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Hilton Honors Surpass vs Hawaiian Airlines World Elite: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Ideal for earning accelerated Hilton points on hotel stays and everyday U.S. spending on dining, groceries, and gas. Terms apply.
- Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®: Best for frequent travelers to Hawaii looking to earn miles on flights, gas, dining, and grocery store purchases.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down the key reasons why the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card stands out.
- Cardholders receive automatic Hilton Honors Gold elite status, which includes perks like room upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit at U.S. properties.
- While the card comes with an annual fee (See Rates & Fees), it offers strong rewards on Hilton purchases, as well as at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
- The Free Night Reward, earned after spending $15,000 in a calendar year, can easily offset the annual fee when redeemed at a high-value Hilton property (publisher-formulated estimate).
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
Pros
- Automatic Hilton Honors Gold status is a standout feature, unlocking valuable perks like room upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit at U.S. properties.
- The card offers strong rewards on Hilton purchases and elevated earnings on everyday spending at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
- Travelers can earn a Free Night Reward after meeting an annual spending requirement and pay no foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
Cons
- Hilton Honors points are generally valued lower than points from competing hotel loyalty programs, which can diminish their redemption power.
- The program’s dynamic award pricing means the cost of a free night can fluctuate, making it difficult to predict redemption values.
- There are limited airline transfer partners, offering less flexibility compared to other travel rewards cards.
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a breakdown of why we like the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®.
- The card offers a strong rewards structure, earning you miles on everyday purchases like gas, dining, and groceries in addition to Hawaiian Airlines flights.
- While it comes with an annual fee, you won't be charged foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
- The annual $100 companion ticket discount can more than offset the card's annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Receive an annual companion ticket discount and free checked bags for the primary cardholder on Hawaiian Airlines flights.
- Redeem miles for more than just flights, with options including hotel stays, car rentals, and gift cards.
- A partnership with JetBlue offers more flexibility for earning and redeeming rewards across both airlines.
Cons
- The card has an annual fee, so it’s best for those who fly Hawaiian Airlines often enough to get sufficient value from its benefits.
- Key perks like the free checked bag allowance and the companion ticket discount have significant restrictions and may not extend to travel companions.
- Hawaiian Airlines has a relatively small route network, and redeeming miles for non-flight rewards can result in a lower value.
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® vs Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®
Categories
Choosing the right travel card depends on your loyalty and travel habits. To help you decide which is better, Hilton Honors Surpass or Hawaiian Airlines World Elite, we've broken down the key differences between these two popular options.
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is best for frequent Hilton guests who want to earn bonus points on everyday spending and enjoy enhanced benefits during their stays. It is also well-suited for moderate travelers and those looking to maximize points for special trips.
- Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® is ideal for individuals who regularly travel to or from Hawaii, especially those who travel with a companion. The card is particularly valuable for people who want to earn miles for flights and take advantage of companion ticket discounts.
Redemption
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Points earned with this card are redeemable for stays across Hilton's portfolio of hotels and resorts worldwide.
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®: Miles earned are primarily used for booking award flights on Hawaiian Airlines, but can also be redeemed with partner airlines.
Travel Perks
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: This card provides a Priority Pass Select membership, which includes a number of complimentary airport lounge visits each year. It also has no foreign transaction fees, and cardholders can book travel through the American Express Travel portal. Terms apply.
- Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®: The perks for this card are focused on the Hawaiian Airlines travel experience rather than a broad lounge access program. It is also a solid choice for international travel as it does not charge foreign transaction fees.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To find the best card for your wallet, a tool like Kudos can help you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards using your own spending data.
- Test drive credit cards: Before you apply, you can simulate how much you’d earn with a new card based on your actual spending history.
- Personalized recommendations: Get matched with cards that will earn you the most rewards based on your unique spending habits.
- Approval odds: Receive a detailed analysis of your likelihood of being approved for various cards.
- Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®?
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is an excellent choice for frequent Hilton guests who can leverage the automatic Gold elite status for benefits like room upgrades and daily food and beverage credits. It also appeals to moderate travelers and everyday spenders who want valuable hotel perks without a premium annual fee, thanks to its strong earning rates at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. As our review details, this card is ideal for value-conscious travelers looking to accumulate points quickly for memorable trips, enhanced by perks like the fifth-night-free benefit on award stays (Terms apply).
Who Should Choose the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®?
The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® is a strong choice for individuals who regularly travel to or from the Aloha State, particularly those who often fly with a companion. Cardholders can take advantage of significant companion travel discounts and two free checked bags for the primary cardholder on Hawaiian Airlines flights. Beyond flight perks, the card also suits loyal Hawaiian Airlines customers looking to maximize rewards on everyday spending, as detailed in a NerdWallet review.
Alternatives to Consider
If you've reviewed the Hilton Honors Surpass vs. Hawaiian Airlines World Elite comparison and decided neither the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card nor the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® is the right fit, don't worry. There are several other excellent travel rewards cards that might be a better match for your wallet.
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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
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score – Most rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
- Plan your spending – Ensure you can naturally meet the welcome offer’s spending requirement without overspending.
- Review application rules – Be aware of issuer-specific restrictions, like the one-bonus-per-lifetime policy from American Express.
Application Strategy
- Time your application before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement.
- Evaluate unique benefits like companion passes or automatic elite status to ensure the card fits your lifestyle.
- Look beyond the welcome offer to assess the card's long-term value from annual benefits and spending perks.
Our Methodology
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.
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
What elite status comes with the Hilton Honors Surpass and Hawaiian Airlines World Elite cards?
The Hilton Honors Surpass card grants complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, offering benefits like room upgrades and bonus points on stays. The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite card does not automatically grant elite status, but spending on it can help you earn status with the airline.
Can I use points from one card's program for the other?
You cannot directly use Hilton Honors points for Hawaiian Airlines flights or use HawaiianMiles for Hilton hotel stays. While some programs allow point transfers to partners, it's best to check the current transfer options and values for each program.
Which card is better if I don't travel exclusively to Hawaii or stay at Hilton properties?
If your travel is varied, the Hilton Honors Surpass card may offer more flexibility due to Hilton's large global portfolio of hotels. The Hawaiian Airlines card's benefits are more narrowly focused on travel to and from Hawaii and with its partner airlines.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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