--- title: >- Bilt Tricks and Workarounds: The Few Airlines Bilt Can't Reach, and How to Book Them Anyway description: >- Book Hyatt, United, Alaska, and JAL directly with Bilt points, work around the American and Delta gaps, and time Rent Day right. date: '2026-10-12' author: Jimmy Yoon category: Insights - Blog Articles Home tags: - Credit Cards - Loyalty Programs canonical_url: https://www.point.me/insights/bilt-tricks-workarounds-the-few-airlines-bilt-cant-reach-and-how-to-book-them/ source: point.me license: © 2026 point.me. All rights reserved. slug: bilt-tricks-workarounds-the-few-airlines-bilt-cant-reach-and-how-to-book-them id: 3P0URPPPKoupy1KOTIZLic contentType: article --- # Bilt Tricks and Workarounds: The Few Airlines Bilt Can't Reach, and How to Book Them Anyway Written by: Jimmy Yoon **Insights - Blog Articles Home** ![Featured image for How Much Are Bilt Points Worth?](https://images.ctfassets.net/alwdzgjlz5qv/2RkfpUHph8yhMqmXLrfFuo/d5effef8f2702897a24436cca6fab97b/venice.jpg?w=1280&fm=webp&q=75) Bilt points transfer to more airline and hotel programs than almost any other bank, and with a single credit card. There are almost no gaps, but American, Delta, and United's members-only saver space are among them. With a little bit of effort, you can work around all three. This guide maps each gap and how to close it, then covers some strategies that are specific to Bilt, like timing for Rent Day and pairing Bilt points with a co-brand card for United.  **Bilt tricks at a glance:** - Book American flights through British Airways or Cathay. - Book Delta through Flying Blue. - Bilt transfers directly to United, but you’ll need an eligible United card when you want to book its best saver space. - Bilt reaches Hyatt, Alaska, Hilton, and Southwest directly, so no workaround is needed here. - Use Rent Day transfer bonuses to book a seat you already want. - Always search live award space before you transfer, because transfers are one-way and you don’t want to waste your points on a seat that isn’t available. ### Explore our Bilt hub For more on getting real value from your Bilt points, dive deeper into our guides. - [Bilt Transfer Hub](https://www.point.me/insights/bilt-transfer-partners/) - [How to Transfer Bilt Points](https://www.point.me/insights/how-to-transfer-bilt-points/) - [Do Bilt Points Expire?](https://www.point.me/insights/do-bilt-points-expire/) - [Current Transfer Bonuses](https://www.point.me/insights/current-transfer-bonuses/) ## The few airlines Bilt can't reach directly, and how to book with each Bilt points transfer to World of Hyatt, Alaska, Hilton, Southwest, Japan Airlines, and United from a single card. All transfers are at full 1:1 value, except Hyatt, which is currently 1:1 but is switching to a 4:3 ratio on January 1, 2027. That leaves a short list of gaps: American, Delta, and United's gatekept saver space. The table is the inverse of what we describe on the [Bilt Transfer Partners](https://www.point.me/insights/bilt-transfer-partners/) page: only the programs Bilt *can't* reach directly are listed here, along with the workaround for each. | **What you want to book** | **Transfer Bilt points to** | **Transfer Ratio** | **What to watch** | | American Airlines | Atmos Rewards, British Airways, or Cathay Asia Miles | 1:1 | Atmos Rewards will be the best option for most itineraries on American Airlines compared to other oneworld partner programs | | Delta | Air France-KLM Flying Blue or Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 1:1 | Flying Blue usually wins on fees; Virgin for Delta One to Europe | | United saver space | United MileagePlus (direct), plus an eligible United card | 1:1 | Bilt transfers to United, but the best saver space requires an eligible United co-branded card | ## How to fly the airlines that are not Bilt partners Although Bilt's list of gaps is short, here’s how to book real award flights on non-direct partners with Bilt points. ### Book American Airlines with Bilt points through BA or Cathay American isn't a Bilt partner, but three of Bilt's oneworld partners let you book American flights: Atmos Rewards, British Airways Club and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, all three at 1:1 transfer ratios. For most American Airlines redemptions, Atmos Rewards (Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines’ loyalty program) is likely your best bet. It uses a distance-based award chart for partner flights, so rates on American flights are competitive. The other partners are still worth a look, mainly if you already hold a balance with one of them and are looking to use it. ### Book Delta with Bilt points through Flying Blue Bilt points can't transfer to Delta, but it has two SkyTeam partners that let you book Delta flights. Air France-KLM Flying Blue (1:1 transfer ratio) is the workhorse among them: it books Delta-operated flights and usually charges the lowest fees. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (1:1 transfer ratio) is the second option and is best for Delta One flights to Europe, where it sometimes prices business class below Flying Blue but with much higher taxes and fees. So check both: Flying Blue for breadth and lower fees, Virgin for premium transatlantic availability. Search the Delta segment in each program, confirm the availability, then transfer. And remember that the award space you find on Flying Blue and Virgin can differ from Delta's. So if you can’t find a seat, that doesn’t necessarily mean the flight is fully booked. ### Reach United's best saver space by pairing Bilt with a United credit card Bilt points transfer to United MileagePlus directly at a 1:1 transfer ratio, which most banks besides Chase can't do. But since 2025, United has kept some of its best saver space, the last-minute and premium seats that it used to give to partners, for its own eligible co-brand cardholders and elite members. Transferring your points, on its own, no longer lets you book that gatekept inventory. To book it, you must hold an eligible United co-brand credit card.  Then you can use Bilt points to book the broad saver space that is open to transfers. Just confirm the seat availability in MileagePlus before you move points, and check whether the seat you want is one only co-brand holders can see. For everyday United economy and business saver space, Bilt's direct transfer is all you need, and it still puts you ahead of most banks, which can't access United at all. ## Tricks specific to Bilt points Two moves are unique to Bilt: the Rent Day transfer bonus, and the deep partner roster that lets you use Bilt to cover other cards’ gaps. ### Use Rent Day bonuses to book the seat you already want Rent Day is a Bilt monthly event that often features transfer bonuses. The bonuses are meaningful, and they can be higher than most issuers ever offer. They scale with your Bilt status tier and are worth even more with a Bilt Cash boost. But here are a few things to keep in mind:  - Transfer bonuses don't run every month. - Bonuses are capped, so the number of points you can earn is limited. - Always have a bookable award in mind before you use a transfer bonus or move any points, and never use a bonus hoping to use the points at an unknown time in the future. - Don't endlessly wait for a bonus that may not come, and don't transfer during a bonus period just because it's there. ### Use Bilt's depth to fill gaps on other cards The best Bilt trick is often not a workaround at all. That is, there’s simply no need for one to book programs like Alaska's Atmos Rewards, Southwest, and Japan Airlines. They’re all direct Bilt transfers at a 1:1 ratio. So a booking that would require an extra step with Amex or Chase is an easy, single-move transfer on Bilt. In fact, Atmos Rewards is a program that partners only with Bilt. So when you're planning a trip, check Bilt's direct partners first, because the booking solution you want is often there without having to route through any alliance. Use workarounds for American and Delta – two programs Bilt genuinely can't reach. For more on getting the strongest redemption on your trip, see [Bilt Transfer Partners](https://www.point.me/insights/bilt-transfer-partners/). ### Want to see what's bookable on Bilt's best transfer partners right now? [Search live award availability on point.me for FREE.](https://auth.point.me/u/signup/) Our search shows you real deals across Bilt's transfer partner roster for the next 60 days. ## Before you transfer: the habits that protect every booking Don’t skip these tips. They can help you protect your points and are great rules of thumb to use with any card, on any transfer. ### Search live award space first Confirm that the award seat is really bookable before you move any points, because transfers are one-way and can’t be undone. Award space books quickly, so confirm the seat availability before you transfer. Use [point.me](https://auth.point.me/u/signup/) to see live options across your partners first and then check the partner’s website. ### Compare partner, portal, and cash Price the trip three ways: as a partner award, as a cash ticket, and through the portal. With Bilt, transferring is usually the best choice, since the portal will rarely beat the value of a transfer. See [How Much Are Points Worth?](https://www.point.me/insights/how-much-are-bilt-points-worth/) for more on getting the most value out of your points. ### Don't fear a worse-than-1:1 ratio Nearly all Bilt transfers are 1:1, but the principle holds: what matters is the all-in cost of the seat, not the transfer ratio. A partner that prices an award low can beat a full-value transfer elsewhere. ### Use bonuses only when you’re ready to book Rent Day aside, treat any transfer bonus as a discount on points you were planning to move anyway. Bonuses on only help when you already have a bookable award in mind. Check [Current Transfer Bonuses](https://www.point.me/insights/current-transfer-bonuses/) once you have a seat you want to book, not before. ### Does your specific credit card change the transfer math? For Bilt, it does so in a few ways. First, your Bilt status sets your Rent Day bonus, so higher status tiers earn more. Status also impacts your point transfer minimum: higher tiers can transfer smaller amounts, so status changes how efficiently you move points. Additionally, holding a United co-brand card in addition to a Bilt card lets you access United’s  best saver space. ## Tricks and workarounds to avoid - Don't move points before you've confirmed a bookable award seat. A transfer can't be undone. - Don't rely on buy-and-return tricks, manufactured spending, or payment games. They put your account at risk and don't help you travel. - Don't assume Bilt points transfer directly to every airline. American and Delta need a workaround partner. - If you’re transferring to United, don’t expect to be able to access every saver seat. Pair Bilt points with a United co-brand card to reach the widest number of award seats. - Don't chase a Rent Day transfer bonus when the underlying award is weak, or when you can’t find a seat that you want to book. ### Frequently asked questions about Bilt tricks and workarounds #### Can I book American Airlines with Bilt points? Yes, through a workaround partner. American isn't a direct Bilt partner, but three of Bilt's oneworld partners can book American flights: Atmos Rewards, British Airways Club, and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, all three at 1:1 transfer ratios. For most American redemptions, Atmos Rewards (Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines' loyalty program) is likely your best bet. It uses a distance-based award chart for partner flights, so pricing on American stays competitive. The other partners are mainly worth a look if you already hold a balance in one and you’re ready to use it. #### What can I book directly with Bilt’s transfer partners that other cards can't? A lot. Bilt reaches World of Hyatt, Alaska's Atmos Rewards, Hilton, Southwest, Japan Airlines, and United directly at 1:1 from a single card. With Bilt, you can often skip the alliance workaround entirely and transfer points directly to a strong list of partners. #### Can I book United's best space with Bilt points? Sometimes. Bilt transfers points to United MileagePlus directly, so everyday saver awards are available. But United reserves the best of its saver space for co-brand card holders and members with elite status, and there’s no other way to open up that availability. If United is your preferred airline, pair Bilt with a United card to maximize the award seats you can book. #### Does the Bilt card that I hold change the transfer math? Yes. Your Bilt status determines your Rent Day bonus and your transfer minimum, so a higher tier lets you move points more efficiently. And for United's best saver award space, the card that matters is a United co-brand credit card that you hold alongside your Bilt card. #### How do I know when transferring is a better choice than cash or booking through the portal? Price the trip three ways before you move points: as a partner award, as cash, and through the portal. With Bilt, transferring is usually the best choice, since the portal can rarely beat it, but confirm the all-in cost first. ## Verdict The strongest Bilt tricks are simple, and most of the time, you don’t even need a workaround. Bilt points transfer to Hyatt, Alaska, Hilton, Southwest, and United directly, so the only real gaps are American, which can be booked through British Airways or Cathay, or Delta, which you can book through Flying Blue. Learn how to lean on the deepest partner list in the business, and the direct partners do most of the work for you. ### point.me take *— Jimmy Yoon, Head of Points Intelligence, point.me* Bilt has one of the best transfer partner lineups of any transferable or flexible currency out there. Where a lot of other currencies force you into workarounds to figure out how to book certain flights, Bilt's strength on partners means there's less of that to stay on top of. ### Learn more about Bilt - [How Much Are Bilt Points Worth?](https://www.point.me/insights/how-much-are-bilt-points-worth/) - [How to Transfer Bilt Points](https://www.point.me/insights/how-to-transfer-bilt-points/) - [Do Bilt Points Expire?](https://www.point.me/insights/do-bilt-points-expire/) - [Current Transfer Bonuses](https://www.point.me/insights/current-transfer-bonuses/) ### Ready to put your Bilt points to work? [Sign up for point.me and search award availability across every Bilt transfer partner.](https://auth.point.me/u/signup/) See real deals on real dates before you transfer.