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 Mastercard Black Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Hilton Honors Surpass comes from American Express at $150/yr; the Mastercard Black Card from Barclays (Luxury Card) at $699/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
These cards are close on the fundamentals (similar bonus value, similar fee). The right pick depends on which category you spend the most in and which transfer partners best fit your travel goals.
| Feature | Hilton Honors Surpass | Mastercard Black Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $699 |
| Sign-up bonus | 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points | No public welcome offer |
| Bonus value (est.) | - | $0 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $3,000 in 6 mo | $0 in 0 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Barclays (Luxury Card) |
| Card category | hotel | travel |
| 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
Mastercard Black Card
$699/yr · No public welcome offer
Editorial take: Mastercard Black Card
The mid tier of the Barclays Luxury Card lineup. The $200 airline + $100 dining credits offset $300 of the $699 AF before lounge value, and the 1.5cpp cash-back rate is the best of the Luxury Card tiers. Still hard to beat Sapphire Reserve or Venture X on transferable-points flexibility, but the all-stainless body and concierge appeal to some.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Hilton Honors Surpass or Mastercard Black Card?
- The Mastercard Black Card has a public bonus (No public welcome offer, worth roughly $0), 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 Mastercard Black 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 Mastercard Black Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the Hilton Honors Surpass and Mastercard Black Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Barclays (Luxury Card)) 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 Mastercard Black Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Hilton Honors Surpass: $3,000 spend in 6 months. Mastercard Black Card: $0 in 0 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.