I’m increasingly loving Bilt Rewards even without the credit card. If you aren’t a member (it’s free) you’re missing out – on points you could be earning, and on the most valuable points currency.
Their points can be used to buy travel at 1.25 cents apiece through their portal which is increasingly ‘book direct’ which means you can still get service directly from the airline (not Expedia reps) and earn hotel elite status credit and points.
You can also transfer points to 20 different partners, which outpaces Chase Ultimate Rewards and Capital One:
- Star Alliance: Air Canada Aeroplan, Turkish Miles & Smiles, United Airlines MileagePlus, Avianca LifeMiles, TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go
- oneworld: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Iberia Plus, British Airways Club, Japan Airlines
- SkyTeam: Air France KLM Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Non-alliance: Emirates Skywards, Southwest Airlines, Aer Lingus Aer Club
- Hotels: World Of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, Accor ALL – Accor Live Limitless
Bilt Rewards lets you earn miles paying rent with any credit card – not just the Bilt card. Soon they’ll offer points for paying mortgages, too.
Bilt Rewards is a must join program. I use it to great option for stacking earning on Lyft rides. You earn points with Walgreens. They have great restaurants for points-earning – the standard Rewards Network dining portfolio but actually good restaurants, also. And great monthly ‘rent day’ promotions for points transfers (bigger bonuses than anyone else has ever offered) as well as meals and comedy shows.
Their elite status got me free airport helicopter rides this year and Air France Gold status (free checked begs, priority and free exit row seats on Delta) and Accor Platinum status.
I’ve had Alaska Airlines Gold status, and taken advantage of 150% points transfer bonuses to both Virgin Atlantic and Air France KLM. And they keep building out this program. So join Bilt Rewards. That’s it. That’s the tip.
It’s been a good program so far; the real question is where it goes after February 2026 with this planned conversion from Wells to Cardless, which is known for little-to-no-warning program shutdowns. Hope it will keep going, but I’m not ‘hoarding’ points. Hyatt and Alaska have been nice transfers while they last.
Is this program useful for me if I have no rent or mortgage payments?
@Prateek — It depends; I presume Gary (and other bloggers) would say so, and maybe they’d be right, but, realistically, the primary benefit for me has been to earn 1 point per dollar using the BILT Mastercard on rent. Alternatively, Gary has also promoted the Mesa card on here before, which may be better situated for mortgages, HOA payments, etc. Like most of these cards, programs, etc. it’s what you make of it; and the programs come and go, change over time, etc. Good luck out there!