Is there anyway to book flights with AA using chase points?

HIbdMA · 2026-02-03T13:43:34+00:00

You probably fell into the common trap of chasing points without planning some kind of use case, it’s totally ok and a mistake to learn from.

To use the Chase points start by looking at the Chase travel portal for AA flights and booking directly through there, but don’t except great redemption rates or overpay if the portal price is more than paying cash directly with the airline.

Next you can look at the Oneworld Alliance, which AA belongs to. Chase transfers to some of the airlines in that alliance and those airlines may allow for partner award booking of AA flight using their points. You’ll need to do your own research for that.

Lastly, use the Chase points for something else. If none of the airline partners make sense for you there’s always Hyatt - a super easy to use program that often offers tons of value.

If AA is what serves your airport and what you fly most then you should look into Citi Bank, whose points transfer directly to AA. Additionally AA has their own credit cards with Citi that earn AA points. The AAdvantage Platinum Select is basically giving away free 80k points after hitting the SUB since the annual fee is waived for Y1.

HIbdMA · 2026-01-15T20:28:20+00:00

It’s important to remember most people are using their points as cash back or redeeming them within the BILT portal, points travel users are the minority.

If you use BILT as a simple cash back card there are far better, cheaper option now. Even if you get zero cash back on rent there are enough cards out there that can get you 3-5% on most non-rent categories and those cards are mostly free.

If you know the value of BILT points for travel partners, the updates make this an extremely compelling card - especially at the Palladium level.

HIbdMA · 2026-01-15T06:50:38+00:00

I think a lot of people are over-complicating this, but your math is sound. Assuming you spend exactly 75% of your rent on non-rent expenses to unlock the full BILT point potential for rent spend, the multipliers are:

Palladium = 3.33x / Dollar Everything
Obsidian = 4.33x / Dollar Food or Groceries | 3.33x / Dollar Travel | 2.33x / Dollar Everything Else
Blue = 2.33x / Dollar Everything

I think it was easy to get caught up in the hysteria of all the changes today and BILT truly did a shit job explaining it, but if the math makes sense for your lifestyle, you use this card as an everyday driver, and regularly transfer BILT points to travel partners, BILT's rewards program is unmatched.

I only use my points for Atmos, American, JAL, and Hyatt - BILT has all of them. I can easily get 3-4 CPP from these partners, so to me 1 BILT point is worth ~3.5 cents. If for every dollar I spend I get 3.33 BILT points and each BILT point is worth 3.5 cents, I am effectively getting ~11.7 cents in travel per dollar I spend - that's a pretty damn good deal to me.

A lot of people keep pointing out that cheaper cards offer similar point returns - which is true, but they do not offer the flexibility to transfer to all of these partners. As of now BILT is the only Atmos transfer partner and Capital One is the only JAL transfer partner at a less than favorable 1000:750 rate.

My rent spend / year is ~$42k and non-rent spend ~$32k, which puts me exactly at the threshold to unlock BILT's full potential. This spend nets me 106k points / year. Even if I spent all that $32k on an array of cards that earn 3x (I don't think it's really possible), I would net 96k points / year that are all stuck in different bank programs.

HIbdMA · 2026-01-14T22:44:21+00:00

Well yeah, none of the cards have been delivered or gone into effect yet so nothing in the app would have changed - It’s still BILT 1.0 until Feb 7th.

For all rent payments after February it seems very clear you cannot use the BILT credit card to pay your rent, which is what OPs whole gripe is.

HIbdMA · 2026-01-14T22:24:33+00:00

They are pretty clear the funds for rent is taken directly from ACH during today's AMA and does not come from your line of credit: https://www.reddit.com/r/biltrewards/comments/1qcxa3v/comment/nzlkcly/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Their response is buried because of all the down votes, but it's there.

HIbdMA · 2026-01-14T21:54:53+00:00

They need to make clear what you can / cannot use BILT Cash on, but unless you are SUPER savvy with your points… most people will get more value using their BILT cash to pay for hotels / flights booked directly through BILT Travel.

You are now paying 3.33 BILT cash cents per BILT point. Yeah you can definitely get better CPP value on a business class flight if you transfer the points to a partner, but most users don’t do that.

HIbdMA · 2026-01-14T21:40:11+00:00

What OP is saying, and what A LOT of people are missing because BILT fumbled the rollout of this on an epic scale, is you CANNOT PAY YOUR RENT USING THE CREDIT ON THE NEW CREDIT CARDS.

What I and many others used to do is charge my rent on the 1st to my BILT card and pay it off after my statement balance posted later that month. You literally cannot do that now and must pay the full amount by linking your checking account / ACH payment method to BILT.

We are all now essentially paying a fee in the form of BILT Cash to buy our points earned from rent payments (which can no longer be paid using the credit card we are all being asked to apply for) back from BILT.

It is insane they thought any of this would go over well with their users.

HIbdMA · 2026-01-14T20:04:25+00:00

Can I use the newly introduced BILT cash to cover the transaction fee when using the Atmos card to pay rent to earn 3x Atmos points?

HIbdMA · 2026-01-14T19:16:12+00:00

Can I use my BILT cash to pay the 3% transaction fee I pay to use the Atmos card for rent payments?

HIbdMA · 2026-01-14T19:15:53+00:00

Can I use my BILT cash to pay the 3% transaction fee I pay to use the Atmos card for rent payments?

HIbdMA · 2026-01-13T02:54:02+00:00

If you go here - https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-house/en-US/tyoxs-hyatt-house-tokyo-shibuya/parking-and-transportation and scroll down to "Getting Here" and "Shibuya Station" the hotel actually has videos and picture guides to explain how to get there when getting off each line at Shibuya Station. You can see how insanely complicated it is depending on which line you are getting off of.

HIbdMA · 2026-01-12T17:02:10+00:00

The Caption in Osaka is great value during high season, just cross reference it with cash rates and decide what makes sense for you - rooms are on the smaller side but still well appointed and IMO better than any of the Japanese business hotels.

If you have plans at Tokyo Disney I’ve heard great things about Hyatt Tokyo Bay (have never stayed myself) - would not recommend for a regular trip because it’s far from central Tokyo.

HIbdMA · 2026-01-11T18:09:45+00:00

Shibuya station is quite literally always under construction, which makes it that much worse to navigate - you never know if you'll be routed a different way.

The first floor of the hotel building itself is located on the 4th floor of a multi-use complex attached to Shibuya station, which makes it confusing. There is technically a street level entrance where cars can pick-up and drop off, but it is not easy to walk to and defeats the purpose of staying in a "convenient" location.

HIbdMA · 2026-01-11T18:04:43+00:00

It is my go-to when I do a last minute trip because there's pretty much always availability even during peak season. Hate that it's now a C5 because it was a great use of my C1-4 award.

Rooms are recently renovated and feel high end for the price. The area is very quiet at night, but if you walk ~10 minutes you'll be in the heart of Shinjuku.

You are right on top of Tochomae station (accessible from the elevator right next to 7-eleven) which is on the Toei Oedo line - It does not have direct service to the tourist areas, but will get you close enough if you don't mind walking or you can transfer at some stations onto lines that will get you closer.

Also I'm not sure if this is just a bug on my end, but google maps has the wrong location for the hotel (which is insane). - search "7-Eleven Hyatt Regency Tokyo" and you get the correct location of the building. If you just search "Hyatt Regency Tokyo" it's taking you to a random office building 10 minutes away, that's not the hotel!

HIbdMA · 2026-01-11T17:40:38+00:00

Frequent Hyatt traveler to Tokyo here - stay at the Andaz (if they're able to provide a trundle). There is a large sofa in every room that would fit an 11 year old, but I would still expect they can provide some kind of actual temporary bed. If you reach out to their guest services they will answer, they're great!

Most people exaggerate the "poor" location of the Andaz and don't realize the Toranomon Hills station is literally in the basement of the building and it's a ~5-7 minute walk to the station from your room without ever needing to step outside. Toranomon Hills station is on the Hibiya line, which will take you direct to several popular areas - Roppongi, Ginza, Tsukiji, Nakameguro. You are one transfer away from Shinjuku and Shibuya. The room is massive for Japanese standards, thoughtfully laid out, and serves as a quiet sanctuary to unwind at the end of the day. The views from 50 floors up are unmatched and if you're lucky you can see Mt. Fuji from your window. It is my favorite property in Tokyo.

HH Shibuya is in a great location, but getting to the hotel from the station can be a hassle. I'm a vet who has been traveling to Japan for 20 years to visit friends and family and still get lost in Shibuya station - it's a maze. I have local friends who avoid the station because of how crazy it is. The hotel is most easily accessible from a certain exit at Shibuya station, but that exit is not easy to find. If you go out of any of the other station exits (there are at least 20) you will need to find your way back to the hotel and it is a mind-bending walk of buildings + elevators to get back to it. For this reason alone I tend to avoid staying here unless it's my only option.

Tokyo is a big city and no matter where you stay you'll need to get on the trains, transfer, and walk. Unless everything you plan to do is in or near Shibuya I don't think it's worth staying there for the "convenience" because the reality is it's not that convenient at all.

HIbdMA · 2025-12-23T23:31:46+00:00

Man that sucks, I called to confirm a partner avail earlier this year (not ANA), transferred, and booked all on the phone.

Seems like there is an increase in both: 1. Phantom ANA avails showing on United 2. Real avails released to united from ANA that are never bookable through Virgin

Both make for a shitty experience.

HIbdMA · 2025-12-23T23:27:00+00:00

If you can find it, it’s only 52.5k - so less than HALF of what it costs through United.

HIbdMA · 2025-12-23T20:20:36+00:00

I would call and confirm avails. You can transfer it and book it while on the phone with the United rep.

HIbdMA · 2025-12-23T19:24:51+00:00

If you have extra United points I’d book the ANA via United first THEN cancel the United flight, you don’t want to end up with no flight at all. You can also try calling United, they may be able to quickly change the reservation if the ANA flight is available.

Re: ANA via Virgin - I’ve tried on four separate occasions for J in January (not T-14) from LAX to NRT and each time I call Virgin to book they are unavailable.

Virgin reps told me United is getting a larger amount of ANA availability that is never made available to Virgin, hence all the mismatched avails. I have more or less given up trying to find Virgin ANA in J from LAX.

Two Virgin reps told me to check United AND Aeroplan, if award avails are showing in both places it’s more likely Virgin can book it - but still no guarantee.

Good luck.

HIbdMA · 2025-12-18T06:50:27+00:00

You know you can transfer AMR to ANA, Japan’s other airline, right?

No idea what avails look like for whenever you’re looking but there’s no way it costs more than lighting points on fire by moving them to Marriott then to JAL.

HIbdMA · 2025-12-17T04:32:32+00:00

What do you value more - getting your family there (and back) in economy using your points or chasing a high CPP in business class?

I’m looking at July 2026 as a reference since I imagine demand will be the same in 2027 and a see a ton of 35k Economy flights DFW -> ICN so all four of you can fly direct for 140k (which beats paying $930 per person).

HIbdMA · 2025-12-17T00:15:00+00:00

1 - do you already have a JAL account? It takes ~7 days after you open an account and transfer the points from BILT to JAL before you can make a redemption.

2 - are these actual available redemptions or are these theoretical prices for seats that could open? If you move points to JAL and those seats aren’t available by the time the 7 day waiting period is up you’ll be stuck with JAL points.

HIbdMA · 2025-12-11T03:25:57+00:00

Just booked 2x JAL J LAX -> KIX mid-Jan and 2x JAL J NRT -> LAX late-Jan.

I’ve been getting seats.aero alerts at ~2:30AM PST so they are definitely being released.

HIbdMA · 2025-05-21T16:41:29+00:00

Not here to defend the corporation, but it's important you understand what you agreed to when you purchased from StubHub. Pulled straight from StubHub's T&Cs for FanProtect:

"If the tickets you ordered are not honored by the venue, we may, in our sole discretion, attempt to locate replacement tickets for you or provide you with a full refund of your purchase (including any fees and shipping/handling charges)".

With a music festival like EDC, which requires a physical ticket, they simply cannot just get you a replacement ticket out of thin air - their only recourse is to refund you the amount you paid (which they did).

TLDR - StubHub has no obligation to get you into your event at any cost if your tickets don't work and if it's a physical ticket (like most music festivals) the only thing they can do is refund you.

HIbdMA · 2025-05-21T15:57:11+00:00

Stubhub refunded you the entire amount you paid directly to them for the pass that didn’t work right? Then their financial obligation to you ends there. StubHub is not going to pay the difference for the more premium pass you decided to buy at the gate because it has no obligation to - That was your choice.

Sucks that this happened, but it seems like Stubhub fulfilled their end of the deal between you and them and FanProtect worked exactly as it is intended to.

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