Bilt’s New Flight Booking Method Offers Extra Points

Booking flights through a bank’s travel portal has its pros and cons, right? Sure, you might earn some extra points. But you’re also giving up direct control of your reservation to an online travel agent. This can lead to tricky customer service interactions, particularly if your flight gets delayed or canceled. And then there’s the inconsistency regarding elite status and point accumulation.

However, Bilt has developed a way to book flights directly with airlines—and even some hotels— while still racking up extra points. This innovative approach could change how many travelers make their bookings.

This week, the r/AwardTravel subreddit caught wind of an interesting situation. A traveler mentioned that they booked a nearly $2,000 Delta ticket through the Bilt Travel Portal, and it was coded just like a purchase made on Delta.com. This means they earned 5x Membership Rewards® points with the American Express Platinum Card®, plus 1x Bilt Points for each dollar spent. Other members started testing this and reported similar findings.

So, do travel portals function like direct airline bookings? We reached out to Bilt, and it turns out… yes, in many scenarios, they do.

When booking flights via Bilt’s travel portal, you can simultaneously earn credit card bonus points, Bilt points, and airline miles, without giving up elite benefits or dealing with typical OTA issues. Pretty neat, right?

Getting Started

First, you’ll need a credit card linked to your Bilt account to maximize your point-earning potential. To take full advantage, here’s what you need:

• A free Bilt Rewards account
• A credit card connected to your Bilt Wallet

If you haven’t signed up for a Bilt account yet, it’s easy—just do it for free!

Once you’re logged in, navigate to the Bilt Wallet section and select the option to link your travel card. This is a one-time process.

After linking your card, you’ll benefit from these rewards when booking travel through Bilt’s Travel Portal:

• 1x Bilt Points for every dollar spent
• Points your card typically earns on airline tickets and travel expenses

For instance, with the Amex Platinum, you can earn 5x Membership Rewards® points on airfare purchased either directly from the airline or through American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 in annual spending. With most bookings via Bilt, these should still qualify for that full 5x bonus.

The overall earning structure looks like this:

• 5x Amex points per dollar
• 1x Bilt Points per dollar
• Grand Total: 6x points per dollar spent while enjoying the flexibility of direct bookings.

This extra earning potential could make it much easier for travelers to build a solid balance with Bilt Points, a currency that’s typically challenging to obtain.

There’s also the fact that this method is particularly valuable for American Express Platinum Card holders.

Why Amex Platinum Cardholders Benefit Most

Now, whether you’re using the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, or some other travel card, Bilt’s setup is especially advantageous for Amex Platinum holders. This card offers a significant return on travel purchases, generally only available for direct airline bookings or through Amex Travel.

If flights booked through Bilt continue to be coded as direct purchases, Platinum cardholders could turn Bilt into an unexpected revenue stream. Even those who frequent other points systems can benefit from the extra 1x from Bilt, essentially gaining free points.

In this case, Platinum cardholders have the most to gain from this opportunity.

Which Flights Yield Double Points?

While users have noted this mechanic working with Delta Air Lines and Canadian-based Porter Airlines, Bilt clarified that it’s not just limited to these airlines.

The underlying factor is how payments are processed. As long as you pay in full with a card linked to your account and don’t redeem Bilt points, the airline takes care of processing the payment—resulting in the double bonus (credit card rewards and Bilt points).

Richard Kerr, Bilt’s VP of travel, confirmed, “For all flight bookings, if Bilt Points aren’t used, we simply send the member’s credit card information to the airline, and they handle it from there.” Additionally, he stated that most airfares sold through Bilt use modern reservation systems, rather than the outdated ones used by OTAs. “Around 90% of our airfare inventory is managed through these modern systems.”

What This Means

• Most major US airlines require full payment via card to be coded as a direct booking.
• American Airlines is a bit of an exception: Generally, they don’t allow direct booking through Bilt.
• Other airlines may be able to participate, but it depends on their tech systems.
• Some fares or routes may revert to the older system, leading to OTA-like experiences.

Behind the Scenes

It sounds simpler than you’d think—and it’s all by design. “The airline is listed as the seller of record, so the pricing indicates airfare,” Kerr explained.

When airlines handle payments directly, the booking acts just like a direct reservation. This means:

• You earn points for direct credit card purchases
• You gain full airline miles and elite credits
• You have direct access to customer service through the airline

If the Plan Fails: Redeem Your Bilt Points

Things change if you choose to use Bilt points to lower the cost of your flight. In such cases, Bilt steps in as the merchant, and your ticket will no longer be treated as a direct airline booking, meaning you forfeit the full benefits of your credit card.

To earn the complete value of the double points, you’ll want to cover the full amount with your linked card.

Will I Still Get Airline Miles and Elite Status Credits?

You will! Bilt has ensured that whenever there’s a loyalty number field at checkout, you’ll earn miles and elite credits as if you booked directly with the airline.

And What About Hotel Reservations?

Bilt’s Home Away From Home initiative includes around 1,700 properties with perks like free breakfast and property credits. These bookings are made directly with the chain.

However, outside this collection, many hotel reservations are still processed similarly to traditional OTAs. This means they may not qualify for double points, and you might miss out on hotel points or elite night credits. On the upside, Bilt plans to introduce direct hotel rates for loyalty across major chains soon.

Conclusion

With this update, Bilt could change the way people book airline tickets for good. Now, you can earn both credit card rewards and Bilt Points while having your reservation classified as a direct airline purchase. It’s worth noting that not all airlines or fares will participate, but this could be a game-changer, especially for Amex Platinum cardholders. It’s an exciting opportunity for travelers looking to maximize their points.

We’re keen to keep exploring how this works, particularly noting which airlines book directly and which don’t.