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How to earn Hilton Honors points from UK credit and debit cards

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There are many ways of earning Hilton Honors points from UK credit and debit cards.

Not only can you earn miles with every £1 you spend, but many cards come with generous sign-up bonuses to help your points build up.

In September 2024, Hilton launched two debit cards so (after a six year gap) there is now a Hilton-branded payment card in the UK again. This is not your only option, however.

How to earn Hilton Honors points from UK credit and debit cards

This article is updated on a regular basis.  You should assume that all of the information is correct but please double-check before making any applications.

Earning Hilton Honors points from the Hilton Honors debit cards:

In September 2024, Hilton launched two UK debit cardssee here. These work in the same way as your usual bank debit card – it is linked to your existing UK bank account and the money is taken automatically when you spend. There is no monthly statement and no monthly bill to pay.

Both cards come with a sign-up bonus of Hilton Honors points and elite status in Hilton Honors.

You also get a great deal on FX fees when travelling.

The key reasons to get one of these cards are:

  • the £150 Hilton Honors Plus Debit Card comes with Gold status for as long as you keep the card and has 0% FX fees when spending in a foreign currency
  • the £60 Hilton Honors Debit Card comes with Silver status for as long as you keep the card and has 0.5% FX fees when spending in a foreign currency

Click the links below to read our detailed reviews. You can apply for the cards here.

NEW: Hilton Honors Plus Debit

Bonus: 10,000 points

Read our full reviewApply here

Other information:

  • Receive Gold status in Hilton Honors for as long as you hold the card
  • This gets you free breakfast (or a cash credit in the USA) on every Hilton stay
  • You pay NO FX fees when spending in a foreign currency
  • Annual fee: £150

This is a debit card, not a credit card. Transactions are automatically recharged to your existing UK current account.

See if you qualify for the 10,000 points sign-up bonus +

You will receive 10,000 Hilton Honors points if you spend £2,500 in foreign currency during your first six months.

You are still OK to apply for the card, and receive the bonus, if you have the (closed to new applicants) Hilton Honors Barclaycard or the standard Currensea debit card (Currensea also operates the Hilton Honors Plus debit card).

Learn more about the card benefits +

You will receive Gold status in Hilton Honors for as long as you hold the card.

The key benefits of Gold status are an 80% bonus on base points on every Hilton Honors stay, ‘preferred’ room upgrades of some sort (often a higher floor or better view, not necessarily next category up) and free breakfast for two people (or a daily cash credit towards food or drink spend in the US).

You can withdraw £500 per month from ATMs outside the UK without paying any FX fees, with a 2.5% FX fee thereafter.  You cannot use the card in ATMs in the UK.

NEW: Hilton Honors Debit

Bonus: 2,500 points

Read our full reviewApply here

Other information:

  • Receive Silver status in Hilton Honors for as long as you hold the card
  • Pay just 0.5% FX fee when spending in a foreign currency
  • Annual fee: £60

This is a debit card, not a credit card. Transactions are automatically recharged to your existing UK current account.

See if you qualify for the 2,500 points sign-up bonus +

You will receive 2,500 Hilton Honors points if you spend £1,000 in foreign currency during your first six months.

You are still OK to apply for the card, and receive the bonus, if you have the (closed to new applicants) Hilton Honors Barclaycard or the standard Currensea debit card (Currensea also operates the Hilton Honors debit card).

Learn more about the card benefits +

You will receive Silver status in Hilton Honors for as long as you hold the card.  The key benefits of Silver status are a 20% bonus on base points on every Hilton Honors stay, free bottled water at most Hilton brands and eligibility for ‘5 nights for the points of 4’ when redeeming.

You can withdraw £250 per month from ATMs outside the UK for a low 0.5% FX fee, with a 2.5% FX fee thereafter.  You cannot use the card in ATMs in the UK.

Earning Hilton Honors points from American Express:

American Express Membership Rewards points convert at 1:2 into Hilton Honors points. When you read the boxes below, double the number of Membership Rewards points quoted to work out how many Hilton Honors points you receive.

You receive Hilton Honors Gold status as a benefit if you take out The Platinum Card.

The Platinum Card from American Express

Bonus: 50,000 points

Read our full reviewApply here

Other information:

  • Two Priority Pass cards, each allowing two people into 1,400 airport lounges
  • Elite status in four major hotel loyalty programmes
  • Comprehensive travel insurance
  • £400 per year of restaurant credit (T&C apply)
  • £50 per half year of Harvey Nichols credit (ends June 2025)
  • Annual fee: £650

Representative 698.1% APR variable based on an assumed £1,200 credit limit and £650 annual fee. Interest rate on purchases 30.4% APR variable.

See if you qualify for the 50,000 points sign-up bonus +

You will receive 50,000 American Express Membership Rewards points as a sign-up bonus on The Platinum Card if you spend £6,000 within three months of signing up.

Membership Rewards points are hugely flexible.  You can transfer them into Avios, Virgin Points or other airlines (usually at 1:1) or into various hotels schemes, into Club Eurostar or use them for shopping vouchers.

This is the ONLY personal American Express card where you still qualify for the bonus if you already hold a British Airways American Express card.

To qualify for the bonus, you must NOT, currently or in the previous 24 months, have held any other personal American Express card which earns Membership Rewards points.  This includes The Platinum Card and Preferred Rewards Gold.

You are OK if you had a supplementary card on someone else’s American Express account.

You are OK if, currently or in the previous 24 months, you have held any other American Express card, including the British Airways, Marriott and Nectar cards.

For clarity, you can still apply for The Platinum Card even if you do not qualify for the bonus.  You would still benefit from the long list of other benefits.

Learn more about the card benefits +

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with an unrivalled list of benefits for the keen traveller.

Your personal travel patterns will determine which of these is the most valuable.  The key benefits are:

Full comprehensive travel insurance for you, your family and the family of your supplementary cardholder, subject to enrolment

Two Priority Pass cards, each of which allows the holder and a guest unlimited free access to 1,400 airport lounges

Elite status in four major hotel loyalty schemes: Marriott Bonvoy (Gold), Hilton Honors (Gold), Radisson Rewards (Premium), MeliaRewards (Gold)

Access to Eurostar lounges, irrespective of travel class

£200 per year to spend in over 170 UK restaurants (£100 per half year)

£200 per year to spend in over 1,500 international restaurants (£100 per half year)

£50 to spend at Harvey Nichols, instore or online (£50 per half year, this benefit ends on 30th June 2025)

You need a minimum personal income of £35,000 to apply for the card.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Bonus: 20,000 points

Read our full reviewApply here

Other information:

  • Amex Gold is our recommended ‘first card’ for a miles and points beginner
  • Get four free airport lounge passes when you sign up, and a further four each year
  • After your four free passes, you can visit further lounges for a small fee
  • You receive £120 of Deliveroo credit each year (24 x £5 credits)
  • Annual fee: Free for the first year, £195 from Year 2

Representative 87.8% APR variable.  Annual fee applies after the first year.

See if you qualify for the 20,000 points sign-up bonus +

You will receive 20,000 American Express Membership Rewards points as a sign-up bonus on the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card if you spend £3,000 within three months of signing up.

Membership Rewards points are hugely flexible, which is why we recommend this as the best choice for your first miles and points card.  You can transfer them into Avios, Virgin Flying Club or other airlines (at 1:1) or into various hotels schemes, into Club Eurostar or use them for shopping vouchers.

To qualify for the bonus, you must NOT, currently or in the previous 24 months, have held any other personal American Express card.

You are OK if you had a supplementary card on someone else’s American Express account.

You are OK if, currently or in the previous 24 months, you have held a Business American Express card.

For clarity, you can still apply for the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card even if you do not qualify for the bonus.  You would still benefit from the four free airport lounge passes and the ‘no fee in Year 1’ offer.

Learn more about the card benefits +

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold comes with four free airport lounge passes.  These allow either you and up to three friends, or yourself four times, to visit any of the 1,400 lounges in the Priority Pass network.  You make additional lounge visits for £24 per person.  You receive an additional four free passes each year.

You earn double Membership Rewards points on all airline spend (made directly on an airline website) and all spend made outside the UK.

You will receive up to 12,500 bonus Membership Rewards points each year, based on how much you spend.

You receive £120 of Deliveroo credit each year.  Amex will repay you £5 for the first two Deliveroo orders charged to your Gold card each month.

Other benefits include a 10% discount on Hertz car rentals, Avis Preferred Plus car rental status and special deals at 1,000 selected hotels worldwide, where Preferred Rewards Gold cardholders receive a $100 in-hotel credit when booking a 2+ night stay.

You need a minimum personal income of £20,000 to apply for the card.

American Express Rewards

Bonus: 10,000 points

Read our full reviewApply here

Other information:

  • Your best choice if you want a ‘free for life’ card which earns Membership Rewards points
  • A good choice if you want to close a Gold or Platinum card but keep your points intact
  • Annual fee: Free

Representative 30.4% APR variable

See if you qualify for the 10,000 points sign-up bonus +

You will receive 10,000 American Express Membership Rewards points as a sign-up bonus on the American Express Rewards card if you spend £2,000 within 90 days of signing up.

Membership Rewards points are hugely flexible. You can transfer them into Avios, Virgin Flying Club or other airlines (at 1:1) or into various hotels schemes, into Club Eurostar or use them for shopping vouchers.

To qualify for the bonus, you must NOT, currently or in the previous 24 months, have held any other personal American Express card.

You are OK if you had a supplementary card on someone else’s American Express account.

You are OK if, currently or in the previous 24 months, you have held a Business American Express card.

For clarity, you can still apply for the American Express Rewards card even if you do not qualify for the bonus.  You may want to do this if you are thinking of swapping your Preferred Rewards Gold or Platinum card for a free alternative, and would prefer to keep your existing Membership Rewards points balance alive.

Learn more about the card benefits +

American Express Rewards is the only ‘free for life’ American Express card which lets you collect Membership Rewards points.

We do NOT recommend this card if you would also qualify for the sign-up bonus on American Express Preferred Rewards Gold.  The Gold card is free for the first year, comes with four free airport lounge passes and £120 of Deliveroo credit and has a higher sign-up bonus of 20,000 points.

The best reason to get American Express Rewards is if you are coming to the end of your free first year with American Express Preferred Rewards Gold, or no longer want to pay the fee on The Platinum Card, but want to keep your Membership Rewards points intact.

You need a minimum personal income of £20,000 to apply for the card.

Earning Hilton Honors points from Virgin Flying Club credit cards:

Virgin Atlantic has two dedicated credit cards.  You may not know that Virgin Points can be transferred to Hilton Honors points at the rate of 2:3.  When you read the boxes below, add 50% to the number of Virgin Points quoted to work out how many Hilton Honors points you receive.

You can find out more about converting Virgin Points to Hilton Honors on this page of the Virgin Atlantic website.

Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard

Bonus: 3,000 points

Read our full reviewApply here

Other information:

  • Get a reward voucher worth 75,000 or 150,000 Virgin Points when you spend £20,000 in a year
  • Use it towards a companion ticket when you buy a cash or reward flight
  • Solo travellers can use it to upgrade a cash or reward flight by one cabin
  • Vouchers are valid for two years
  • Annual fee: Free

Representative 26.9% APR variable

See if you qualify for the 3,000 points sign-up bonus +

You receive a bonus of 3,000 Virgin Points after your first purchase, however small.

You may want to consider applying for the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard instead for its higher bonus.  This comes with a £160 annual fee but has a sign-up bonus of 18,000 Virgin Points.  You also receive a higher earning rate of 1.5 miles per £1 spent.

You cannot apply if you have had the free Virgin Atlantic Reward credit card in the previous six months.  You are free to apply if you have any other Virgin Money credit card or the paid-for Virgin Atlantic Reward+ credit card.

Learn more about the card benefits +

When you spend £20,000 per year on the Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard, you will receive a reward voucher.

The voucher is worth:

75,000 Virgin Points if you have no status in Virgin Flying Club on the date you book

150,000 Virgin Points if you have Silver or Gold status in Virgin Flying Club on the date you book

The voucher is valid for two years and will get you:

A discount on a companion flight when you book a cash or reward flight at full price for yourself (taxes and charges need to be paid on the companion ticket)

A discount on a one category upgrade for yourself when you book a cash or reward flight

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

Bonus: 18,000 points

Read our full reviewApply here

Other information:

  • Get a reward voucher worth 75,000 or 150,000 Virgin Points when you spend £10,000 in a year
  • Use it towards a companion ticket when you buy a cash or reward flight
  • Solo travellers can use it to upgrade a cash or reward flight by one cabin
  • Vouchers are valid for two years
  • Annual fee: £160

Representative 69.7% APR variable based on an assumed £1,200 credit limit and £160 annual fee.  Interest rate on purchases 26.9% APR variable.

See if you qualify for the 18,000 points sign-up bonus +

You receive a bonus of 18,000 Virgin Points after your first purchase, however small.

There are no restrictions on earning the bonus if you are accepted.

You cannot apply if you have had a Virgin Atlantic Reward+ credit card in the previous six months.  You are free to apply if you have any other Virgin Money credit card or the free Virgin Atlantic Reward credit card.

Learn more about the card benefits +

When you spend £10,000 per year on the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard, you will receive a reward voucher.

The voucher is worth:

75,000 Virgin Points if you have no status in Virgin Flying Club on the date you book

150,000 Virgin Points if you have Silver or Gold status in Virgin Flying Club on the date you book

The voucher is valid for two years and will get you:

A discount on a companion flight when you book a cash or reward flight at full price for yourself (taxes and charges need to be paid on the companion ticket)

A discount on a one category upgrade for yourself when you book a cash or reward flight

Earning Hilton Honors points from small business cards:

If you want to earn Hilton Honors points from a small business card, your options are the American Express Business Platinum card and the American Express Business Gold card.

American Express Membership Rewards points convert at 1:2 into Hilton Honors points. When you read the boxes below, double the number of Membership Rewards points quoted to work out how many Hilton Honors points you receive.

You receive Hilton Honors Gold status as a benefit if you take out American Express Business Platinum.

American Express Business Platinum

Bonus: 50,000 Membership Rewards points

Read our full reviewApply here

Other information:

  • Get £200 per year to spend at Amex Travel
  • Two Priority Pass cards, each allowing two people into 1,400 airport lounges
  • Elite status in four major hotel loyalty programmes
  • Get £150 per year to spend at Dell
  • Get £300 per year to spend at job ads site Indeed
  • Comprehensive travel insurance
  • Annual fee: £650

This is a charge card, not a credit card. You must clear your balance in full each month.  Annual fee £650.

See if you qualify for the 50,000 points sign-up bonus +

You will receive a sign-up bonus of 50,000 American Express Membership Rewards points when you spend £6,000 in your first three months.

Membership Rewards points are hugely flexible.  You can transfer them into Avios, Virgin Points or other airlines (at 1:1) or into various hotels schemes, into Club Eurostar or use them for shopping vouchers.

There are no longer any rules on qualifying for the sign-up offer on this card.  If you are accepted, you will receive the bonus, irrespective of what other cards you hold or have recently held.

Learn more about the card benefits +

American Express Business Platinum comes with an unrivalled list of benefits for the keen traveller.

Your personal travel patterns will determine which of these is the most valuable.  The key benefits are:

£200 of Amex Travel credit per membership year

Full comprehensive travel insurance for you, your family and the family of up to five complimentary cardholders, subject to enrolment

Two Priority Pass cards, each of which allows the holder and a guest unlimited free access to 1,400 airport lounges

Elite status in four major hotel loyalty schemes: Marriott Bonvoy (Gold), Hilton Honors (Gold), Radisson Rewards (Premium), MeliaRewards (Gold)

Other benefits include:

£150 of Dell statement credit per year – you receive £75 credit on Dell purchases betweeen January and June and £75 credit on purchases between July and December

£300 of credit to run job advertisements at indeed.com (£75 per quarter)

Digital subscription to The Times and The Sunday Times, worth over £300

You need a minimum personal income of £35,000 to apply for the card.

Terms and conditions apply to all card benefits.

American Express Business Gold

Bonus: 20,000 Membership Rewards points

Read our full reviewApply here

Other information:

  • Annual fee: Free for the first year
  • £195 annual fee from Year 2
  • Get £100 per year to spend at Dell
  • Points transfer at 1:1 into Avios and Virgin Points
  • You can also convert to other airlines, Eurostar and hotel schemes

This is a charge card, not a credit card. You must clear your balance in full each month.  Annual fee £195 from Year 2, free in Year 1.

See if you qualify for the 20,000 points sign-up bonus +

You will receive a sign-up bonus of 20,000 American Express Membership Rewards points if you spend £3,000 in your first three months.

Membership Rewards points are hugely flexible.  You can transfer them into Avios, Virgin Points or other airlines (at 1:1) or into various hotels schemes, into Club Eurostar or use them for shopping vouchers.

There are no longer any rules on qualifying for the sign-up offer on this card.  If you are accepted, you will receive the bonus, irrespective of what other cards you hold or have recently held.

Learn more about the card benefits +

You receive £100 of Dell statement credit per calendar year.  This is made available in two parts.  You receive a £50 credit on Dell purchases made between January and June and a £50 credit on Dell purchases made between July and December.  There is no minimum spend requirement.

You can apply for complimentary Amex business cards for your employees.

You will receive one consolidated statement showing the spend on your card and all of the complimentary cards.  All of the Membership Rewards points earned on the complimentary cards will flow into your personal account.

Depending on when in your monthly cycle you make a payment, you will effectively receive up to 54 days free credit on your spending.

American Express statements provide more underlying transaction detail for flights and certain other transactions than Visa or Mastercard statements, making it easier to reconcile transactions.

You need a minimum personal income of £20,000 to apply for the card.

Terms and conditions apply to all card benefits.

Disclaimer: Head for Points is a journalistic website. Nothing here should be construed as financial advice, and it is your own responsibility to ensure that any product is right for your circumstances. Recommendations are based primarily on the ability to earn miles and points. The site discusses products offered by lenders but is not a lender itself. Robert Burgess, trading as Head for Points, is regulated and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as an independent credit broker.

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