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The Hilton credit card offers with Free Night Reward are back!
Hilton's Free Night Reward is quite popular because it doesn't have any tier restrictions. In other words, if there's a room availability, you can stay in some really nice properties that would not otherwise be affordable.
In today's post, we'll focus on the personal credit cards and discuss 1) the key features of the offer, 2) the value of the Free Night Reward, and 3) potential issues that you need to be mindful of.
Before we begin, we need to mention that a business card (The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card) is also offering a limited time offer. But in this case, there is no Free Night Reward; just an elevated points offer.
Table of Contents
1. Offer highlights: Free Night Reward
There are 4 Hilton credit cards issued by Amex: 3 personal credit cards and 1 business credit card.
Each of these cards is considered a different product, so you can get the welcome bonus once for each.
Of these four cards, these two personal cards are now available with a Free Night Reward (FNR).
- Hilton Honors American Express Card, which doesn't have any annual fee.
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, which comes with Gold elite status and up to $50 in quarterly credits (up to $200 in a year), all with the $150 annual fee.
So, these two personal card options.
There are two main features of this limited time offer that ends on 4/29/2025.
1) Free Night Reward that doesn't have any weekend restriction.
The best part of this offer is that in addition to a set number of points, you also get one Free Night Reward as a welcome bonus.
Up until a few year, Hilton's Free Night Reward was restricted to weekends only. But the rules have changed since the pandemic, and now you can redeem it for any day as long as a STANDARD ROOM is available for point redemption.
2) Reasonable spending requirements with a relative long spending period
Additionally, this offer doesn't have a very high spend requirement. It also has a long spend period.
- Hilton Honors American Express Card: No annual fee + 70,000 points + 1 FNR after spending $2,000 in 6 months.
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: $150 annual fee + 130,000 points + 1 FNR after spending $3,000 in 6 months.
Considering that most cards these days have a $4,000 minimum spend and a 3-month spending period, this offer is within reach of even those who don't put much spending on their credit cards.
| Hilton Credit Cards | |
|---|---|
| No annual fee personal card | 70,000 points + one night stay as a welcome bonus after spending $2,000 in 6 months. Terms apply. Hilton Honors American Express Card |
| Midtier personal card | 130,000 points + one night stay as a welcome bonus after spending $3,000 in 6 months. Terms apply. (Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card) |
| Business cards | 175,000 points as a welcome bonus after spending $8,000 in 6 months. Terms apply. (Hilton Honors Business Card) |
2. The value of the Free Night Reward
The key to calculating the value of these offers is how much value can be redeemed for one Free Night Reward.
Unlike the Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, which have a cap on maximum redemption value, Hilton's Free Night Reward doesn't have a hard numerical cap, which is a big plus.
There are only three conditions to redeem a Free Night Reward:
- Can only be used for standard rooms that can be booked with points
- Cannot be used on around 50+ properties that Hilton have designated as "Distinctive Properties"
- Free Night Reward is valid for one year from the date of issue
With the relative freedom on using these FNR, the value of your FNR depends on which of the 6,000+ Hilton properties around the world you choose to book.
Let me give you a few examples.
1) Grand Wailea, Maui, A Waldorf Astoria
When we asked people to share their favorite destination a couple of years ago, Hawaii was the overwhelming choice.
I also had a really great time staying at Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria (Maui) using Hilton FNR.
I searched availability for June of this year and found that a standard room costs 110,000 to 120,000 points per night.
Room availability is fantastic with almost every day is available. If you have to pay in cash, room rate excluding taxes is hovering around $900 or $1,000 per night. The cost of living is really high these days, right?
2) Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills in LA
If Hawaii is a bit far away and you're looking for something closer to the mainland, you can use the FHR at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, which has received rave reviews in recent years.
I checked the room availability this June and found that a standard room costs 120,000 points per night, and rooms seem to be pretty widely available except for a day or two on weekends.
If you opt to pay in cash, it would cost $1,200-1,400 range per night (excluding taxes), which is more expensive than Hawaii.
3) Your local Hampton Inn
It's nice to be able to redeem your voucher for a fancy hotel in a big city or vacation spot, but sometimes you get caught up in the expiration date. In that case, you might want to redeem it for a night at a hotel in your neighborhood or at the airport where you're traveling for business. Hampton Inn in your neighborhood usually charge 30,000 to 40,000 points per night, which translates to about $150-160 in cash.
To summarize, the maximum theoretical value of one FNR is 150,000 points.
However, this maximum value can be achieved only when you can redeem it for a stay at a property like Maldives, and I think it's common sense to set a realistic goal of around 100-120k per FNR.
In other words, including the bonus points portion of the welcome bonus (130,000 points for Surpass Card), the realistic estimate value of the welcome bonus is around 230,000 points (assuming that one can redeem the FNR for a stay worth 100,000 points).
3. Precautions
Like any other credit card offer, there are things to consider before applying through this limited time offer.
1) The validity of FNR
First, pay attention to the timing and expiration date of the FNR.
The terms say that the FNR will be emailed to you within 16 weeks after you've fulfilled your spending requirement (although I don't think it will actually take full 16 weeks.)
Once issued, the FNR is valid for one year.
Therefore, it's a good idea to think carefully about your travel plans for the next year before applying for either of these personal credit card, and only apply when you're certain that you'll be able to make good use of your FNR.
As mentioned earlier, the FNR can be worth up to 150,000 points if you use it well, but if you don't plan it accordingly, you might end up using it on a hotel that costs 20-30,000 points. Or, in the worst case scenario, you might not use it at all. If you don't use it at all, it's worth zero.
2) Check award availability beforehand
It's a good idea to check room availability at hotels you've always wanted to stay at before applying for the card. Of course, the current availability won't guarantee that there will be rooms available during your desired periods, but it gives you a rough idea of the overall trend.
Luckily, Hilton makes it easy to figure this out, as you can check standard room availability on a monthly basis.
3) Things to watch out for when applying for an Amex card
These cards are issued by American Express, so many of the same caveats that apply to applying for any other American Express credit cards apply.
- You can only have a maximum of four to five Amex credit cards per person at the same time (this doesn't include so-called "hybrid cards," such as Amex® Platinum Card, which used to require the pay off of the entire balance each month, but now have other payment options.)
- The welcome bonus on Amex cards is essentially a "once in a lifetime" offer, so if you've had the same card in the past, it's practically impossible to get a new welcome bonus again.
- The so-called Amex pop-ups also prevent applicants from getting the welcome bonus.
- According to offer terms, "You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors."
and so on.
Let's wrap up today's post.
I think this Hilton card offer is a great opportunity for those who can get the most value out of their Free Night Reward.
In addition, the Hilton Honors American Express Card, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee, can be a great option if you're just starting to build your credit history in the U.S. and are looking for a solid first card.
Of course, if you're planning on staying in Hilton properties often, the Surpass Card (Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card) might be a better option, as it automatically qualifies you for Hilton Gold status (which is losing value these days, but it's still better than nothing), plus you get a $50 quarterly Hilton credit, plus you get one more FNR after you spend $15,000 within a calendar year.
Lastly, even the best offers aren't 100% for everyone, so you'll want to think carefully about whether these cards are a must-have for you.
| Hilton Credit Cards | |
|---|---|
| No annual fee personal card | 70,000 points + one night stay as a welcome bonus after spending $2,000 in 6 months. Terms apply. Hilton Honors American Express Card |
| Midtier personal card | 130,000 points + one night stay as a welcome bonus after spending $3,000 in 6 months. Terms apply. (Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card) |
| Business cards | 175,000 points as a welcome bonus after spending $8,000 in 6 months. Terms apply. (Hilton Honors Business Card) |
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83 Comments. Leave new
Thanks for the information. You mentioned that you can only have 4-5 Amex cards, up from the personal maximum of 4. Does this include business cards? If so, I'll have to be smart about closing for the next one.
Yes. There is a limit of 5 cards for personal and business combined. However, charge cards are not included
Yes, as @shilph answered, it's personal + business, so you just need to pay attention to Amex Delta Business Card, Hilton Business Card, etc.
Wow. Thanks for the great information. I have the Hilton personal card with no annual fee, can I upgrade to the passport card and still get the bonus promotion? If I do, do I have to close my existing card or can I just call the CS center and tell them my existing card status and apply? I ask because I have no experience with laddering within the same card family. I apologize in advance if this is too basic.
No, you don't. The Signature Up is a "welcome" bonus, which means that the Signature Up is only for new customers, while the Upgrade is not available to existing customers (with that card).
Thank you. So if I keep the basic card and don't cancel it, will I still be eligible for the welcome bonus if I sign up for the new Pass?
1. sometimes you'll get an upgrade offer, but basically you'll need to create a new card like shilph replied.
2. It should be possible in principle for new applicants, but Amex has a lot of variables, including pop-ups, so it's hard to say that it will be 100%.
I was curious about Shilph's answer and asked an additional question. I'll have to apply for a new one. Thank you for taking the time to answer.
Good luck.
I want to get the signup bonus for the no annual fee Amex card, but I signed up for it on my old Passport card and downgraded it and now have the Honors card. Can I get the signup bonus if I suspend the Honors card and create a new one?
In principle, no. Amex cards have a "You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card" clause, so in principle, any card you've ever had is not eligible for the sign-up bonus. And because of the recent Family Rule, if you've had a higher tier card, you're not eligible for a lower tier card.
There are a few exceptions. First, opening a card through a link or offer that doesn't have a "You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card" disclaimer in the card signup T&Cs (this is called No Lifetime Language, or NLL), and second, Amex is known to stop keeping records of existing holdings after about 7 years of closing the card. So if you wait 7 years after closing and apply, there's a chance you could get another bonus, but both of these are At your own risk (AYOR).
Great answer JoshuaR, just to add: Hilton is not yet subject to the Family Rule, so (according to the terms) you can get the welcome bonus regardless of the order in which you apply for the card.
Is 70k + FN usually better than 100k (+ statement credit) on Hilton deals? Or is it the other way around? I don't have a Hilton card at the moment, so I'm stumped!
It's a very good deal.
If you can redeem your stay within a year, this is a much better deal than 100,000 points.
I had the Amex Hilton Ascend back in 2018, is this card now just a different card with a different name? Or can I apply for either of the two cards you mentioned and expect to benefit from them?
I understand that the Hilton Ascend card has been renamed to the Hilton Surpass card.
Hi. I created a pass last year and have it, but if I open the regular card, can I still get the signup bonus?
In the case of the Hilton card, the family card rules don't apply yet, so in theory you should be able to get it. However, Amex has a lot of variables, including pop-ups, so it's worth remembering that.
If you went from Surpass to Ascend and then back to Surpass, it's considered the same card.
The unofficial rule is that old records disappear after 7 years or so, but it's a bit ambiguous if they were created in 2018 ;);
hello.
I have 3 Chase-issued cards, and Amex Hilton is new to me.
You said I can only get a signup bonus once per lifetime per termination,
Since this is your first time, get a regular personal card first and use the
Should I get a passcard on my next offer?
Or is it okay if I get both of them in sequence this time?
Hilton cards are not yet subject to the family rule, so it doesn't matter what order you do them in, but I'd recommend doing Honors -> Surpass if you don't know when they will be. As long as you can spend, you can open the Honor and then the Surpass a month or so later.
I've heard that you have to wait at least 5 days after your first card application, but I think the longer the better.
I've been working hard to collect miles through wear and tear over the past year, and this spring I'm going to Sesigu Korea with all mileage for flights and hotels. Thank you very much and please sign up again if you have a chance.
Congratulations on a great use of miles.
Added your email to the notification list.
Thanks for the great info, I'm not a member yet but I'm learning a lot thanks to you and working hard on my miles with my spouse's card. Do you mind if I add myself to the email list? (I already missed the opportunity to join in early 2023...lol)
Added.
Sorry for the rudimentary question, I've just started playing miles and my knowledge is still very limited. I have a question about something called NLL.
First of all, I created my Hilton Honors in June of last year (9 months ago) and my Amex Gold in February of this year (1 month ago).
Doctor Of Credit has an update on American Express Hilton No Lifetime Language Offers, and I went to the link here and applied for Honors (without logging in) and received the offer. When I read the terms when I received the offer, I didn't see the word "lifetime". In this situation, I already have the Hilton Honors, but I just applied for the same card through that NLL link, will I get the welcome bonus?
Thank you!
I know you should be able to get it in principle, but Amex is always a bit gray. I'd suggest chatting with them once you get the card to confirm your welcome bonus.
I am studying a lot on Milemoa and experiencing the new world. I'm not a member yet, but I'm just watching, and I want to join. Please add me to the list.
Added.
Thanks for the info, is it possible to be notified when we get additional Milemoa signups?
Added.
I'm curious about the voucher and leave a comment.
1. Can I only redeem for domestic "US" hotels found in the Hilton app?
2. I usually book through the Hilton app and either use points or pay with a credit card in advance, but when I get the confirmation, do I need to call or email to make the reservation?
I'm also looking forward to receiving the registration notice. I've been visiting your site almost every week since I moved to the U.S. in 21, but I've never been able to sign up.
1. No, you can do it from overseas, such as Korea or Japan.
2. Reservations can only be made by calling Hilton Honor at 855-292-2765.
3. added an email address to the email notification list.
Thank you so much. This has helped me a lot. I'll have to apply. Fingers crossed.
I applied today and was approved. Thanks again!!!
Congratulations on your approval.
I'm waiting for the SharpCard offer, do you think there will be another good offer soon? I saw the branch 70k offer, but I'm not sure if I should go for it or wait.
This was posted on the message board today, and it's rumored that there will be a promotion online in a week or two, starting with branches in late March.
https://www.milemoa.com/bbs/board/11607832
I applied, but unfortunately it came up as ineligible... The signup notification is not posted on the announcement board, but sent to my email. Is there any way I can get the signup notification? Thank you.
We've been posting announcements on the bulletin board for about a week now, but some people miss them.
Added your email to the notification list.
Hello sir, I am writing to you out of frustration after being rejected again after applying for the card you recommended. Currently, I have been rejected 3 times in the past 6 months for "too many revolving accounts" since my last card was issued in September 24, 2016, and I am wondering if this is because I have exceeded my limit by opening 5 cards in the previous 2 years, or if it is due to frequent credit checks by the card company because I have applied for many cards in a short period of time... Thank you.
Opening multiple cards when you don't have a long credit history is bound to have an impact, and I think it's something that time will eventually take care of.
5/24 Is this a good offer to put in one slot? I'm waiting for the Marriott offer and it's not out yet!
And please add us to your email list for new signups!
I think it's a great card if you're planning on staying at Hilton, but if you're going to be staying at Marriott, I'd probably grab the Marriott first.
Added.
Oh thanks for the good info...I'll have to get rid of the useless amex I had and take this opportunity to recreate it as a pass. On a side note, I always miss the signup opportunities, can I get the signup notices via email too?
Added email.
Oh thanks for the good info...I'll have to get rid of the useless amex I had and take this opportunity to recreate it as a pass. On a side note, I always miss the signup opportunities, can I get the signup notices via email too?
hello
I have 3 cards, my personal Amex Plat & Gold and Delta Gold, so theoretically I can afford to open 2-3 more Amex cards, not including the hybrid card (Plat)?
Thanks for the great information as always. If you get a chance, please add me to the list of new members.
1. the Amex Personal Gold also counts as a hybrid, so it looks like you currently have one Amex credit card, the Delta Gold, so I'd say you could have 3-4.
2. added.
Please add me to the email list for new signups!!!!
Added.
I already have a card that I'm filling up on spending, so I'll have to open it up next time. I wonder if they'll have offers like this often.....
We'd love to add you to our next new signup notification mailing list!
Yes. I added it as a comment you left earlier.
Will there be many hotels to use Hilton Hotel Hankook Aedo?
I'd love a signup email, too!
1. in Seoul, the Yeouido Conrad is the main one, and I know there's a Garden Inn in Yangjae, DoubleTree in Pangyo, and Hilton in Gyeongju.
If you're looking to spend money on a hotel room, Yeouido Conrad is the best value.
2. added the email.
Will there be many hotels to use Hilton Hotel Hankook Aedo?
I'd love a signup email, too!
We'll register this email address as well, but for future signups, please use only one email to create a single username.
I was thinking about it too, so I opened the pass today lol.
Can I join your email list?
Congratulations on your approval.
Added email.
I made a pass as NLL, but if I want to create a regular individual, do I have to do the same with NLL? Or would a regular link be better?
If you've never gotten one before, you can probably just use the regular link.
I'm going to take this opportunity to create a Hilton card.
Can I join your email list?
Added.
The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos is priced at $1 million when I search for points rooms...can I use my points for such an expensive room? Assuming it's a standard room.
And please add me to the list!
1 mil I know it pops up like that when the standard rooms are gone and only the specialty rooms or sweet are left. If a standard is available, 150k would be the best I could get.
Added.
MileMoa, please add me to the email list for signup announcements. I missed the signup events you've opened in recent years, so I'm searching for signup announcements every day lol.
Added.
United Explorer 70,000+ mile offer waiting for you. When will you be back...
I have a lot of travel plans this year, so I'm considering Hilton.
Please add me to the signup list.
Added.
Please add me to the list of members.
Added.
I got a Hilton card because of you. Thank you.
I'd love to be added to the list, as I'm waiting to sign up.
Added.
I'd love to be on your email list too~!
Added.
Thanks as always for the great information. I have a lot of cards made, so I'll have to wait for the next opportunity.
And I'd appreciate it if you'd add me to the list.
Thank you for the good paper. I have a regular holding of
I opened another one with the link you attached and it was approved right away! I also confirmed with the agent via chat that I was eligible for the signup bonus. I'm just thinking about whether to open a pass and add it too ^^ Thanks!
Milemoa~~~I'd like to sign up for a membership, please.
Thanks for the info as always, any chance you could do me a favor and put me on your email list?
I'd love to be added to the list, as I'm waiting to sign up.
Please add me to the list of members.
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