How I'm earning the SUB on my Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card and getting 3x on paying rent for the effort

[TheVig]

I'm not going to deep dive how the BILT program works. If you want to learn, go learn it. And no you don't need to be a renter to participate. But it helps. BILT has multiple transfer partners, just like Chase, Amex, Citi, and Cap1.

 

Normally when I pay rent, I use the ACH routing and account number that BILT provides me. My corporate landlord thinks I'm paying by e-check. Then BILT in turn charges my BILT credit card. I receive 1x per dollar in BILT points, all without getting hit with a processing fee.

 

The SUB on my Alaska card is 60,000 miles for $3000 spend.

 

BILT allows credit cards from different issuers to be linked as payment source.  NOTE: Using a credit card, other than the BILT card as a payment source for rent will incur a 3% processing fee.

 

Since I'm meeting a SUB, I'm okay eating the 3% fee. Once the SUB is met, I will go back to having the rent charged to my BILT card. Of course the landlord still gets paid via e-check either way.

 

In the meantime, I'll be earning 3x Alaska miles.

 

[greendeh]

So as I read that, based on Alaska miles being worth 1.2 to 1.8 cents each, you are giving 3% for 3.6% to 5.4% or "a net positive of .6% to 2.4%"
Sound right?

No Bilt 1x as well, correct?

 

[greendeh]

Oh I see. You have a 60k miles for 3k spend sub. I missed that line in the post.

 

So giving up 1x bilt point (or not) and 3% fee for 3.6% to 5.4% in Alaska miles to hit the sub.

 

Nice

 

 

 

Edited June 20 by greendeh

[TheVig]

5 hours ago, greendeh said:

Oh I see. You have a 60k miles for 3k spend sub. I missed that line in the post.

 

So giving up 1x bilt point (or not) and 3% fee for 3.6% to 5.4% in Alaska miles to hit the sub.

 

Nice

 

 

 

If it wasn’t for the SUB, I wouldn’t do it. Some people could probably justify it long term because of the creative redemptions you can do with Alaska points flying other carriers. Also no 1x Bilt points. Once I hit the SUB, I’ll switch back. 
 

[greendeh]

It is still a very worthy lateral move of organic spend stacking to hit a sub. +1x Bilt point would only be icing on the cake.

 

This post got me wondering again if I could use the Bilt system to my advantage in any way. After a little bit of research I reconfirmed that I can not without grossly violating Bilt’s TOS to perhaps gain .0005% ($3) a year.

 

But, it looks that perhaps you may get a bonus of 250 rewards points per month for Non-Bilt card 3% fee rent payments. If so, that is some icing.

[TheVig]

20 hours ago, greendeh said:

It is still a very worthy lateral move of organic spend stacking to hit a sub. +1x Bilt point would only be icing on the cake.

 

This post got me wondering again if I could use the Bilt system to my advantage in any way. After a little bit of research I reconfirmed that I can not without grossly violating Bilt’s TOS to perhaps gain .0005% ($3) a year.

 

But, it looks that perhaps you may get a bonus of 250 rewards points per month for Non-Bilt card 3% fee rent payments. If so, that is some icing.

 

Yes. BILT does toss you 250 points.

 

As far as using the routing and account number for something other than rent................ Many people have tried and have been shut down. You can use the account to pay mom and pop individual landlords. With that said, it is common for BILT to request a copy of your lease, if they suspect something hinky going on.