Today, BILT Rewards announced two new transfer partners: United MileagePlus and Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific). Game. Changer. BILT Rewards is now the only points and miles program which has two legacy US carriers as transfer partners. While stalwart points and miles programs make fringe adjustments to their product offerings, BILT Rewards continues to focus on innovation and value.
Why Is This Big News
United MileagePlus has extremely competitive redemptions, in all classes, on both domestic and international flights. This, combined with some of the lowest taxes and fees, makes United one of the best options for international award travel on the market. In addition, many award flights on United are only available to United MileagePlus members. On the other side, Asia Miles is not a household name transfer partner, but provides strategic value for award flights. Cathay Pacific is a member of the OneWorld Alliance, and as such provides an avenue to book flights on member airlines. The Asia Miles award redemption “sweet spot” is British Airways; notorious for extremely high taxes and fees. When booking an award flight on British Airways, via Asia Miles, the Asia Miles program does not pass on all taxes and fees.
The BILT Rewards Value Proposition
BILT Rewards now boasts twelve high-value transfer partners. After this announcement, can BILT Rewards claim the title as the most valuable points and miles program on the market? There is a strong case for “Yes.”
Earn BILT Rewards On Rent
BILT Rewards is a points and miles game changer. Why? Rent is the largest expense for the average household. In 2021, the average rent payment in the United States was $1,219 per month. Prior to BILT Rewards, it was extremely difficult, or prohibitively expensive, to earn points and miles on rent payments. While services such as Plastiq offer the ability to pay rent with a credit card, there is a 2.85% fee. This fee completely negates the benefit of any points and miles. Enter BILT Rewards. Through the BILT Rewards Alliance, a collection of over 2M+ rental homes, renters now have the option to pay rent and earn 1x points on rental payments. In addition, BILT Rewards facilitates rent payments to non-alliance members (via the BILT App and BILT Mastercard). Both payment options are fee free. Read that again.
TAKE AWAY: BILT Rewards is the only points and miles program which earns points on rent.
The BILT Rewards Transfer Partners
Which flexible points currency boasts not one, but two legacy US airlines among its transfer partners? Amex? Nope, only Delta. Chase? Nope, only United. Capital One? Nope, none. The answer, BILT Rewards. Further, BILT Rewards is the only flexible points currency which has American Airlines AAdvantage as a transfer partner; United MileagePlus is also a Chase transfer partner. However, BILT Rewards offers much more than just legacy US carriers. Other BILT Rewards airline transfer partners include Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, AirFrance / KLM, Emirates, Hawaiian, and Virgin Atlantic. On the hotel side, BILT Rewards is a transfer partner for both IHG Rewards and the extremely valuable World of Hyatt program.
TAKE AWAY: BILT Rewards has the most valuable portfolio of transfer partners.
BILT Rewards Offers A Credit Card
The BILT Rewards program offers an incredible array of in-house benefits, but does not stop with rent payments. BILT Rewards has a co-branded credit card. The BILT Mastercard earns 3x on dining, 2x on travel, and 1x on rent (see above). The card also boasts a plethora of other benefits such as travel cancellation protection, travel delay protection, auto rental collision waivers, Lyft credits, and DoorDash credits. Outside of day-to-day earning, the BILT Mastercard has promotional offerings which accelerate earning opportunities (i.e. 2x in first month on all purchases, 5x on Black Friday, etc.). What is the annual fee for this benefit-laden credit card? $0. Zero Dollars.
TAKE AWAY: The BILT Rewards co-branded Mastercard is one of the most valuable entry level credit cards on the market.
BILT Rewards Points Post Instantly
BILT Rewards points post instantly on the transaction date, not the end of the month or billing cycle. This is the most underrated, yet unique, benefit of the BILT Rewards program. While there is not a constant need to transfer points “mid cycle,” the option is extremely valuable. Time equals value.
TAKE AWAY: The BILT Rewards program allows point transfers at any point after a transaction posts.
Final Thoughts
At a minimum, BILT Rewards deserves a place along side AMEX Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards as the most valuable flexible points currencies. However, there is a strong case for BILT Rewards to stand alone as the most valuable. The counter argument for the value of BILT Rewards hinges on the lack of sign up bonus and coveted 5/24 slot for the co-branded credit card. Still, there is only one points and miles program on the market which earns points on rent: BILT Rewards. Without this program, rent payments continue not earning valuable points and miles. Never leave points on the table. As for 5/24, slots come and go. The downside is easily manageable.
Where does BILT Rewards go from here? Who knows! But, I can not wait to see!