Last Call: Amex Hilton Cards Are Offering Up to 175,000 Bonus Points – But You Need to Act Fast

If you've been sitting on the fence about picking up a Hilton Honors American Express card, now's the time to jump. American Express has rolled out improved welcome offers across the entire Hilton card family, with two cards hitting the 175,000-point mark. But here's the catch: these offers expire on July 29, 2026. That's just a week away. So let's break down what's on the table, what's changed, and what you need to watch out for before you apply.

What's New and What's Not

The big news is that the Surpass and Business cards now come with a waived annual fee for the first year. That saves you $150 on the Surpass and $195 on the Business card. But here's the thing: these offers are good, but they're not as generous as some past promotions that also threw in a free night certificate. Hilton recently raised the maximum cost for a standard award night to 250,000 points, which makes those free night certificates even more valuable. So while 175,000 points sounds great, it's worth remembering that a single night at a top-tier property could eat up a huge chunk of that.

Still, if you're looking to build a Hilton points stash for a trip, these offers are solid. The Aspire card, for instance, gives you 175,000 points plus an annual free night certificate, which can easily justify the $550 annual fee if you use the other credits effectively.

Which Card Should You Pick?

It really depends on your spending habits and travel goals. Here's a quick rundown:

The no-annual-fee Hilton Honors card is a low-risk way to get 100,000 points and a $100 credit. It's a decent starter card, but the earning rates are modest. The Surpass card is a step up: you get Gold status automatically, which means free breakfast at Hilton properties, and the first year's fee is waived. The Business card is interesting because it doesn't count toward Chase's 5/24 rule, making it a good option if you're also chasing Chase cards. But it requires a hefty $8,000 spend to get the bonus. The Aspire is the premium option: Diamond status, a free night certificate, and up to $400 in Hilton resort credits plus $200 in airline fee credits. If you stay at Hilton resorts even once a year, this card can pay for itself.

Things to Watch Out For

First, these offers end on July 29, 2026. That's a hard deadline. Second, the spend requirements vary widely: $2,000 on the no-fee card, $3,000 on Surpass, $6,000 on Aspire, and $8,000 on the Business card. Make sure you can meet those within six months without going into debt. Third, remember that Hilton points are worth roughly 0.5 cents each on average, so 175,000 points is about $875 in value. That's good, but not life-changing. Finally, if you've had a Hilton Amex card before, you may not be eligible for the bonus. Check the terms carefully.

Bottom Line

• Offers expire July 29, 2026 – apply soon.
• Surpass and Business cards have first-year annual fee waived.
• Aspire card offers 175K points plus a free night certificate.
• Business card doesn't count toward Chase 5/24 rule.
• Previous offers included free night certificates; these offers are points-only (except Aspire).

Common Questions