⏰ Heads up: this rate is live TODAY, 11/4/26! Rakuten rates change daily, so check the current rate before you shop!
Did you know that if you’re new to Rakuten, you can earn 6,000+ Amex points TODAY by spending just $50 at Gap?! 🛍️ That’s literally enough points to fly one way in economy to Europe on Virgin Atlantic!
Today, Rakuten is offering 20X Amex or Bilt points at Gap (it was 2X!), so every $50 you spend earns 1,000 points. (Bilt converts 2:1 if you’re Bilt Blue status, so 500 points; all other Bilt tiers are 1:1.) PLUS, tons of Gap is on sale right now, so it’s the perfect time to stock up on closet staples. 🙌
🎁 New to Rakuten? Get 5,000 bonus Amex points (or up to 5,000 Bilt points) after you spend $50 with my Rakuten link. You only get the bonus once you complete a qualifying purchase, not just for making an account! Everyone earns the 20X, but the 5,000-point bonus is for new members only.
🛍️ What Is Rakuten?
Rakuten is a free shopping portal that pays you back when you shop online. Most people take cash back, but here’s the secret: you can get Amex Membership Rewards or Bilt points instead, and both transfer to airlines and hotels. ✈️
🔥 How to Get the Deal
- Sign up with my Rakuten link (it’s free!).
- Switch your payout to Amex or Bilt points BEFORE you shop (how-to below). It only applies to future purchases.
- Search Gap in Rakuten, activate 20X, and click through to gap.com.
- Shop the sale and check out like normal. Your points show up in your Rakuten account as pending.
⚠️ New to Rakuten? Rakuten pays on what you spend after discounts and before tax and shipping, so make sure your cart is at least $50 after any coupons to unlock the 5,000-point bonus. Also check “See all Terms & Exclusions” on Rakuten’s Gap page; things like gift cards usually don’t earn.
🧮 The Math: 6,000+ Points on a $50 Cart
| The stack | What you get |
|---|---|
| 20X through Rakuten | 1,000 Amex or Bilt points (Bilt is 2:1 if Bilt Blue, so 500; all other Bilt tiers are 1:1) |
| New Rakuten member bonus | 5,000 Amex points (or up to 5,000 Bilt points) |
| Your credit card (1X to 2X) | 50 to 100 more points from your card |
| Total | 6,000 Amex points + 50 to 100 card points! |
💡 Your card points only add to your Amex total if you pay with an Amex card that earns Membership Rewards. Already a Rakuten member? You’ll still earn 1,000 points from Rakuten on a $50 order (plus your card points), and the more you spend, the MORE you earn!
🤎 What’s in My Cart
I’m OBSESSED with chocolate brown and shades of burgundy this season, so I’m grabbing a few closet staples that will literally last me years. And they’re all on sale right now:
- Maxi Slip Skirt:
$79.95$39 = 780 points. I need this in EVERY color (it comes in 6)! - Corduroy Crop Jacket:
$118$59 = 1,180 points - Sherpa & Vegan Leather Flight Jacket:
$228$114 = 2,280 points
That’s $212 × 20X = 4,240 points for everyone (2,120 if you’re Bilt Blue). If you’re new to Rakuten, add the 5,000-point bonus for 9,240 Amex points, plus whatever your credit card earns!
✈️ What Can 6,000 Points Get You?
Amex points transfer 1:1 to Virgin Atlantic, where saver economy flights from select U.S. cities to London start at just 6,000 points one way (plus taxes and fees). Bilt points transfer to Virgin Atlantic too. 🇬🇧
📌 Note: 6,000 points is a saver fare on Virgin Atlantic. Prices vary by flight and date, so be flexible to snag the lowest price!
💰 How to Get Paid in Points
Rakuten pays every three months, and you pick how: a check, PayPal, Amex points or Bilt points. If you love to travel, pick points, bestie! 👀
💙 Amex points: 1% cash back = 1 Amex point per dollar, so 20X = 20 points per dollar. You need an Amex card that earns Membership Rewards (like the Gold, Platinum, Green or Blue Business Plus), but you don’t have to pay with it. Choose Membership Rewards points in your Rakuten account settings and log in to Amex to link.
🏠 Bilt points (no credit card needed!): Download the free Bilt app, link your Rakuten account inside the Bilt app, then select Bilt Points as your Rakuten payment method. Bilt converts 2:1 at Blue status (500 points on a $50 order today) and 1:1 at Silver or higher (1,000 points).
🤔 Which is better? Bilt Silver or higher? Bilt is amazing. Still Blue status with an Amex Membership Rewards card? Amex usually gets you more. I use BOTH, depending on which points I need for my next trip! To switch between them, change to PayPal or check first, then pick the other.
📝 My Bestie Tips
- Set Rakuten to points and click through BEFORE you pay, or you could miss your points.
- New members: spend at least $50 AFTER any coupons to unlock the one-time 5,000-point bonus.
- Rakuten rates change DAILY, so check the current offer before you buy.
- Bonus: link a card in the Rakuten app to earn 5% back at participating restaurants (5x Amex points!).
- Don’t buy things just for the points. Use this for staples you’ll actually wear for years, or holiday gifts you’re ALREADY buying! 🎁
So STOP leaving extra travel rewards on the table! 👇
- Join Rakuten and get 5,000 Amex points (or up to 5,000 Bilt points) after spending $50
Disclosure: When you choose to use my links, Taylor Travel & Points may earn additional points or affiliate commissions, at no extra cost to you. I only share the things I actually use, and all opinions are my own. Taylor Travel & Points is an independent creator and does not speak on behalf of Rakuten, Gap, American Express, Bilt or Virgin Atlantic. This post is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Earning rates and sale prices shown are what I saw on November 4, 2026. Rates, bonuses, prices and award prices change often, so always check the current offer and terms before you shop or book.