The past year has brought significant changes to the credit card market, with two new cards standing out from the rest. The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program revamped its offerings, rebranding to Atmos Rewards and introducing a new card, the Atmos Summit Visa Infinite, while Bilt retired its original credit card and replaced it with a suite of cobranded cards, including the premium Bilt Palladium Card.
The Bilt Palladium Card has become a staple in my wallet, largely due to its generous rewards program. It offers 2 Bilt points per dollar spent on all purchases, except tax payments, and 4% Bilt Cash, which can be redeemed for Points Accelerator, giving me 3 points per dollar spent on everything through the end of the year or up to $5,000 in purchases.
I choose the Bilt Palladium Card as my daily driver for two main reasons. Firstly, Bilt points are incredibly valuable, with a valuation of 2.2 cents per point, the highest value of any loyalty program. Moreover, I've consistently been able to redeem them for at least 3 cents per point, thanks to Bilt's top-tier transfer partners.
The second reason I prefer this card is its simplicity. With a single card, I can track my spending and pay my bill in one app, eliminating the need to juggle multiple cards and complex rewards programs.
Another card that's become essential to my travel routine is the Alaska Atmos Summit Card. This card stands out for its ability to earn 3 points per dollar spent on any purchase made abroad, making it the perfect choice for international travel.
The card also offers a range of other benefits, including quarterly Alaska Lounge passes, inflight Wi-Fi credits, and a 25,000-point annual Global Companion Award that can be used for 25,000 points off a companion's award ticket. These perks help offset the card's $395 annual fee and make it an attractive option for frequent travelers.
With over 30 credit cards in my wallet, it's rare for me to find two that get the majority of my spending. However, the Bilt Palladium Card and the Alaska Atmos Summit Card have become my go-to cards, allowing me to earn at least 2 points per dollar spent on virtually everything I buy, split between two of my favorite loyalty programs.
