TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt advisor and investor. In June 2022, Bilt launched its travel portal, which allows Bilt members to earn and redeem points for flights, hotels, rental cars, and activities such as theme park tickets. Even if you don’t have the Bilt Mastercard, you can still use the Bilt travel portal to earn Bilt points, which can be transferred to various high-value programs like Air Canada Aeroplan, American Airlines AAdvantage, and World of Hyatt. In this article, we will take a closer look at the Bilt travel portal and how to use it effectively.
The Bilt travel portal is where Bilt Rewards members can book travel. You can redeem your Bilt Rewards points at a fixed rate of 1.25 cents apiece for flights, hotels, and rental cars. However, it’s often more advantageous to transfer your Bilt points to one of the program’s 16 airline and hotel transfer partners, as we value Bilt points at 2.05 cents apiece. Booking through the portal can be more beneficial if award space is not available for your preferred flight or hotel stay. Additionally, if you’re booking an inexpensive flight or hotel stay, you could potentially save points by redeeming through the portal, as the points price is tied to the cash cost.
The Bilt travel portal is powered by Expedia, so you can book most travel through it. To access the portal, you can either use the Bilt app or go to travel.biltrewards.com and sign in to your Bilt account. Both the app and website allow you to book flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and activities.
When booking hotels through the portal, keep in mind that you typically will not earn hotel points and elite credits, and you may not receive elite status perks because it’s considered a third-party booking. However, flights booked through the portal will usually earn frequent flyer miles and qualify for elite status.
Booking flights through the Bilt travel portal is easy. You can search for flights through the app or website, but using the app is generally recommended since it allows you to check one-way award availability across all of Bilt’s transfer partners. This can help you decide whether it’s more advantageous to transfer your points or redeem them at a fixed rate of 1.25 cents each in the app. To start a search, enter your arrival and departure airports, travel dates, number of travelers, and desired cabin class.
For example, let’s say you’re looking for a one-way flight from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in business class. The search results on the Bilt app show an option to transfer 20,500 Bilt points to British Airways Executive Club to book the flight in business class on American Airlines. It’s always recommended to confirm availability with the partner program before transferring your points. Bilt points usually transfer to British Airways’ loyalty program within minutes, but it’s worth staying on the safe side.
When booking hotels through the Bilt travel portal, the process is similar to booking flights. You can do it through the app or website. After selecting your desired property, room, and rate, you can specify how many points you want to use on the checkout page. Run through the on-screen prompts to finalize your booking, and you’ll receive an email confirmation.
Rental cars and activities can also be booked through the Bilt travel portal. To book a rental car, navigate to the “Cars” section and enter your itinerary. Once you choose your car, you’ll be prompted to select add-ons. On the booking page, input your personal information and choose how many points, if any, you’d like to redeem. For activities, click “Things to do” from the main homepage and enter your destination and travel dates to see what’s available. If you don’t have enough points for the entire activity, you can apply the points you have at checkout and pay the remaining balance in cash.
When using the Bilt travel portal, there are a few things to consider. First, compare the redemption rates of loyalty programs to find the best deal. Some hotels may offer better value when booking directly with their loyalty program. Second, keep in mind that when booking hotels through the portal, you may not earn hotel points, elite credits, and elite status perks. Finally, it’s important to always have a specific redemption in mind when transferring points. Transferring points without a plan can lead to devaluation or unused points.
In conclusion, the Bilt travel portal is a convenient way for Bilt Rewards members to book travel and redeem points. Whether you’re booking flights, hotels, rental cars, or activities, the portal offers flexibility and options. While transferring points to partner programs can often offer better value, booking through the portal can be advantageous when award space is not available or when booking inexpensive flights or hotel stays. Just remember to compare redemption rates, consider loyalty program benefits, and have a specific redemption plan in mind when using the Bilt travel portal.