Bilt Rewards
The only major transferable points program built around housing payments — and as of 2026, the program operates the largest 1:1 transfer partner network of any rewards currency. 25 partners at 1:1, including World of Hyatt (uniquely non-Chase), Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards, and Emirates. Plus the unmatched ability to earn points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee.
The Bilt Rewards credit card portfolio changed in February 2026
The previous Wells Fargo-issued Bilt Mastercard (the version most readers know) was retired on February 6-7, 2026. Bilt replaced it with a new three-card lineup issued by Cardless (sponsored by Column Bank): the Bilt Blue (no-fee tier), Bilt Palladium (mid-tier with Priority Pass), and Bilt Obsidian (premium tier with category bonuses). Existing Wells Fargo cardholders received transition communications and were migrated to the new lineup.
This program guide covers the Bilt Rewards points currency itself — the transferable points earned across the new Cardless-issued cards. The transfer partner network is the same regardless of which Bilt card you hold. Our existing Bilt Mastercard review describes the now-retired Wells Fargo version; that review reflects the previous card’s mechanics, while this program guide reflects the current 2026 state of the Bilt Rewards program.
What is Bilt Rewards?
Bilt Rewards is a transferable points program built around a feature no other major rewards program offers: the ability to earn points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee. For renters paying $2,000+ per month, this single feature generates 24,000+ Bilt points per year on housing alone — enough for a Hyatt Category 4 award night or a domestic flight on Alaska Airlines, with zero changes to existing spending patterns.
Beyond housing earning, Bilt operates the largest 1:1 transfer partner network of any U.S. transferable points program: 25 partners (19 airlines + 6 hotels) at 1:1 ratios, with only Accor Live Limitless transferring at a reduced 3:2 ratio. This is more 1:1 partners than Chase Ultimate Rewards (14), American Express Membership Rewards (22, but several at non-1:1 ratios), Citi ThankYou Points (21 with the two-tier ratio system), or Capital One Miles (22, with 5 at reduced ratios). The combination of housing-payment earning with the broadest 1:1 transfer network makes Bilt structurally distinctive in the U.S. credit card rewards landscape.
World of Hyatt awards change May 7, 2026
World of Hyatt is shifting toward dynamic pricing with major award category changes effective May 7, 2026. Standard and peak pricing will increase up to 67% on many properties. If you have a Hyatt redemption planned, book before May 7, 2026 to lock in current award pricing. This affects every Bilt cardholder who transfers points to Hyatt — the consensus best use of Bilt Rewards is about to become significantly more expensive on many properties.
The Bilt Rewards ecosystem at a glance
Program scope, partner count, and per-point valuation
The 1:1 advantage: Bilt’s transfer partner network is the largest 1:1 lineup in U.S. credit card rewards. Other programs (Amex, Citi, Capital One) have more total partners but include reduced-ratio transfers (1:0.7, 1:0.8, 2:1, 5:3). At Bilt, you know what you’re getting — 1,000 Bilt points becomes 1,000 partner miles or points at virtually every airline and hotel partner. The exception is Accor at 3:2, which is the only reduced-ratio partner in the Bilt network.
Three transfer partners no other major program offers at competitive ratios
Beyond the breadth of the 1:1 network, Bilt’s strategic moat comes from three specific transfer partners that aren’t available from any other major U.S. transferable points program at competitive rates. These exclusives transform Bilt from “another transferable program” into “a strategic complement to any primary points-and-miles portfolio.”
World of Hyatt
Bilt is the only non-Chase pathway to Hyatt at 1:1. World of Hyatt consistently delivers the highest hotel redemption value in the market (~2-4.5¢ per point). Hyatt is unavailable as a transfer partner from Amex MR, Citi TYP, Capital One Miles, or Wells Fargo Rewards. For non-Chase users wanting Hyatt access, Bilt is the only major option.
Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards
Bilt is the only major transferable points program with Alaska transfers. Alaska Atmos (which now includes Hawaiian Airlines miles since the merger) offers premium cabin redemptions on partners like Cathay Pacific, Finnair, JAL, and American Airlines — including non-alliance carriers. Atmos transfers from Bilt are not available from any other transferable program.
Emirates Skywards
While Amex, Citi, and Capital One have Emirates as a transfer partner, all transfer at reduced ratios (1:0.8, 2:1.5). Bilt is the only major program with Emirates at 1:1. For Emirates premium cabin redemptions (First Class to Dubai, A380 routes), the 1:1 ratio is materially better than the alternatives.
All 25 transfer partners
Every Bilt Rewards partner with ratio and strategic context — virtually all at 1:1
Airline partners (19)
No other major transferable program offers Alaska transfers. Atmos Rewards (now combined with Hawaiian since the merger) offers premium cabin awards on Cathay, JAL, Finnair, American, Qantas, and more. Bilt’s most strategically unique partner.
Other programs (Amex, Citi, Capital One) transfer to Emirates at reduced 1:0.8 or 2:1.5 ratios. Bilt is the only major program at 1:1. Strong for Emirates First Class and A380 redemptions to Dubai.
Best Star Alliance award rates available. 45K business class one-way to Europe on Lufthansa/Swiss/Austrian/United. East Coast to Hawaii for just 7,500 miles (Turkish considers Hawaii domestic).
ANA First Class to Japan from Virgin Atlantic — one of the most aspirational award redemptions in points and miles. Delta partner awards. Frequent transfer bonuses.
Distance-based award chart. U.S. to Europe business class 60K-70K miles one-way. Free stopover privileges. No fuel surcharges on partner awards.
Monthly Promo Awards to Europe from 18,750 miles one-way. SkyTeam access (Delta, KLM, Korean, Virgin Atlantic). Frequent transfer bonuses.
Best Star Alliance award rates for U.S. domestic (7,500 miles). No fuel surcharges on partner awards. Strong alternative to Turkish for Star Alliance redemptions.
Domestic awards from 6K-7.5K miles. Star Alliance partner access. Useful complement to Bilt’s other Star Alliance options. Point pooling allowed within United program.
Short-haul Oneworld redemptions, American Airlines partner flights. Avios chains between BA/Aer Lingus/Iberia/Finnair/Qatar for unique routings.
Aer Lingus business class to Europe. Chainable to other Avios programs (BA, Iberia, Finnair, Qatar). Sometimes cheaper than BA Avios for the same routes.
Iberia business class to Spain. Chainable to BA, Aer Lingus, Finnair, Qatar Avios. Strong off-peak redemption rates to Europe.
Cathay first/business class to Asia. Oneworld partner redemptions including JAL, Qantas, Alaska. Same-day transfer time.
Qatar Qsuites — among the most aspirational business class products available. Qatar Avios chainable to BA/Aer Lingus/Iberia/Finnair.
JAL business class to Tokyo from 60K-75K miles. JAL First Class redemptions. Same-day transfer time. Strong Asia coverage.
Strong for domestic U.S. flights. Companion Pass strategies. Note: Southwest transfers may take up to 72 hours, longer than instant transfers to other partners.
Etihad’s First Apartment to the Middle East — one of the most aspirational first class products. Partner awards on American and other carriers.
Sister program to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Useful for non-flight Virgin redemptions and as a flexibility option alongside Flying Club transfers.
Star Alliance redemptions through TAP, particularly to Portugal and southern Europe. Smaller program but useful for specific routes.
Spirit Airlines redemptions for ultra-low-cost domestic flights. Niche use case — most readers won’t find Spirit competitive enough to be worth the transfer.
Hotel partners (6)
The single best use of Bilt points. Consistently 1.8-4¢+ per point value. Bilt is the only non-Chase transferable program with Hyatt at 1:1. Time-sensitive: Book before May 7, 2026 to lock in current pricing before major devaluation.
Every 20,000 Bilt points transferred to Marriott earns a 5,000-point bonus (effectively 1:1.25 ratio in 20K blocks). Broadest hotel footprint. Strong for SPG-legacy properties.
Hilton’s broad portfolio with strong Conrad, Waldorf-Astoria, and Hilton properties. Per-point value lower than Hyatt (~0.5¢) but more property breadth and easier mid-tier redemptions.
IHG’s diverse brand portfolio (InterContinental, Kimpton, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn). 4th-night-free benefit available for elite members.
Added March 25, 2026. Wyndham nights from 7,500 points. Note: Wells Fargo offers 1:2 to Wyndham — Wells Fargo Autograph cardholders extract more Wyndham value per point.
1,000 Bilt points = 667 ALL points. Bilt’s only reduced-ratio partner. Combined with ALL points at ~0.5¢ each, this is generally a poor transfer. Book Accor properties directly instead.
Where Bilt Points deliver 2-5¢ per point in real value
The average per-point valuation of 1.8-2.2¢ reflects the broad utility of Bilt’s transfer network. Specific sweet-spot redemptions — particularly at World of Hyatt and via Alaska Atmos for premium cabin partner awards — can deliver 3-5¢+ per point in real-world value.
Via World of Hyatt — peak season cash rates $800-1,200/night for a Hyatt Category 8 property. Effective value 3-4¢ per Bilt point. Book before May 7, 2026.
U.S. to Hong Kong in Cathay First. Cash equivalent: $15,000+. Effective value: ~5-8¢ per Bilt point. Available only through Bilt (Atmos is exclusive).
Lufthansa/Swiss/United business class one-way. Cash equivalent: $3,000-5,000. Effective value: ~4-5¢ per Bilt point.
Via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for ANA First Class. Cash equivalent: $15,000-20,000+. Effective value: ~5-8¢ per Bilt point. One of the most aspirational redemptions in points and miles.
Direct JAL transfer for JAL business class to Tokyo. Cash equivalent: $2,500-4,000. Effective value: ~3-5¢ per Bilt point.
Bilt’s 1:1 ratio makes this competitive. Cash equivalent: $15,000+. Other transferable programs require 1:0.8 or worse — Bilt is the only major 1:1 path.
The Bilt 2.0 credit cards
Three new Cardless-issued cards launched February 2026 — choose one
Bilt Blue
No annual fee · Entry tierThe no-fee entry into the Bilt ecosystem. 1x on rent and mortgage payments (no transaction fee), 2x on travel, 3x on dining, 1x on everything else. The Rent Day bonus doubles dining (3x → 6x) and travel (2x → 4x) on the first of every month. Functions as the gateway product that introduces most readers to Bilt — full transfer partner access at $0 fee.
Bilt Palladium
Mid-tier · Priority Pass accessThe mid-tier card with Priority Pass lounge access (cardholder + 2 free guests). Includes a 50,000-point welcome bonus after $4,000 in spending in the first three months — a substantial first-year value for any reader who can hit the spending requirement. Elevated category bonuses beyond the Blue card. Strong choice for readers who travel enough to use Priority Pass but don’t need a $500+ premium card.
Bilt Obsidian
Premium tier · Choose your bonusThe premium Bilt card with a unique structural feature: at the start of each calendar year, you choose between 3x on dining OR 3x on groceries as your category bonus. This category flexibility doesn’t exist on any other premium credit card — you adjust the structure annually based on your spending patterns. Premium travel benefits stacked on top.
Important: You can only hold one Bilt card at a time. The three cards are substitutes, not complements (unlike the Chase Sapphire + Freedom pairing or the Citi Strata + Double Cash structure). You’ll need to choose between the Blue, Palladium, and Obsidian based on your housing payment volume, premium benefit value, and category preferences. Card changes between Bilt products require closing and reopening rather than holding multiple Bilt cards simultaneously.
How to transfer Bilt Rewards
Confirm partner award availability first
Search the partner program’s award booking tool before transferring. Bilt transfers are irreversible — once points arrive at the partner program, they cannot be returned to Bilt.
Open the Bilt app or biltrewards.com
Sign in to your Bilt Rewards account. Navigate to the Transfer Points section. Link your partner loyalty account using your loyalty number. Most partners process instantly; Cathay Pacific and JAL may take up to 24 hours; Southwest can take 72 hours.
Note the elite-tier transfer minimums
Blue status (default for most cardholders): 2,000-point minimum per transfer. Silver/Gold/Platinum status: 1,000-point minimum. All transfers in 1,000-point increments. Maximum 1 million points per day across all partners.
Watch for Rent Day transfer bonuses
The first of every month is “Rent Day” — Bilt frequently runs transfer bonuses (25-125% boost) to specific partners on Rent Day. March 2026 offered 25-125% bonus to JAL; bonuses regularly apply to Alaska Atmos, Wyndham, and other partners. Plan major transfers around Rent Day when possible.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Bilt Rewards strategy and the 2026 program transition
What happened to the Wells Fargo Bilt Mastercard in 2026?
The Wells Fargo-issued Bilt Mastercard was retired February 6-7, 2026. Bilt replaced it with a three-card lineup issued by Cardless (sponsored by Column Bank): the Bilt Blue ($0 fee), Bilt Palladium (mid-tier with Priority Pass), and Bilt Obsidian (premium with choice of 3x dining or groceries). Existing Wells Fargo Bilt cardholders received transition communications and were typically migrated to the new lineup. Bilt Rewards points earned on the previous Wells Fargo card remain valid in the same account — they were not affected by the issuer change.
Should I get a Bilt card if I’m new to points and miles?
For most renters: yes, as a complementary product alongside a primary travel card. Bilt is the only way to earn meaningful points on rent payments — for a $2,000/month renter, that’s 24,000 points per year on housing alone. Most readers don’t make Bilt their primary issuer because the card-specific benefits are narrower than Chase Sapphire Preferred or similar mid-tier travel cards. The optimal approach: get the Chase Sapphire Preferred as your primary travel card, then add a Bilt card specifically for rent payments and the unique Hyatt/Alaska/Emirates transfer access.
What’s so special about World of Hyatt transfers from Bilt?
Two reasons. (1) Bilt is the only non-Chase transferable program with Hyatt at 1:1. Amex MR, Citi TYP, Capital One Miles, and Wells Fargo Rewards all lack Hyatt entirely. For non-Chase users wanting Hyatt access, Bilt is the only major option. (2) Hyatt consistently delivers the highest hotel point value in the market — ~1.8-4¢ per Bilt point at premium Hyatt properties. However: Hyatt is implementing major award category changes May 7, 2026, with up to 67% price increases on many properties. Book Hyatt redemptions before that date to lock in current pricing.
How do Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards transfers work?
Atmos Rewards is Alaska Airlines’ loyalty program (renamed from Mileage Plan, and now incorporating Hawaiian Airlines miles following the merger). Bilt is the only major transferable points program with Atmos transfers. Strong redemptions include: Cathay Pacific First Class via Alaska partner award (70K points), JAL business class to Tokyo, Finnair business class to Europe, American Airlines partner awards. Alaska’s partner network spans all three major alliances plus independent carriers — making Atmos one of the most flexible airline programs in points and miles.
Why is Emirates at 1:1 unique?
Other transferable programs have Emirates as a transfer partner but at reduced ratios: Amex MR transfers at 1:1 to Emirates, but Citi TYP at 1:0.8, Capital One Miles at 2:1.5. Bilt offers 1:1 — same ratio as Amex MR. For Emirates First Class redemptions to Dubai (one of the most aspirational business/first products in aviation), the 1:1 ratio matters. 110,000 Bilt points = 110,000 Emirates Skywards miles, enough for First Class to Dubai.
What’s the Marriott bonus structure?
Bilt offers a unique 5,000-point bonus for every 20,000 points transferred to Marriott Bonvoy in a single transaction — effectively making the transfer 20,000:25,000 (a 1:1.25 ratio in 20K blocks). This is structurally different from straight 1:1 transfers. Plan Marriott transfers in 20K blocks rather than smaller increments to capture the bonus. If you need 23,000 Marriott points, transferring 20K + 3K separately gives you 28,000 Marriott; transferring 23K at once gives you only 23,000.
What is Rent Day?
Rent Day is Bilt’s signature monthly promotion — the first of every month. On Rent Day, eligible category bonuses double (3x dining becomes 6x, 2x travel becomes 4x, etc., subject to monthly caps). Bilt also frequently runs transfer bonuses on Rent Day, ranging from 25% to 125% boosts to specific partners. March 2026 offered 25-125% bonus to JAL. Plan major transfers around Rent Day when possible — even a modest transfer bonus on a large redemption can be worth thousands of dollars in additional value.
How does the 100,000-point annual rent cap work?
Bilt allows you to earn points on rent payments with no transaction fee, but caps the total annual points earnable on rent at 100,000 points per calendar year. For a $2,000/month renter at the Blue card’s 1x rate, that’s 24,000 points/year — well below the cap. For a $8,500/month renter, the cap kicks in around month 12 (limiting earning beyond the cap). The cap doesn’t apply to other Bilt earning categories — only the rent payment bonus. The Palladium and Obsidian cards have higher rent point earning rates within the same cap structure.
Related guides
Further reading on transferable points programs and Bilt strategy