Maximize Your Points with Transfer Bonus Alerts

Bilt’s Rent Day for April 1, 2025 includes a Avios transfer bonus between 50% and 100% based on tier.

Here are the details by Bilt status level:

• Blue: 50% transfer bonus

• Silver: 60% transfer bonus

• Gold: 75% transfer bonus

• Platinum: 100% transfer bonus

The transfer bonus also applies to transfers directly to Iberia Avios and Aer Lingus Avios. For this one day transfer bonus, I’m consolidating all of my thoughts under this one article – mainly because you can transfer points between any Avios program, including British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways, and Finnair.

Sweet spots vary by program.

• Iberia Avios is best known for off-peak business class flights from the East Coast to Madrid for just 34,000 Avios (That’s just 17,000 Bilt Points if have Bilt Platinum status)
• Link your BA account to Qatar and use on Qatar to book JetBlue Mint transatlantic for just 78,000 Avios. Of course you can also book Qatar’s Q-Suites business class using Qatar Avios.
• Don’t mind using the phone? If you were to find JFK to LAX or SFO available as a Saver award in First Class on American Airlines, Finnair could book that for you for 40,000 Avios. Qatar can book transcontinental business class for 43,000 Avios (70k in F).
• Qatar Avios are great for short haul flights on AA/Alaska/JAL/Qantas. British Airways Avios can work for flights outside of the US but stick to Qatar for American/Alaska.
• BA does have a very favorable lap infant policy – 10% of the miles paid for the adult fare. Beware their draconian surcharges on long haul awards.
• Be aware that you cannot cancel flights booked with Iberia for partner airlines – so stick to the Iberia sweet spot mentioned above.
• Aer Lingus? There ARE some sweet spots in the Aer Lingus program such as awards from the East Coast to Ireland for just 13,000 off peak in economy and 50,000 points in business. Not East Coast? Off peak economy is just 16,250 Avios or 62,500 in Business.

The transfer bonus promotion is active from March 1st, 2025 at 12:00am ET until March 1st 2025, 11:59pm PT in the Bilt Rewards app or website.

Bilt Blue members will receive a 150% transfer bonus (1 Bilt = 2.5 Hilton Honors) and Bilt Silver, Gold, and Platinum members will receive 200% (1 Bilt = 3 Hilton Honors)

Note that while this may appear to trounce the current transfer bonus from American Express Membership Rewards to Hilton Honors, Hilton defaults to a 1:2 transfer ratio while Bilt is only 1:1.

For example, under the current Amex 25% bonus, due to the default rate being double Bilt’s, this equals 2.5 Hilton Honors for 1 Amex point – or the same as Bilt’s base bonus. Silver/Gold/Platinum are getting 0.5 more points than this, but are also trading much more valuable Bilt points.

I think this only likely makes sense if you are short on Hilton points and don’t have Amex points to transfer either.

As I’ve said before, Hilton points have gotten more attractive since integrating SLH hotels into Hilton Honors (See Dave’s musing about his thinking on how Hilton points may be becoming more valuable and this more recent article about the extreme value in SLH and other high end Hilton brands.). The integration is already providing exceptional value at properties with rates in the $1,000 – $2,000 a night range for, on average, 130,000 points a night. So, it appears his musing has become a reality.

In September, Bilt offered a transfer bonus to Avianca Lifemiles at a flat 50% bonus for all.

This round is tiered by status. with Blue, Silver, Gold, and Platinum members getting 20%, 40%, 50%, and 100% respectively.

A 100% bonus is tempting and I’m sure many Platinum members will jump on it, though the lower tiers are a bit less compelling. I still wouldn’t speculatively transfer even at 100%, but that’s just me.

Avianca is a Star Alliance partner that does not pass along fuel surcharges, however:

Keep in mind that Avianca recently devalued their program.

Also see: Downsides of the LifeMiles program.

With frequent website issues, terrible customer support, and change/cancel fees of up to $200 a ticket, it’s just not for me. But “expert Lifemiles users” that are familiar with all the negative quirks, may find the 50-100% bonus very tempting. I would not consider the lower tiers.

Bilt’s Rent Day offer this much is a 50% or 100% Transfer Bonus to BA Avios.

We don’t know why some accounts get one or the other. It’s easy to pass on 50% since a 30-40% transfer bonus is common with other programs.

If you have 100% and you are an experienced Avios user – meaning you don’t need to know how to use them and you already frequently do, then you’ll probably want to move some over. How much depends on how often you use Avios vs other airline currencies, your Bilt balance, and your other point balances.

All Bilt members will receive a 50% transfer bonus on September 1, 2024 when they transfer their Bilt points to Avianca LifeMiles. Bilt points can be converted in increments of 1,000.

Avianca is a Star Alliance partner that does not pass along fuel surcharges, however:

Keep in mind that Avianca just devalued their program.

Also see: Downsides of LifeMiles program.

Bilt members will receive up to a 100% transfer bonus on September 1st when they transfer their Bilt points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club or Virgin Red.

Bilt points can be converted in increments of 1,000.* A member’s transfer bonus will be based upon your Bilt Membership Status as of the time you elect to transfer your Bilt points on September 1, 2024, as follows:

*Blue members must transfer a minimum of 2,000 Bilt points.

Two great uses are domestically on Delta within the US or US-Mexico/Canada and for economy flights to/from Europe that are as few as 12,000 miles each way on partners such as KLM or Delta.

Another great use is on ITA Airways to/from Italy for 75,000 miles in Business Class. Surcharges are low; even FCO to JFK has only $55 in fees. And if you could actually find a Delta One award FROM Europe to the US, it would be just 50,000 points. Availability is a unicorn. Unfortunately, awards TO Europe on Delta now cost more and have $1,000 + surcharges)

The other, well known, “best use” is to book ANA First and Business class awards.

• First Class to/from Japan from West Coast: 145,000 points Round Trip
• First Class to/from Japan from East Coast: 170,000 points Round Trip
• Business Class to/from Japan from West Coast: 105,000 points Round Trip
• Business Class to/from Japan from East Coast: 120,000 points Round Trip

This one day transfer bonus is limited to 50,000 points and ranges from 25% to 100% based on your Bilt status. Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Blue get 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% respectively.

The transfer bonus is live July 1st from Midnight ET until July 2nd, 2:59 AM ET. Transfer bonuses will be given on the first 50,000 Bilt Points transferred for each Bilt member. Cumulative transfers of more than 50,000 Bilt points to Alaska Airlines miles during the transfer window will not be bonused and will be processed as 1:1 transfers to Alaska Airlines miles.

Bilt, along with Marriott Bonvoy, is the only transfer partner to Alaska, though you can also get Mileage Plan miles from their credit card.

Note that July 1 is also the last day for Platinum and Gold members to activate Alaska Mileage Plan status through Dec 31 by transferring 10,000 points (which are not bonused). Platinum can get MVP Gold while Gold can get MVP.

No surcharges; just a $39CAD booking fee. Lap infant just $25CAD. Can book Etihad and Emirates as well as Star alliance.

Coincides with a special set of Promo Awards for Bilt users bookable May 1-30, 2023. More info.

The only way to book nonstop flights from the US to Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines. Prices are variable.

You can also redeem with ANA, Korean Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia.

Technically JetBlue as well, but it’s a very poor value option.