Bilt Rewards added a new way to use its points for travel, and this one doesn’t involve an airline or hotel.
On Wednesday, September 23, Bilt added Amtrak Guest Rewards as its newest transfer partner, allowing Bilt Points to be converted into Amtrak points and used toward train tickets.
Amtrak is Bilt’s first rail transfer partner and its 26th travel partner overall. And the partnership could be particularly useful in situations where taking the train can make more sense than flying.
How Bilt Transfers to Amtrak Work
Transfers are available now after linking an Amtrak Guest Rewards account to Bilt.
Bilt Points transfer in increments of 1,000. Members who have earned Bilt status can transfer as few as 1,000 points at a time, while members with entry-level Blue status (which everyone receives when joining Bilt) need to transfer at least 2,000.
Amtrak tickets can start at 400 Guest Rewards points, or 100 points when combining points and cash. Points can also be used for lounge passes starting at 1,500 points and one-class upgrade coupons starting at 2,500 points.
The important number to check before transferring is how many Amtrak points a particular trip requires. Since Bilt Points become half as many Amtrak points, a ticket costing 2,500 Amtrak points would require transferring 5,000 Bilt Points.
Bilt Continues to Expand Beyond Traditional Travel Rewards
Amtrak also fits into something broader happening at Bilt.
Airline and hotel transfers are still a big part of the program, but Bilt has increasingly added ways to use points outside the usual airline-hotel playbook. Points can go toward fitness classes, student loan payments, and other expenses tied more closely to everyday life.
Train travel fits neatly into that expansion. It’s transportation, but for plenty of people, especially along the Northeast Corridor, it’s also part of life in a way that an airline transfer partner might not be.