Amex is raising the annual fees on 2 popular Hilton cards, but it's also adding perks that could add hundreds of dollars in value

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The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

• Amex is raising the annual fees on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card - Product Name Only and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card - Product Name Only credit cards
• Both cards also receive increased benefits such as complimentary rental car elite status and annual statement credits
• Enhanced benefits will offset the increased annual fee for some cardholders.

We'll give you the bad news first: American Express is raising annual fees on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card - Product Name Only and the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card - Product Name Only. 

As of today, cardholders of the mid-tier Hilton Surpass will pay a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card - Annual Fee annual fee, up from $95. Hilton Aspire premium cardholders will see an even higher rate jump to Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card - Annual Fee per year, up from the previous $450 annual fee. 

However, these benefits are well offset by a generous increase in perks and benefits for both cards. Here's what you should know about the changes so you can decide if the card still makes sense for you. 

Not sure which card is best for you? Read about them in our guide to the best Hilton credit cards. 

Hilton Honors Surpass Updated Benefits and Fees

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card - Product Name Only updated benefits include:

• 4x Hilton Honors bonus points on online retail purchases within the U.S. 
• Up to $50 in quarterly statement credits on eligible Hilton purchases (up to $200 per year)
• Complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status 

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card - Editorial Name Only will continue to offer the following earning rates per dollar spent:

• 12x points on eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
• 6x points at U.S. restaurants (including takeout and delivery)
• 6x points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets
• 6x points on gas at U.S. gas stations
• 3x points on all other eligible purchases

Insider values Hilton points at 0.5 cents each, which means you'll typically earn a minimum of 1.5% back on each dollar spent on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card - Editorial Name Only.

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card - Editorial Name Only also comes with complimentary Hilton Gold elite status. 

Hilton Honors Aspire Updated Benefits and Fees

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card - Editorial Name Only cardholders will receive the following updated benefits:

• Up to $200 in semi-annual statement credits on eligible Hilton purchases (up to $400 per year)
• Up to $50 in quarterly statement credits on eligible flight purchases (up to $200 per year)
• A $189 statement credit per calendar year after you sign up and pay for a CLEAR Plus membership with your card
• Complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status
• Cell phone insurance of up to $800 per eligible claim, minus $50 deductible, when you pay for your wireless phone bill using upir card

As before, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card - Editorial Name Only cardholders will continue to earning points at the following rates per dollar spent:

• 14x Hilton points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases
• 7x points per dollar at eligible U.S. restaurants, on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, and on eligible car rentals
• 3x points per eligible dollar spent on everything else

Existing Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card - Editorial Name Only card perks that will remain the same include:

• Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status
• An annual free night reward each membership year
• An additional free night reward after spending $30,000 in eligible purchases on the card within a calendar year
• A third free night reward after spending an additional $30,000 on eligible purchases ($60,000 total) on your card within the same calendar year
• Up to $100 statement credit towards qualifying charges at participating Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties for stays of two or more nights

A Cost-Benefit Analysis: Do the Pros Outweigh the Cons? 

Given the increased annual fees, should you keep your Hilton credit card? As always, it depends on your personal spending and travel habits, as well as the value you currently derive from either card. Here's how we'd analyze each of the impacted cards:

Hilton Surpass: $200+ in value for $65 more in annual fees

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card - Editorial Name Only cardholders will receive up to $200 back per year on eligible Hilton purchases in the form of statement credits. These credits are more restrictive than straight cash back or point rewards, since you have to spread them out across four different purchases throughout the year. However, this new benefit alone will more than cover the $65 additional cost of holding the card, at least for the right cardholder. 

The other two perks are less quantifiable in direct financial terms, but earning 4x Hilton Honors points on online retail purchases and holding Emerald Club Executive status on car rentals through National may be beneficial for you at least a handful of times throughout each year. 

Hilton Surpass card review

Hilton Aspire: $789+ in value for $100 more in annual fees

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card - Editorial Name Only cardholders see a huge jump in monetary value with these new changes, assuming you're able to maximize the new benefits. If you spend even $400 at Hilton properties per year, the annual credits will offset the increased annual fee. Keep in mind, however, that you'd have to book two separate stays to maximize the semi-annual credit: $200 in the first half of the year, and $200 in the second half of the year. 

Similarly, most people will be able to utilize at least part of the $200 in flight-related statement credits. Once again, these will be distributed once per quarter in increments of up to $50.

The CLEAR Plus membership is the easiest benefit you can qualify for, as you'll receive a statement credit of up to $189 as soon as your registration charge hits your credit card statement. And if you pay your cell phone bill with your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card - Editorial Name Only credit card, the insurance protection of up to $800 per eligible claim can singlehandedly offset the card's full annual fee of Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card - Annual Fee.

The premium Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card - Editorial Name Only won't be the right card for everyone – but for the right traveler, the enhanced benefits can be a huge boon. 

Hilton Aspire card review