Bilt’s roster of transfer partners has grown fast—some are even exclusive to Bilt. So I pulled the whole list and sorted them by usefulness, not just headline “sweet spots.” If a program lands in Mid or even Low, that’s not a dunk on the program; it’s a signal that most travelers won’t use it often.
Could a niche program still be your MVP? Absolutely. If you speak LifeMiles fluently, you might put Avianca near the top. But for most people, there are easier paths to the same seats.
How I ranked them: value per point, ease of use (search/booking/fees), and how often you can actually find awards. I split “Mid” into two flavors—great value but tricky vs. easy but just okay value. And always find space before you transfer—points only go one direction.
Top-Tier Partners
World of Hyatt
Why it ranks here: Best hotel transfer value with consistently high cpp and a transparent award chart. Redemptions regularly outperform other hotel programs.
- Best uses: High-end Hyatt properties, Category sweet spots, off-peak pricing.
- Ease of use: Straightforward search/booking; clear charts.
- Award-finding: Good relative to peers; flexible with date ranges.
- Fees & gotchas: None; standard resort/destination fees are waived on award stays.
- Transfer notes: 1:1 from Bilt; typically quick.
Quick take: Best-in-class hotel value; my default hotel transfer.
Air Canada Aeroplan
Why it ranks here: Huge Star Alliance reach, and plenty of non-alliance partners, and solid online booking with creative routing options and useful stopover rules.
- Best uses: Long-haul business class, complex itineraries.
- Ease of use: Strong website and search; Knowledgeable associates. Fees manageable.
- Award-finding: Reliable on many partners with flexibility.
- Fees & gotchas: Watch for dynamic pricing and partner surcharges.
- Transfer notes: 1:1; generally fast. Find seats first.
Quick take: Versatile, powerful, and easy—top airline transfer.
Air France / KLM Flying Blue
Why it ranks here: SkyTeam access with frequent Promo Rewards, decent availability, and smooth online booking. Great balance of value and usability.
- Best uses: Transatlantic biz when Promo Rewards pop; Europe connections.
- Ease of use: Good website; clear pricing.
- Award-finding: Solid if you’re date-flexible.
- Fees & gotchas: Moderate surcharges depending on route.
- Transfer notes: 1:1; typically quick.
Quick take: Frequent deals + easy booking = worthy Top spot.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club (Avios)
Why it ranks here: Fantastic for QSuites and surprisingly handy for short awards on American/Alaska, including to the Caribbean and Hawaii. Avios-to-Avios transfers add flexibility to chase the best combo of miles + fees.
- Best uses: QSuites to/from the U.S.; short-haul AA/AS when pricing is favorable.
- Ease of use: Solid online search/booking; Avios transfers simplify comparisons.
- Award-finding: Good if flexible on dates; compare across Avios programs.
- Fees & gotchas: Moderate surcharges; always evaluate total cost.
- Transfer notes: 1:1; typically quick.
Quick take: QSuites + useful AA/AS short-hauls; leverage Avios flexibility.
Atmos Rewards (Alaska + Hawaiian)
Why it ranks here: Alaska’s distance-based award charts unlock excellent sweet spots, and its robust partner network spans oneworld plus unique non-alliance partners (e.g., Condor, Starlux). Pair with Hawaiian for inter-island and additional transpacific options—high-value and versatile.
- Best uses: Alaska partner J/F awards; Europe via Condor; transpacific options.
- Ease of use: Good online booking for many partners; learn partner rules.
- Award-finding: Strong sweet spots but requires flexibility.
- Fees & gotchas: Partner quirks; occasional phone bookings.
- Transfer notes: 1:1; generally quick.
Quick take: Distance-based value + broad partner web make this a standout.
Mid-Tier (Bucket A): Good Value, but Harder to Use or Limited
Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles
Why it ranks here: Big theoretical value with Star Alliance reach and famous sweet spots, but clunky website/IT and procedural quirks require a learning curve.
- Best uses: Europe awards; specific partner routes (incl. Hawaii via United when available).
- Ease of use: Inconsistent online booking; sometimes phone/email workarounds.
- Award-finding: Can be strong, but patience required.
- Fees & gotchas: Expect friction; verify space carefully.
- Transfer notes: 1:1; confirm seats first.
Quick take: Great value if you’re willing to fight the UI.
Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
Why it ranks here: Real sweet spots on JAL metal and partner awards, but Bilt is the only major U.S. transfer partner—harder to build balances quickly.
- Best uses: Premium cabins on JAL; select partner long-hauls.
- Ease of use: Decent search/booking; some quirks vs. U.S. programs.
- Award-finding: Good if you’re flexible; premium space can be scarce.
- Fees & gotchas: Watch fuel surcharges on certain partners.
- Transfer notes: 1:1; generally quick.
Quick take: High-value JAL awards, but slower to earn via Bilt-only funnel.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Why it ranks here: Oneworld access and long-haul value—especially on Cathay metal—but availability remains tighter and some booking flows are still clunky.
- Best uses: Asia long-hauls; oneworld partner routes when pricing lines up.
- Ease of use: Improved online tools; still quirky at times.
- Award-finding: Requires flexibility; space ebbs and flows.
- Fees & gotchas: Surcharges on certain partners/routes.
- Transfer notes: 1:1; verify availability first.
Quick take: Worth it for Asia pros; casual users may prefer simpler programs.
Virgin Red / Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Why it ranks here: Virgin Red points are easily used via Flying Club, which often posts some of the cheapest mileage prices for transatlantic flights. You can also sometimes snag lower award rates on SkyTeam partners through Flying Club. The tradeoff: cash surcharges/fees are frequently higher than alternatives—always compare to Flying Blue.
- Best uses: Transatlantic J on Virgin; occasional SkyTeam partner deals.
- Ease of use: Straightforward for Virgin-operated flights.
- Award-finding: Good on Virgin; partner space varies.
- Fees & gotchas: Often higher surcharges than peers; compare total cost.
- Transfer notes: 1:1; typically quick.
Quick take: Cheap miles, but fees can flip the winner—compare vs. Flying Blue.
Mid-Tier (Bucket B): Wide Availability & Easy to Use, but Mediocre Value
United MileagePlus
Why it ranks here: Easy-to-use website, tons of U.S. flights and partners. Value is generally average and aspirational awards can be pricey.
- Best uses: Simple one-ways, domestic/near-international, last-minute partner finds.
- Ease of use: Excellent search/booking UX.
- Award-finding: Good coverage; dynamic pricing drives variability.
- Fees & gotchas: Watch high-mile pricing on premium routes.
- Transfer notes: 1:1; near-instant in many cases.
Quick take: Super usable; value is “fine,” not flashy.
Southwest Rapid Rewards
Why it ranks here: Simple, predictable value with plentiful availability. Limited route map and no partners.
- Best uses: Domestic travel, schedule flexibility, no-change-fee policies.
- Ease of use: Very easy; book/cancel/change online.
- Award-finding: Excellent seat availability.
- Fees & gotchas: No partners; limited long-haul options.
- Transfer notes: 1:1; typically quick.
Quick take: Stress-free bookings at steady value; limited network.
BA / Iberia / Aer Lingus (Avios)
Why it ranks here: Transferable Avios lets you hunt the best combo of price/fees across BA, Iberia, and Aer Lingus. Downsides: BA’s high surcharges and per-segment pricing; Iberia/Aer Lingus are more niche (Spain/Ireland focus).
- Best uses: Europe short-hauls, off-peak Iberia to Spain, specific Aer Lingus routes.
- Ease of use: Decent online tools; Avios transfers add flexibility.
- Award-finding: Generally good if you know the ecosystem.
- Fees & gotchas: BA surcharges can sting; segment pricing adds up.
- Transfer notes: 1:1; typically quick. Move Avios as needed.
Quick take: Flexible but fussy—good if you already “speak Avios.”
Emirates Skywards
Why it ranks here: Aspirational cabins and straightforward booking on Emirates, but dynamic pricing and higher surcharges often undercut the value.
- Best uses: Emirates business/first if you value the experience.
- Ease of use: Smooth online booking for Emirates-operated flights.
- Award-finding: Good for Emirates; partners vary.
- Fees & gotchas: Often steep surcharges on premium cabins.
- Transfer notes: 1:1; typically quick.
Quick take: Glamour points—fun, not always frugal.
Accor Live Limitless
Why it ranks here: Fixed-value redemptions and partial-pay flexibility; stronger in Europe/Asia, thinner U.S. footprint.
- Best uses: Cash-like stays at Accor brands (Sofitel, Novotel, etc.), especially outside the U.S.
- Ease of use: Straightforward—apply points to reduce cash.
- Award-finding: No fixed “award” inventory to hunt down.
- Fees & gotchas: Watch brand-specific rules; value is capped by fixed rate.
- Transfer notes: 3:2 from Bilt; verify totals before moving points.
Quick take: Easy, predictable savings—best where Accor is strong.
Low-Tier Partners
Avianca LifeMiles
Why it ranks here: While there’s value to be had, it’s a hard program to deal with—the site often shows unbookable flights, and help with issues is hard to impossible to find.
- Best uses: Select Star Alliance partners when space is truly bookable.
- Ease of use: IT glitches and frustrating support.
- Award-finding: Phantom space is a recurring problem.
- Fees & gotchas: Expect friction; screenshot everything.
- Transfer notes: 1:1; only after confirming real, ticketable space.
Quick take: Looks great on paper; painful in practice.
Etihad Guest
Why it ranks here: Niche partner sweet spots exist, but many partner bookings are phone/email only, with inconsistent pricing and devaluations over time.
- Best uses: Occasional partner quirks (e.g., select regional partners).
- Ease of use: Weak online tools; manual processes are common.
- Award-finding: Inconsistent; patience needed.
- Fees & gotchas: Varies widely by partner.
- Transfer notes: 1:1; confirm details first.
Quick take: Only worth it for very specific, known sweet spots.
TAP Miles&Go
Why it ranks here: Limited usefulness outside Portugal routes, with weaker IT and partner value relative to other Star Alliance options.
- Best uses: TAP-operated flights to/from Portugal.
- Ease of use: Site/service can be hit-or-miss.
- Award-finding: Narrower network limits options.
- Fees & gotchas: Check surcharges; compare vs. Aeroplan/United.
- Transfer notes: 1:1; only if you’re committed to TAP metal.
Quick take: Too narrow for most Bilt users.
Hilton Honors
Why it ranks here: High usability, but points are worth not much more than ~0.5¢ each. Not a great use of Bilt points unless you’re topping off for an imminent booking.
- Best uses: Top-off for a specific stay you’re booking anyway.
- Ease of use: Very easy to find rooms and redeem.
- Award-finding: Excellent availability—value is the issue.
- Fees & gotchas: Dynamic pricing keeps value low.
- Transfer notes: 1:1; top-off only.
Quick take: Usable, but not good value—avoid unless topping off.
Marriott Bonvoy
Why it ranks here: High ability to find rooms, but points are less than ~1 cpp on average. Resort/destination fees at nicer properties and dynamic pricing further erode value.
- Best uses: Specific stays where cash is exorbitant and points pricing is favorable.
- Ease of use: Easy search/booking; huge footprint.
- Award-finding: Wide availability, modest value.
- Fees & gotchas: Resort/destination fees may apply.
- Transfer notes: 1:1; typically not great value.
Quick take: Quantity over quality—top-off if needed, otherwise pass.
IHG One Rewards
Why it ranks here: Low redemption value and dynamic pricing make it a poor transfer choice except to top off an account for a specific booking.
- Best uses: Topping off for confirmed stays.
- Ease of use: Easy to find rooms; value is the weak spot.
- Award-finding: Broad availability; low cpp.
- Fees & gotchas: Watch dynamic award swings.
- Transfer notes: 1:1; top-off only.
Quick take: Only move points when you must
Cheat Sheet: Bilt Transfer Partners Ranked
| Tier | Partner | Quick Take | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top | World of Hyatt | Best hotel value; high cpp; transparent pricing. | Jump to section |
| Top | Air Canada Aeroplan | Huge Star Alliance reach; creative routing; easy online. | Jump to section |
| Top | Air France/KLM Flying Blue | SkyTeam access + Promo Rewards; smooth booking. | Jump to section |
| Top | Qatar Privilege Club (Avios) | QSuites + AA/AS short-hauls; Avios flexibility. | Jump to section |
| Top | Atmos Rewards (Alaska + Hawaiian) | Distance charts + broad partner web (oneworld + unique partners). | Jump to section |
| Mid (Value, harder/limited) | Turkish Miles & Smiles | Big value + Star Alliance; clunky IT/learning curve. | Jump to section |
| Mid (Value, harder/limited) | Japan Airlines Mileage Bank | Premium-cabin sweet spots; Bilt is only major U.S. partner. | Jump to section |
| Mid (Value, harder/limited) | Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | Oneworld access; good long-haul value; availability quirks. | Jump to section |
| Mid (Value, harder/limited) | Virgin Red / Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | Cheap miles but higher fees—compare vs. Flying Blue. | Jump to section |
| Mid (Easy, middling value) | United MileagePlus | Easy site + broad network; average cpp; aspirational pricing high. | Jump to section |
| Mid (Easy, middling value) | Southwest Rapid Rewards | Simple, predictable; no partners; limited map. | Jump to section |
| Mid (Easy, middling value) | BA / Iberia / Aer Lingus (Avios) | Avios transfer flexibility; BA surcharges; others niche. | Jump to section |
| Mid (Easy, middling value) | Emirates Skywards | Aspirational cabins; dynamic pricing + higher surcharges. | Jump to section |
| Mid (Easy, middling value) | Accor Live Limitless (3:2) | Fixed-value, partial-pay; best in Europe/Asia. | Jump to section |
| Low | Avianca LifeMiles | Value on paper, but phantom space/IT and poor support. | Jump to section |
| Low | Etihad Guest | Niche partners; phone bookings; devaluations. | Jump to section |
| Low | TAP Miles&Go | Limited scope; weak IT/partners. | Jump to section |
| Low | Hilton Honors | High usability but ~0.5¢/pt; mainly for top-offs. | Jump to section |
| Low | Marriott Bonvoy | Wide inventory but low cpp; resort fees at nicer properties. | Jump to section |
| Low | IHG One Rewards | Low value; dynamic pricing; top-off only. | Jump to section |
Tips before you transfer: (1) Find real, bookable award space first; (2) compare total miles + fees across multiple partners (especially within Avios); (3) if timing matters, test a small transfer to confirm speed.
Final Thought
Bilt’s transfer lineup has grown into one of the most versatile among flexible-points programs. Still, not every partner fits every traveler. Hyatt, Aeroplan, and Flying Blue offer some of the best all-around value, while programs like Turkish or Virgin Red reward those willing to learn their quirks. Others—especially hotel chains like Marriott or IHG—are better saved for top-offs or specific situations.
As always, the right transfer partner depends on your goals: luxury seats, easy domestic hops, or guaranteed availability. Knowing which programs play to your strengths makes your Bilt points go much further.
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