Bilt Card Authorized User Trick Boosts

Adding authorized users to a Bilt credit card can provide extra value by letting separate reward accounts bypass redemption limits on Bilt Cash.

Adding an authorized user to a Bilt credit card can yield significantly more value from Bilt Cash rewards, a report from One Mile at a Time notes. This strategy hinges on the ability to direct rewards to separate accounts, effectively resetting annual redemption caps.

Bilt offers a portfolio of three credit cards. Spending on these cards earns Bilt points, transferable to airline and hotel partners, and also earns 4% back as Bilt Cash. According to the source, up to $100 of unused Bilt Cash can roll over to the next year.

Bilt Card Portfolio and Authorized User Setup

The report outlines the three available Bilt cards and their fees. A key feature is that when an authorized user is added, the cardholder can choose whether their spending accrues Bilt points or Bilt Cash to the primary account or to the authorized user's own separate Bilt account.

The source, citing View from the Wing, highlights this reward allocation flexibility as a previously overlooked detail. For the Bilt Palladium Card, the $95 authorized user fee also includes a Priority Pass membership.

Maximizing Value Through Separate Accounts

A primary benefit involves bypassing limits on Bilt Cash redemptions. The report states that a cardholder can redeem $200 in Bilt Cash for a 'spending accelerator.' This provides an extra 1x points per dollar on the next $5,000 spent, allowing for up to 25,000 bonus points per account per year.

If an authorized user accrues rewards in their own account, they get their own set of limits. The analysis suggests that spending $95 on an authorized user fee could net an extra 25,000 points annually if that user earns $1,000 in Bilt Cash and uses it for the accelerator. This is presented as a potential outcome, not a guarantee.

The upside extends further. The source reports that an authorized user could potentially earn Bilt elite status, which offers perks like Flying Blue Gold status. They could also redeem for their own Lyft and Walgreens credits and take advantage of separate Rent Day promotion caps.

Admittedly, the strategy adds complexity. However, for a high spender with the Bilt Palladium Card who generates more Bilt Cash than they can use, the report argues the upside is considerable. The ability to effectively double access to capped benefits like spending accelerators is framed as a valuable trick within the Bilt ecosystem.

Source: One Mile at a Time