watch out for

• Not as widely accepted overseas. Because the Hilton Honors American Express Card is an American Express card, you might not have as many opportunities to use it overseas as you would with a Visa or Mastercard.
• Penalty APR. If you make a late or returned payment, American Express may apply a 29.24% variable APR to all of your balances. This is known as a penalty APR, which could apply to your account for six months or more. (Terms apply, see rates & fees.)
• It hurts to pay late. Late and returned payments come with fees as high as $40.

Compare Amex Hilton Honors to similar credit cards

Here’s a side-by-side breakdown of the Amex Hilton Honors vs. two similar cards to give you an idea how each tier of travel card stacks up when it comes to performance.

Hilton Honors American Express Card

★★★★★

Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

Rates & fees

Go to site
Minimum credit score 670
Annual fee $0
Purchase APR 15.74% to 24.74% variable
Balance transfer APR N/A
Rewards 7x points on Hilton Honors purchases, 5x at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations, 3x on all other purchases
Welcome offer 100,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months, plus $100 after your first purchase in the first 3 months

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

★★★★★

Finder Rating: 4.5 / 5

Rates & fees

Go to site
Minimum credit score 670
Annual fee $95
Purchase APR 15.74% to 24.74% variable
Balance transfer APR N/A
Rewards 12x points on Hilton Portfolio spending, 6x at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations, 3x on all other purchases
Welcome offer 150,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months, plus $150 after making a purchase in the first 3 months

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

★★★★★

Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5

Rates & fees

Go to site
Minimum credit score 740
Annual fee $550
Purchase APR 16.99% to 23.99% variable
Balance transfer APR 16.99% to 23.99% variable
Rewards 10x points on Lyft rides, 3x points on dining and travel after earning your $300 travel credit and 1x points on all other purchases
Welcome offer 50,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months

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What should I know before I apply?

To apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Card, you must be:

• At least 18 years old.
• A US citizen or permanent resident.

What credit score do I need?

You’ll have a better chance of approval for the Hilton Honors American Express Card if you apply with a good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher.

What’s my likelihood of being approved?

If you have a good credit score and a relatively high annual income, you may be the type of customer American Express is looking for.

Here are a few other factors that might affect your odds of approval:

• The number of hard pulls on your credit report. If you have several hard inquiries — or hard pulls — on your account, it might make you look desperate for credit. This implies you’re having trouble managing your debt, and American Express may be less likely to take you on as a customer.
• Factors that tie into your credit score. Credit utilization is a major factor that American Express considers. Providers prefer customers who have low balances relative to their credit limits. Having many new card accounts may be a red flag too, as it may indicate you’re desperate for credit. It may also give the impression that you’re a flighty customer who’s just hunting for welcome offers.

Hilton Honors American Express Card reviews and complaints

Customers generally say the Hilton Honors American Express Card is a great choice for those who travel often because of its rewards. However, customers expecting cashback rewards are largely disappointed.

The American Express Company has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau since 1948 and earns an overall A+ rating as of October 2020. However, 90% of its reviews are negative and it has nearly 3,400 customer complaints. Amex cardholders in general complain of rude customer service reps, missing statement credit and issues disputing charges.

The company earns a Trustpilot score of 2 out of 5 as of October 2020. Many negative reviews cite unhelpful customer service and inflexible company policies. Positive reviews say the company employs pleasant customer service representatives. Overall, your mileage may vary with American Express customer support.

I got the card. Now what?

• Make payments on time. Register an account on the American Express website to pay your balance online. You can also enroll in autopay.
• Avoid interest payments. After the close of each billing cycle, you have a grace period of 25 days to pay your balance. If you do, you won’t pay interest on your purchases.
• Avoid fees. Late and returned payments come with hefty fees of up to $40. Cash advances also come with fees.
• Customer service. Help documents aren’t easily accessible on the American Express website. But you can call 1-800-528-4800 for customer service. According to market research company J.D. Power, cardholders give American Express high marks in customer interaction.

Bottom line

Its points structure makes the Hilton Honors American Express Card a decent choice for both frequent and occasional Hilton guests. Before deciding on this product, compare other hotel credit cards and travel or airline cards.

Frequently asked questions

• If I qualify for the welcome offer, when will I receive my points?

  You’ll receive the points in your Hilton Honors account six to eight weeks after you reach the spending requirement.

• If I have a penalty APR, how long will it apply?

  The penalty APR will apply for at least six months. If you pay your balances on time and have no returned payments within that period, American Express may be willing to lower your APR.

• Do I have to enroll in ShopRunner to use it?

  Yes. You’ll need to visit the ShopRunner site and complete a one-time enrollment with your card before you can use its services.

Images: AmericanExpress.com