
Bilt Rewards Announces Southwest Airlines as Newest Travel Partner
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bilt Rewards, the payments and commerce network that transforms housing and neighborhood spending into rewards and benefits, today announced a new partnership with Southwest Airlines ®, America's largest domestic airline by passengers carried 1. Starting today, Bilt Members can transfer their Bilt Points to Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards points at an industry-leading 1:1 ratio to book any of the airline's more than 100 routes—further cementing Bilt Points as the most flexible and valuable rewards currency in the market.
This partnership marks a notable milestone as Southwest becomes Bilt's newest major U.S. airline partner. Through this collaboration, Bilt Members can leverage their Bilt Points by traveling on Southwest's extensive network—including popular vacation destinations, business hubs, and international routes to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. As the partnership evolves, the two companies plan to introduce exclusive promotions and enhanced capabilities to provide even more value for both Bilt Members and Southwest's dedicated travelers.
"We're thrilled to welcome Southwest Airlines to our growing roster of top travel partners," said Ankur Jain, Founder and CEO at Bilt. "This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to provide the most valuable and flexible rewards for our members. Now, your housing payment that was once just a monthly expense can unlock travel experiences with one of America's most popular airlines, giving our members access to more destinations across the U.S. and beyond."
The 1:1 points transfer ratio ensures Bilt Members receive high value when converting their Bilt Points earned from housing payment and neighborhood spending into Southwest Rapid Rewards points—which can be redeemed for flights and more across Southwest's network.
"This collaboration allows Southwest to connect with a unique audience of renters and homeowners across the United States while offering them the opportunity to use their Bilt Points to fly Southwest and experience our legendary hospitality, extensive network, and the most flexible airline rewards program in the industry,' said Jonathan Clarkson, Vice President & Chief Product Officer at Southwest Airlines.
Unlocking Powerful Benefits for Consumers
When members pay their rent through Bilt, they unlock two powerful benefits:
Earn Rewards on Every Rent Payment: Earn the industry's most valuable and flexible points every time their rent is paid on time through Bilt. Members can transfer their points to their favorite airlines and hotels—now including Southwest, use them for future rent payments, save them for a down payment on a home, and redeem them toward eligible student loan payments. Plus, they'll discover new rewards every month through Bilt's Rent Day Rewards drop.
Access Neighborhood Benefits™: Bilt membership opens doors throughout the neighborhood. Members enjoy exclusive benefits at local restaurants, coffee shops, pharmacies, fitness studios, and more – all right where they live.
This partnership further solidifies Bilt's position as the most flexible rewards program in the market while driving unprecedented growth and penetration through strategic partnerships. Bilt is the only program that allows members to earn points on rent payments with no transaction fees, while also offering valuable transfer partnerships with world-class travel programs.
As a Bilt partner, Southwest is joining America's largest platform connecting travel rewards with housing and neighborhood commerce. For more information about the partnership and how to transfer Bilt Points to Southwest Rapid Rewards, visit www.bilt.com/p/southwest.
About Bilt Rewards
Bilt Rewards is the payments and commerce network that transforms housing and neighborhood spend into rewards and benefits for everyone involved, and the first program to allow members to earn rewards on rent and HOA payments while building a path to homeownership. The Bilt Rewards Alliance is a network of more than 4.5 million homes across the country that rewards residents on each residential payment and enables property managers to increase resident loyalty and cost savings. Launched in June 2021, Bilt boasts one of the highest value rewards programs on the market today—including one-to-one point transfers for travel across over 100 major airlines and hotel partners; fitness classes at the country's top boutique studios; limited-edition and exclusive collections of art and home decor through the Bilt Home Collection; and the ability to use Bilt Points for rent credits, toward a future down payment on a home, or toward eligible student loans. For more information, visit www.bilt.com.
About Southwest Airlines Co.
Southwest Airlines Co. operates one of the world's most admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and hospitality at 117 airports across 11 countries. Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline 2. By empowering its more than 72,000 3 people to deliver unparalleled hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty among more than 140 million customers carried in 2024. Southwest leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world including harnessing the power of its people and purpose to put communities at the heart of its success. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship.
Southwest is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded.
Based on U.S. Dept. of Transportation quarterly Airline Origin & Destination Survey since Q1 2021
Fulltime-equivalent active employees
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Southwest Airlines is Changing Its Identity
Southwest Airlines has long held a lot of competitive advantages over other airlines, offering free checked bags for all customers, an open seating plan, and a large number of direct flights thanks to its point-to-point model. However, it seems like all of those things are now changing. Earlier this year, Southwest announced the end of its beloved "bags fly free" policy as well as its longstanding open seating policy. It began charging customers for checked bags last month and is expected to begin charging customers to select seats starting next year. In addition to those changes, it sounds like Southwest is also going to be moving away from its point-to-point model. A point-to-point network prioritizes direct flights between specific city pairs regardless of the distance between those two points. A hub-and-spoke network, meanwhile, connects many smaller cities to a central hub, increasing efficiency but also increasing travel time. While Southwest has long been the largest and most dominant point-to-point carrier in the United States, it looks like the airline is going to be moving away from that model and is instead embracing a hybrid approach. "On Wednesday, June 4, Southwest Airlines senior leaders spoke at the 9th Annual Future of the Consumer Conference, an industry gathering hosted by investment bank TD Cowen. Among many things that were discussed, it became very clear that Southwest Airlines is looking to evolve away from its traditional point-to-point business model towards a more hybrid approach that incorporates greater connectivity into the picture. The airline reaffirmed that it would aim to remain the dominant point-to-point carrier in the United States," Alexander Mitchell wrote for Simple Flying on Sunday. This is yet another major change in identity for the airline after a string of other high-profile changes. It will certainly be interesting to see how it works out for the airline in the near and distant future. Southwest Airlines is Changing Its Identity first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 9, 2025 Sign in to access your portfolio
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-header-cliff-palace-mesa-verde-national-park-co-CLIFFDWELLINGS0525-4e1afbf5ea1f4eb3b89691562ad8c1ee.jpg&w=3840&q=100)

Travel + Leisure
2 days ago
- Travel + Leisure
This National Park Has Some of the Oldest Pueblos in North America—and They're Carved Directly Into a Cliff
In southwest Colorado, where the Rocky Mountains give way to canyons and mesas, is one of the most intimate places you can connect with ancient history in the United States. In Mesa Verde National Park, you'll find elaborate villages tucked beneath sandstone overhangs. These cliff dwellings were built by the Ancestral Pueblo people and date back more than 700 years. The historic structures provide a rare glimpse into a civilization that built complex homes, ceremonial kivas, and irrigation systems. 'Mesa Verde is unique because it is a national park telling the story of people on the landscape. Even though all national parks have human stories, the Ancestral Pueblo people, the ancestral sites they built, and the park's connection to modern Pueblos and Tribes are key here,' said Dalton Dorrell, a park ranger on Mesa Verde's Interpretation and Visitor Services team. These dwellings are some of the best preserved in the world and are the hallmark of Mesa Verde National Park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its rare blend of cultural heritage and natural beauty, Mesa Verde isn't just a stop or another national park on the list—it's a journey into the deep history of the American Southwest. Dalton Dorrell is a park ranger on the Interpretation and Visitor Services team at Mesa Verde National Park. He has worked for the National Park Service for over 10 years. Brian Bartlett is the tourism director and CEO at Mesa Verde Country, a local organization that provides information for travelers visiting Mesa Verde National Park and the surrounding area. Scenic view of Mesa Verde National Park from the Visitor and Research Center. JohnMesa Verde National Park is open daily, year-round. No reservations are needed to enter the park, and entrance passes are $20 per vehicle during the low season (Oct. 23–April 30) and $30 during the high season (May 1–Oct. 22). Passes are good for seven days. If you want to walk inside one of the park's renowned cliff dwellings, you must book a tour up to 14 days in advance. Cliff dwelling tours run from May to October, ending in the winter. The park is still open in the colder months, but many of the facilities close, including the lodge, campground, and most dining options. It is worth noting that all of the park's historic sites and cliff dwellings are at least 45 minutes by car (one way) from the park's entrance on Highway 160. Brian Bartlett, the tourism director and CEO of Mesa Verde Country, advises travelers to 'gas up before you come as there is almost no fuel to be purchased in the park.' The park is also completely cashless, so bring a card. And finally, Mesa Verde National Park is different from most because it contains so much human history. The ancestral sites are extremely important to the park's 26 affiliated tribes and are also very fragile. "Two easy ways you can visit with respect is to not touch or sit on ancestral site walls and to leave any artifact where you find it," Dorrell said. The Mesa Top Loop Road Ruins contains some of the most elaborate Pueblo dwellings found today. Christian Kober/robertharding/Getty Images The park is between the Colorado towns of Cortez and Mancos, near the Four Corners region, where Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado meet. It shares some land with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe reservation. The nearest airports to Mesa Verde National Park are Cortez Municipal Airport (CEZ), about 36 miles away, Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO), about 70 miles away, and Four Corners Regional Airport (FMN) in Farmington, New Mexico, 89 miles away. If you're flying in, you'll need to rent a car, as there's no way to get to or around the park by public transportation. It's a 45-minute drive from the park entrance off of Highway 160 to the first view of a cliff dwelling. The best time to visit Mesa Verde National Park is in late spring and early fall, when the cliff dwellings are still open, but the peak travel season of summer hasn't quite begun yet. The popular, ranger-led cliff dwelling tours begin in May and end in mid to late October. 'I really enjoy September and October in the park," said Dorrell. "It's cooler, there are still tours occurring in parts of the park, and some days are slower. If you do visit during that time, be sure to check the weather. Some years we can start getting snow that early." However, there's a reason why summer is a popular time to visit: the weather is more reliable around this time of year, and the park is usually fully open. Plus, summer comes with wildflowers and chances to spot wildlife, including bears and bobcats. Winter isn't a bad time to visit, either, and you can see sites like Spruce Tree House covered in snow, or you could even cross-country ski or snowshoe the park's winter trails. However, keep in mind that many of the park's facilities close in the colder months. In addition to its national park website, you can follow Mesa Verde's Facebook page, where delayed openings and temporary park closures are posted. Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park is the the largest cliff dwelling in North America. Daniel A. Leifheit/Getty Images Cliff Palace was once home to over 100 people and is the largest known cliff dwelling in North America. It is believed to have been built between 1190 and 1280 C.E. and has 23 kivas, or ceremonial rooms. You can see the Cliff Palace from the Cliff Palace Overlook on Cliff Palace Loop Road, but if you want to step inside this massive structure, you must book a ranger-guided tour. Tours are limited to 50 people and take 45 minutes. Tourists exploring the Balcony House ruin, an Ancient Puebloan (Anasazi) cliff dwelling that was inhabited until the 13th century. wanderluster/Getty Images If you're physically fit and enjoy a bit of a challenge, reserve a tour of Balcony House, where Dorrell said visitors must 'climb a 32-foot ladder, climb two smaller ladders, and crawl through a 12-foot tunnel.' But the effort is all worth it. The path leads to a mid-sized village of 38 rooms set inside a rock alcove. Like the Cliff Palace, the Balcony House can be viewed from the six-mile-long Cliff Palace Loop Road. Those who want to set foot in the village must book a guided tour. Bartlett recommends that first-time visitors drive the six-mile Mesa Top Loop Road, which gives a good overview of the park. The loop is open year-round and provides access to 12 archeological sites, including pueblos and pit houses. You'll also see stunning views of Square Tower House, Cliff Palace, and Sun Temple. The Mesa Top Loop Road is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to sunset. The interior and exterior of a pit house reconstruction inside the Step House ruins. Rebecca L. Latson/Getty Images The only cliff dwelling you can visit without a ranger or a reservation is the Step House on Wetherill Mesa. Visiting it lets you explore a part of Mesa Verde National Park that very few people get to see. "This year, the Weatherall Mesa Road will be open, allowing folks to access and discover the other 50 percent of the park," Bartlett said. The journey to Step House usually takes three to four hours, and the site itself requires a hike on a one-mile, steep trail. There's usually a ranger on-site to answer questions. The Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings lit by lantern light sit under a star filled sky. BradWhile most people come to the park to see how early humans lived, the park becomes a stargazing destination at night. Due to its high elevation, arid climate, and distance from the nearest community, the skies above Mesa Verde tend to be clear and inky black—ideal conditions for stargazing. Mesa Verde National Park became the world's 100th International Dark Sky Park in 2021. Booking a campsite at Morefield Campground (open May through October) is a great way to see the night sky. And in late summer, the park runs evening stargazing programs. A guest room at the Far View Lodge within Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park. Morefield is the only campground in the park and is open from May to October. But if you time a visit just right, you can enjoy a night in one of the 267 campsites that dot the grassy canyon near the park's entrance. Each site has a picnic table, fire pit, and barbecue grill. RVs and trailers are permitted. There's also a camp store as well as showers and laundry. The only traditional accommodations within the park are at Far View Lodge, typically open from April to October. The lodge is in the center of the park, around 30 minutes from the park entrance. The rooms in Far View Lodge have private balconies, Wi-Fi, and free guest parking. Pets are allowed, and there are ADA accessible rooms. The property also has a lounge and bar, and a dining room. Mesa Verde Motel is in Mancos, one of the park's neighboring towns. The motel provides just the basics, but it's modern and clean with a hip Americana feel. The property has a community fire pit and an onsite coffee shop and cocktail lounge. Bartlett describes the motel 'is not to be missed.' This little gem in Cortez describes itself as "a little different than the norm"—and it's easy to see why. The Retro Inn has a host of eccentrically decorated rooms—including the hippy-dippy Woodstock Suite—and a range of interesting amenities, including lawn bowling, nostalgic board games, and old-school video games. As an added bonus, there's an outdoor theater with swings and a fire pit. For in-park fine dining, head to the Metate Room in Far View Lodge. The menu highlights regional heritage foods, including wild game, local produce, and fresh fish. Above the lodge, the aptly named Far View Lounge has views that stretch for hundreds of miles and it's a great place to get a pre or post-dinner drink. 'While in the park one must dine at the incredible Metate Room, enjoy a cocktail at the Far View Lounge, and enjoy our incredible dark skies firsthand," Bartlett said. Another favorite of Bartlett's is Cortez's Loungin' Lizard, located on Main Street. The restaurant and bar are set in a hip, contemporary space and serve unique fare like elk shepherd's pie, pork belly tacos, and spicy barbecue chicken pizza. In Mancos, The Boathouse on Grand is the place to be. It's run by locals Jenn and Dave Stewart and has a seasonal menu that changes throughout the week. They're also known for their menu of Spanish sherries and vermouth, served by the glass.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Belen city council votes yes to new permit for solar panel farm
BELEN, N.M. (KRQE) – It's considered the hub city for renewable energy in the southwest. Belen city councilors voted to continue that momentum, allowing a major energy company to construct another solar farm on 395 acres. There are thousands of undeveloped acres of land that Belen city councilors want to see filled up. 'For a long time, Belen has looked to try to find ways to grow, we always fall just a little bit short,' said Mayor Robert Noblin during a city council meeting Monday. A proposed project for a major solar farm located west of I-25 between Los Lunas and Belen. It was presented before Belen's city council for a special use permit with promises of 250 construction jobs for locals and economic growth. 'We had an economic impact study done, and for GDP, roughly $16.9 million would come to the city of Belen,' said Ashley Sgaliardich, Project Director, NextEra Energy Resources. Belen man accused of trying to rob Albuquerque McDonald's with lighter This latest development, called 'The Starlight Energy Center,' will be neighboring an already existing solar panel farm managed by the company NextEra Energy Resources. City councilors agreed during Monday's meeting that the land needs to be used. 'It's been a long time [and] nothing's come. I understand several years ago, we had a development that was going to go out there, and it just went away,' said City Councilor Steven Holdman. While the meeting was open to the public, no one came up for comment, but one resident KRQE spoke to on Saturday said the existing panels are an eyesore. 'It is because if you look at it before the solar panels, Los Lunas hill was just farmland, you know it was a hill now, walk there, all you just see is solar panels and just metal stuff and like that,' said Rayven Garcia. The company said their next steps are to apply for an industrial revenue bond, which helps finance the project. Construction is expected to start this December and be completed by December 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.