How to Cancel Hilton Honors Credit Card 2026 — Is the $95-$550 Annual Fee Worth It?

Updated March 2026 • 6 min read

Hilton Honors credit cards (all issued by American Express) range from $0 to $550/year. The free card is genuinely useful. The $550 Aspire is only worth it if you stay at Hilton properties 10+ nights per year. Most people should either keep the free card or cancel entirely.

Hilton Honors Card Annual Fees

Hilton Honors (no fee): $0/year — automatic Silver status, 7x at Hilton
Hilton Surpass: $95/year — automatic Gold status, free night with $15K spend
Hilton Aspire: $550/year — automatic Diamond status, 1 free night, $400 Hilton resort credit, $200 airline credit
Hilton Business: $95/year — Gold status, free night with $15K spend

The Keep-or-Cancel Decision

No-fee card: Always keep — it's free and earns Hilton points
Surpass ($95): Worth it if you get the free night certificate (requires $15K spend). If you don't hit $15K, downgrade to the free card
Aspire ($550): Only worth it if you use the free night ($200-500 value) + $400 resort credit + $200 airline credit + Diamond status. That's $800+ in potential value — but ONLY if you actually use each benefit
Business ($95): Same math as Surpass — $15K spend for the free night

How to Cancel or Downgrade

Call Amex at 1-800-528-4800
Or use the Amex app → chat → "I'd like to discuss my card options"
Step 1: Ask for a retention offer — Amex often gives $50-$150 statement credits to keep premium cards
Step 2: If no good offer, ask to product change to the no-fee Hilton Honors card
Step 3: If you want to close entirely, request account closure

⚠️ Amex retention tips: Call after the annual fee posts (you have 30 days for a refund). Say "I'm considering canceling because I'm not sure I get enough value from the annual fee." This triggers retention offers. If the first offer is weak, politely decline and say you'll think about it — sometimes a better offer comes via email within days.

🚨 Amex once-per-lifetime rule: Amex only gives welcome bonuses once per card product per lifetime. If you cancel the Aspire, you likely won't get another welcome bonus if you reopen it later. Downgrading to the free card preserves your Amex relationship without this risk.

Cancel Hilton Honors Loyalty Account

The Hilton Honors loyalty account is free and separate from the credit card. To close it:

Call 1-800-446-6677 (Hilton Honors)
Request account closure
Use or transfer all points first — they'll be forfeited

💡 Keep the loyalty account: It's free. Hilton points don't expire as long as there's any earning or redemption activity every 24 months. Even a small purchase on the free card keeps them alive.

Hilton vs Marriott vs Hyatt: Which Loyalty Program Is Worth Keeping?

Hyatt: Best point value (2-3 cents/point) — World of Hyatt is the clear winner for point redemptions
Hilton: Most properties worldwide, easiest to earn status, but points worth only 0.5-0.6 cents each
Marriott: Largest portfolio, decent point value (0.7-0.8 cents), but devalued repeatedly

If you only keep one hotel loyalty card, the free Hilton Honors Amex (no fee, Silver status, 7x points) or World of Hyatt card ($95, auto Discoverist, best point value) are the smart picks.

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Quick Cancel Guide: Hilton Honors Card

Direct cancel link + step-by-step instructions