Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
US transferable points systems compared
US transferable points systems are credit-card reward currencies that can be moved out of the card programme and into airline and hotel loyalty accounts; Bilt Rewards, for example, transfers its points 1:1 to its airline and hotel partners [6], while Chase offers Ultimate Rewards transfers to leading travel partners with select cards [2]. This guide compares Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One travel miles and Bilt Rewards on how points are earned, moved to partners and redeemed.
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- The three systems earn points in different places: Bilt Rewards is built around rent and mortgage payments [6], Chase Ultimate Rewards advertises bonus points on select purchases and at its Shop and Earn stores [2], and Capital One pays rewards on every purchase [4].
- Partner transfers are card-dependent at Chase, which offers them with select cards [2], while Bilt states a 1:1 ratio with its airline and hotel partners [6].
- Capital One says its rewards do not expire for the life of the account, though unredeemed cash back may be lost if the account is closed [4].
How do you earn points in each system?
Chase Ultimate Rewards. Chase advertises bonus points on select purchases, with points redeemable for travel, gift cards, cash back and more [2]. Its Shop and Earn feature pays 1 to 15 bonus points per $1 spent at more than 1,000 stores [2].
Capital One travel miles. Capital One presents travel miles and cash back as two parallel choices and says miles are earned on every purchase, everywhere [4]. Rewards are calculated on net purchases, meaning purchases minus any credits or returns, while cash advances, balance transfers, checks used to access the account and cash equivalent transactions do not earn [4]. Paying only the monthly minimum by the due date does not stop rewards from accumulating [4].
Bilt Rewards. Bilt is built on housing payments: members earn Bilt Points with every on-time rent payment, and the programme also covers mortgage payments [6]. Members living in Bilt's property network, described as more than 6.5 million homes, pay rent directly in their resident portal, while members outside the network can use BillPay to earn points on rent at any home [6]. Bilt also advertises up to 3X points at local restaurants and extra points at partners including Walgreens Pharmacy and Lyft through Neighborhood Benefits, which it says covers more than 50,000 merchants [6]. Rent Day, held on the first of each month, adds limited-time benefits that Bilt describes as including transfer bonuses [6].
How do partner transfers work?
Chase Ultimate Rewards. Chase lists "Transfer to Travel Partners" among its Ultimate Rewards options and says points can be moved to leading airline and hotel travel partners with select cards [2]. Cardholders who prefer to stay inside the programme can book travel through Chase, which the bank says offers competitive prices and the flexibility to pay with points, the card or both [2].
Bilt Rewards. Bilt says members can book travel with any airline or hotel brand through its travel portal, or transfer points 1:1 to its network of airline and hotel partners, and that the portal covers more than 500 airlines and 700,000 hotel properties [6]. As of 18 October 2026 the site labels its airline transfer list as 17 partners, naming United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, British Airways Club, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Air Canada Aeroplan, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, JAL Mileage Bank, Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus Aerclub, TAP Miles&Go and Alaska Airlines & Hawaiian Airlines, and its hotel list as seven, including Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, IHG Rewards Club, Accor Live Limitless, Wyndham Rewards and Preferred Hotels [6].
Capital One travel miles. Capital One describes its travel option as miles earned on every purchase and redeemable without a cap for all kinds of travel-related purchases [4].
What else can you redeem points for?
Chase Ultimate Rewards. Chase points can be turned into a statement credit or a direct deposit into eligible U.S. Chase accounts [2], used through Pay Yourself Back as a statement credit against eligible purchases [2], spent on eligible Amazon.com orders or at PayPal checkout through Pay with Points [2], used for Apple purchases at The Shops at Chase [2], exchanged for gift cards from more than 200 brands [2], used for Chase Dining orders [2], and used to attend events through Experiences with select cards [2].
Capital One travel miles. Cardholders can redeem any or all of their available rewards whenever they like, provided the account is open and in good standing [4]. Capital One also lets cardholders set a threshold at which cash back is received automatically [4].
Bilt Rewards. Bilt points can be used on Lyft rides, gift cards, Amazon.com purchases, student loans, a down payment on a home, rent credit and Barry's classes [6], and the gift card brands shown on the page include Airbnb, Starbucks, Apple and Walmart [6].
What limits and account conditions apply?
- Chase: card eligibility. Both partner transfers and Experiences are described as features of select Chase cards, not of every Ultimate Rewards card [2].
- Capital One: expiry and account closure. Capital One says rewards are yours for the life of the account and will not expire, but that if an account is closed the cardholder may lose any cash back rewards not yet redeemed [4]. Redemption requires an account that is open and in good standing [4].
- Capital One: what counts as a purchase. Rewards are earned on net purchases only; cash advances, balance transfers, checks used to access the account and cash equivalent transactions are not purchases and earn nothing [4].
- Bilt: payment behaviour and channels. Bilt Points on rent are tied to payments made on time [6], and earning on rent depends on the route used: the resident portal for homes inside the property network, BillPay for homes outside it [6]. Rent Day benefits are described as limited-time and are released on the first of each month [6].
Frequently asked questions
Do transferable credit-card points expire?
Capital One says its rewards do not expire for the life of the account, but that unredeemed cash back may be lost if the account is closed [4]. Redemption also requires the account to be open and in good standing [4].
What transfer ratio does Bilt Rewards use?
Bilt states that points transfer 1:1 to its network of airline and hotel partners [6].
Can every Chase card transfer points to airline and hotel partners?
Chase describes transfers to leading airline and hotel travel partners as available with select cards [2], and it describes the Experiences redemption in the same way [2].
Can you redeem Capital One rewards in part rather than all at once?
Yes. Capital One says cardholders can redeem any or all of their available rewards whenever they like, as long as the account is open and in good standing [4].
How do you earn Bilt Points on rent?
Members earn Bilt Points with every on-time rent payment, either in the resident portal for homes in Bilt's property network or through BillPay for homes outside it [6].
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. The comparison is limited to the Chase, Capital One and Bilt pages listed below; American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Wells Fargo Rewards are not covered here.
- Chase Ultimate Rewards, checked 18 October 2026
- Capital One credit card rewards, checked 18 October 2026
- Bilt Rewards, checked 18 October 2026