United Gateway vs Hilton Honors Surpass: Which Is Better In 2025?

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This card is a favorite for Hilton loyalists for several key reasons.

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• Automatic Hilton Honors Gold status provides valuable on-property perks like room upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit at U.S. properties.
• You can quickly accumulate points with high earning rates on Hilton stays and everyday spending categories like U.S. supermarkets and restaurants.
• Although the card has an annual fee (See Rates & Fees), benefits like up to $200 in annual statement credits and a Free Night Reward can provide significant value.

_{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.}

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Pros

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• Card membership comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, which includes perks like room upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit at U.S. properties.
• Earn points at an accelerated rate on Hilton purchases and on everyday spending at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. restaurants, and U.S. gas stations.
• An annual Free Night Reward can be earned after meeting spending requirements, and cardholders receive annual statement credits for Hilton purchases.

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Cons

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• Hilton Honors points are generally less valuable than points from other hotel loyalty programs or flexible rewards currencies.
• Award redemptions are subject to dynamic pricing, which can make it difficult to get consistent value from your points, particularly during peak seasons.
• The annual Free Night Reward is not automatic and requires meeting a substantial annual spending threshold.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® vs United Gateway

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the United Gateway or Hilton Honors Surpass, comes down to your primary travel loyalty and spending habits. One card is tailored for earning airline miles, while the other focuses on hotel perks and points.

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• United Gateway℠ Card: This airline co-branded card is best for occasional United Airlines flyers and those new to travel rewards. It offers a straightforward way to earn MileagePlus miles on spending for those who want to avoid an annual fee.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: As a hotel credit card, this option is designed for frequent Hilton guests who want to enjoy elite status benefits. It's ideal for travelers loyal to the Hilton brand who can take advantage of its rewards on hotel stays and everyday purchases.

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Redemption

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United Gateway℠ Card: The miles you earn can be redeemed for flights on United and its partner airlines. You can also use your miles for other travel-related purchases, such as seat upgrades and hotel stays booked through the United portal.

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Points are primarily redeemed for free nights at hotels and resorts within the extensive Hilton portfolio. Your points can also be used for on-property rewards, travel experiences, and transfers to airline partners.

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Travel Perks

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• United Gateway℠ Card: This card's travel perks are straightforward. It has no foreign transaction fees, making it a good companion for trips abroad. Cardholders also receive a discount on in-flight food, beverage, and Wi-Fi purchases on United-operated flights. While it does not include airport lounge access, it does grant entry to the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, which offers benefits at select high-end properties.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: The travel ecosystem for this card is built around the Hilton experience. It includes complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, which provides benefits like space-available room upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit at many properties. For airport travel, it offers a limited number of complimentary lounge visits annually through a Priority Pass Select membership. The card also has no foreign transaction fees.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make an informed decision, you can use a financial companion like Kudos to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards based on your actual spending.

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• Test Drive a card: Before you apply, you can simulate how much you would earn with a specific card. Kudos uses your real spending data to project your annual rewards and calculate the card's net value after fees.
• Personalized recommendations: The platform analyzes your spending history to match you with cards that will earn you the most rewards.
• Approval odds analysis: Understand your chances of getting approved for a card with a detailed analysis based on your credit report.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your credit card points or miles when you shop at partner stores through Kudos.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, they will match it.

Who Should Choose the United Gateway?

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The United Gateway℠ Card is an ideal choice for occasional United Airlines flyers who want to earn miles without committing to an annual fee. It's also a great fit for credit card beginners or budget-conscious travelers, as it offers a way to accumulate travel rewards on everyday spending and avoids foreign transaction fees on international trips. Ultimately, this card serves as a solid entry-level option for anyone looking to dip their toes into the United MileagePlus program or consolidate their banking with an existing Chase account.

Who Should Choose the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®?

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The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is ideally suited for frequent Hilton guests who want automatic Gold status perks without the high annual fee of a premium card. It also caters to moderate travelers and everyday spenders looking to earn points on common purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Ultimately, travelers who can leverage the Free Night Reward from spending and the path to Diamond status will find the most value, as our full review details.

Alternatives to Consider

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Has the United Gateway vs. Hilton Honors Surpass comparison left you feeling like neither card is the right fit? Don't worry, there are plenty of other excellent travel rewards cards to consider.

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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 travel rewards cards, including co-branded airline and hotel cards, require a good to excellent credit profile for approval.
• Know the issuer’s rules. Issuers like Chase and American Express have specific application restrictions that could affect your eligibility for a welcome offer.
• Plan your spending strategy. Ensure you can naturally meet the spending requirement for the introductory offer and any ongoing spending-based benefits.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application. Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement more easily.
• Heed issuer restrictions. For example, American Express often limits welcome offers to once per lifetime per card.
• Avoid manufactured spending. Don't overspend or carry a balance just to earn a bonus, as interest charges will negate the value.

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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How do I choose between an airline-specific card and a hotel-specific card?

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Your choice should depend on your travel habits and loyalty. If you frequently fly with one airline, an airline card offers direct benefits like free checked bags and priority boarding, while a hotel card is better if you prefer staying with a specific hotel chain to enjoy perks like room upgrades and free nights.

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Can I use United miles for hotel stays?

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Yes, you can use United MileagePlus miles to book hotel stays through the United Hotels portal. However, the value you get per mile is often lower compared to using them for flights, especially premium cabin awards.

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Can I use Hilton Honors points for flights?

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While you can transfer Hilton Honors points to various airline partners, it's generally not recommended due to unfavorable transfer ratios. You'll typically get much more value by redeeming your points for hotel stays within the Hilton portfolio.

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