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Bilt Palladium vs United Club Infinite

Bilt Rewards vs United MileagePlus — Bilt Palladium vs United Club Infinite — here's what separates them. Bilt Palladium transfers to World of Hyatt; United Club Infinite does not.

Quick Answer

For first-year value (welcome bonus plus tracked annual credits, minus the annual fee), United Club Infinite comes out ahead at ~$1,750 even at a higher $695 annual fee vs $495. United Club Infinite sits in United MileagePlus; Bilt Palladium sits in Bilt Rewards. The right pick still depends on which credits and category multipliers fit your spending pattern — full breakdown below.

Our Verdict

United Club Infinite wins for most people.

Despite the higher $695 annual fee (vs $495), United Club Infinite delivers ~$1,750 in first-year value through its welcome bonus (~$1,485) and $960/yr in tracked credits. Bilt Palladium trails at ~$1,545.

Exception: United Club Infinite's lead only holds if you actually fly United regularly — for everyone else, Bilt Palladium's transferable points are the safer pick.

Choose Bilt Palladium if…

  • You want the lower annual fee: $495 vs $695 for United Club Infinite.
  • You want 1:1 transfers to World of Hyatt — United Club Infinite can't do that.
  • You want transferable points: Bilt Rewards moves to 10+ airline and hotel partners.

Choose United Club Infinite if…

  • You fly United regularly — first 2 checked bags free, priority boarding, airline lounge access, a boost toward Premier Silver status pay for themselves at the gate.
  • You're maximising the welcome bonus right now (~$1,485 vs ~$1,100).
  • You book travel often — 4x on travel vs 1x on Bilt Palladium.
  • Airport lounge access matters to you — it unlocks United Club (full membership).
Top Match

United Club Infinite

Highest first-year value among the 2 cards you're comparing — $1,750 after annual fee.

Bilt Palladium Card

Bilt

Bilt Palladium

Annual Fee

$495/yr

Signup Bonus

50,000 Bilt Rewards

Bonus Value

~$1,100

Benefits Value

~$940/yr

Spend Req.

$4,000 / 3mo

Rewards Currency

Bilt Rewards

Network

Mastercard

Card Type

Personal

Benefits

✈️ travel credit

Lyft Credit

$120/yr

Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit

$120/yr

🏨 hotel credit

Bilt Travel Hotel Credit

$400/yr

🏛️ lounge

Priority Pass Select

$300/yr

status

Bilt Gold Hotel Status

United Club Infinite Card

Chase

United Club Infinite

Annual Fee

$695/yr

Signup Bonus

110,000 MileagePlus Miles

Bonus Value

~$1,485

Benefits Value

~$960/yr

Spend Req.

$5,000 / 3mo

Rewards Currency

United MileagePlus

Network

Visa

Card Type

Personal

Benefits

✈️ travel credit

Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit

$120/yr

🛫 airline credit

First 2 Checked Bags Free

$140/use

Premier Access Benefits

$50/yr

🏛️ lounge

United Club Membership

$650/yr

status

IHG One Rewards Platinum Status

Avis & Hertz Elite Status

Quick winners by category

The fast answer if you came here looking for one specific thing.

✈️

Best for Travel

United Club Infinite

Wins on bigger travel credit ($300 vs $200) you can actually spend on flights and hotels.

🍽️

Best for Dining

Bilt Palladium

Stronger dining category multiplier for everyday restaurant spending.

🛋️

Best for Lounge Access

United Club Infinite

Stronger lounge network (United Club (full membership)) than the other card's Priority Pass.

🔄

Best for Transfer Partners

Bilt Palladium

Bilt Rewards has 10+ transfer partners — better redemption flexibility.

🌱

Best for Beginners

Bilt Palladium

Lower $495 annual fee makes the math safer for newer cardholders.

🏆

Best Overall Value

United Club Infinite

~$1,750 of first-year value after annual fee — wins the math.

👑

Best for Premium Travel

United Club Infinite

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.

🧾

Biggest Credit Stack

United Club Infinite

Bigger statement-credit stack (~$300/yr in tracked credits) — high ceiling if you use them.

What it's worth for your spending

Estimated first-year value (welcome bonus + benefits − annual fee) for four common spending profiles.

ProfileBilt PalladiumUnited Club Infinite
Light spender, building credit$1,721$1,944
Everyday family ($40K/yr spend)$2,139$2,371
Frequent traveler (2-3 trips/yr)$2,301$2,470
Premium traveler (5+ trips/yr)$2,985$3,046

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.

Bilt PalladiumUnited Club Infinite
Welcome bonus
50,000 Bilt Rewards (~$1,100)
110,000 MileagePlus Miles (~$1,485)
Annual fee
$495/yr
$695/yr
Authorized user fee
$0
$0
Transfer partners
10+ partners (Bilt Rewards)
None (single program)
Travel credits
$240/yr
$310/yr
Lounge access
Priority Pass only
United Club (full membership)
Dining rewards
1x
2x
2x on dining and all other travel
Grocery rewards
1x
1x
Hotel rewards
$400/yr
4x
Travel insurance
Comprehensive
Comprehensive
Cell phone protection
Included
Included
Foreign transaction fee
$0
$0
Mobile wallet
Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay
Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay
Network
Mastercard
Visa

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 take 10+ flights a year and want Centurion / Priority Pass / Sapphire / Capital One Lounge access — not just the marketing line, but actually visiting lounges.
  • 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.

Who should get the United Club Infinite?

  • You're a frequent traveler willing to absorb a $695 annual fee for premium credits and lounge access.
  • You fly a specific airline 4+ times per year and want elite-style perks (free bags, priority boarding).
  • 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 take 10+ flights a year and want Centurion / Priority Pass / Sapphire / Capital One Lounge access — not just the marketing line, but actually visiting lounges.
  • 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 under Chase 5/24 (≤ 4 new personal cards in the last 24 months) — that window is precious, so prioritise the Chase application now.

Break-Even Analysis

At what annual spend does one card permanently beat the other?

Below break-even

Bilt Palladium

wins on fixed value

Break-Even Spend

$30,000

annual card spend

Above break-even

United Club Infinite

wins on multipliers

Below ~$30,000/yr in total annual card spend, Bilt Palladium wins on ongoing value — its $495 annual fee + $940/yr in tracked benefits starts ahead. Above ~$30,000/yr, United Club Infinite's stronger category multipliers compound faster and overtake Bilt Palladium's fixed advantage. Year-one bonus math heavily favours United Club Infinite regardless of spend.

Break-even calculated on year-2+ ongoing value (benefits + earning − annual fee). Year-one welcome bonus math is separate — see the value scenarios table above.

Frequently asked questions

Which has a better welcome bonus, Bilt Palladium or United Club Infinite?

United Club Infinite currently has the stronger offer: 110,000 MileagePlus Miles (~$1,485 value) after $5,000 spend in 3 months, vs 50,000 Bilt Rewards (~$1,100) after $4,000 in 3 months for Bilt Palladium. Welcome offers change frequently — verify the current offer on the issuer's application page before applying.

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.

Is the United Club Infinite worth the $695 annual fee?

For first-year cardholders the answer is usually yes — the welcome bonus (~$1,485) and statement credits alone typically cover the $695 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 Bilt Palladium and the United Club Infinite?

Yes — these cards are from different issuers (Bilt and Chase), so holding both is fine. Each card has its own welcome bonus and benefits with no overlap rules between the two issuers. One sequencing tip: United Club Infinite is subject to Chase 5/24, so if you're close to the limit, apply for it first.

Which is better for United flyers — United Club Infinite or Bilt Palladium?

If you fly United several times a year, United Club Infinite is built for you: first 2 checked bags free, priority boarding, airline lounge access, a boost toward Premier Silver status. Those perks only pay off on United flights, though. If your travel is spread across airlines, Bilt Palladium is the stronger pick — its Bilt Rewards points transfer to 10+ airline and hotel partners instead of being locked into MileagePlus Miles.

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. United Club Infinite doesn't transfer to Hyatt — United MileagePlus has no Hyatt partnership.

Which card has better airport lounge access?

United Club Infinite unlocks United Club (full membership); Bilt Palladium unlocks Priority Pass. Both give you a real lounge experience, but the networks don't overlap — pick the card whose lounge footprint fits the airports you actually fly through.

Which card has the better overall value?

Based on first-year math (welcome bonus + tracked statement credits − annual fee), United Club Infinite comes out ahead at ~$1,750 of net value vs ~$1,545 for the other card. After year one, the better card for YOU depends on how naturally you'll use the credits and category bonuses.

Does Chase's 5/24 rule affect approval for these cards?

Yes — United Club Infinite is issued by Chase, so the 5/24 rule applies. If you've opened 5 or more cards in the last 24 months, Chase will likely deny your application. Bilt Palladium is issued by Bilt and isn't subject to 5/24.

Which card has the easier minimum spend requirement?

Bilt Palladium has the easier bar — $4,000 in 3 months — vs $5,000 in 3 months for United Club Infinite. 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.

Which card has more transfer partners?

Bilt Palladium wins on raw partner breadth — 10 transfer partners vs 0 for United Club Infinite. More partners means more routing flexibility for award flights and hotel redemptions. That said, partner *quality* often matters more than partner *count*: a single great partner (e.g. Hyatt at 1:1) can outweigh a dozen weak ones.

How does CreditPoints compare Bilt Palladium and United Club Infinite?

Every comparison uses the same fixed methodology: welcome offer value (bonus × current points valuation minus AF), category earning rates, annual fee vs benefit math, transfer-partner depth + redemption value, lounge tier, travel protections, and foreign transaction handling. Card facts come from issuer pages (verified via Playwright on the "Last reviewed" date), card-program award charts, and TPG monthly valuations. Nothing on this page is paid-placement — the Quick Winners, Real-World Scenarios, and Comparison Table are deterministic outputs from the data, not editorial opinion.

Alternatives Worth Considering

If neither card is quite right, these are the next closest options.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One

Venture X

$395/yr~$1,388 bonus

Lower-cost entry point at $395/yr. First-year value ~$1,913.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Amex

Hilton Aspire

$550/yr~$600 bonus

Amex alternative with Hilton Honors and ~$2,629 first-year value.

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive card

Citi

AA Executive

$595/yr~$1,120 bonus

Citi alternative with American Airlines AAdvantage and ~$1,590 first-year value.

Looking beyond these two cards?

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.

Bilt

Bilt Palladium

Welcome: 50,000 Bilt Rewards · ~$1,100 est. value

Apply for Bilt Palladium

Chase

United Club Infinite

Welcome: 110,000 MileagePlus Miles · ~$1,485 est. value

Apply for United Club Infinite

Run your own numbers

These calculators use the same data this comparison runs on — plug in your spending and see net value.

How we compare these cards

Every pair on CreditPoints is evaluated against the same fixed set of criteria, regenerated on every build from verified card-level data. Nothing in this section changes based on who you are or how you got here.

Factors we evaluate

  • Welcome offer value (bonus points × current valuation, minus annual fee)
  • Earning rates per spend category (dining, travel, groceries, gas, base)
  • Annual fee vs benefit math (statement credits + perks priced to value)
  • Transfer partner depth + redemption flexibility (programs, ratios, sweet spots)
  • Lounge access (network tier, guest policy, in-airport coverage)
  • Travel protections (trip cancellation, baggage, rental-car CDW, cell phone)
  • Hotel and airline benefits (free nights, status, elite-night credits)
  • Foreign transaction fees + chip+PIN support for international use

How we evaluate rewards programs

We score transferable-points ecosystems (Chase UR, Amex MR, Citi TY, Capital One Miles, Bilt) by partner count + redemption value at each partner's sweet spot. Co-brand programs are evaluated against the loyalty program's published award chart and the realistic point earn rate from typical category spend.

How we evaluate transfer partners

Transfer-partner quality outranks transfer-partner quantity. A single 1:1 partner with strong sweet spots (Hyatt via Chase UR, ANA via Amex MR) often beats a dozen 2:1 partners with little redemption upside.

How we evaluate annual fees

An annual fee is justified only when the card's first-year value (welcome bonus + activated credits + benefits) clearly exceeds the AF for the typical reader profile. Our four spending scenarios (beginner, everyday, traveler, premium) show whether the math works for your situation.

How we evaluate travel benefits

Statement credits are priced at face value only when the activation barrier is low (broad-merchant credits, auto-redeem credits). High-friction credits (single-vendor, expiring monthly, claim-required) are discounted because most cardholders don't capture them.

Recommendations on this page are intended as educational guidance and are not financial advice. Always confirm current offer terms on the issuer's site before applying.

Last reviewed

2026-05-29

Data sources

Issuer pages (verified via Playwright on this date), TPG monthly valuations, public award charts.

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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