Flexible points offer tremendous value for travelers because they can be redeemed in numerous ways. Bilt Rewards points are one of the newest flexible rewards currencies travelers need to know about. Members can redeem their points in many ways, including with numerous Bilt Rewards transfer partners.
One of the highest value options is to convert points into airline miles or hotel points with one of the Bilt Rewards transfer partners. With the addition of Avianca LifeMiles, there are now 16 transfer partners available. Learn about Bilt Rewards, how to earn and redeem points, and its newest transfer partner, Avianca LifeMiles.
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What is Bilt Rewards?
Bilt Rewards is a flexible rewards program where members can earn and redeem rewards in a variety of ways. This is the only major rewards program where you can earn points on rent payments without paying extra fees. Additionally, it’s the only flexible points program that’s not owned by a bank.
How to earn Bilt Rewards points
Members have numerous ways that they can earn Bilt Rewards points. You’ll earn points from everyday activities, paying your monthly rent, booking travel, and more. Here are the five primary earning opportunities:
- Rent Day promotion. Every month on “Rent Day” (1st of the month), Bilt Rewards offers special promotions to earn additional points. You can earn free points by answering questions correctly and participating in promotions. Plus, its credit card earns double points, even on bonus categories.
- Pay rent through the Bilt Rewards Alliance. Over two million properties that partner with Bilt to award points when paying your rent.
- Promotions through Bilt Rewards Alliance partners. Properties may offer bonus points for certain activities, like renewing or signing a lease and referring tenants.
- Pay rent with the Bilt Rewards credit card. Even if your rental property isn’t part of the Alliance, you can still earn points when paying your rent with the Bilt Mastercard. To qualify, you must make at least five other purchases each month. (Read our review)
- Making purchases with the Bilt Mastercard. Use the Bilt Rewards credit card for daily purchases and take advantage of its bonus categories to earn additional points.
- Booking travel through the Bilt Rewards Travel Portal. Earn up to 2x points by booking flights, hotels, and more through the Bilt Rewards Travel Portal.
Use our referral link to apply for a Bilt Rewards Mastercard to earn and redeem points.
Redemption options for Bilt Rewards points
Points can be redeemed for travel, home down payment, rent and more. But, one of the best values is the lineup of Bilt Rewards transfer partners. These are the best options available for Bilt Rewards points:
- Transfer to partners. Get up to 2 cents per point (or more) in value when transferring to 16 different airline and hotel partners.
- Book travel through the Bilt Reward Travel Portal. Points are worth 1.25 cents each when booking flights, hotels, and more through the Bilt Travel portal. Points + Cash reservations are available as well if you don’t have enough points or want to save some for later.
- Pay monthly rent. The property manager sets the value, and rates vary based on the property and who the ownership company is.
- Save for a house down payment. Get up to 1.5 cents per point towards buying a home.
- Gym classes. Admission to virtual and in-person workout classes. About 1 cent per point.
- Bilt Collection. Artwork, paintings, and other collectibles. The value of many of these collectibles is in the eye of the beholder, making it hard to assign a value to your points.
New Bilt Rewards transfer partner — Avianca LifeMiles
On December 15, 2023, Avianca LifeMiles was added as the 16th Bilt Rewards transfer partner. It is Bilt’s first South American partner and is its 13th airline transfer option.
Avianca is the leading airline in Colombia, Ecuador, and Central America. It serves more than 140 routes in 24 countries in the Americas and Europe. The airline is a member of the Star Alliance, along with United Airlines, Air Canada, and Turkish Airlines.
Transfers can be made in increments of 1,000 points, with a minimum of 2,000 points for Bilt Blue (basic) members. Members with higher level Bilt Rewards status can transfer starting at 1,000 points.
Avianca LifeMiles sweet spot redemptions
Many travelers have never heard about the Avianca LifeMiles airline loyalty program. And, if you have, you may not understand why being added as the newest Bilt Rewards transfer partner is a big deal.
Here are a few sweet spot redemptions illustrating the value available when booking award flights with Avianca.
- Business Class to Europe for 63K miles each way. Fly Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, and Swiss without paying high cash fees on award tickets.
- Fly Lufthansa First Class without surcharges to Europe. While these tickets are only available 15 days before departure, they’ll only cost 87,000 each way.
- New York to Lisbon for 35K miles one-way in Business. This ticket is only 5,000 miles more than an Economy ticket. However, the return is the standard 63,000 miles.
- Fly Transcontinental Business Class in the U.S. on United Airlines. For only 25,000 miles, you can fly across the U.S. in style in Polaris Business Class with a lie-flat seat.
- Brazil for 50K miles each way in Business Class. Fly United Polaris for just 50,000 miles each way, which is 10,000 miles less than booking with other Star Alliance partners.
- Africa for 78K miles each way in Business Class. Ethiopian Airlines offers one of the quickest flights from North America to Africa.
- Avianca Promo Awards. Frequent promotions can extend the value of your Avianca LifeMiles when you book these amazing deals. In order to save, you have to book quickly because these deals typically last just 2-3 weeks.
Bilt Rewards transfer partners
Bilt Rewards points are one of the few rewards programs that can be transferred to 16 airline and hotel programs. Points transfer on a 1:1 basis and require a minimum of 2,000 points (1,000 for Bilt Rewards elite members).
The current Bilt Rewards transfer partners include:
- Aer Lingus Aer Club
- American Airlines AAdvantage
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Emirates Skywards
- Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
- Iberia Plus
- IHG One Rewards
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Turkish Miles&Smiles
- United MileagePlus
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- World of Hyatt
Remember that members have real-time award availability with Air Canada Aeroplan, American Airlines AAdvantage, and United Airlines MileagePlus. And it is the only flexible points program that transfers to BOTH American Airlines and United Airlines.
Plus, Bilt Rewards members have free access to Awayz for hotel award searches with real-time pricing and availability. Use our Awayz referral link to get the best deal on a subscription. Everyone who signs up for an Awayz subscription before December 31, 2023, gets free lifetime award searches for flights when it’s released (estimated January 2024).
The Bald Thoughts about Bilt Rewards transfer partners
I love it when you have more redemption options without an increase in fees or other negative impacts. Bilt Rewards is a relatively new program, and it is good to see them continue to improve the value proposition by adding more transfer partners. With 16 Bilt Rewards transfer partners to choose from, this could be an attractive rewards program for many travelers… especially if you rent where you live.
** Originally published at Bald Thoughts on Aug 25, 2022. Updated Dec 17, 2023. **
