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Quick Answer

The Hilton Honors Surpass edges out the Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card for most cardholders — it wins on 3 of 4 comparison categories and offers 130,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 12x vs 2x). The Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card is the better choice if you want no or lower annual fee.

Card Comparison

Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card vs Hilton Honors Surpass

Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.

Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card card art
Avianca LifeMiles
Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card
Cardless
More Info
Hilton Honors Surpass card art
Hilton Honors
Hilton Honors Surpass
American Express
More Info
Annual Fee
$99/yr
$150/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
40,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
130,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 6 months
was 130k pts
Top Earn Rates
  • restaurants, groceries, or supermarkets 2x
  • LifeMiles or Avianca airlines 2x
  • All Other Purchases 1x
  • hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio 12x
  • Dining At U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, 6x
  • Groceries At U.S. supermarkets 6x
Reward Type
miles
miles
Pts Value
~1.40¢/pt miles · industry est.
~0.50¢/pt points · industry est.
Key Credits
None
  • Hilton Credit $50
Card Perks
  • Silver Elite Status
  • Miles don't expire
  • Hilton Honors Gold Status
Spend Milestones
No milestones
  • Free Night Award
    After $15,000 spend
Transfer Partners
No transfer partners
No transfer partners

Common Questions: Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card vs Hilton Honors Surpass

Is the Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card or Hilton Honors Surpass better for dining?

Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card earns 2x on dining; Hilton Honors Surpass earns 6x on dining. Hilton Honors Surpass wins for dining.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card currently offers 40,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). Hilton Honors Surpass offers 130,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 6 months). Hilton Honors Surpass has the larger bonus.

Which card is better for international travel?

Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.

Can I hold both the Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card and the Hilton Honors Surpass?

In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. Avianca Lifemiles American Express Card is from Cardless and Hilton Honors Surpass is from American Express, so they're governed by separate bank policies.