Hilton Honors Surpass vs British Airways Visa Signature: Which Is Better In 2025?

British Airways Visa Signature® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at what makes the British Airways Visa Signature® Card a strong contender for travelers.

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• This card has a solid rewards structure for travel, offering bonus Avios on airline and hotel purchases, and while it carries an annual fee, it waives foreign transaction fees.
• Cardholders receive valuable airline-specific perks, including a 10% discount on British Airways flights and the ability to earn a companion ticket.
• The Travel Together Ticket, earned after spending $30,000 in a year, can provide enough value to easily offset the card's annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Valuable airline-specific benefits, including an annual companion ticket and discounts on British Airways flights.
• Accelerated Avios earning on travel purchases, with redemption options across British Airways and its oneworld alliance partners.

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Cons

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• The card carries an annual fee.
• Reward redemptions are somewhat restrictive, and award flights can incur significant taxes and carrier-imposed fees.
• The Travel Together Ticket requires a high annual spend and is subject to certain limitations.

British Airways Visa Signature® vs Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the Hilton Honors Surpass or British Airways Visa Signature, depends entirely on your travel style and loyalty preferences. One card is built for hotel loyalists, while the other caters to international frequent flyers.

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• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: This card is best for frequent guests of Hilton portfolio hotels who want to earn bonus points on everyday spending and enjoy enhanced benefits during their stays. It's also a strong choice for value-conscious travelers seeking elite status perks.
• British Airways Visa Signature® Card: This card is ideal for travelers who often fly with British Airways or its oneworld global network partners, particularly on transatlantic routes. It also suits those who can take full advantage of the card's companion travel benefit.

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Redemption

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Points earned with this card are primarily redeemed for free nights and room upgrades across Hilton's portfolio of hotels and resorts. You can also use points for other travel-related purchases or transfer them to airline partners.

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British Airways Visa Signature® Card: Cardholders redeem Avios, the program's currency, for award flights on British Airways and its oneworld alliance partners. Points can also be used for cabin upgrades and other travel rewards.

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Travel Perks

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• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Cardholders receive complimentary lounge visits each year through a Priority Pass Select membership. The card also has no foreign transaction fees, making it a good option for international travel. Terms Apply.
• British Airways Visa Signature® Card: The primary travel perk is the Travel Together Ticket, awarded after meeting an annual spending requirement, which allows a companion to fly on the same award ticket. This card also has no foreign transaction fees.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make an informed decision, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see potential earnings before you apply, without impacting your credit score.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
• Get a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months.
• Unlock personalized card recommendations based on your unique transaction history to maximize rewards.
• Gain access to exclusive offers, rewards like Kudos Boost, and financial insights.

Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®?

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The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is an excellent choice for frequent Hilton guests who want to enjoy automatic Gold elite status benefits, such as room upgrades and daily food and beverage credits, without paying a premium annual fee. It also appeals to everyday spenders, as the card earns elevated rewards at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Ultimately, as our card review details, it's built for value-conscious travelers looking to maximize their Hilton stays and save up points for aspirational trips; terms and limitations apply.

Who Should Choose the British Airways Visa Signature®?

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The British Airways Visa Signature® Card is tailor-made for loyalists of the airline and its oneworld alliance partners, particularly those who frequently travel internationally. Cardholders can maximize its value by earning a significant number of Avios on flights and leveraging the coveted Travel Together Ticket, which is awarded after meeting a $30,000 annual spending threshold. Beyond reward flights, the card also appeals to travelers seeking practical perks like a 10% discount on British Airways flights originating in the U.S. and valuable travel protections, making this airline co-branded card a strong choice for dedicated BA flyers.

Alternatives to Consider

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If this Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card vs. British Airways Visa Signature® Card comparison shows that neither option aligns with your travel style, other excellent cards are worth considering. Let's explore a few alternatives that might be a better match for your wallet.

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[[ COMPARE_CARD * {"ids": ["118", "510"], "bestCategoryIds":["17", "18", "19"], "bestForTexts":["Generous Travel Rewards", "$300 Annual Travel Credit"]} ]]

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score: You will generally need good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending: Ensure you can meet the spending requirements for the welcome offer and key benefits naturally.
• Review issuer rules: Be aware of application restrictions, like Amex's lifetime language or Chase's 5/24 rule.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application strategically: Align your application with planned spending to help earn valuable perks like the Travel Together Ticket.
• Evaluate the core benefits: Consider how you will use ongoing perks, such as automatic Hilton Honors Gold elite status or flight discounts.
• Understand the rewards ecosystem: Research how to best use your points, considering factors like dynamic award pricing or partner airline options.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I transfer Hilton Honors points to other airlines?

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While Hilton Honors points can be transferred to some airline partners, the transfer rates typically offer poor value. British Airways Avios provide more flexibility as they can be used across the Oneworld airline alliance.

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Which card offers better hotel elite status?

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The Hilton Honors Surpass Card is stronger for hotel status, as it automatically grants complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status (Terms Apply). The British Airways Visa Signature® Card does not offer automatic hotel status.

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Do these cards have foreign transaction fees?

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No, neither the Hilton Honors Surpass Card nor the British Airways Visa Signature® Card charges foreign transaction fees. This makes both cards good choices for purchases made outside the United States.

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