Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier vs Hilton Honors Surpass: Which Is Better In 2025?

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down the key reasons why we think the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a top choice for travelers.

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• Cardholders receive automatic Hilton Honors Gold status, which unlocks valuable perks like room upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit at U.S. properties.
• While it comes with an annual fee (See Rates & Fees), the card has no foreign transaction fees and offers accelerated points on Hilton stays, U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
• A couple staying just five nights at a U.S. Hilton property could offset the annual fee entirely with the daily food and beverage credit alone (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.}

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Pros

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• Automatic Hilton Honors Gold status, which unlocks valuable perks like room upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit at U.S. properties.
• Accelerated points earning on purchases at Hilton properties, plus at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
• A suite of travel benefits, including an annual Free Night Reward after meeting spending requirements and complimentary National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status.

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Cons

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• Hilton Honors points are generally less valuable than points from competing hotel loyalty programs.
• The annual Free Night Reward isn't automatic; it requires meeting a significant spending threshold each year.
• The program's dynamic pricing for award nights can make the number of points needed for a stay unpredictable, as noted in our card review.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® vs Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier or the Hilton Honors Surpass, depends entirely on your travel habits and brand loyalty. Each card is designed to reward a different type of traveler, one focused on a specific airline and the other on a global hotel chain.

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• Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card - This card is best suited for semifrequent or loyal Southwest Airlines flyers who want to earn points and benefit from day-of-travel perks specific to the airline.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card - This card is designed for frequent or moderate travelers who prefer staying at Hilton properties and want to earn hotel points on both their stays and everyday purchases.

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Redemption

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Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier: Points are redeemed through the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, primarily for flights on Southwest Airlines, but they can also be used for merchandise, gift cards, and other travel experiences.

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®: The points you earn are part of the Hilton Honors loyalty program and are best used for booking free nights at hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio worldwide.

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Travel Perks

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• Ecosystem and Booking: The Hilton Surpass is built around the global Hilton portfolio, with points best used for booking hotel stays directly through Hilton. The Southwest Premier is tightly integrated with Southwest Airlines, where points are primarily redeemed for flights through the airline's Rapid Rewards portal.
• Airport Lounge Access: Cardholders of the Hilton Surpass receive a Priority Pass Select membership, which grants a number of complimentary lounge visits each year; enrollment is required and terms apply. The Southwest Premier card does not offer airport lounge access as a benefit.
• Foreign Transactions: Both cards are well-suited for international travel, as neither charges a foreign transaction fee on purchases made outside the United States.
• Status and In-Transit Perks: The Hilton Surpass automatically confers Hilton Honors Gold status, unlocking benefits like potential room upgrades. The Southwest Premier focuses on airline-specific perks, offering EarlyBird Check-In vouchers and providing points that count toward earning the valuable Companion Pass.

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Who Should Choose the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier?

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The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is best suited for semifrequent Southwest flyers who want a solid balance of travel perks without committing to a top-tier annual fee. It's a strong choice for travelers who fly the airline occasionally but still want to earn points, enjoy day-of-travel benefits, and get a boost toward earning the coveted Companion Pass or A-List status. As a mid-tier option, this card provides a practical step-up from an entry-level card for those loyal to the airline.

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 looking to maximize their loyalty through automatic Gold elite status and accelerated points earning on hotel stays. It also appeals to moderate travelers and everyday spenders who can rack up points on common purchases at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations. Ultimately, this card is for value-conscious travelers who want significant hotel perks without the premium price tag of other travel cards, as detailed in this Hilton Surpass review.

_{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.}

Alternatives to Consider

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Perhaps this Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier vs Hilton Honors Surpass comparison has demonstrated that neither card is the ideal choice for your travel needs. Fortunately, several other compelling travel rewards cards are available that might offer a better alignment with your spending habits and goals.

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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: Most premium rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Plan your spending: Make sure you can comfortably meet the minimum spend for the welcome offer without overspending.
• Review application rules: Be aware of issuer-specific restrictions, such as Chase's 5/24 rule or Amex's lifetime language.

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Application Strategy

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• Be mindful of the 5/24 rule: Many Chase cards, like the Southwest Premier, are subject to this application limit.
• Know the lifetime language: American Express often limits welcome offers to once per lifetime on specific cards, such as the Hilton Surpass.
• Time your application: Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement naturally.

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 points between Southwest Rapid Rewards and Hilton Honors?

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No, you cannot directly transfer points between the Southwest Rapid Rewards and Hilton Honors loyalty programs. Each program's points are earned and redeemed within their respective ecosystems.

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Which card is better for earning rewards on everyday spending?

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The better card for everyday spending depends on your habits. The Hilton Surpass card often provides more value on categories like U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, while the Southwest Premier card's earning is more focused on Southwest purchases.

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Do the points earned from these cards count towards elite status?

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Points earned from spending on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier card do count towards the coveted Companion Pass, but not A-List status. The Hilton Honors Surpass card offers complimentary Gold status and the ability to earn Diamond status through spending; terms apply.

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