| Written by: Mark Ostermann

Earn United Miles For Rent Payments

It looks like Bilt has reached back into the co-branded airline card partnership barrel once again. It is now possible to earn United miles for rent payments thanks to Bilt. This looks to be similar to the deal they struck with Alaska Airlines a year and a half ago. Bummer alert -yes, it comes with fees just like that partnership too. Having said that, it could still make sense for some. Let's dive in!

How To Earn United Miles For Rent Payments

United MileagePlus Chase cardmembers can earn 2 total miles per $1 spent when they pay rent on-time through Bilt using any participating United MileagePlus card. Participating cards include:

Bilt members can earn 2x miles on up to $50,000 of rent per calendar year and the standard 3% fee for using third party cards with Bilt applies. As with any cobrand spend, miles will be awarded to the primary cardholder’s United MileagePlus account. One mile per dollar posts to your MileagePlus account under “Bilt Rent Cardmember Bonus Miles,” while the other mile appears on your credit card statement in the “United MileagePlus Award Miles Summary.

I do wish the United Business card would be included in this as well, which I think could be the best of all of them.

How To Start Earning

Here are the step by step instructions on how to earn United miles for paying rent via the Bilt Rewards app:

  1. Add your eligible United MileagePlus Card to your Bilt account
  2. Set it as your preferred rent payment method in your Bilt account
  3. Pay rent through Bilt like you normally would
  4. Watch those miles stack up

Head to bilt.com/p/united-card or open your Bilt Rewards app to get started. Remember that there is a 3% fee for this process. The only way to avoid a fee when paying rent with a credit card, through Bilt, is with a Bilt credit card.

Earn United Miles For Rent Payments
BILT world elite mastercard

Is This A Good Deal?

On the surface this is like one hand washing the other. You get 2 United miles for paying rent via Bilt, but at a cost of 3%. I value United miles at around 1.5 cents each. That is essentially paying 3% to get 3% in value, except it is less flexible than cash. Not a great deal at all. If you routinely get more than 1.5 cents per United mile in your travels, then it could become a decent little deal. However, if you are chasing United status via (in part at least) credit card spend then this could be a little more interesting. Putting that rent spend on your card could help you trigger that next level of Premier Qualifying Points that you need.

Those are the only two real scenarios I see as viable options for this. If you fly a lot of international flights with your United miles, and routinely get 2 cents+ per point, then this is an okay deal. If you do that AND are going after United status then this becomes a pretty good deal. Assuming that extra spend gets you to another level of status you wouldn't otherwise reach at least.

How Does This Compare To The Alaska Airlines Co-Branded Card Partnership?

The United and Bilt partnership is worse than the Alaska Airlines partnership. Not only because I think Alaska Airlines miles are more valuable, if you know how to use them at least, but also because you get 3x per dollar instead of 2x. If you are telling me I can earn 1x more per dollar, and that those miles offer more value overall, then that is the road I am going down. That doesn't mean it would be the better choice for you though. If you prefer United miles, or are after their status, then this could be the better option for you.

Earn United Miles For Rent Payments: ToP Thoughts

While the ability to earn United miles for rent payments sounds interesting, the cost takes away any value you would earn for most. You would be better off paying your rent in ways that doesn't cost you any money and saving that 3% fee. That is unless you are always getting over 1.5 cents per United Airlines mile and / or you are after United status. Those two things may sway you to the positive return side of things. If you want to earn something for your rent payments then I would take a look at the Alaska Airlines partnership with Bilt instead. That, or grab one of the new Bilt credit cards when they launch in a few months. Let me know what you think about this new partnership over in the ToP Facebook Group.