In a significant move for its rewards program, Bilt has announced the addition of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan as a 1:1 transfer partner, effective March 14. With this new partnership, Bilt becomes the sole major travel rewards program to collaborate with Alaska Airlines, expanding the versatility of Bilt points. However, it has been confirmed that Bilt's partnership with American Airlines will come to an end in June.

Alaska Airlines and American Airlines both belong to the Oneworld alliance, allowing Bilt points to continue being used for booking American Airlines flights through Alaska Airlines and other Oneworld partners. This ensures that members can still benefit from their accumulated Bilt points when traveling with American Airlines.

Alaska Airlines is currently in the process of revamping its award pricing system. By the end of March, the airline plans to implement distance-based awards charts for three global regions. While Alaska Airlines continues to use dynamic pricing for its awards flights, the new charts will establish starting prices based on the flight's distance and geographical region.

The revamped award charts present exciting opportunities for Bilt Rewards members. In particular, short-haul economy flights offer solid value, with one-way economy partner awards in the Americas starting at just 4,500 miles for flights under 700 miles. This means that travelers can book round-trip partner flights on American Airlines to destinations like Grand Cayman, Saint Kitts, and Turks and Caicos for as little as 9,000 miles. This equates to a value of approximately five cents per point, considering that the same flight could cost $450 or more per person.

Moreover, Alaska Airlines allows stopovers on certain award flights, enabling members to stretch their miles further. For one-way international awards, a stopover of up to 14 days can be added, while round-trip international awards allow up to two stopovers. The additional stopovers do not require any extra miles as long as they do not push the mileage into the next pricing band. For example, travelers planning a trip to Hong Kong can fly nonstop on Cathay Pacific from San Francisco for 75,000 miles in business class each way. Alternatively, a one-way business-class award with Japan Airlines, combined with a two-week stopover in Japan, can be booked for the same number of miles. These flights can typically cost $3,000 to $4,000 or more, providing a conservative value of at least four cents per point.

While the partnership with American Airlines is ending, Bilt members still have various options for maximizing their rewards. American Airlines miles are most valuable when used to book flights with partner airlines due to dynamic pricing applied to their own flights. Fixed prices are offered for partner flights, making them an attractive choice. For instance, with just 70,000 miles, members can book a business-class flight from the continental U.S. and Canada to the Middle East and enjoy the luxurious Qatar Airways' Qsuite, offering one of the best business-class cabins available. Such flights can cost anywhere from $5,500 to well over $10,000, providing an impressive value of at least eight cents per mile.

To participate in the Bilt Rewards program, anyone can join for free. However, serious points earners may consider applying for the no-annual-fee Bilt Mastercard®. This card allows users to earn rewards on rent without transaction fees and offers bonus rewards on travel and dining purchases. While the Bilt card does not provide a welcome bonus, it is beneficial for those who frequently pay rent.
In addition, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card is an excellent option for earning Alaska miles, offering an increased bonus of 70,000 miles along with Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™. Furthermore, Bilt has revealed plans to offer 3X miles to cardholders when using the Bilt card to pay rent. However, it should be noted that Bilt charges a 3% transaction fee for third-party credit cards, while the Bilt Mastercard allows users to earn 1X Bilt points on rent without any fees. Cardholders also gain access to benefits such as discounted Alaska Lounge+ memberships and a free checked bag for themselves and up to six guests on eligible flights.

Although Chase Ultimate Rewards® points cannot be transferred directly to Alaska Airlines, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card remains a valuable option for travelers. The card offers a generous welcome bonus for new members, along with the ability to transfer Chase points to British Airways or Iberia, both Oneworld partners. Additionally, the Sapphire Preferred card provides robust insurance coverage for trip delays, cancellations, and lost luggage when paying for award flight taxes and fees.

Bilt's addition of Alaska Airlines as a transfer partner sets it apart from other travel rewards programs. Currently, no other major transferrable travel rewards program has partnered with Alaska Airlines. Despite the recent award chart changes, Alaska miles continue to hold considerable value. Members can leverage these miles to book flights with prestigious airlines such as American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines, opening up a range of exciting travel opportunities.