Five Ways to Maximize the Benefits of Travel Loyalty Before the End of the Year
If you’re a member of a travel loyalty program, the end of the year is a crucial time to review your status and benefits so you’re set up for success in 2025. With the possibility of gaining (or losing) status levels or using (or missing out on) valuable credits, here are five important steps to take with your points and miles right now.
Reinforce your elite status
If you have or are working toward elite status in an airline or hotel loyalty program, check your balance to determine how many miles or qualifying dollars you need to accumulate before the end of the year to maintain or advance to the next level. Many loyalty programs reset on January 1st, so if you’re close, it might be worth booking a flight or stay this month.
The process and rules for earning and maintaining elite status vary by program, but some airlines and hotels allow you to earn points on flights and stays, so you can potentially earn rewards and status without paying out of pocket. Additionally, co-branded credit cards sometimes have elite status as a perk, so you may want to consider adding one to your wallet.
Check annual spending thresholds
Likewise, see if you’re approaching your annual spending threshold on a travel credit card that could earn you rewards like a companion ticket, flight credit or free hotel night. For example, the American Express Delta SkyMiles Gold card offers a $200 flight credit when you spend $10,000 in a calendar year, while the World of Hyatt card offers a free night if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year.
Obviously, you shouldn’t spend too much just for the sake of spending, but consider strategizing to put all your remaining purchases this year toward the bonus.
Take advantage of your remaining travel credits
Don’t let your credit card annual fee go to waste: If you have statement credits, membership credits or other benefits that expire at the end of the calendar year, pay them off now. Likewise, be sure to redeem any offers that expire on December 31, such as the Lyft Pink All Access membership to the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Redeem expiring rewards, points and miles
Audit your airline and hotel award balances to see what you have and make sure you know if and when any of those points and miles expire. Few loyalty programs still use expiration dates, but you don’t want to lose out on rewards you were counting on later. If any of them expire at the end of the year, check the program rules for options to delay the date (by spending a small portion, for example), or plan to use them now.
Also, check for benefits that must be redeemed throughout the calendar year, such as Marriott’s overnight upgrade rewards for elite Bonvoy members.
Choose the benefits of choice
Some loyalty programs allow elite status holders to choose additional benefits such as room upgrades, statement credits, lounge memberships or gifting status to someone else, but the deadline for these choices is often around the end of the year. Marriott Bonvoy members have until January 7, 2025 to choose an annual benefit benefit, and Delta SkyMiles Diamond and Platinum Medallion members have until January 31, 2025 to upgrade to the 2024 status year.