If you’re a frequent traveler or simply enjoy earning rewards, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
The Sapphire Preferred is one of the most popular travel rewards cards because it offers nice welcome bonus and extra points on travel and dining, which can be transferred to airline and hotel partners or redeemed directly for travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point through Chase Travel℠. The Sapphire Preferred also offers great travel and purchase protections for a card with a $95 annual fee.
The Hilton Surpass offers nice rewards at Hilton properties while providing automatic Gold status that includes valuable perks like room upgrades and breakfast benefits. This mid-tier Hilton card hits a sweet spot for occasional Hilton guests who want elite perks without premium card costs.
This article will compare each card based on several factors to help you make an informed decision on which card is the best to add to your wallet.
Full Review: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
Cards Overview
Welcome Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred:
Let’s begin with one of the most attractive aspects of the Chase Sapphire Preferred: the welcome bonus. Currently, new cardholders can earn the following welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Hilton Surpass:
The Hilton Surpass Amex currently offers the following welcome bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earning Points
Chase Sapphire Preferred:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns Ultimate Rewards points and offers bonus points on spending in several categories:
Hilton Surpass:
With the Hilton Surpass Amex, you can earn Hilton Honors points at the following rates: I value Hilton Honors points at 0.51 cents per point based on my review of the award and cash prices at over 40 hotels. These earning rates make the Hilton Surpass Amex one of the most rewarding hotel credit cards for Hilton loyalists. The 12 points per dollar at Hilton properties equates to a 6.1% return on spending. The 6 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations provide a 3.1% return, while the 4 points per dollar on U.S. online retail purchases offer a 2% return.
Winner:
Chase Sapphire Preferred. Although the Hilton Surpass earns more points per dollar in many categories, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth much more than Hilton Honors points. I value Hilton Honors points at 0.51 cents per points based on my data study of points values.
For example, you are better off earning 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points than 6x Hilton Honors points at restaurants.
But the Hilton Surpass is better at the Sapphire Preferred for purchases at Hilton, gas stations, and U.S. Supermarkets (in-person, rather than online grocery).
Card Benefits
Chase Sapphire Preferred:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers nice benefits, including: 10% Points Bonus: You will earn bonus points equivalent to 10% of your total spending in points earned with your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card during the past account anniversary year. For example, if you spent $10,000 during your cardmember year, you would receive an additional 1,000 points ($10,000 * 10% = 1,000 points). $50 Hotel Credit: The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers up to $50 in statement credits every account anniversary year if you book your hotel stays through Chase Travel. DashPass Membership: This card offers a one-year DashPass membership for free, which includes DoorDash and Caviar, offering unlimited deliveries with free delivery fees and reduced service fees for eligible purchases. The offer must be activated by December 31, 2027. Once the free membership is over, you will be automatically enrolled in DashPass at the prevailing monthly rate. Instacart Membership: Have your groceries delivered to your doorstep with a complimentary 6-month Instacart+ membership plus a $15 credit once every quarter. Enrollment is required by July 31, 2024. No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll save money on every purchase while traveling internationally since this card doesn’t add the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards impose. Primary Rental Car Insurance: When you rent a car and pay with this card, you’ll receive comprehensive coverage including damage and theft protection. Simply decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver and charge the entire rental to your card to activate coverage. This insurance covers damage, theft, and valid loss-of-use charges worldwide. Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance: This protection reimburses you for non-refundable, prepaid travel expenses if you need to cancel before departure or cut your trip short due to covered situations like severe illness or weather events. Coverage activates when you pay for your trip with the card, but it’s important to note that reimbursement only applies for specific covered reasons rather than any cancellation. Trip Delay Insurance: When your trip is significantly delayed due to covered reasons like equipment failures or severe weather, this protection reimburses you for reasonable expenses including lodging, meals, toiletries, and medication. The coverage activates when you pay for travel with your card and extends to family members on the same itinerary, though you’ll need to seek reimbursement from the travel carrier first. Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Your checked luggage gets extra protection against loss, theft, or damage beyond the basic compensation offered by carriers when you pay for travel with this card. Baggage Delay Insurance: Missing luggage doesn’t have to derail your trip – this coverage steps in to reimburse you for essential purchases when your checked bags are delayed by airlines, trains, or other carriers. You can grab the necessities you need, from a fresh outfit to personal care items, while waiting for your bags to arrive. 120-Day Purchase Protection: Get 120 days of protection against damage, theft, and even loss of your purchases – one of the longest windows available. This premium coverage automatically applies when you pay with your card. Extended Warranty Protection: Your purchases gain an extra year of warranty protection when bought with this card, extending manufacturer warranties of three years or less without the inflated prices of store warranty plans.
Travel Benefits
Purchase Benefits
Hilton Surpass:
The Hilton Surpass Amex offers the following benefits for its cardholders: Hilton Gold Status: Receive automatic Hilton Honors Gold elite status, which offers benefits of 80% points bonus on eligible rates, food and beverage credit or breakfast, room upgrades (if available), two complimentary bottles of water, and fifth night free on reward stays. Upgrade to Diamond: You can upgrade to top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond elite status when you spend $40,000 in a calendar year. Diamond status offers additional benefits like guaranteed executive lounge access, suite upgrades, and a 100% points bonus. However, it’s worth noting that the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card automatically grants Diamond status without a spending requirement, although with a higher annual fee. $200 Hilton Credit: Receive an annual credit of up to $200 Hilton Credit earned in $50 increments per quarter, which can be used for eligible purchases made directly with Hilton properties, such as room rates, dining, and incidentals. For frequent Hilton guests, these credits can quickly add up and offset a significant portion of the card’s annual fee. Free Hotel Night: You can earn a free hotel night after spending $15,000 in a calendar year. This free night can be redeemed at almost any Hilton property worldwide, including luxury resorts that might otherwise cost hundreds of dollars per night. Maximizing this benefit can lead to substantial savings and memorable experiences. National Executive Status: Receive National Car Rental Executive status, which offers benefits of Executive area access allowing you to choose any full size and above in the Executive Area and only pay the midsize rate, guaranteed upgrades when you reserve a full-size through luxury vehicle, and one free car rental day for every six car rentals Amex Offers: As an American Express cardholder, you can access Amex Offers. These targeted, limited-time promotions provide discounts or bonus points on purchases with select merchants. Offers are added to your card, and you’ll receive either a percentage or dollar amount back as a statement credit when you meet the offer terms. While offers vary and may not always align with your spending habits, this perk can be valuable when an offer matches your preferences. Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card.* 90-Day Purchase Protection: Your new purchases are covered against damage and theft for 90 days when you use your card. This protection helps safeguard your eligible items right from the moment you buy them.* Extended Warranty Protection: Your purchases gain an extra year of warranty protection when bought with this card, extending manufacturer warranties of three years or less without the inflated prices of store warranty plans. * Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Travel and Purchase Benefits
Winner:
Tie. The Sapphire Preferred better travel insurance for trip delay, trip cancellation, and rental cars (primary instead of secondary).
The Hilton Surpass offers valuable Hilton Gold status, an annual credit of up to $200 Hilton credit, National Emerald Club Executive Status, which are both nice perks.
Value of the Annual Fee
Chase Sapphire Preferred:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee, which may give some people pause. However, as a frequent traveler, I’ve found that the card’s benefits and rewards can easily offset this cost. Think about it this way: if you take advantage of the welcome bonus and redeem those points for travel, you’ve already recouped the annual fee many times over. Plus, the ongoing rewards and perks like travel insurance, hotel credit, and no foreign transaction fees can save you money and provide peace of mind during your trips.
Hilton Surpass:
The Hilton Surpass Amex has a $150 annual fee (rates & fees) that can be easily offset each year through benefits. You’ll get up to $200 in annual Hilton statement credits ($50 per quarter), which alone exceeds the annual fee if you maximize this perk.
Winner:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers more valuable benefits for its reasonable annual fee.
Redeeming Points
Chase Sapphire Preferred:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers exceptional flexibility when it comes to points redemption, allowing you to create the travel experiences you’ve been dreaming of. One popular redemption option is booking travel through the Chase Travel portal. Here, your points are worth 1.25 cents apiece, meaning that a substantial amount of points can be redeemed for a significant value towards travel. I’ve used this option to book flights, hotels, and rental cars, and I appreciate the simplicity of the process. Plus, when you book through the portal, you can still earn airline miles and hotel points on your reservations. If you’re looking to stretch your points even further, transfer to Chase’s airline and hotel partners. Some notable transfer partners include United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, British Airways, Air France/KLM, Hyatt, and Marriott. By strategically transferring points, you can unlock incredible redemption opportunities like first-class flights or luxurious resort stays. In my experience, transferring points to Hyatt has yielded some of the most valuable redemptions. By leveraging my Ultimate Rewards points, I’ve booked top-tier properties like the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme and the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort for a fraction of the cash price. Of course, if you’re not in the mood for travel, you can always redeem your points for statement credits or gift cards at a rate of 1 cent per point. While this may not provide the most bang for your buck, it’s a decent option to have for those times when you need a little extra cash in your pocket.
Ultimate Rewards Transfer Partners [1 to 1]
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Aer Lingus
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Air Canada Aeroplan
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Air France/KLM
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British Airways
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Emirates
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Hyatt Hotels
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Iberia
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IHG Hotels
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JetBlue
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Marriott
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Singapore
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Southwest
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United
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Virgin Atlantic
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Hilton Surpass:
Hilton Honors points offer flexibility and value for travelers, with over 7,500 properties worldwide available for redemption. While the program uses dynamic pricing instead of a fixed award chart, members can still find excellent deals, especially during peak travel periods. The best way to use Hilton points is typically for hotel stays, where we found during our data study that you should get, on average, about 0.51 cents per point in value. To maximize your redemptions, search for properties within your point budget during your desired travel dates. Elite members benefit from a fifth night free on award stays, stretching points even further. For those short on points, the Points & Money option allows for customizable combinations of cash and points. Hilton also offers premium room awards, letting you book suites or rooms with better amenities using points. This can be particularly useful for families or those desiring extra space. Beyond hotel stays, Hilton points can be redeemed for unique experiences through Hilton Honors Experiences, including exclusive events and activities. While other redemption options exist, such as transferring to airlines, using points for Amazon purchases, or booking car rentals, these typically offer lower value. Focus on hotel stays and experiences to get the most from your Hilton Honors points. With strategic planning, you can turn your points into memorable stays at properties ranging from budget-friendly options to luxury resorts worldwide.
Winner:
Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can enjoy a higher redemption value for travel bookings made through Chase. Plus, the card’s flexible redemption options allow you to transfer your points to a wide range of hotel and airline partners, even across different airline alliances.
The Verdict
Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Hilton Surpass Amex are great choices for travelers since they offer solid benefits and rewards. I would recommend getting both cards, but if you have to choose one here’s what you should do.
If you’re a regular guest at Hilton Hotels and can take advantage of the card’s 12x earning rates and Hilton Gold elite status, then the Hilton Surpass Amex is likely the better option for you.
If you stay at several hotel brands, want better travel protections, and want to use your points to airline rewards, then the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a better option.
Which card are you going to choose?
