Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® vs. AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
Side-by-side comparison · Updated 2026 · Independently reviewed
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®
American Express
4.3
130,000 bonus points. 12x at Hilton. 6x at restaurants, supermarkets, gas.
Full review →
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
Barclays
4.0
60,000-mile bonus after first purchase. Free checked bag on AA flights.
Full review →WealthSpott Verdict
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® wins on more measurable categories — particularly annual cost. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® may still win for your wallet depending on your spending patterns.
Feature
Hilton Honors American
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red
Annual Fee
$150/yr
$99/yr Best
Sign-up Bonus
130,000 points
60,000 miles
Rewards Rate
3x-12x
1x-2x
Rewards Type
Points
Miles
0% Intro APR
N/A
N/A
Regular APR
22.49%-29.49% Variable
21.49%-29.49% Variable Best
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
None
Recommended Credit Score
670-850
670-850
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®
Pros
- 12x points at Hilton properties
- 6x at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas
- Automatic Hilton Gold status
- Free weekend night after $15k annual spend
Cons
- $150 annual fee
- Hilton points worth less per point than rivals
- Free night requires $15k spend to unlock
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
Pros
- 60,000-mile bonus after just one purchase
- Free first checked bag on AA flights
- Preferred boarding on American Airlines
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- $99 annual fee
- Low everyday earning rate (1x on most)
- Miles tied to American Airlines only
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