Sometime during your points and miles journey, you’ll accumulate enough rewards for a free flight or hotel stay. If you’ve earned Bilt points, you’ll have lots of options for redeeming them: At a flat rate via the program’s travel portal or by transferring them to partner programs.
You’ll typically get the best value for your precious points by transferring them to Bilt’sairline and hotel partners versus booking via a travel portal.
Here’s everything you need to know about transferring Bilt points, which partners stand out above the rest, and other tips for making the most of your redemption.
Table of contents
Bilt transfer partners
Bilt points are one of the most valuable currencies on the market since you can transfer them to Bilt’s 12 airline or four hotel partners at a 1:1 transfer ratio.
Bilt airline transfer partners
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue
- Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
- Avianca Lifemiles
- British Airways Executive Club
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Emirates Skywards
- Iberia Plus
- Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- United MileagePlus
- Virgin Red (Virgin Atlantic Flying Club)
Bilt hotel transfer partners
- Hilton Honors
- IHG One Rewards
- Marriott Bonvoy
- World of Hyatt
Making the most lucrative redemption for your needs depends on your travel preferences and which brands you’re most loyal to. Once points have been transferred from Bilt, the process is irreversible. So make sure you have a solid plan for using them.
How much are Bilt points worth?
The value of Bilt points is very subjective – so much so that Bilt’s website doesn’t even list their official points valuation. That said, as a general guideline for determining redemptions, One Mile at a Time values Bilt points at 1.7 cents per point.
There are two important things to remember: You’ll typically get the best deal by transferring points at a 1:1 ratio to one of Bilt’s travel partners, and your Bilt points will never expire as long as your account stays active and in good standing.
How to transfer Bilt points to travel partners
Step 1: Log into the Bilt travel portal
To transfer points, you’ll need to log into the Bilt Rewards app or BiltRewards.com and click on the “Travel” tab from the main dashboard to reach the travel portal. (While the screenshots below are from BiltRewards.com, the app has a similar look and process).
In the Bilt Travel portal, you can redeem points for hotels and flights or transfer rewards to select travel partners, thanks to a nifty feature powered by point.me.
Step 2: Click “Transfer to Travel Partners:”
Next, click on the “Transfer to travel programs” tab on the right (in the app, scroll to the right). Next, you’ll need to link your loyalty accounts to Bilt Rewards.
Step 3: Link your loyalty accounts to Bilt Rewards
Linking your accounts to Bilt Rewards is easy to do through the app or website. It takes just a few minutes, especially if you have all your membership numbers handy.
Once they’re all linked up, your screen should look like this and you’re ready to transfer points.
The hotel partners section should look like this once your accounts are linked:
Don’t worry if you don’t have an account with every travel partner, as you can create a free one anytime and link it whenever you want to transfer points.
Step 4: Complete the transfer
Keep in mind that members with Bilt Rewards Blue status must transfer at least 2,000 Bilt points, while the minimum for those with Silver, Gold, or Platinum status is 1,000 points per transaction. All points must be transferred in 1,000-point increments, and you’re limited to transferring 1,000,000 points per day.
From here, it’s essentially the same process for every transfer partner, whether you do it through the app or on the website.
For this example, let’s transfer 2,000 Bilt points to Air France/KLM Flying Blue.
First, click “Transfer” to reach this next page, where you’ll find info about your linked accounts, status, and current rewards balance. Click “Transfer points.”
Plug in how many points you want to transfer, review the rules, and click “Next.”
On the next screen, review the details of your transfer.
Scroll down to check the box saying you agree to the terms and conditions. Click “Confirm transfer” to complete the process.
The best Bilt transfer partners
Some transfer partners may seem better than others, depending on your preferred carrier, airline alliance, or hotel brand. Here’s a look at how to choose the best Bilt transfer partners to suit your travel needs:
Best for Star Alliance flights
While United MileagePlus is a Bilt Rewards transfer partner, it’s also worth comparing redemption rates against its three Star Alliance partners — Air Canada Aeroplan, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, and Avianca LifeMiles — which are also tied to Bilt.
While a few extra steps may be involved in your search (with Aeroplan, you’ll need to start by calculating the distance of your flight on Great Circle Mapper) you may end up finding a better deal versus transferring your Bilt points directly to United Airlines.
Additional factors like the total distance flown and your departure and arrival cities (whether you’re coming from the East Coast or West Coast of the U.S.) may impact your final redemption rate. For Singapore Airlines reward flights, stick to Aeroplan, as you won’t be able to book them through Avianca or Turkish Airlines. It’s also worth checking for award availability on United’s website, even when searching for partner flights.
Best for SkyTeam flights
For flights to Europe, start by checking with Air France/KLM Flying Blue, which is known for its lucrative Promo Rewards. Economy lights between the U.S. and Europe generally start at 20,000 for a one-way trip, while one-way premium economy flights start at 35,000, and one-way business class trips start at 50,000.
Another good option is with Virgin Red, a partner of Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, though you might end up paying more taxes and fees even if it costs you fewer miles. Still, transferring Bilt points to Virgin Red allows you to redeem them for flights with other SkyTeam partners (think SAS and Delta Air Lines), as well as additional non-alliance partners like Virgin Australia, South African Airways, and Air New Zealand.
Best for Oneworld flights
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is your best choice for using Bilt points to book flights with Oneworld partners like American Airlines (no longer a Bilt partner), British Airways, or Cathay Pacific. You can also use Mileage Plan miles to book flights with Korean Air, LATAM Airlines, Aer Lingus, Icelandair, and a host of other non-alliance carriers.
Best for hotels
While you’ll likely find the best value for your Bilt points by transferring them to the World of Hyatt loyalty program, it all comes down to your brand of choice. Marriott Bonvoy fans, for instance, may want to take advantage of a transfer bonus that provides an extra 5,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for every 20,000 points transferred from Bilt Rewards.
Bilt Rewards is connected to four major hotel loyalty programs — IHG One Rewards, Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt — so you’ll have plenty of options, from luxury once-in-a-lifetime resort stays to classically reliable family-friendly brands.
Tips for transferring Bilt points to travel partners
Keep the following tips in mind when it comes time to transfer your points.
Double-check flight availability before transferring your points
Transferring Bilt points is permanent, so make sure an award flight is available during your desired travel dates first. Whether you locate your ideal redemption through Bilt Rewards or via point.me, it’s worth confirming award space with the airline, just in case.
Flexibility is key when it comes to scoring the best points redemption rate, so check several dates — or select the flexible dates option to flip through an award calendar (if your preferred partner has one) and see when the cheapest redemption rates are offered.
Compare the value of the booking with Bilt or directly with the partner
Shop around to ensure you’re getting the biggest bang for your buck by transferring Bilt points to a travel partner. Plug in your desired destination and travel dates to get an idea of pricing — in both cash and points. From there, you can decide if a redemption is worthy.
It’s also a good idea to compare cash and points pricing within Bilt’s travel portal, powered by point.me. You may stumble upon a good deal, whether with one of Bilt’s travel or alliance partners. Either way, it’s best to have a few options to choose from before transferring points.
A sample award search through the Bilt Rewards travel portal for a one-way flight from New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG) in mid-October revealed options on Air France/KLM Flying Blue or Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, both of which are Bilt partners.
Another award flight was offered via American Airlines (no longer a Bilt Rewards partner), bookable via Bilt partners Alaska Airlines, British Airways, or Cathay Pacific.
Note the different taxes and fees in the sample flight redemptions listed above. You may end up choosing to pay more in miles for a seat to save $500 or $750 in taxes and fees.
Use points to pay for flights over hotel stays to get the most value
It’s generally recommended that you transfer points to airline partners over hotel partners, as those offer the best overall value. If you prefer to put them toward a truly epic hotel stay you wouldn’t otherwise be able to do, by all means, go for it. The value may be worth it to reach your personal travel goals.
If you won’t be traveling for a while, it may be worth putting your Bilt points toward other expenses like paying your rent, making a down payment on a home, taking exercise classes (with Pure Barre, Rumble, or SoulCycle), purchasing items on Amazon, sprucing up your home with decor from the Bilt Collection, or statement credits toward purchases made with your Bilt Mastercard.
Frequently asked questions about transferring Bilt points
How long does it take to transfer Bilt Ultimate Rewards points to a travel partner?
Bilt’s website states that most transfers happen within 24 hours. It’s still a good idea to transfer points well ahead of time, just in case. Confirm award availability directly and place a hold on the reservation if possible, just so you’re not stressing out too close to your trip.
Can you transfer Bilt points to someone else?
No, you can only transfer Bilt points to your personal loyalty account. That said, it is possible to “pool” or combine your points with other members by transferring Bilt points to World of Hyatt, United Airlines, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, or Air Canada Aeroplan. These programs allow point pooling as long as all members’ accounts are active and in good standing and you follow the rules (World of Hyatt, for example, makes you fill out a form for this).
Can you transfer points back to Bilt once you have transferred them to a partner?
No. Once you transfer the points to Bilt, they automatically become points under the partner’s system, and you can’t switch them back. It’s best to have a solid redemption idea in mind and check to make sure there’s availability before pulling the trigger.
Which cards earn transferable Bilt points?
Only the no-annual-fee Bilt Mastercard lets you earn Bilt points. Cardmembers can earn 3X points on dining, 2X points on travel, and 1X points on all other purchases, including your rent (up to 100,000 points per calendar year). Just remember to use your card at least five times during each statement period to keep the points you’ve racked up.
Bilt cardholders can take advantage of Rent Day deals on the first day of the month. On Rent Day,earning rates increaseup to 6X points on dining, 4X points on travel, and 2X points on all other purchases (besides rent). Bilt also throws in special treats like transfer bonuses to select travel partners and other freebies, so keep an eye out for deals in the app or via email toward the end of the month.
Since several of Bilt’s travel partners are connected to other popular loyalty programs — such as Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, and Capital One Rewards — Bilt points can help you reach your award travel goals faster. Air France/KLM Flying Blue, for instance, is a partner of all transferable rewards currencies, so you could save up and transfer points from a few programs to redeem for free flights that way.
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