Last month it was up to a 100% transfer bonus with Star Alliance frequent flyer program Avianca LifeMiles.

This month, Bilt Rewards is back for Rent Day (September 1) with transfers to Virgin.

• Offers vary by member (targeted) from 40% – 100% transfer bonus
  
• Aailable 12:00 a.m. Eastern to 11:59 p.m. Pacific on September 1
  
• This is a transfer bonus to Virgin Red – if you have a Virgin Flying Club account, link it to a Virgin Red account.

Honestly I’m giving this a pass. I’m still sitting on a bunch of Virgin points from the Bilt 150% transfer bonus – since Virgin pulled out of Austin after that; then-Virgin partner Hawaiian dropped their Austin flight; and Virgin has gone through a stinging round of devaluations over the past couple of years such as,

• gutting ANA first class awards and then business class awards
  
• ruining the value of awards on Delta
  
• jacking up the fees charged on Virgin’s own award flights (after moving to dynamic pricing last year).

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse New York JFK

However what I do find a bit more interesting is that Bilt has also introduced a new status match benefit: Bilt elites are eligible to receive Virgin Voyages (cruise) status. This isn’t a one-time offer, but is ongoing, similar to the way that Bilt Rewards Platinum status confers Air France KLM Flying Blue Gold.

• Bilt Silver and Gold members receive Virgin Voyages Blue Extras
  
• Bilt Platinums receive Virgin Voyages Deep Blue Extras

Deep Blue extras comes with two specialty coffees daily, a $100 bar tab credit, premium wifi, and laundry and pressing as well as priority boarding.

What fascinates me is that this doesn’t work like a typical status match where you open a Virgin Voyages account, link the two, and get your Voyages status upgraded. It’s linked to actually booking a cruise and that status attaches to the sailing reservation.

1. That means a Bilt Platinum whose status expires in January 2026 could book a 2027 cruise prior to Bilt status expiry and receive these benefits
   
2. But it means this isn’t an entryway into a cruise status merry-go-round.

My first instinct had been to play this as an entry path into cruise line status.

• MSC Voyagers Club will status match Virgin Voyages status.

• Explora Journeys will match MSC status.
  

• Ponant Yacht Club will status match Explora Journeys

But it seems like that’s not going to work! In any case, these may or may not be up your alley, but Bilt keeps coming at us with offers and benefits every single month. I’ve taken advantage of 150% transfer bonuses, Air France KLM Gold status (free checked bags and exit row seats on Delta), and free helicopter rides.

This month’s Rent day also includes:

• Dave Portnoy’s One Bite Pizza Festival experiences for cash or points
  
• Auberge Concert Series presented by Bilt with Grammy Award-winning artist Leon Bridges in Fort Worth, Texas
  
• Comedy shows across 11 cities for cash or points
  
• Tasting menus at top restaurants, hand roll making classes, and pairable with cocktails or sake
  
• Plus exclusive Soul Cycle and Barry’s free classes and add-ons.
  
• “Family Feud’ style game show to win free rent
  
• Double points with Bilt Mastercard (6x on dining, 4x on travel, 2x on other non-rent spend, up to 1,000 bonus points)

Bilt has a number of great points-earning partnerships, like Lyft; Walgreens; dining and a travel portal that’s actually worth using that rewards you for ‘book direct’ bookings.

So definitely go ahead and join the program – whether you use it to earn points on rent, or plan to take advantage of it when they offer points opportunities for mortgages that they’ve said should arrive this year. That way you’ll be prepared for transfer bonus opportunities that are bigger than what anyone else offers.

Because my biggest takeaway here is that Bilt points are so good I can literally look at a potential 100% bonus on transfers to Virgin and shrug, preferring to save my points for the next opportunity since I’m confident even better ones will come along.