Bilt Just Added Amtrak - And 3 Avios Bonuses Expire This Sunday

✈️ Miles & Points Daily

Something quietly landed in the Bilt ecosystem this week that most people are sleeping on - and a Sunday deadline for three separate Avios bonuses means today is the day to pay attention.

How many transfer partners does Bilt Rewards now have after adding Amtrak Guest Rewards?

• 🚂 20 partners

• 🚂 22 partners

• 🚂 25 partners

• 🚂 28 partners

The answer is waiting near the bottom of today's newsletter - keep scrolling. 👇

Bilt Rewards added Amtrak Guest Rewards as its 25th transfer partner this week, and the transfer ratio is 2 Bilt points to 1 Amtrak point. On the surface, that sounds rough - and for most redemptions, it is. Amtrak points are typically worth around 2.7 cents each, which means you're getting about 1.35 cents per Bilt point through this route. That's well below what Bilt points can fetch elsewhere.

Here's where it gets more interesting. Amtrak's first-class sleeper accommodations - think private roomettes and bedrooms on long-distance routes like the California Zephyr or the Empire Builder - can offer genuinely outsized value when booked with points. If you're planning a transcontinental train journey and you're sitting on a pile of Bilt points with no premium flight redemptions on the horizon, this path is at least worth checking. Transfers are reportedly near-instant, which removes the usual risk of transferring before confirming availability.

This isn't a headline redemption for Bilt - your points almost always go further through Hyatt, airline partners, or even the rent-day transfer bonuses. But for the right traveler with an Amtrak trip already planned, it's a legitimate option. Just don't transfer blindly at 2:1 without confirming your Amtrak award seat first.

If you have Amex Membership Rewards points sitting idle, this is genuinely urgent. Three separate 30% transfer bonuses all expire this Sunday, September 27 - covering British Airways Avios, Aer Lingus Avios, and Iberia Avios. That means 10,000 Amex points becomes 13,000 Avios in any of those programs right now, instead of the standard 10,000.

The reason this matters more than most bonuses: Avios are one of the most flexible currencies in travel. You can use British Airways Avios to book American Airlines flights (including short domestic hops for as few as 7,500 points each way), Qatar QSuites through the Avios-Qatar partnership, or Iberia long-haul business class to Latin America and Spain. Having 30% more Avios to work with meaningfully expands your options.

If you already have a redemption in mind that uses Avios - or you've been meaning to top up your balance before a booking - this is the window. Sunday is three days away. You can check all live transfer bonuses on our transfer bonuses tracker to see everything that's running right now alongside these Avios promotions.

American Airlines and Taiwan-based Starlux Airlines have officially launched a codeshare agreement, taking their relationship well beyond the basic interline deal they signed a little over a year ago. Starlux operates a young, premium-focused fleet and has been building a reputation for excellent product on routes across Asia - think of it as a startup carrier that actually invested in the cabin experience.

The codeshare itself means American-coded flights will appear on Starlux routes and vice versa, making itinerary construction easier. But the real prize for AAdvantage members is what comes next: loyalty reciprocity. American has signaled it's coming, which would mean earning AAdvantage miles on Starlux flights and potentially using miles to book award seats on their routes. Starlux's Asia network - including Tokyo, Seoul, and several Southeast Asian cities - would be a meaningful addition to what AAdvantage members can access.

Nothing to book today, but worth noting for anyone who travels to East or Southeast Asia. Once AAdvantage miles earn on Starlux flights, the value of maintaining American status gets a quiet upgrade. Keep this one on your radar as the partnership evolves.

Kimpton Tres Rios - All Inclusive is now open, and it's the brand's first-ever all-inclusive property. Located between Playa del Carmen and Cancun in Mexico's Riviera Maya, the resort sits inside a 340-acre nature reserve and offers 355 rooms and suites, all with either a balcony or terrace. Kimpton is an IHG brand, which means this property earns and redeems IHG One Rewards points.

If you've been stacking IHG points or holding a Chase IHG card with anniversary night certificates, a new Kimpton all-inclusive in the Riviera Maya is exactly the kind of property where a free night redemption stings a little less than usual - because the all-inclusive rate includes food and drinks. The resort's positioning inside a nature reserve also gives it a different feel than the typical Cancun mega-resort strip.

Award Travel Finder has been tracking some solid Mexico award availability lately - worth checking if you're thinking about a late 2026 or early 2027 trip to the region.

A new Kimpton all-inclusive is genuinely interesting for IHG loyalists. The nature reserve setting and all-inclusive model make this a legitimately different product for the brand. If Cancun or the Riviera Maya is already on your radar, this one deserves a look.

Air Canada Aeroplan is running a 100% bonus on purchased points, and it expires tomorrow - Friday, September 25. If you're planning an award redemption through Aeroplan and you're short on points, this is one of the better buy-points windows of the year. Aeroplan has excellent partners including Air Canada, Lufthansa, United, and Singapore Airlines.

Avianca LifeMiles is also running a massive 145% bonus on purchased miles, also ending tomorrow. LifeMiles is one of the best ways to book Star Alliance business class without fuel surcharges - so if you've had a Lufthansa or Swiss business class redemption in mind, this is the window. Check current pricing and terms before pulling the trigger on either offer.

The Upgraded Points Podcast flagged something worth repeating this week: we're in the final three months of 2026, and a lot of annual card credits expire December 31. The Chase Sapphire Reserve's dual $250 hotel credits can be combined for $500 off a single booking at eligible brands including IHG, Omni, and Virgin Hotels. If you haven't used either credit yet, now is the time to plan that trip - not December 28.

The Hilton Aspire card's $200 resort credits are also worth using before year-end. The podcast flagged that booking nonrefundable prepaid rates at eligible Hilton resorts outside the US - like the Hilton Tokyo Bay - can trigger the credit efficiently. Don't leave free money on the table because the calendar crept up on you.

Set a reminder this weekend to audit every annual credit across every card in your wallet. A quick 20-minute review now could save you hundreds of dollars before December 31. If you're not sure which cards are worth keeping, our recommendations page breaks down the best options by category.

The answer is C - 25 partners. Bilt Rewards now has 25 transfer partners after adding Amtrak Guest Rewards on September 23. It's a broad network that covers most major airlines, Hyatt, and now rail travel in the US.

Bilt adding Amtrak as a transfer partner got me thinking - have you ever redeemed points or miles for train travel? I'm curious whether it's something readers actually use or if it's purely a niche option. Hit reply and let me know - I read every response!

That's it from me today. The Sunday Avios deadline is the one I'd act on first - three 30% bonuses expiring on the same day doesn't happen often, and Avios flexibility makes it genuinely worth the move if you have Amex points you've been sitting on.

- Jack

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These are the top credit card welcome bonuses we're tracking. Offers change frequently - see all cards.

1. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Earn 200,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on t... ($5.5/yr)

2. Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points and a Free Night Reward after you spend ... ($1.95/yr)

3. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card: Earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® Bonus Points Plus A $250 Statement Credit after yo... ($6.5/yr)

Whether you're spending hotel points or airline miles, these are the standout deals right now via Award Travel Finder:

Hotels:

• JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa - Aventura, FL, US | 5.3cpp value | 65,000 pts/night

• The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket - Phuket, TH | 1.3cpp value | 80,000 pts/night

• Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique - Guanacaste, CR | 2.1cpp value | 120,000 pts/night

• Conrad Maldives Rangali Island - Rangali Island, MV | 1.6cpp value | 120,000 pts/night

• InterContinental Bora Bora Resort Thalasso Spa - Bora Bora, PF | 2.0cpp value | 207,000 pts/night

Status Matches & Challenges:

• Flying Blue Status Match - Air France / KLM | SkyTeam

• Flying Blue (New Markets) - Air France / KLM | SkyTeam

• Flying Blue UK (BA Status Holders) - Air France / KLM | SkyTeam

Live Transfer Bonuses:

• Amex Membership Rewards → Aer Lingus Avios: +30% bonus - ends this Sunday (September 27, in 3 days)

• Amex Membership Rewards → British Airways Avios: +30% bonus - ends this Sunday (September 27, in 3 days)

• Amex Membership Rewards → Hilton: +30% bonus - ends October 14 (in 20 days)

• Amex Membership Rewards → Iberia Avios: +30% bonus - ends this Sunday (September 27, in 3 days)

• Capital One Miles → JAL (Japan Airlines) Mileage Bank: +30% bonus - ends this Wednesday (September 30, in 6 days)

• Chase Ultimate Rewards → Air Canada Aeroplan: +20% bonus - ends this Wednesday (September 30, in 6 days)

Buy Points & Miles Deals:

• Air Canada (Aeroplan): 100% bonus at - ends tomorrow, Friday (September 25)

• American Airlines (AAdvantage): 40% discount at - ends October 24 (in 30 days)

• Avianca (LifeMiles): 145% bonus at - ends tomorrow, Friday (September 25)

• Copa Airlines (ConnectMiles): 80% bonus at - ends Friday October 2 (in 8 days)

• Delta Air Lines (SkyMiles): 50% bonus at - ends October 31 (in 37 days)

• Etihad Airways (Etihad Guest): 25% bonus at - ends October 24 (in 30 days)

Full live tracker → milesandpointsdaily.com/buy-points-promotions

Browse every award deal we track at AwardTravelFinder.com →

Friday Flight Deals finds the best flight deals when paying cash beats using points.

Browse all deals at FridayFlightDeals.com →