Bilt Rent Day (May 1): Up to a 100% Southwest Rapid Rewards transfer bonus, and more

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor.

Bilt just added the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards program as its 19th transfer partner, and it isn’t wasting any time in celebrating that addition with a Rent Day that offers up to a 100% transfer bonus from Bilt Rewards to the Southwest Rapid Rewards program.

For one day (May 1), Bilt members can transfer points to Southwest’s Rapid Rewards loyalty program with a hefty bonus which goes as high as100% extra points for top-tier Bilt status members. Like on previous Bilt Rent Days, you can also snag double points for nonrent purchases and play the “Rent Free” game.

Here’s what you need to know about the May Bilt Rent Day promotions.

Up to 100% Southwest Airlines transfer bonus

You can enjoy a status-based transfer bonus to Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards this Rent Day.

As of April 24, you can transfer Bilt Rewards points to Southwest at a 1:1 ratio. But from May 1 at midnight EDT to May 2 at 2:59 a.m. EDT, Bilt members get the following status-based transfer bonus when transferring Bilt points to Rapid Rewards:

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

This bonus temporarily increases the transfer ratio to 1:1.25 for Bilt Blue members, 1:1.5 for Silver members, 1:1.75 for Gold members and a pretty impressive 1:2 for Platinum members.

That means, if you’re a Silver member and had 10,000 Bilt Rewards you wanted to move to Southwest, you’d end up with 15,000 points. If you were a Platinum member, you’d end up with double points after the transfer — 20,000 Rapid Rewards points for the transfer of 10,000 Bilt Rewards points.

If you’re a Southwest loyalist or live near an airport where the carrier has a strong presence, such as Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) or Nashville International Airport (BNA), this could be great news — especially considering the airline recently limited the number of points you can earn through flying on some fares.

On the flip side, consider that the airline also just switched to a more dynamic award-pricing model, which means the value you’ll get from your points on any one redemption may be a bit less predictable compared with what you would have “paid” a month or two ago — so be sure to compare the award price with the cash price to ensure you’re getting the most mileage out of your points.

Still, this transfer bonus can be worth utilizing to book an upcoming award flight with Southwest, with its robust domestic network, which includes a long list of flights to and from Hawaii (not to mention within the Hawaiian islands).

Related: You can now earn points with Bilt Rewards when buying a home

Amazon redemption bonus

Between now and 2:59 a.m. EDT on May 2, certain Bilt members can also claim a bonus when redeeming Bilt Rewards on Amazon purchases.

After linking their account, targeted Bilt members can redeem at a 25% higher rate than usual.

Just keep in mind, Bilt Rewards are typically worth just 0.7 cents apiece when redeemed through Amazon, so even with this bonus, you likely won’t get the maximum value out of your points when compared with the 2.05 cents per point TPG values Bilt Rewards at when redeemed for maximum value on travel.

This is a targeted promotion, so it’s possible some members will not see this offer.

Extra Bilt points on nonrent purchases

As on previous Bilt Rent Days, you’ll earn double points from May 1 at midnight EDT to May 2 at 2:59 a.m. EDT when you use your Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees) to make nonrent purchases. You’ll earn as follows for purchases each Rent Day:

• Dining: 6 points per dollar spent
• Travel: 4 points per dollar spent
• Other purchases (excluding rent): 2 points per dollar spent
• Rent: 1 point per dollar spent (up to 100,000 points in a calendar year)

You must use the card five times per statement period to earn points (see rewards and benefits). Keep in mind you can only earn up to 1,000 bonus points on purchases with your Bilt Mastercard each Rent Day.

Related: 6 reasons I love my Bilt Mastercard as a renter in the most expensive city in the US

‘Rent Free’ game

In August 2023, Bilt launched a new way to win free rent for a month (up to $2,500): the “Rent Free” game show. Bilt has since offered the “Rent Free” game show each Rent Day, with a new creator or personality playing each month. This month, the guest is comedian and actress Chloe Fineman.

Typically, you’ll earn points by picking a highly-ranked answer — when you correctly rank that answer, and when the celebrity guest picks the same answer as you.

For May’s “Rent Free” game, there’s a special twist.

Following Bilt’s announcement that members can now redeem points to pay down eligible student loans, the company sweetened the deal for top contestants.

The top 10 winners will get both their rent and student loans paid (up to $2,500). The next 100 winners will earn 1,000 Bilt points. And the next 500 winners beyond that will earn 500 points.

You can visit the Bilt app to play the game until May 1at 3 p.m. EDT. Then, return to the app after May 1 at 4 p.m. EDT to see your score.

Related: Bilt Mastercard review: No-transaction-fee rent payments

History of Rent Day promotions

Bilt offers at least one special promotion each Rent Day in addition to its standard offerings.

Here’s a summary of the promotions we’ve seen on previous Rent Days:

• April 2025: Bilt offered up to a 100% bonus on transferred Avios and a bonus of up to 100% when redeeming points for Lyft rides.
• March 2025: Bilt offered up to a 200% Hilton Honors transfer bonus, private dining experiences in San Francisco in collaboration with OpenTable and Barry’s fitness classes for this Rent Day.
• February 2025: Bilt offered a status-based transfer bonus to Avianca LifeMiles and the ability to purchase floor-seat tickets to J Balvin’s “Back to the Rayo” tour. Bilt also launched private dining experiences in New York City in collaboration with OpenTable and opened the first Bilt Neighborhood Cafe in New York City ahead of this Rent Day.
• January 2025: Bilt members could enjoy a complimentary Accor Live Limitless status match (Bilt members with at least Silver status could redeem points for higher tiers of Accor status), a Rent Day Rumble free class at select Rumble Boxing studios, and the chance to book special New Year’s Eve dining experiences.
• December 2024: Bilt introduced Neighborhood Comedy experiences and an Amazon points redemption bonus. Bilt also offered triple points on nonrent purchases that typically earn 1 point per dollar between Nov. 26 at 9 a.m. EST and Dec. 1 at 2:59 a.m. EST.
• November 2024: Bilt offered a targeted 50%-100% British Airways transfer bonus, waived transaction fees when you paid rent with your Alaska Airlines card and offered Thanksgiving-inspired cooking classes.
• October 2024: Bilt offered a Hilton Gold status match through Dec. 31, 2024 (with the opportunity to secure Gold or upgrade to Diamond through March 31, 2026), Virgin Voyages experiences with a second guest free and new targeted Bilt benefits for select cardholders.
• September 2024: Bilt offered a 50% transfer bonus to Avianca LifeMiles; a 20% to 100% status-based transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club or Virgin Red; Virgin Voyages experiences with a second guest free; and a buy-one, get-one ResortPass offer.
• August 2024: Bilt offered extra onboard benefits and a second guest free on select Virgin Voyages sailings, as well as access to a special party at Blade Lounge East in New York City.
• July 2024: Bilt launched its new Neighborhood Dining series and offered a status-based transfer bonus and status match with the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program.
• June 2024: Bilt offered Rent Day Brunch experiences in four cities and let members earn 5 or 10 bonus points per dollar spent at Neighborhood Dining restaurants.
• May 2024: Bilt members could book a family-style dining experience to enjoy with other Bilt members at neighborhood restaurants in eight cities. Plus, Bilt members got 100% of their points back (with a minimum of 1,000 points and a maximum of 50,000 points) toward the Bilt Home Collection when redeeming points for rent between April 25 and May 1.
• April 2024: Bilt members could enjoy fitness experiences at studios nationwide; a buy-one, get-one fitness class deal; and the chance to buy new fitness gear.
• March 2024: Bilt members could book men’s college basketball tournament tickets as Bilt Experiences. Plus, Bilt members voted via a single-elimination bracket for March Rent Day benefits. The ability to earn 1,000 points when linking a new credit card (up to two cards) to the Bilt Cards tab won, while the chance to earn 5 points per dollar spent at grocery stores (valid for up to 2,000 points) when paying with the Bilt Mastercard finished second.
• February 2024: Bilt offered several Valentine’s Day dinner reservations and a status-based transfer bonus to Air Canada Aeroplan.
• January 2024: Bilt brought back some of the program’s top Rent Day promotions, including a $5 Lyft credit for Bilt cardholders, a 50% redemption bonus on Amazon, and status-based transfer bonuses to IHG One Rewards, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Air France-KLM Flying Blue.
• December 2023: Bilt offered cardholders a special tasting experience in New York City on Dec. 1, more points at Bilt Dining restaurants from Nov. 24 through Dec. 1 and double points on purchases that would normally earn 1 point per dollar from Nov. 23 through Nov. 27.
• November 2023: Bilt offered special Bilt Experiences at select restaurants and a status-based transfer bonus to Emirates Skywards.
• October 2023: Bilt launched Bilt Experiences at three professional football games and offered 5 points per dollar spent on eligible sports tickets (up to 10,000 bonus points).
• September 2023: Bilt expanded its Rent Day Rides to every SoulCycle studio across the U.S., with 10 complimentary bikes per class. For the Sept. 1 Rent Day, Bilt also paid a month of rent (up to $2,500) for one rider in each Rent Day Ride class.
• August 2023: There was a 75% to 150% transfer bonus to Virgin Red based on your Bilt status tier as of Aug. 1.
• July 2023: You could activate a $10 Lyft ride credit if you were a Bilt member without a Bilt Mastercard or a $20 Lyft ride credit if you had a Bilt Mastercard by the end of July 1. Plus, you could get an additional $5 credit if you activated the offer, had Bilt set as your active Lyft loyalty partner and took a Lyft ride July 1.
• June 2023: Everyone won a gift of Bilt points, points to use toward the Bilt Collection, Lyft ride credit, free rent or round-trip award flights when they solved the June 1 Rent Day Challenge puzzle.
• May 2023: There was a 100% transfer bonus to Air France-KLM Flying Blue on May 1.
• April 2023: Bilt members could enroll between March 28 and April 1 to obtain World of Hyatt Explorist status for 90 days and then keep Explorist status through February 2025 by staying 10 qualifying nights between April 17 and July 16, 2023. Alternatively, members could unlock Globalist status through February 2025 by staying 20 qualifying nights between April 17 and July 16, 2023. Bilt also hosted members-only social events at three Hyatt properties on April 1, 2023.
• March 2023: You could get a 50% bonus when you redeemed points toward Amazon purchases March 1, plus 50% off all items in the Bilt Collection on March 1.
• February 2023: You could get a 100% transfer bonus to HawaiianMiles on Feb. 1. Bilt also launched its exclusive five-piece capsule collection with SoulCycle.
• January 2023: Bilt introduced trivia to Rent Day: Bilt offered its members 10 trivia questions worth 50 points each and an additional question worth 100 points if they got all 10 questions correct Jan. 1.
• December 2022: You could get a 100% transfer bonus to IHG One Rewards on Dec. 1 and double points on nonrent spending from 12:01 a.m. PST on Nov. 25 to 11:59 p.m. PST on Dec. 1.
• November 2022: Bilt members could enroll in a complimentary United Airlines Premier status challenge between Oct. 27 and Nov. 1. Bilt Blue tier members could get Premier Silver, while Bilt Silver, Gold and Platinum tier members could get Premier Gold. Premier status was valid for 120 days, but you could extend your status through Jan. 31, 2024, by getting 1,000 Premier qualifying points and 4 Premier qualifying flights for Premier Silver and 2,000 PQPs and 6 PQFs for Premier Gold.
• October 2022: Bilt launched Rent Day with double points on nonrent spending and themed SoulCycle Rent Day rides Oct. 1.

See Bilt Mastercard rates and fees here.
See Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits here.