Citi TY vs Bilt
Both Citi ThankYou Points and Bilt Rewards are credit card points programs. They share enough overlap that travelers regularly compare them, but the right answer depends on your typical trips.
Quick spec comparison
| Spec | Citi TY | Bilt |
|---|---|---|
| Kind | Credit card points | Credit card points |
| Alliance / network | — | — |
| Fixed award chart? | No (dynamic) | No (dynamic) |
| Fuel surcharges on awards | Some partners | No |
| Expiration | Never expire as long as account is open | Never expire with monthly card activity |
| Transfers out to | American Airlines, Avianca LifeMiles, Air France/KLM, Singapore, Cathay, Etihad, Virgin Atlantic, Qantas, Turkish, JetBlue, Choice | American Airlines, United, Air Canada Aeroplan, Alaska, Hawaiian, Cathay, Emirates, Air France/KLM, Turkish, Virgin Atlantic, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott |
| Signature sweet spots | Only big bank to transfer to AAdvantage (1:1), Turkish 45K biz to Europe, Singapore Suites via KrisFlyer transfer | Earn points on rent (no other card does this without fees), Transfer to AAdvantage + Alaska + Hyatt (uniquely all three), Rent Day transfer bonuses (often 100%+ to specific partners) |
| Flagship benefit | Only flexible-points program with AAdvantage transfer | Earn flexible transferable points on rent |
Where Citi TY wins
- Essential if you want AAdvantage miles without committing to AA co-brand cards.
Where Bilt wins
- Bilt doesn't pass fuel surcharges to most awards (Citi TY does).
- If you rent, hold this card. The transfer partner combination (AA + Alaska + Hyatt) is unmatched.
Pick Citi TY if…
You want flexible points that can wait until you find the right redemption. Citi TY's top use is its transfer partner network — particularly strong because of: Only flexible-points program with AAdvantage transfer.
Pick Bilt if…
You want flexible points that can wait until you find the right redemption. Bilt's top use is its transfer partner network — particularly strong because of: Earn flexible transferable points on rent.
Can you have both?
Yes — and you probably should. Holding both bank programs gives you the widest possible transfer partner network. Different cards earn different points; the right card for your spend pattern depends on category bonuses, not which transferable points are 'best'.
Find availability before you transfer
AwardLocker shows live saver award space across every program. Confirm space first, then transfer points only when you're ready to book.
Check availability →