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Bilt Adds Spirit Airlines as Latest Travel Point Transfer Partner
Bilt Rewards has unveiled a unique (and somewhat surprising) new transfer partner: Spirit Airlines.
About the Bilt-Spirit Airlines Partnership:
The list of Bilt Rewards travel transfer partners is expanding once again. Now, members can convert Bilt Points to Free Spirit points. This marks the first time that Spirit has offered loyalty program transfers. Similar to several other Bilt partners, points will transfer to Free Spirit at a rate of 1:1, meaning that 1,000 Bilt Points become 1,000 Free Spirit points.
In a press release, Bilt noted that Spirit ranks as the fourth most-booked airline on the Bilt Travel portal. It also pointed out that Spirit award redemptions start as low as 2,500 points — and there are no blockout dates for reward seats.
With the addition of Free Spirit, Bilt currently has 24 travel transfer partners. Other recent transfer partnerships include Etihad, Qatar Airways, and Japan Airlines, and more. The company has also formed a pact with Rakuten, allowing members to convert Rakuten cashback to Bilt Points. Elsewhere, Bilt is readying for its “2.0” evolution in the new year.
Situational Awareness:
This news comes during a turbulent time for Spirit. The airline has filed for bankruptcy twice in recent years, most recently in August. Moreover, rumors circulated that the carrier’s shutdown was imminent — although Spirit then announced new funding instead. Reports also suggest that Frontier is once again in talks to merge with Spirit after their previously announced union was called off following a bid from JetBlue (which was ultimately blocked).
What They’re Saying:
Announcing the partnership, Spirit’s SVP and Chief Commercial Officer Rana Ghosh stated, “The addition of Bilt as our first Free Spirit transfer partner is a game-changer for anyone who loves to travel more and spend less. We’re excited to welcome Bilt Members to the Free Spirit family and give them a new way to unlock exceptional value on their next flight.”
Meanwhile, Bilt founder and CEO Ankur Jain said, “Spirit has built something pretty remarkable for travelers seeking the best value, and we’re thrilled to be their first transfer partner. Our members book Spirit through our travel portal frequently, so giving them another way to stretch their points even further just makes sense.”
Jain added, “This partnership is about meeting our members where they are, whether that’s premium international travel or smart domestic getaways, and continuing to expand the Bilt ecosystem in ways that deliver real value.”
My Thoughts:
Given the state of Spirit, it may not be a good idea for Bilt members to transfer points to the airline unless they plan on redeeming them right away. With that caveat, those looking for affordable travel redemptions may now have a new option thanks to this partnership. It’s also interesting to hear that Spirit flights are often booked via Bilt (at least according to Jain), so perhaps Bilt members aren’t as bougie as you might think! In any case, props to Bilt for scoring another unique travel transfer partner for its growing program.
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