Bilt Rewards has launched a unique new point transfer option.
About Bilt’s Amtrak Partnership:
While Bilt has long offered point transfers to airline and hotel loyalty programs, another option has just been unveiled, resulting in the creation of a new category tab: Rail. Now, Bilt members can transfer their Bilt Points to Amtrak Guest Rewards. These transfers will be offered at a rate of 2:1, meaning that 2,000 Bilt Points can be converted to 1,000 Amtrak Guest Rewards points.
With the addition of Amtrak, Bilt now has a total of 26 travel transfer partners. While Bilt Points typically transfer to these programs at a rate of 1:1, there are a few exceptions, including Accor (3:2), I Prefer (1:2), and now Amtrak (2:1).
According to Bilt, Amtrak redemptions start as low as 400 Amtrak Guest Rewards points (or as little as 100 when selecting the Points & Cash option). To get started, Bilt members can create a free Amtrak Guest Rewards account or link their existing account by visiting the Rewards tab of the Bilt app and selecting Amtrak from the transfer partner list.
As a reminder, Bilt Points must be transferred in increments of 1,000. Moreover, those with Bilt Blue status (the entry level) must transfer a minimum of 2,000 Bilt Points. All other tiers can transfer as few as 1,000 points.
Bilt is currently the only major credit card program to offer point transfers to Amtrak. However, Amtrak does have two co-branded rewards credit cards issued by First National Bank of Omaha: the no-annual-fee Amtrak Guest Rewards Mastercard and the $99 annual fee Amtrak Guest Rewards Preferred Mastercard. Both cards earn Guest Rewards points on Amtrak purchases as well as on everyday purchases such as dining (with the Preferred card also earning on travel, transit, and rideshare).
What They’re Saying:
Announcing the partnership, Bilt founder and CEO Ankur Jain said, “For a lot of our Members, the train is how they see their family, get to work, and get away for a weekend. Amtrak is our first rail partner because it’s one way people actually move between where they live, their neighborhood, and where they’re headed. The housing payments they’re already making should be what gets them on board.”
Additionally, Amtrak Interim Chief Commercial Officer Dev Koushik stated, “Bilt and Amtrak Guest Rewards are focused on delivering meaningful value to our members. This partnership gives customers another way to turn everyday rewards into travel, making it easier to enjoy the benefits of Amtrak Guest Rewards while staying connected to the people and places that matter most.”
My Thoughts:
I’ve always given Bilt props for adding unique and interesting transfer partners. That sentiment continues here, as I did not see this one coming.
That said, having never taken an Amtrak, I don’t know how to value the points. My only hint is to look at the Amtrak credit cards… which would suggest that these Guest Rewards points probably aren’t as valuable as the 2:1 Bilt Point conversion would suggest. While it may still be possible to find sweet spots and other good deals, I’m just not sure if Amtrak is going to prove to be the most lucrative transfer partner for Bilt members — but having more options is always a good thing.
