Hilton Honors Surpass vs Iberia Visa Signature: Which Is Better In 2025?

Iberia Visa Signature Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of why we like the Iberia Visa Signature® Card.

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• Cardholders can earn bonus Avios on purchases with Iberia and its airline partners, as well as on hotel stays booked directly.
• While the card does charge an annual fee, it has no foreign transaction fees and offers valuable travel perks like a discount on Iberia flights.
• High-spending cardmembers can earn a yearly discount voucher for companion travel, and Avios can be transferred between several partner airline loyalty programs.

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Pros

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• Cardholders receive a discount on Iberia flights and can earn a yearly discount voucher for companion travel.
• The card's rewards currency, Avios, can be transferred to several partner airlines, offering flexible redemption options.
• It's a solid choice for international travel, with no foreign transaction fees and built-in travel protections.

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Cons

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• It lacks common airline card benefits like free checked bags or priority boarding.
• The redemption process can be difficult due to a clunky website and certain restrictions on award travel.
• The card's rewards currency can expire, and strict application rules may make it difficult for some to qualify.

Iberia Visa Signature vs Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the Hilton Honors Surpass or Iberia Visa Signature, depends entirely on your travel style and loyalty preferences. One card is built for hotel loyalists, while the other caters to international flyers who prefer a specific airline alliance.

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• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card - This card is best for frequent or moderate travelers who are loyal to the Hilton brand. It offers a pathway to earn hotel elite status and enjoy enhanced benefits on stays without paying for a premium card.
• Iberia Visa Signature® Card - This card is ideal for travelers who fly with Iberia or its Oneworld alliance partners. It focuses on earning Avios that can be redeemed for flights and upgrades within that airline ecosystem.

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Redemption

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Points earned with this card are primarily redeemed for free nights and room upgrades across Hilton's portfolio of hotels. You can also use points for exclusive experiences or transfer them to airline partners, though hotel stays typically offer the best value.

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Iberia Visa Signature® Card: This card earns Avios, which are best used for booking award flights on Iberia and its Oneworld airline partners. Avios can also be applied toward flight upgrades or to partially pay for a cash ticket, offering flexibility for international travel.

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Travel Perks

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• Travel Ecosystem: The Hilton Surpass card operates within the Hilton Honors hotel loyalty program, offering perks at Hilton properties worldwide. In contrast, the Iberia Visa Signature card is embedded in the airline-centric Iberia Plus and Oneworld alliance ecosystem, focusing on benefits for flyers.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are well-suited for international travel, as neither charges foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
• Lounge Access: The Hilton Surpass card provides a number of complimentary annual visits to Priority Pass lounges. The Iberia Visa Signature card does not include general lounge access, prioritizing other flight-related benefits instead.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a financial companion that evaluates nearly 3,000 credit cards to help you find the best match for your spending habits.

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• Test Drive a Credit Card: This feature lets you simulate how much you would earn with a new card based on your actual spending history, all before you apply and without impacting your credit score.
• Detailed Approval Odds: Receive a personalized analysis of your approval likelihood for different cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, the platform will match it.
• Kudos Kickstart+ Reward: You can unlock a $100 reward by adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.

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 and moderate travelers who want valuable elite perks without paying a premium annual fee. It also suits everyday spenders looking to rack up points on common purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Ultimately, the card is ideal for value-conscious travelers aiming to save points for special trips by leveraging its strong earning structure and benefits like the Free Night Reward.

Who Should Choose the Iberia Visa Signature?

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The Iberia Visa Signature® Card is tailored for U.S.-based travelers who are already invested in the Avios ecosystem or frequently fly with Oneworld alliance airlines. It's particularly beneficial for those who want to pool points from partner airlines like British Airways and Aer Lingus, or capitalize on redemption sweet spots such as off-peak business-class flights to Spain. As detailed in a comprehensive card review, it's also a strong option for high-spenders and companion travelers who can maximize the card's annual discount voucher.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Hilton Honors Surpass vs Iberia Visa Signature comparison has left you feeling like neither card is the right match for your wallet, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent travel rewards cards on the market worth considering.

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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 rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Know the issuer's rules – Issuers have unique restrictions, like Chase's 5/24 rule or Amex's once-per-lifetime bonus policy.
• Plan your spending – Make sure you can naturally meet the minimum spend to earn the welcome offer.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application – Apply before a large, planned purchase to more easily meet the spending requirement for a welcome offer.
• Find the best offer – Use different browsers or tools to ensure you're seeing the highest available welcome offer for a card.
• Know when to walk away – Some issuers, like American Express, may let you decline an offer without a hard credit pull if it’s not what you expected.

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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Which card is better for earning hotel status?

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The Hilton Honors Surpass Card is the clear winner for hotel status, as it includes complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status just for being a cardmember. The Iberia Visa Signature Card does not offer a comparable hotel elite status benefit.

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Can I transfer points between Hilton Honors and Iberia Plus?

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No, you cannot directly transfer points or Avios between the Hilton Honors and Iberia Plus loyalty programs. Each card earns rewards that are specific to its co-branded partner.

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What are the annual fees for each card?

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The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has a $150 annual fee. In contrast, the Iberia Visa Signature® Card carries a lower annual fee of $95.

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