Five Ways to Maximize Your Travel Loyalty Benefits Before the End of the Year
If you are a member of a travel loyalty program, the end of the year is a crucial time to check in with your status and benefits so you are set up for success in 2025. With the possibility of earning (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.
Shore up your elite status
If you have or are working toward elite status with an airline or hotel loyalty program, check your balance to determine how many miles or qualifying dollars you need to accrue before the end of the year to maintain or bump up to the next level. Many loyalty programs reset on Jan. 1, so if you are close, it may be worthwhile to book a flight or a stay(cation) this month.
The process and rules for earning and keeping elite status vary by program, but some airlines and hotels allow you to earn on flights and stays booked with points, so you could potentially redeem an award and score status without paying out of pocket. Alternatively, cobranded credit cards sometimes come with elite status as a perk, so you could consider adding one to your wallet.
Check annual spending thresholds
Similarly, check if you are nearing an annual spend threshold on a travel credit card that could earn you rewards like a companion ticket, flight credit, or free hotel night. The American Express Delta SkyMiles Gold card, for example, offers a $200 flight credit with a $10,000 spend in a calendar year, while the World of Hyatt card offers a free night once you've spent $15,000 in a calendar year.
Obviously you shouldn't spend excessively just to spend, but consider strategizing to put any remaining purchases this year toward earning your bonus.
Take advantage of remaining travel credits
Don't let your credit card annual fee be for naught: If you have statement credits, membership credits, or other benefits that expire at the end of the calendar year, redeem them now. Similarly, make sure you activate any offers that end on Dec. 31, such as the Lyft Pink All Access membership on the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Redeem expiring rewards, points, and miles
Do an audit of your airline and hotel award balances to see what you have available, 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 rewards you were counting on having later. If any are set to expire at the end of the year, check the program policies for options to defer the date (such as by spending a small portion), or plan to use them now.
In addition, check for any perks that must be redeemed within a calendar year, such as Marriott's nightly upgrade reward for elite Bonvoy members.
Select choice benefits
Some loyalty programs allow elite status holders to choose additional benefits, like room upgrades, statement credits, lounge memberships, or gifting status to someone else—but those selections often have deadlines around the end of the year. Marriott Bonvoy members have until Jan. 7, 2025 to select their annual choice benefit, while Delta SkyMiles Diamond and Platinum Medallion holders have a Jan. 31, 2025 deadline for the 2024 status year.