The Hilton Honors Surpass edges out the Southwest Plus 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 Southwest Plus is the better choice if you want no or lower annual fee.
Hilton Honors Surpass vs Southwest Plus
Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.
- hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio 12x
- Dining At U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, 6x
- Groceries At U.S. supermarkets 6x
- Southwest Purchases 2x
- Gas Stations and Grocery Stores 2x
- All Other Purchases 1x
- Hilton Credit $50
- Hilton Honors Gold Status
- Free Night AwardAfter $15,000 spend
Common Questions: Hilton Honors Surpass vs Southwest Plus
Is the Hilton Honors Surpass or Southwest Plus better for dining?
Hilton Honors Surpass earns 6x on dining; Southwest Plus has no dining bonus.
Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?
Hilton Honors Surpass currently offers 130,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 6 months). Southwest Plus offers 85,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 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 Hilton Honors Surpass and the Southwest Plus?
In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. Hilton Honors Surpass is from American Express and Southwest Plus is from Chase, so they're governed by separate bank policies.