Editorial take: Hilton Honors Surpass
The sweet spot in the Hilton lineup. Gold status gets you free breakfast worth $30-50 per stay, and the free weekend night after spend typically covers a $300+ stay.
All credit cards
Side-by-side
Hilton Honors Surpass vs United Club Business Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Hilton Honors Surpass comes from American Express at $150/yr; the United Club Business Card from Chase at $695/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the United Club Business Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,500 more in estimated value) than the Hilton Honors Surpass's. Get the United Club Business Card first; revisit the Hilton Honors Surpass after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Hilton Honors Surpass | United Club Business Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $695 |
| Sign-up bonus | 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points | 100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP |
| Bonus value (est.) | - | $1,500 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 6 mo | $5,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Chase |
| Card category | hotel | business |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
|
Read the full review
Hilton Honors Surpass
$150/yr · 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points
Read the full review
United Club Business Card
$695/yr · 100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP
Editorial take: United Club Business Card
Pure United Club access card. Cash equivalent of the lounge membership is $750+/year, so the $695 fee makes sense if you're at United hubs frequently. The 1.5x base earning is the highest catch-all rate among premium business cards.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Hilton Honors Surpass or United Club Business Card?
- The United Club Business Card has a public bonus (100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP, worth roughly $1,500), while the Hilton Honors Surpass doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Hilton Honors Surpass's $150 annual fee worth it compared to the United Club Business Card?
- At $150/yr, the Hilton Honors Surpass is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the United Club Business Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the Hilton Honors Surpass and United Club Business Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Chase) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Hilton Honors Surpass or the United Club Business Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Hilton Honors Surpass: $3,000 spend in 6 months. United Club Business Card: $5,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.