Hilton Honors Surpass vs JetBlue Plus: Which Is Better In 2025?

JetBlue Plus Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down why we like the JetBlue Plus Card.

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• For a card with an annual fee, it provides significant value through key perks like a free first checked bag for you and up to three companions on the same reservation.
• You get 10% of your points back every time you redeem them for a JetBlue-operated award flight, stretching your rewards even further.
• The free checked bag benefit can easily offset the card's annual fee with just a couple of round-trip flights per year (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Offers a strong suite of airline-specific benefits, including a free checked bag, for a modest annual fee.
• Accelerated points earning on JetBlue purchases and a rebate on award flight redemptions help you quickly accumulate and maximize rewards.
• An annual statement credit for JetBlue Vacations packages and bonus points on your card anniversary add recurring value.

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Cons

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• Lacks premium travel perks commonly found on other airline cards, such as airport lounge access, priority boarding, or credits for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck.
• Key benefits, like the annual statement credit, come with significant restrictions, limiting their usefulness for many cardholders.
• Does not offer an accelerated path to JetBlue Mosaic elite status, requiring a high level of spending to qualify.

JetBlue Plus vs Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®

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Categories

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Choosing between a co-branded hotel card and an airline card depends entirely on your travel habits. To help you decide which is better, the Hilton Honors Surpass or JetBlue Plus, we've broken down what each card offers.

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• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card - This mid-tier hotel credit card is best for frequent Hilton guests. It allows cardholders to earn points on everyday spending and receive enhanced benefits during Hilton stays.
• JetBlue Plus Card - This airline card is designed for casual to moderately frequent JetBlue flyers. It provides valuable travel perks that help offset costs and reward loyalty to the airline.

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Redemption

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Points earned with this card are primarily redeemed for stays across Hilton's portfolio of hotels and resorts. Cardholders can use their points for free nights or to reduce the cost of a stay.

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JetBlue Plus Card: Points earned with this card are redeemed for flights on JetBlue, with no blackout dates on JetBlue-operated flights. These points can also be used for vacation packages that bundle flights and hotels.

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Travel Perks

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• Elite Status: The Hilton Honors Surpass Card grants complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, unlocking benefits like space-available room upgrades and on-property credits. The JetBlue Plus Card provides a pathway to earning Mosaic elite status faster through card spending.
• Airport Lounge Access: Cardholders of the Hilton Surpass receive a number of complimentary Priority Pass lounge visits each year. The JetBlue Plus Card does not include airport lounge access as a benefit.
• Baggage Allowance: The JetBlue Plus Card offers a free first checked bag for the primary cardmember and up to three companions traveling on the same itinerary. The Hilton Surpass does not offer a free checked bag benefit.
• Annual Credits & Bonuses: With the JetBlue Plus Card, you receive an annual statement credit after purchasing a JetBlue Vacations package and an anniversary bonus of points each year. The Hilton Surpass allows cardholders to earn a Free Night Reward after meeting a specific annual spending threshold.
• In-Flight vs. On-Property Perks: The JetBlue Plus Card focuses on the flight experience with 50% savings on eligible in-flight food and cocktail purchases. The Hilton Surpass enhances hotel stays with the perks that come with Gold status.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are ideal for international travel, as neither charges foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To see how these cards stack up against nearly 3,000 others based on your personal spending, a tool like Kudos can provide data-driven comparisons.

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• Use the 'Test Drive' feature to simulate potential earnings from any card using your actual spending data, all without a hard credit pull.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
• Get a welcome offer guarantee that matches any better public offer you find within three months of applying.
• Access Kudos Boost to earn extra rewards on top of your card's rewards when shopping with partner merchants.
• An autofill feature suggests and enters the best card to use at checkout to maximize your rewards.
• Get personalized card recommendations matched to your unique spending history.
• Track spending, monitor your credit score, and manage multiple cards in one place.

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 who want automatic Gold elite status benefits without the high annual fee of a premium travel card. It also appeals to everyday spenders who can rack up points on purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Ultimately, this card is ideal for value-conscious travelers looking to accumulate points for special trips and maximize their stays with perks like the fifth-night-free benefit on award bookings.

Who Should Choose the JetBlue Plus?

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The JetBlue Plus Card is tailor-made for moderately frequent JetBlue flyers who want to elevate their travel experience without committing to a premium price tag. With a reasonable $99 annual fee, the value from the free first checked bag benefit alone can offset the cost for those who fly just a couple of times per year. It's the ideal choice for travelers looking to earn valuable TrueBlue points on everyday purchases and enjoy solid perks, making it a significant step up from having no card without the high cost of the JetBlue Premier Card.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card vs. JetBlue Plus Card comparison has you feeling like neither option is the perfect match for your wallet, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent travel rewards cards on the market that might be a better fit for your spending habits and travel 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 travel cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Review issuer application rules: Issuers like American Express and Barclays have restrictions on earning welcome offers if you've had the card or a similar product before.
• Understand the core benefits: Familiarize yourself with the card's key perks, like elite status or statement credits, to ensure they align with your travel habits.

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Application Strategy

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• Plan your spending: Ensure you can comfortably meet the minimum spend requirement to earn the welcome offer.
• Know the issuer's rules: Be aware of policies that may affect your eligibility for a welcome offer, such as having a similar card from the same bank.
• Don't settle for a lower offer: If you are shown a smaller welcome offer than expected, you can often decline it without impacting your credit score.

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 Hilton Honors and JetBlue TrueBlue?

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

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Which card offers automatic elite status?

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The Hilton Honors Surpass Card provides complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, which includes valuable perks like room upgrades and food and beverage credits. The JetBlue Plus Card offers a pathway to earn Mosaic status through spending but does not grant it automatically.

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Do both cards offer a free checked bag benefit?

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The JetBlue Plus Card includes a free first checked bag for the cardmember and up to three companions on the same booking. The Hilton Honors Surpass Card does not offer a comparable airline checked bag benefit.

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