{"id":279068,"date":"2026-10-22T22:00:41","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T22:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=279068\/"},"modified":"2026-10-22T17:32:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T17:32:07","slug":"my-experience-visiting-a-blade-lounge-for-free-with-bilt-gold-status-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/travel\/bilt-rewards\/bilt-blade-lounge-review\/","title":{"rendered":"My Experience Visiting a BLADE Lounge for Free With Bilt Gold Status [Video]"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Bilt Gold elite status comes with several unique perks, including boosted transfer bonuses on most <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/bilt-rewards\/bilt-rent-day\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Bilt Rent Days<\/a>. One benefit I haven't seen from any other loyalty program is entry to BLADE lounges, even on days when you aren't flying.<\/p>\n<p>I hold Gold status through the <a data-ccid=\"212\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/bilt-rewards\/bilt-palladium-card\/\">Bilt Palladium Card<\/a>  (<a data-ccid=\"212\" href=\"https:\/\/legal.cardless.com\/rates_and_fees\/bilt\/rates_and_fees.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>), so one morning in Manhattan during the U.S. Open, I walked over to the West 30th Street heliport to see how the benefit works in practice.<\/p>\n<p>Here's how you can access BLADE lounges, what you can expect inside, and whether this perk alone is worth chasing Bilt status.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"How_Bilt_Members_Get_BLADE_Lounge_Access\">How Bilt Members Get BLADE Lounge Access<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>BLADE sells by-the-seat helicopter transfers between Manhattan and New York-JFK and Newark, plus seasonal routes to leisure destinations like Montauk. Its lounges are for ticketed passengers, with a one-way airport seat typically costing a few hundred dollars. Lounges feature a bar, some light snacks, and a comfortable place to wait for your flight.<\/p>\n<p>However, if you hold <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/bilt-rewards\/bilt-elite-status\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Bilt elite status<\/a>, you don't necessarily need a ticket. Bilt Gold and Platinum members can access BLADE lounges during operating hours, with up to two drinks included per visit. Bilt lists eligible lounges in New York City (two lounges), Westchester, Nantucket, and Miami. For my visit, I chose the most convenient option: BLADE Lounge West, near the Hudson Yards development.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"My_BLADE_Lounge_West_Experience\">My BLADE Lounge West Experience<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you want to learn more about my experience at the BLADE Lounge West, check out my YouTube video:<\/p>\n<p><iframe data-aspectratio=\"500\/281\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Bilt Gold&#039;s Perks Are Insane In New York City\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DZvflKSlv_M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen class=\"lazyload\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Checking_In\">Checking In<b><\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>BLADE Lounge West sits at the West 30th Street heliport on Manhattan's Hudson River side, next to a greenway. It's a 10-minute walk from the Hudson Yards subway station, or 20 minutes from Penn Station. When you arrive, set your expectations for the exterior. The building is a low, temporary-looking structure beside the helipad, and I walked past the entrance once before I spotted the BLADE signage.<\/p>\n<p>Check-in was quick. I told the agent at the desk I was visiting as a Bilt member, handed over my Palladium Card, and a moment later, the agent waved me in. Nobody asked for a flight confirmation, and I didn't need to reserve ahead. I wasn't sure how aware the staff member would be of the perk, so I'm glad I could take advantage of it without hassle.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Inside_BLADE_Lounge_West\">Inside BLADE Lounge West<b><\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The lounge is small, closer in size to a hotel lobby bar than to an airport club. What it lacks in square footage, it makes up for with its finish. The furniture, lighting, and wall treatments show intentional design, and the room looks far nicer than the outside suggests.<\/p>\n<p>My highlight was a small phone room off the main seating area. If you need to take a time-sensitive call or a meeting before heading to the airport, you can shut the door and talk quickly. Since these lounges aren't meant for spending all day inside, I felt this addressed the target consumer well.<\/p>\n<p>The windows face the helipad, so every few minutes a helicopter lifts off or lands a short distance from your seat. For an aviation fan, that alone justifies the walk. I arrived early in the morning, so I passed on the bar and ordered a coffee. I stayed just under 30 minutes, which felt right.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_279074\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"650\/488\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-279074 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_9043-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"Blade lounge west interior\" width=\"650\" height=\"488\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_9043-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_9043-750x563.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_9043-900x675.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_9043-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_9043-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_9043-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_9043-276x207.jpeg 276w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_9043-476x357.jpeg 476w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><center><em>Credit: Mark Jackson\/AwardWallet<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h2><span id=\"More_Bilt_Perks_With_BLADE\">More Bilt Perks With BLADE<b><\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Bilt recently expanded its <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/bilt-rewards\/blade-partnership\/\" rel=\"noopener\">BLADE partnership<\/a>. Every member can now reserve BLADE flights in the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/bilt-rewards\/bilt-travel-portal\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Bilt Travel Portal<\/a>\u00a0and earn 2 bonus <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/bilt-rewards\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Bilt Points<\/a> per $1 on those bookings. You can pay using a card, Bilt Points, or <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/bilt-rewards\/bilt-cash\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Bilt Cash<\/a> \u2014 note that Bilt Cash applies up to $350 per seat booking and up to 2 bookings per year (total $700 per year).<\/p>\n<p class=\"remark\"><strong><em>Note: <\/strong>Bilt Cash expires at the end of each calendar year. Up to $100 of Bilt Cash earned rolls over to the next year.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Silver, Gold, and Platinum members also get 10% off BLADE bookings made through the Bilt app. However, Platinum members get the most valuable benefit: one complimentary BLADE flight each year between Manhattan and JFK or Newark.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"How_To_Earn_Bilt_Gold_Status\">How To Earn Bilt Gold Status<b><\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Gold status requires 125,000 qualifying Bilt Points or $25,000 in eligible card spend within a calendar year. Once earned, Gold remains active through the end of the following year.<\/p>\n<p>I took the faster route for status. The <a data-ccid=\"212\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/BiltPalladiumCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Palladium Card<\/a> offers status as part of its welcome offer: earn 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 3 months + $300 of Bilt Cash.<\/p>\n<p>For award travelers, the main reason to hold Gold is the Rent Day transfer bonuses, but the BLADE benefits are certainly nice perks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"qs-card\" data-id=\"212\">\n            <div class=\"qs-data\">\n                <div class=\"qs-view\">\n                    <div class=\"qs-cardname\">Bilt Palladium Card<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-image\"><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/95\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CardArt-BiltPalladiumCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Bilt Palladium Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Bilt Palladium Card' data-ccid=\"212\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/BiltPalladiumCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-rates\"><span class=\"qs-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"212\" href=\"https:\/\/legal.cardless.com\/rates_and_fees\/bilt\/rates_and_fees.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong> 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 3 months + $300 of Bilt Cash.<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"qs-info\">\n                    <strong class=\"qs-cardname\">Bilt Palladium Card<\/strong>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong> 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 3 months + $300 of Bilt Cash.<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee:<\/strong><b>$495<\/b><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-tabs\"><a class=\"qs-more\" href=\"#more\">Show more<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"wwl\">Why We Like It<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"hl\">Highlights<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"er\">Earning Rates<\/a><div class=\"qs-tab-wwl\">The Bilt Palladium Card delivers premium value through a mix of strong everyday earning, substantial annual travel credits, and flexible rewards that can be used for both luxury travel and real-life expenses like rent and mortgage payments. With a high-value welcome bonus, Priority Pass access, and generous ongoing credits, it's well-suited for cardholders who want elevated benefits alongside practical redemption options.<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-hl\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ??>\n<html><body><ul><li>Earn points on housing payments with no transaction fee<\/li><li>Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.<\/li><li>2X points on everyday spend<\/li><li>$400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.<\/li><li>$200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.<\/li><li>Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.<\/li><li>Priority Pass ($469\/year value). See <a data-ccid=\"212\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biltrewards.com\/terms\/palladium-card-guide-to-benefits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Guide to Benefits<\/a>.<\/li><li>Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.<\/li><\/ul><\/body><\/html>\n<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-er\"><ul>\r\n<li>Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.<\/li>\r\n<li>2X points on everyday spend<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <a class=\"qs-share\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/BiltPalladium\/\" title=\"copy\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/awardwallet\/public\/builds\/icon\/icon-sprite.svg?v2026-10-22073f6f3a#share-square\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"Bottom_Line\">Bottom Line<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>BLADE lounge access won't be the reason anyone pursues Bilt Gold, but it was a fun treat to check out a lounge during my visit to New York City. If you hold Gold or Platinum and find yourself near Hudson Yards, drop in for a coffee or a cocktail and enjoy the views.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ftoc\"><div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_light_blue no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Page Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#How_Bilt_Members_Get_BLADE_Lounge_Access\">How Bilt Members Get BLADE Lounge Access<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#My_BLADE_Lounge_West_Experience\">My BLADE Lounge West Experience<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Checking_In\">Checking In<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Inside_BLADE_Lounge_West\">Inside BLADE Lounge West<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#More_Bilt_Perks_With_BLADE\">More Bilt Perks With BLADE<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_To_Earn_Bilt_Gold_Status\">How To Earn Bilt Gold Status<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Bottom_Line\">Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bilt Gold elite status comes with several unique perks. One benefit I haven&#8217;t seen from any other loyalty program is entry to BLADE lounges, even on days when you aren&#8217;t flying. I hold Gold status, so one morning in Manhattan during the U.S. Open, I walked over to the West 30th Street heliport to see how the benefit works in practice. Here&#8217;s my experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":97,"featured_media":279079,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_bluesky_share_type":"","_mastodon_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"","timeOption":"","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":""},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12054],"tags":[36370,12622,12628],"coauthors":[36469],"class_list":["post-279068","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips","tag-bilt-rewards","tag-elite-status","tag-travel-experience"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/97"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=279068"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279068\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":282827,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279068\/revisions\/282827"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/279079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=279068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=279068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=279068"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=279068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}