Bilt launches first-ever transfer bonus to Japan Airlines for Rent Day

Jennifer Yellin
January 28, 2026
(Updated: Feb 25, 2026)
Email icon
Facebook icon
Twitter icon
Linkedin icon
clock iconReading Time: 6 min

Over the past few years, Bilt Rewards has become one of my go-to travel programs. While I still spread my spending across programs like Chase and Capital One, Bilt makes earning rewards in my day‑to‑day life uniquely simple.

One of the biggest perks? Bilt's Neighborhood Benefits program, which lets you earn points whenever you shop at partner merchants with any credit or debit card linked to your Bilt account — you don't even need a Bilt credit card.

Redeeming your points is just as easy, since Bilt partners with 23 travel programs. And on the first day of each month, known as "Rent Day," Bilt often boosts transfer and redemption rates to select partners, giving you even more value for your points.

This March Rent Day promotion is a good one — and the first we've seen from this particular partner. With this offer, Bilt members can get up to a 125% bonus when transferring points to Japan Airlines.

So if you've been accruing points from the Bilt Neighborhood Benefits program or from Bilt's credit cards, this could be a smart way to put them to use.

Earning points with Bilt

If you aren't signed up for the Bilt program yet, joining is free, and it takes just a few minutes to enroll and link your cards to your account. To sign up, all you need to do is go to Bilt's website and click the "Sign up" button.

Click here to join Bilt Rewards for free

Once you’re signed up, earning points couldn’t be easier. Just link any card you regularly use to your Bilt Wallet, and you'll automatically start earning when you shop at any eligible merchant.

Once your credit and debit cards are linked to Bilt, you'll earn bonus points every month when you shop at eligible merchants without having to even think about it. This includes local restaurants, Walgreens, Lyft, and participating workout studios and classes.

A screenshot of the Bilt Neighborhood Benefits hub

Earning with Walgreens

One of my favorite ways to earn Bilt points is through Walgreens. Thanks to Bilt’s partnership, you’ll earn 2 points for every dollar you spend on Walgreens-branded products, and 1x on everything else in the store — as long as you pay with a card linked to your account, or use a phone number tied to your Bilt account at checkout. That's on top of any rewards you earn from your credit card.

Earning by dining out

Bilt Dining is another great way to rack up bonus points, with over 20,000 partner restaurants across the country. Depending on the restaurant, Bilt members can earn 2 or 3 extra points for every dollar you spend when dining out. Just make sure to pay with a linked credit or debit card.

Find local restaurants with Bilt Dining

Earning with Lyft

A Lyft driver checks his app as a passenger walks to the car

As a Bilt member, when you connect your Lyft account to Bilt Neighborhood Benefits, you'll automatically earn 2 points for every dollar you spend on all Lyft rides.

Link your Lyft account to Bilt Neighborhood Benefits

Use your Bluetooth headphones with any airplane seatback screen

A woman in a window seat on a plane smiles while wearing in-ear headphones

While some airlines like Delta and United are beginning to introduce Bluetooth-enabled inflight entertainment systems, widespread adoption is still years away. That means it's nearly impossible to use your own headphones or earbuds with your plane’s seatback screen. Or is it? We’ve found a simple and affordable gadget that plugs into a standard airplane headphone jack and pairs your wireless headphones effortlessly. Whether you're on a long-haul flight or just a short domestic hop, this device ensures a seamless, wire-free audio experience.

Learn how to avoid tangled cords at 30,000 feet

How Rent Day boosts your Bilt redemptions

Bilt Rewards offers multiple ways to redeem your points. But you'll usually get the best value by transferring them to Bilt's airline and hotel partners and using them for travel.

With 18 airlines and 5 hotel transfer partners, there are a slew of options when it comes to redeeming your points, including popular programs like United, Alaska Airlines, Southwest, Air France/KLM, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Marriott, and Hyatt, among many others.

That means your points can go a long way, especially since almost all of Bilt's partners transfer at a 1-to-1 ratio, meaning 1 Bilt point transfers to 1 point in the corresponding airline or hotel program.

Rent Day transfer bonus

On the first of every month, Bilt rewards its members with a special Rent Day perk. And this upcoming Rent Day is no different.

With this promotion, you can earn bonus miles on all transfers made to Japan Airlines (JAL) Mileage Bank on March 1st. However, the bonus offer depends on your status within the Bilt Rewards program.

  • Blue member: 25% bonus
  • Silver member: 50% bonus
  • Gold member: 75% bonus
  • Platinum member: 100% bonus

Bilt is also sweetening the deal by giving its members the opportunity to "buy up" to a higher status by using their Bilt Cash. Bilt members can use $135 of Bilt Cash to unlock the next tier status. This means regular Blue members can earn the same transfer bonus as Silver members, Silver bumps up to Gold, Gold matches Platinum, and Platinum can upgrade to a 125% bonus.

If you have extra Bilt Cash lying around, this is a great way to earn even more points toward your next flight.

For those unfamiliar with the JAL program, you can redeem as little as 55,000 miles each way to fly business class between North America and Japan. Based on your status, this brings the cost in miles down to as low as 24,445 Bilt points. And the best part about using JAL miles to fly to Japan is that you can book 360 days in advance — giving you far superior availability for a business-class seat.

JAL miles can also be used on partner programs, with Emirates business class being one of the best redemption options. For example, you can fly San Francisco to Hong Kong (with a layover in Dubai) for just 100,000 miles in business class — or as low as 44,445 Bilt points. And the best part: Taxes and fees are extremely low.

Other sought-after partner opportunities include American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Bangkok Airways, LATAM, and SriLankan Airlines.

If you decide to take advantage of this promotion, know that it's only valid on Sunday, March 1, 2026, from 12:00am ET through 11:59pm PT. If you don't already have a JAL account, we suggest creating one now and linking it to your Bilt account, and not waiting until the last minute. Also keep in mind that if your JAL Mileage Bank account is less than 60 days old, there will be up to a 7-day hold before you can use JAL Miles to book travel.

Why Bilt is a smart addition to your points strategy

There's no reason not to join Bilt Neighborhood Benefits, especially since it's free. With an easy-to-use program and valuable rewards, plus nearly two dozen loyalty partners and generous transfer bonus opportunities, Bilt gives you plenty of ways to turn your points into unforgettable travel experiences.

Personally, I earn Bilt points every month without lifting a finger, just by keeping my credit cards linked to the program. Then, when the right travel opportunity comes along, I transfer those points to one of Bilt’s many partners for serious value.

While I most likely will not be taking advantage of this particular Rent Day offer, it's a great opportunity for others — as long as you have a plan in place.

Join Bilt Neighborhood Benefits and earn extra travel rewards

Reduce your travel anxiety with TSA-approved stress balls

A hand grips a blue stress ball

Stress balls are a fantastic fidget to keep your hands busy and calm nerves. But some of them are filled with gels and liquid, so it's important to buy a TSA-approved one for flying. The ​Serenilite stress balls​ won’t trip you up at security, and come in several densities for varying grip strength.

Get it at Amazon!
Email icon
Facebook icon
Twitter icon
Linkedin icon