Wise Flyer · No. 48

Question

Which Hilton or Chase Offer Should I Grab Now?

With Hilton Amex cards offering up to 200,000 points and the Chase Sapphire Reserve adding new credits and a 70% transfer bonus to Marriott, which current credit card sign-up bonus or promotion gives the best value right now?

WiseFlyer

Let's start with the Hilton Amex lineup, which runs through January 13, 2027. The headline is the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: 200,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after $6,000 spent in six months. Hilton itself calls this its 'Best Points Offer Yet.' If you can handle that spend, it's the biggest raw point haul. The Surpass Card (130,000 points plus a Free Night Reward after $3,000) may be the sweet spot for many—less spend, still a strong bonus and a free night that can be used at almost any Hilton worldwide. The entry-level card offers 70,000 points plus a free night after just $2,000. All three are limited-time offers, so if Hilton is your brand, pick the spend level you can comfortably meet.

Separately, Chase just boosted the Sapphire Reserve's monthly DoorDash credit from $5 to $15 starting October 1, on top of existing DoorDash benefits. That's a solid ongoing perk if you order delivery. More critically for points enthusiasts: through October 15, Chase is offering a 70% bonus when transferring Ultimate Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy. That turns 50,000 Chase points into 85,000 Marriott points. The catch? Marriott uses dynamic pricing, so your points may not go as far as they used to, and transfers are one-way. This bonus is best if you already have a specific high-value Marriott redemption in mind—like the Lake Como EDITION, where 65,000 Chase points (after the bonus) could cover a night that would otherwise cost over $1,400. Otherwise, you might be better off transferring to an airline partner.

So which one is for you? If you're a Hilton loyalist, the Aspire's 200,000-point offer is the biggest we've seen, and the free night on the Surpass or basic card adds real flexibility. If you already hold a Sapphire card and have a Marriott stay in your sights, the 70% transfer bonus is a rare chance to stretch your points—but only if you have a specific, high-value redemption lined up. If you're deciding between opening a new card: the Hilton Surpass at $3,000 spend with a free night is hard to beat for casual-to-moderate hotel users, while the Aspire rewards heavy spenders. And for current Sapphire Reserve holders, the increased DoorDash credit is a nice bump, but don't open the card just for that.

Bottom line

For a new card, the Hilton Surpass (130,000 points + free night after $3,000) is the best value for most people. For existing Chase cardholders with a Marriott goal, the 70% transfer bonus (through Oct. 15) is worth acting on—but only if you have a specific, high-value redemption in mind.

P.S. Remember: Hilton points are worth about 0.5 cents each on average, so 200,000 points is roughly $1,000 in value—impressive, but not a life-changing windfall unless you're booking a top-tier property.
Chase Ultimate Rewards Credit card bonuses Hilton Honors Marriott Bonvoy