There’s great news for Bilt Members that live in and around Austin: the opportunities to maximize your Bilt Points are almost endless. Austin has become a hotbed of competition among domestic and international airlines. Flights to new nonstop destinations like Amsterdam and London are being added on what feels like a monthly basis. Let’s take a look at a few of my favorite techniques and ways for maximizing your Bilt Points.
Fly Nonstop to London
With the increasing business and leisure interests in Austin, international carriers have begun offering nonstop flights to their respective hubs. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have begun offering nonstop flights to London from Austin - both of which you can book with Bilt Points.
To book the British Airways flight, currently flown by an Airbus A350, you can transfer your Bilt Points to either fellow Oneworld Alliance partners American AAdvantage or Asia Miles. American Airlines generally charges 30,000 miles and roughly $200 each way for an economy ticket and 57,500 miles and $700 for a business class ticket.
Asia Miles is a slightly better deal by charging 27,000 miles and $200 each way for an economy ticket, 47,000 miles and $300 each way for a premium economy ticket, and 61,000 miles and $300 each way for a business class ticket on the route.
To book the Virgin Atlantic flight, you can transfer Bilt Points to Virgin Points and easily book the flight on the Virgin Atlantic website. One-way tickets cost 15,000 miles and $150 for an economy ticket, 27,500 miles and $325 for premium economy, and 67,500 miles and $825 for an Upper-Class ticket.
Staycation in Texas Hill Country
A short drive will lead you to one of two Hyatt resorts that can make for a fun and convenient getaway from Austin. You can transfer Bilt Points to your World of Hyatt account in the Bilt Rewards app to book free nights at either resort.
The Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa is about 30 minutes east of Austin and is nestled on 405 acres along the Lower Colorado River. Wind down the lazy river at Crooked River Waterpark, tee off from the award-winning 18-hole golf course, book your adventure with Renegade Trailhead and explore the grounds on horseback, or enjoy our fire pits and make s’mores.
Free nights cost between 17,000-23,000 points depending on if a night is peak or off-peak.
Fly to Amsterdam Nonstop
Beginning March 28, KLM will fly three times a week on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays nonstop from Austin to Amsterdam. You can transfer your Bilt Points to our partner Flying Blue in the Bilt Rewards app to book the nonstop to Amsterdam or flights to any of KLM’s onward European, Middle East, or African destinations.
A one-way economy ticket on KLM to Amsterdam starts at 24,500 miles and $85 while business class is a rather hefty 277,000 miles and $230 each way. Flying economy is a pretty good deal and what we’d recommend you look for on this very convenient route to continental Europe.
Let the American Airlines Tool Tell You Where to Fly
The American Airlines [award map tool](https://www.aa.com/awardMap/home.do) allows you to select dates you want to travel, how many miles you want to spend and it will tell you where you can fly on those dates for that many miles. With American’s expanding route network out of Austin-Bergstrom, the possibilities are endless. Take this example search of a weekend getaway in May:
There are a couple of dozen destinations like LA and Tampa you can fly round trip to for less than 25,000 Bilt Points when transferred to American Airlines. Let American’s amazing tool inspire you where to go on your next escape.
Bottom Line
Options to maximize your Bilt Points out of Austin are endless. The best thing you can do is spend a little time familiarizing yourself with how to book travel with points in our different transfer partner programs. Austin continues to attract massive attention in both commerce and tourism meaning new travel options are likely to continue showing up.