The Hilton Honors Surpass edges out the Southwest Premier for most cardholders — it wins on 3 of 4 comparison categories and offers 130,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 12x vs 3x). The Southwest Premier is the better choice if you want no or lower annual fee.
Hilton Honors Surpass vs Southwest Premier
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 3x
- Grocery Stores and Restaurants 2x
- All Other Purchases 1x
- Hilton Credit $50
- Hilton Honors Gold Status
- Free Night AwardAfter $15,000 spend
- 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List statusAfter $5,000 spend
Common Questions: Hilton Honors Surpass vs Southwest Premier
Is the Hilton Honors Surpass or Southwest Premier better for dining?
Hilton Honors Surpass earns 6x on dining; Southwest Premier earns 2x on dining. Hilton Honors Surpass wins for dining.
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 Premier 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 Premier?
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 Premier is from Chase, so they're governed by separate bank policies.