Bilt Rewards has revolutionized how we earn points, especially for those who pay rent. While American Airlines AAdvantage used to be a direct transfer partner for Bilt, that direct partnership officially ended in June 2024. However, that doesn't mean you can't use your valuable Bilt points to fly American Airlines! You just need to be a little savvier with your strategy.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the current, effective ways to leverage your Bilt points for American Airlines flights. Let's get started!
Are you ready to unlock incredible travel opportunities with your Bilt points, even for American Airlines flights? Then buckle up, because we're about to dive into the world of strategic points redemption!
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| How To Transfer Bilt Points To American Airlines |
Navigating the New Landscape: Transferring Bilt Points for American Airlines Flights
Since the direct transfer partnership between Bilt Rewards and American Airlines AAdvantage is no longer active, our approach needs to be indirect. The primary way to utilize Bilt points for American Airlines flights now is by transferring them to one of American Airlines' Oneworld alliance partners that are still Bilt transfer partners.
The key partners for this strategy are:
British Airways Executive Club (Avios)
Iberia Plus (Avios)
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Japan Airlines (JAL) Mileage Bank
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
These airlines are all members of the Oneworld alliance, just like American Airlines. This means you can often redeem miles from one Oneworld airline to fly on another Oneworld airline, including American Airlines.
Let's break down the process step-by-step.
Step 1: Identify Your Target American Airlines Flight
Before you transfer any points, the most crucial first step is to find the American Airlines flight you want to book and verify its availability using the miles of one of the Oneworld partners. This is because award availability can be dynamic and limited.
Sub-heading: Why not transfer first?
Transferred points, once in a partner airline's loyalty program, cannot be reversed back to Bilt. Imagine transferring 50,000 Bilt points to British Airways, only to find there's no award availability for your desired American Airlines flight. You'd be stuck with British Airways Avios, which while valuable, might not be what you intended. Always confirm availability before transferring.
Sub-heading: Tools for Award Search
British Airways Executive Club Website: This is often a good starting point for searching Oneworld award availability, including American Airlines flights.
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Website: Another excellent option, especially if you plan to transfer to Alaska.
Point.me Integration: Bilt has an integration with Point.me, a search engine for award flights. This can be a very powerful tool to find award availability across various partners and determine the best transfer option. You can search for flights first and then decide if transferring your points is the best option.
ExpertFlyer (Subscription Recommended): For serious award travelers, ExpertFlyer can help set up alerts for award availability on specific flights.
Tip: Let the key ideas stand out.
Sub-heading: Tips for Finding Award Space
Be flexible with your dates: Award availability is generally better during off-peak seasons and on less popular travel days (e.g., Tuesdays, Wednesdays).
Consider different airports: If your desired airport has limited availability, check nearby airports.
Look for "saver" or "economy" award space: These are typically the cheapest award tickets. Business and First Class awards are much harder to find.
Step 2: Choose the Right Bilt Transfer Partner
Once you've identified an American Airlines flight with award availability through a Oneworld partner, you need to decide which Bilt transfer partner to use. This choice largely depends on the specific flight and the award chart of each partner.
Sub-heading: Understanding Avios Partners (British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways, Aer Lingus)
British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, and Aer Lingus AerClub all use the "Avios" currency. You can often transfer Avios between these programs (though there are sometimes nuances).
British Airways Executive Club: Often good for short-haul American Airlines flights due to its distance-based award chart. For example, short domestic American Airlines flights can be very cheap in Avios.
Iberia Plus: Can sometimes offer better pricing for certain American Airlines flights, especially if they are transatlantic, compared to British Airways.
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: This is a unique Bilt partner, as Bilt is the only transferable points program that partners with Alaska. Alaska's award chart for American Airlines can offer excellent value, particularly for flights to Hawaii or specific international routes.
Sub-heading: Other Oneworld Partners (Cathay Pacific, JAL)
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: Can be good for long-haul American Airlines flights, particularly in premium cabins.
Japan Airlines (JAL) Mileage Bank: Another option for long-haul flights, especially if you find good availability.
Sub-heading: Transfer Ratios and Times
Transfer Ratio: For most Bilt airline partners, the transfer ratio is 1:1, meaning 1 Bilt point becomes 1 mile/point in the partner program. Accor Live Limitless is an exception at 3:2.
Transfer Time: Many Bilt transfers are instant or take only a few minutes. However, it's always wise to allow up to 48 hours for the transfer to complete. Southwest transfers can take up to 72 hours. While some reports from 2024 suggested American Airlines transfers were near-instant through Bilt, this was before the direct partnership ended. Now, with the indirect method, the transfer time will depend on the chosen Oneworld partner. Always factor in potential delays, especially if award space is limited.
Step 3: Link Your Loyalty Accounts
Before you can transfer points, you'll need to link your Bilt Rewards account to the chosen partner airline's loyalty program.
Sub-heading: Accessing the Bilt App or Website
Open the Bilt Rewards app on your phone or go to the Bilt Rewards website (
www.biltrewards.com Log in to your account.
Sub-heading: Navigating to Transfers
QuickTip: Absorb ideas one at a time.
On the main screen, look for the "Rewards" tab (usually at the bottom of the app or top of the website).
Select "Transfers" from the options.
Sub-heading: Selecting and Linking Your Partner
You will see a list of Bilt's loyalty partners.
Select the airline loyalty program you've chosen (e.g., British Airways Executive Club, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan).
You will be prompted to either enroll in the program (if you don't have an account) or link your existing account by entering your loyalty program membership number. Ensure the name on your Bilt account matches the name on your partner loyalty account exactly to avoid issues.
Step 4: Initiate the Point Transfer
Once your accounts are linked, you can proceed with the transfer.
Sub-heading: Entering the Transfer Amount
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After linking, you'll be able to specify how many Bilt points you want to transfer.
Important Note: Bilt points must be transferred in 1,000-point increments.
There is a minimum transfer amount:
2,000 Bilt points for members with Blue Status.
1,000 Bilt points for Silver, Gold, or Platinum Bilt Status members.
Sub-heading: Confirming the Transfer
Double-check the amount you're transferring and the selected partner.
Confirm the transfer. You will usually receive a confirmation message.
Sub-heading: What to Expect After Transferring
While many transfers are near-instant, allow up to 48 hours for the points to appear in your partner loyalty account. For critical redemptions, consider transferring a little in advance.
Once points are transferred, they cannot be reversed. They are now subject to the terms and conditions of the partner airline's loyalty program.
Step 5: Book Your American Airlines Flight with Partner Miles
With your points successfully transferred to the Oneworld partner airline, it's time to book your flight!
Sub-heading: Accessing the Partner Airline's Website
Go to the website of the Oneworld partner you transferred points to (e.g., britishairways.com, alaskaair.com).
Log in to your loyalty program account using your membership number and password.
Sub-heading: Searching for Award Flights
QuickTip: Pause when something clicks.
Navigate to the "Book a Flight with Miles/Avios" or similar section.
Enter your origin, destination, dates, and select "Redeem Miles" or "Pay with Miles."
Search for your desired American Airlines flight. Since you already found availability in Step 1, this step should be straightforward.
Sub-heading: Completing the Booking
Select your flight.
Proceed to the payment section. You will pay for the flight using the miles you transferred, though you will still be responsible for any taxes and fees (which vary by airline and route).
Complete the booking process. You should receive a confirmation email with your American Airlines flight details and a separate American Airlines record locator.
Important Considerations and Tips
Taxes and Fees: Be aware that award tickets, especially on certain airlines like British Airways, can incur significant fuel surcharges and taxes. Always factor this into your overall cost. Alaska Airlines often has lower taxes and fees on American Airlines redemptions.
Award Chart Sweet Spots: Researching "sweet spots" on partner award charts can save you a lot of points. For example, British Airways Avios can be fantastic for short-haul domestic American Airlines flights.
Dynamic vs. Fixed Award Pricing: Some airlines have dynamic award pricing (prices fluctuate based on demand), while others use fixed award charts. Understanding this can help you maximize your points.
Booking Hold: Some airlines allow you to "hold" an award booking for a short period (e.g., 24-72 hours) without transferring points. This can be a great way to secure your desired flight while you wait for your Bilt points to transfer. Always check the partner airline's policy.
Travel Portal as an Alternative: If direct transfers to partners for American Airlines flights seem too complex or don't offer good value for your specific route, remember you can also use your Bilt points to book flights directly through the Bilt Travel Portal (powered by Expedia). However, the value here is typically fixed (e.g., 1 cent per point), which is often less than what you can achieve through strategic partner transfers.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check Bilt Rewards status?
You can check your Bilt Rewards status (Blue, Silver, Gold, Platinum) within the Bilt Rewards app or on their website by navigating to your account details or profile section.
How to earn Bilt points faster?
You can earn Bilt points faster by using the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® for rent payments (1x point per dollar, up to 100,000 points annually, no transaction fee), 3x on dining, 2x on travel, and participating in "Rent Day" promotions (first of the month) which often offer double points in various categories. Linking your Bilt account to Lyft and Bilt Dining also offers bonus points.
How to find American Airlines award availability?
You can find American Airlines award availability by searching directly on American Airlines' website (aa.com) under "Redeem miles," or by using the websites of their Oneworld partners like British Airways Executive Club (ba.com), Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan (alaskaair.com), or using a specialized award search tool like Point.me.
How to link a Bilt account to an airline partner?
To link a Bilt account to an airline partner, open the Bilt Rewards app or website, go to the "Rewards" tab, select "Transfers," choose the desired airline partner, and follow the prompts to enter your loyalty program membership number.
Tip: Use the structure of the text to guide you.
How to use British Airways Avios for American Airlines flights?
To use British Airways Avios for American Airlines flights, log in to your British Airways Executive Club account, go to "Book a flight with Avios," and search for your desired American Airlines route. The BA website will display American Airlines flights available for Avios redemption.
How to calculate the Avios needed for an American Airlines flight?
The Avios needed for an American Airlines flight using British Airways or Iberia is generally based on a distance-based award chart. Shorter, direct flights typically require fewer Avios. You can use tools like Great Circle Mapper to determine the distance and then consult the respective Avios partner's award chart.
How to know if a Bilt points transfer is instant?
While many Bilt transfers to airline partners are generally instant or complete within minutes (like to Alaska, Air Canada, United, British Airways), Bilt states to allow up to 48 hours for the transfer to be completed for all partners. Southwest transfers can take up to 72 hours.
How to get help with a Bilt point transfer issue?
If you encounter issues during a Bilt point transfer, you should contact Bilt Rewards support directly through their app or website's help center.
How to avoid high taxes and fees when redeeming Bilt points for flights?
To avoid high taxes and fees when redeeming Bilt points for flights, generally choose partners like Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan or American Airlines' own AAdvantage program (if you find direct ways to earn AA miles) rather than British Airways Avios for transatlantic flights, as BA often levies significant fuel surcharges. Also, consider flights on airlines that originate in countries with laws against fuel surcharges.
How to utilize the Bilt Travel Portal for American Airlines flights?
To utilize the Bilt Travel Portal for American Airlines flights, log into your Bilt Rewards account on the app or website, go to the "Travel" section, select "Flights," and search for your desired American Airlines flight. You can then pay for the flight using your Bilt points at a fixed redemption value, typically 1 cent per point.
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