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Japan Airlines Becomes Latest Bilt Travel Transfer Partner
It’s official this time: Japan Airlines is joining the list of Bilt Rewards transfer partners.
About the Bilt and Japan Airlines Partnership:
Bilt has announced that Japan Airlines (JAL) is its newest travel partner. As a result, Bilt members can now transfer their points to JAL’s Mileage Bank at a rate of 1:1. This not only marks the first Japan-based airline to join Bilt’s stable of travel partner options but Bilt also becomes JAL’s first 1:1 transfer partner in North America.
Per usual, Bilt members will be able to transfer points to Japan Airlines Mileage Bank accounts in increments of 1,000 points (those without Bilt elite status of Silver or higher will also need to transfer a minimum of 2,000 points). However, Bilt warns that Mileage Bank accounts that are less than 60 days old may see waiting periods of up to seven days after points are transferred. This means that, while members may be able to move their points, they might not be able to book on JAL right away.
Mileage Bank miles can be used to book flights on Japan Airlines as well as oneworld Alliance partner airlines. This includes American Airlines — which was previously a Bilt transfer partner but has since been discontinued.
With the addition of JAL, Bilt now has a total of 20 airline and hotel transfer programs. This announcement also comes on the heels of Bilt adding Southwest Airlines last month.
What They’re Saying:
Announcing this latest addition, Bilt founder and CEO Ankur Jain said, “We’re always working to ensure we offer nothing less than exceptional service quality to our members, so welcoming Japan Airlines as our latest travel partner was a no-brainer. This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to provide the most valuable and flexible rewards for our members.”
Meanwhile, Japan Airlines’ SVP of Mileage and Lifestyle Business Yasushi Omori stated, “Japan Airlines is delighted to partner with Bilt. This collaboration allows us to connect with a unique audience of renters and homeowners in the United States while offering them exceptional value on their Bilt Points through our award-winning service and extensive global network as part of the oneworld Alliance.”
My Thoughts:
To be honest, I completely forgot that this was in the works once the Southwest announcement confused rumors that a JAL addition was coming. I’m also surprised to learn that Japan Airlines isn’t a transfer option for the likes of Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards.
Overall, this seems like a pretty useful addition — especially since American Airlines is no longer a direct Bilt partner. That said, those who may be planning a transfer to JAL in the future may want to make sure they open a Mileage Bank account now so that they don’t fall victim to the seven-day waiting period when they do find a redemption they want to book. Also, while it’s not a given, we can likely expect some sort of Japan Airlines transfer bonus for a future Rent Day.
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