Aviator Red vs Bilt Palladium
Side-by-side comparison: signup bonus, annual fee, benefits, transfer partners. Updated daily from issuer pages.
Quick Answer
For year-one net value (welcome bonus minus annual fee), Aviator Red comes out ahead at ~$1,021 at a lower $99 annual fee vs $495. Aviator Red sits in American Airlines AAdvantage; Bilt Palladium sits in Bilt Rewards. The right pick still depends on which credits and category multipliers fit your spending pattern — full breakdown below.
Aviator Red
Highest first-year value among the 2 cards you're comparing — $1,121 after annual fee.
Barclays
Aviator Red
Annual Fee
$99/yr
Signup Bonus
70,000 AAdvantage Miles
Bonus Value
~$1,120
Benefits Value
~$100/yr
Spend Req.
$1 / 1mo
Rewards Currency
American Airlines AAdvantage
Network
Mastercard
Card Type
Personal
Benefits
🛫 airline credit
First Checked Bag Free
$70/use
25% Inflight Savings
$30/yr
Bilt
Bilt Palladium
Annual Fee
$495/yr
Signup Bonus
50,000 Bilt Rewards
Bonus Value
~$1,100
Benefits Value
—
Spend Req.
$4,000 / 3mo
Rewards Currency
Bilt Rewards
Network
Mastercard
Card Type
Personal
Benefits
No tracked benefits
Quick winners by category
The fast answer if you came here looking for one specific thing.
Best for Dining
Aviator Red
Stronger dining category multiplier for everyday restaurant spending.
Best for Lounge Access
Bilt Palladium
Includes Priority Pass access — the other card has none.
Best for Transfer Partners
Bilt Palladium
Bilt Rewards has 10+ transfer partners — better redemption flexibility.
Best for Beginners
Aviator Red
Lower $99 annual fee makes the math safer for newer cardholders.
Best Overall Value
Aviator Red
~$1,121 of first-year value after annual fee — wins the math.
Best for Premium Travel
Bilt Palladium
Premium hotel credits, top-tier lounge access, and travel insurance built in — the luxury-travel pick.
Best for Hyatt Transfers
Bilt Palladium
Transfers points to World of Hyatt 1:1 — the highest-CPP redemption in the points game. Bilt Rewards owns this advantage.
What it's worth for your spending
Estimated first-year value (welcome bonus + benefits − annual fee) for four common spending profiles.
| Profile | Aviator Red | Bilt Palladium |
|---|---|---|
| Light spender, building credit | $1,297 | $781 |
| Everyday family ($40K/yr spend) | $1,661 | $1,199 |
| Frequent traveler (2-3 trips/yr) | $1,661 | $1,361 |
| Premium traveler (5+ trips/yr) | $2,021 | $2,045 |
Year-one value = welcome bonus + tracked benefits + estimated points value from spending − annual fee. Points valued at 1.5¢ each (transferable) or 1¢ each (cashback). Real-world value depends on how you redeem.
Side-by-side: every spec that matters
Higher value highlighted in green per row.
| Aviator Red | Bilt Palladium | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 70,000 AAdvantage Miles (~$1,120) | 50,000 Bilt Rewards (~$1,100) |
| Annual fee | $99/yr | $495/yr |
| Authorized user fee | Varies | $0 |
| Transfer partners | None (single program) | 10+ partners (Bilt Rewards) |
| Travel credits | $100/yr | — |
| Lounge access | None | Priority Pass only |
| Dining rewards | 1x | 1x |
| Grocery rewards | 1x | 1x |
| Hotel rewards | 1x | 3x |
| Travel insurance | Included | Comprehensive |
| Cell phone protection | Not standard | Included |
| Foreign transaction fee | $0 | $0 |
| Mobile wallet | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay |
| Network | Mastercard | Mastercard |
Who should get the Aviator Red?
- ✓You're comfortable with a $99 annual fee in exchange for stronger earning and welcome bonus value.
- ✓You fly a specific airline 4+ times per year and want elite-style perks (free bags, priority boarding).
- ✓You're already over 5/24 — Chase approvals are unlikely for now, so Amex / Cap One / Citi cards are the realistic next move.
Who should get the Bilt Palladium?
- ✓You're a frequent traveler willing to absorb a $495 annual fee for premium credits and lounge access.
- ✓Travel is one of your top 3 spending categories and you want to earn faster on flights, hotels, and ride-shares.
- ✓You book aspirational hotels and want elite status, suite upgrades, and resort credits without earning them through stays.
- ✓You fly enough that airport lounge access alone justifies the annual fee.
- ✓You enjoy stacking multipliers, calendaring statement credits, and treating your wallet like a small portfolio — the extra cognitive load is worth real $ to you.
- ✓You're already over 5/24 — Chase approvals are unlikely for now, so Amex / Cap One / Citi cards are the realistic next move.
- ✓You only need to clear first-year math — welcome bonus + statement credits − AF — and are happy to downgrade or cancel before year two if the credits don't fit your life.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a better welcome bonus, Aviator Red or Bilt Palladium?
Aviator Red currently offers the stronger welcome bonus by estimated cash value (~1,120 vs ~1,100). Welcome bonus offers change frequently — check the current offer on each card's detail page before applying.
Is the Aviator Red worth the 99 annual fee?
For first-year cardholders the answer is usually yes — the welcome bonus (~1,120) and statement credits alone typically cover the 99 fee several times over. After year one, the math depends on your spending patterns. Use our Annual Fee Calculator with your actual numbers to verify before renewing.
Is the Bilt Palladium worth the 495 annual fee?
For first-year cardholders the answer is usually yes — the welcome bonus (~1,100) and statement credits alone typically cover the 495 fee several times over. After year one, the math depends on your spending patterns. Use our Annual Fee Calculator with your actual numbers to verify before renewing.
Can I have both the Aviator Red and the Bilt Palladium?
Yes — these cards are from different issuers (Barclays and Bilt), so holding both is fine. Each card has its own welcome bonus and benefits with no overlap rules between the two issuers.
Which card is better for transferring points to Hyatt?
Bilt Palladium transfers to World of Hyatt at 1:1 through its Bilt Rewards ecosystem — one of the highest-CPP redemptions in the points game. Aviator Red doesn't transfer to Hyatt — American Airlines AAdvantage has no Hyatt partnership.
Which card has better airport lounge access?
Bilt Palladium includes Priority Pass. Aviator Red doesn't include lounge access — you'd need to pay for it separately or upgrade to a premium card.
Which card has the better overall value?
Based on first-year math (welcome bonus + tracked statement credits − annual fee), Aviator Red comes out ahead at ~1,121 of net value vs ~605 for the other card. After year one, the better card for YOU depends on how naturally you'll use the credits and category bonuses.
Which card has the easier minimum spend requirement?
Aviator Red has the easier bar — 1 in 1 months — vs 4,000 in 3 months for Bilt Palladium. Don't manufacture spend just to hit a higher threshold — if you can't reach it through normal spending, the card isn't the right fit right now.
Ready to apply?
Click through to the issuer's secure application page. Welcome bonus offers are confirmed at the time of approval, not at click time.
Barclays
Aviator Red
Welcome: 70,000 AAdvantage Miles · ~$1,120 est. value
Bilt
Bilt Palladium
Welcome: 50,000 Bilt Rewards · ~$1,100 est. value
Run your own numbers
These calculators use the same data this comparison runs on — plug in your spending and see net value.
Last reviewed
2026-05-29
Data sources
Issuer pages (verified via Playwright on this date), TPG monthly valuations, public award charts.
Methodology
Editorial note: CreditPoints may earn a commission when you apply through some of the links on this page, but the side-by-side ranking, Quick Winners and Real-World Scenarios are algorithmic and identical for all readers. We never accept payment to change ordering.
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