AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers.
The Bilt Rewards family of points transfer partners just officially grown by one — but it's not the one we expected. This morning, Bilt added its 19th transfer partner: Southwest Airlines. With this new addition, you can now transfer Bilt Points 1:1 to the Rapid Rewards program. But there may be even more to look forward to, as Bilt has hinted at bigger plans for this partnership beyond just point transfers.
Here’s everything you need to know about Bilt’s newest transfer partner, along with a few things to consider before moving your points to Southwest.
Page Contents
Southwest Airlines Becomes Bilt’s 19th Transfer Partner
Bilt’s 19th transfer partner might not have been on your bingo card, but there’s arguably a lot to love about the addition of Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards. Despite the hullaballoo around Southwest's recent program and policy changes, there’s still value in being able to transfer points 1:1 and book awards to more than 100 destinations.
Bilt-to-Southwest point transfers won't be instant (for now)
Even though points transfers are officially live, you shouldn't be surprised if your Bilt Points don’t show up in your Rapid Rewards account right away after initiating a transfer. According to a Bilt spokesperson, “Bilt Points will transfer to Southwest via a twice-a-day batch process; one in the morning and one in the evening.”
So, depending on when you initiate the transfer, there may be a slight delay before your points deposit.
The good news is that this setup hopefully won’t be permanent. “We [Bilt] will be working towards a real-time point transfer solution in the near future,” the spokesperson added.
Related: Guide to Bilt Rewards Transfer Partners: Which Redemptions Offer the Best Value?
Bilt hints that Southwest point transfers are just the beginning
But wait, there's more. Bilt's press release announcing the Southwest partnership dangled an extra carrot; there’s more in the cards than just point transfers:
“As the partnership evolves, the two companies plan to introduce exclusive promotions and enhanced capabilities to provide even more value for both Bilt Members and Southwest’s dedicated travelers.”
In other words, Southwest could easily become the focus of an upcoming Rent Day promotion. We’ll have to wait and see.
Related: How Does Bilt Rewards Stack Up for Earning Rewards by Paying Rent?
What to Think About Before You Transfer Bilt Points to Rapid Rewards
Just because you can transfer Bilt Points to Southwest Rapid Rewards doesn’t mean you should. If you’ve got your eye on a Southwest flight and are thinking about using Bilt Points instead of cash, there are a couple of things to consider before hitting “transfer.”
The value of your Bilt Points
First, it’s worth putting the value of your Bilt Points into context. On average, AwardWallet users redeem Bilt Points for 2.01¢ each, which is quite a bit higher than the 1.52¢ per point users have gotten from Southwest Rapid Rewards (at least before the recent switch to variable pricing).
If you’re trying to get the most value out of your Bilt points, there are better ways to redeem them.
Book the same Southwest flight for fewer points elsewhere
The second thing to think about is whether there’s a cheaper way to book that same Southwest flight you want using your Bilt Points. Since Southwest rolled out variable pricing in March 2025, the value you’ll get from Rapid Rewards points has been all over the place. Nowadays, we've seen redemption rates range between 1.1¢ and 1.7¢ per point, depending on where and when you’re flying.
So here’s what we suggest: price out the award flight you want on Southwest’s website, then see what it would cost through the Bilt Rewards Travel portal. If you have The Bilt Mastercard® (Rates & Fees), your points are worth 1.25¢ each toward portal bookings. If the same flight costs fewer points through Bilt, that’s the more cost-effective way to book.
As a bonus, flights booked through the portal count as revenue fares, which means you’ll still earn Rapid Rewards points and qualifying activity toward the Companion Pass.
Related: Full Review of The Bilt Mastercard®
Final Thoughts
The 19th Bilt transfer partner has landed — and no, it's not Japan Airlines. It’s Southwest! As of April 24, 2025, you can officially transfer Bilt Points to Rapid Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. This is a pretty exciting addition if you like using your hard-earned points for domestic flights or trips to Mexico and the Caribbean.
But just make sure to compare prices with the Bilt Travel portal before you transfer; you might be able to book the exact same flight for fewer points through the portal than by transferring to Southwest.
- 3x points on dining
- 2x points on travel
- 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year)
- 1x points on other purchases
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.