Picture this: you’re lying in bed, finally ready to make that long-dreamed-of European vacation happen. You decide a credit card could help offset the cost and choose a Delta credit card because that airline flies out of your airport.

Fast-forward a few months, and now you’re flush with miles and ready to book. But when you log in to your SkyMiles® account, your heart sinks. That “free flight” now costs an eye-watering number of miles—and suddenly your dream trip feels anything but attainable.

This kind of frustration is exactly why transferable rewards programs matter. And Bilt—especially with its expanding lineup of credit cards—stands out because its points can be transferred to multiple airline and hotel partners, giving you far more opportunities to unlock real value instead of getting boxed in by one program’s pricing.

Currently the Bilt card is not open to new applications as they get ready to launch Bilt 2.0.

 

Why Bilt Points Are Valuable

Bilt points stand out because they’re designed for flexibility and high-value redemptions—two things beginners often don’t get when they start collecting miles. So instead of being locked into a single airline or hotel program, you can transfer your Bilt Rewards to more than twenty partners, including:

Airlines

• Aer Lingus AerClub – 1:1
• Air Canada Aeroplan® – 1:1
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue® – 1:1
• Atmos™ Rewards (Alaska Airlines + Hawaiian Airlines) – 1:1
• Avianca LifeMiles – 1:1
• The British Airways Club – 1:1
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles – 1:1
• Emirates Skywards® – 1:1
• Etihad Airways – 1:1
• Club Iberia Plus – 1:1
• Japan Airlines Mileage Bank – 1:1
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club Avios – 1:1
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards – 1:1
• TAP Miles&Go – 1:1
• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles – 1:1
• United MileagePlus® – 1:1
• Virgin Red®/Virgin Atlantic Flying Club – 1:1

Hotels

• Accor Live Limitless – 3:2
• Hilton Honors – 1:1
• IHG® One Rewards – 1:1
• Marriott Bonvoy™ – 1:1
• World of Hyatt® – 1:1

 

Earning Bilt Points

Bilt offers several ways to earn rewards, but the easiest and most consistent method to earn is with the Bilt Mastercard. The program’s flagship no-annual-fee card offers the following earning rates:

• 3x points on dining
• 2x points on travel
• 1x on rent (up to 100,000 points per calendar year)
• 1x on everything else

You’ll need to make sure to use your card at least five times each month to be eligible to earn points.

Bilt plans to launch three new credit cards in February 2026 as part of its upcoming Bilt 2.0 transition. The company hasn’t released complete terms, but early details confirm multiple tiers with different earning structures and benefits.

One notable update is the expansion of housing-related rewards. Bilt 2.0 will allow members to earn points on residential mortgage payments, extending the program’s original rent-earning feature to homeowners.

Beyond the credit cards, Bilt offers a few additional ways to earn points. You can earn rewards on rent payments made through the Bilt platform (even if you don’t have the Bilt credit card). Members can also participate in Bilt Dining to earn points at partner restaurants, shop through Rakuten, and take advantage of monthly Rent Day promotions, which often include boosted earnings or limited-time bonuses.

 

The Best Ways To Redeem Bilt Points for Maximum Value

Bilt points deliver their highest value when transferred to airline and hotel partners. While you can use points for things like the Bilt Travel Portal or statement credits, the most significant wins come from leveraging partners with generous award charts.

Here’s where you will find the best bang for your Bilt points.

 

Best Airline Redemptions

Air Canada Aeroplan

Aeroplan is one of Bilt’s strongest airline partners thanks to reasonable award rates, broad global coverage, and the ability to book flights on more than 45 partner airlines—including Star Alliance partners United, Lufthansa, SWISS, ANA, and more.

Why it’s useful:

• Great pricing for Europe
• Strong availability
• Ability to mix and match partners on a single itinerary
• Does not pass on surcharges for award flight bookings

Beginner sweet spots:

• U.S. to Europe in economy for 35,000 points each way
• U.S. to Europe in business class starting around 60,000 points
• U.S. to Asia from 55,000 points in business class

 

Avianca Lifemiles

Avianca LifeMiles is a strong partner for travelers looking to book Star Alliance flights—especially premium cabins—without fuel surcharges or overinflated award pricing. The program is known for offering competitive rates on long-haul routes, and many awards can be booked directly online.

Why it’s useful:

• Allows booking Star Alliance partner flights, such as United, Lufthansa, and ANA
• No fuel surcharges on many partner awards

Beginner sweet spots:

• Economy flights between the U.S. and Europe: often around 20,000 miles each way
• Business class between the U.S. and Europe: rates starting around 60,000 miles each way on some routes
• U.S. domestic partner flights: starting at 7,500 miles for shorter routes

 

The British Airways Club (Avios)

The British Airways Club uses Avios, a flexible currency shared across several programs, including Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Qatar. Because Avios pricing is distance-based, short- and medium-haul flights often offer excellent value. As a oneworld partner, British Airways also opens up bookings on airlines like Alaska Airlines, Iberia, Qatar Airways, and more.

Why it’s useful:

• Distance-based pricing often beats zone-based-pricing programs for shorter flights
• Access to oneworld partners, including Iberia, Alaska, Qatar Airways and more
• Easy transfers and the ability to move Avios between British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and Qatar accounts
• Good value on certain transatlantic flights, especially on Iberia

Beginner sweet spots:

• Short-haul routes within Europe: generally starting around 4,750 Avios one way in economy
• Iberia flights between the U.S. and Madrid: strong pricing for both economy and business class, especially on off-peak dates
• Alaska Airlines nonstops: competitive Avios pricing for shorter routes with low fees
• Qatar Airways Qsuites: solid award pricing, especially when combining Avios between programs

 

Virgin Red®/Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Bilt technically partners with Virgin Red®, not Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, but you can easily transfer your points between programs. So effectively, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is a valuable transfer option for Bilt members thanks to its competitive award pricing and the ability to book both Virgin Atlantic flights and partner airlines like Delta and ANA. Pricing varies by route and partner, but Flying Club stands out for offering access to premium cabins at rates that can beat other programs.

Why it’s useful:

• Reasonable pricing for Virgin Atlantic flights booked far in advance
• Access to Delta-operated flights, sometimes priced lower here than through other partners
• Ability to book ANA business class at competitive rates
• Easy transfers and generally straightforward online booking

Beginner sweet spots:

• U.S. to London in economy: often starting at 6,000 to 15,000 points one way (plus surcharges)
• Virgin Atlantic Upper Class to London: competitive points pricing, especially from East Coast cities
• ANA business class (Japan): excellent value when seats are available

 

Best Hotel Redemptions

World of Hyatt

This is Bilt’s standout partner. Hyatt offers one of the best redemption values among major hotel brands, with affordable award charts and high-quality properties.

Why it’s useful:

• Excellent cents-per-point value
• Lower award rates than Marriott, Hilton, or IHG
• No resort fees on award stays
• Expanding global footprint

Beginner sweet spots:

• Category 1 hotels from 3,500 points
• Category 4 hotels (often upscale or boutique properties) from 12,000 to 18,000 points
• Luxury stays (Hyatt Regency, Thompson, Andaz, Park Hyatt) that often deliver redemption values of 2 to 3 cents per point

 

Making the Most of Your Bilt Points From the Start

Whether you’re eyeing a simple domestic flight, a beach escape, or a dream trip to Europe, Bilt’s transfer partners offer a clear path to meaningful redemptions without requiring complicated strategies or huge points balances. Start with the programs that align with your travel style, keep an eye out for good availability, and let your points work harder for the trips you care about most.

 

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