Bilt Rewards Airline Transfer Partners

Unlocking the full potential of your Bilt Points for amazing travel adventures is easier than you might think. While most discussions about credit card travel rewards revolve around programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt points can sometimes offer even better value, especially when transferred to airline partners. So in this article, we’ll explore Bilt’s airline transfer partners and see where you can turn your points into unforgettable journeys.

Overview of Bilt’s Point Currency

Bilt Rewards is one of the most revolutionary loyalty programs in the modern era of travel rewards. Launched in 2021, it allows members to rack up Bilt Points through the $0 annual fee Bilt Mastercard®, which by itself is nothing too special (rates & fees). The main draw of the program is that the Bilt Mastercard earns 1X Bilt points on rent, a huge monthly expense that you can’t normally pay with other credit cards due to extra transaction fees.

Members can then transfer Bilt points to one of their 16 transfer partners, 13 of which are airlines. Normally, you can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio, which already represents decent value. However, on “Rent Day” (the 1st of every month), Bilt sometimes announces transfer bonuses for select partners, where you can sometimes get 50%, 100% or even 150% more points per transfer.

Notably, you don’t need to be a Bilt Mastercard cardholder to enroll in the Bilt program. However, this will make it significantly harder to earn any substantial amount of Bilt points. All in all, being able to earn points by paying rent sets Bilt apart from other rewards programs. Its list of airline transfer partners is also very impressive, especially since anyone with a Bilt account can access it (creating a Bilt account is completely free).

List of Bilt Airline Partners

Bilt currently has 14 airline transfer partners, summarized in the table below:

This list of partners, as well as their specific transfer ratios and transfer bonus offers, can change over time. For the latest information, refer to the official list provided by Bilt.

Best Practices for Transferring Points

When transferring your Bilt points to partners, keep in mind the following best practices.

Confirm Award Availability First

As with all credit card rewards programs, after you transfer your points to a partner, they cannot be reversed. This means you should always confirm award availability for your intended travel dates before initiating a transfer. Also, transferred points become subject to the partner airline’s terms and conditions, which can include expiration policies. For example, Emirates miles may expire three years after the transfer.

In general, if you haven’t confirmed award availability, it’s best to refrain from transferring your Bilt points. By keeping them in your Bilt account, you preserve their flexibility. You also won’t have to worry about any expiration policies, since Bilt points remain valid as long as your account is open and in good standing.

Research and Compare Partners

Numerous airlines may operate your intended flight route. Just as you would when purchasing flights with cash, invest some time comparing the points cost for each option. This enables you to identify the most cost-effective points redemption for your journey.

While Bilt directly partners with 13 airlines, you actually get access to more thanks to airline alliances. For instance, Avianca’s membership in the Star Alliance gives you the option to book nearly any Star Alliance award seat through the LifeMiles program.

Check for Transfer Bonuses

Utilizing transfer bonuses can help you maximize the value of your Bilt points. You can typically expect Bilt to release transfer bonuses every 1st day of every month as part of their monthly Rent Day benefits.

Bilt’s transfer bonuses are often a lot stronger than those offered by other major credit card companies, but they also last a lot shorter (usually for one day only). For a past example, as part of Rent Day in January 2024 Bilt offered a transfer bonus to Air France/KLM Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic. The exact bonus depended on your Bilt status:

• Bilt Blue members get a 75% bonus (1,000 Bilt points = 1,750 partner miles)
• Bilt Silver members get a 100% bonus (1,000 Bilt points = 2,000 partner miles)
• Bilt Gold members get a 125% bonus (1,000 Bilt points = 2,250 partner miles)
• Bilt Platinum members get a 150% bonus (1,000 Bilt points = 2,500 partner miles)

Even at the lowest tier, a 75% bonus is unheard of with other major issuers such as Chase and American Express. Though you might need some luck in order for Bilt to release the perfect transfer bonus with your preferred airline partner, the potential benefits are huge.

Program Rules and Limitations

Before transferring your points using the Bilt program, be aware of the following rules and limitations.

Eligible Cards

Bilt currently offers just one card: the Bilt Mastercard®. Though it’s not required to access Bilt’s transfer partners, earning a substantial amount of Bilt points is simply impossible without the card. To get any meaningful value out of Bilt’s program, you should still get the Bilt Mastercard®.

Minimum Transfer Limits

When transferring to Bilt airline partners, your Bilt status determines the minimum transfer amount:

• Bilt Blue members have a minimum transfer amount of 2,000 points.
• Bilt Silver, Gold and Platinum members have a minimum point transfer amount of 1,000 points.

All transfers must be done in 1,000-point increments.

Expiration Policies

Your Bilt points remain valid indefinitely as long as your account remains open and active. However, once you transfer points to an airline partner, they are governed by the expiration policies of that specific partner. Since some airline mileage programs do have expiration dates, exercise caution before starting a points transfer.

Restrictions and Blackout Dates

You are free to transfer Bilt points at any time without concern for restrictions or blackout dates. However, partner airlines may impose their own blackout dates and restrictions on award booking procedures.

Earning Bilt Points

To earn any meaningful amount of Bilt points, you need the Bilt Mastercard. This card earns you 1X points on rent without any additional fees when you use the card to pay your rent (on up to 100,000 points per calendar year), so it’s geared towards renters. The Bilt Mastercard also earns 2X points on travel and 3X points on dining. Note that you must use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points (rewards & benefits).

Bilt is also slowly expanding its Bilt Dining collection of restaurants. If you visit one of these restaurants and use a linked card to pay (any linked card; doesn’t have to be the Bilt Mastercard), you can earn up to 10X points.

Finally, Bilt also offers members other fun ways to earn points, particularly during Rent Day. For example, Trivia Quest is a five-question trivia game where you can earn up to 150 Bilt points. If you get all five questions correct, you’ll unlock a sixth question with a chance to earn an additional 100 points.

Conclusion

For your next getaway, consider redeeming your Bilt points for air travel through one of Bilt’s many airline partners. By consistently spending with the Bilt Mastercard, you can gradually accumulate a significant stash of Bilt points. Then, it’s easy to transfer them to your preferred airline partner for an award redemption. You’re even better off if you’re able to take advantage of a huge transfer bonus!

Bilt’s transfer partners, bonuses and program terms are subject to change. Given the dynamic nature of the travel rewards industry, stay on the lookout for updates in the Bilt program to ensure you can continually maximize the value of your points.