Time’s Running Out! Use Your Yearly Credit Card Perks – or Lose Them Forever!

Many of the best travel credit cards have annual benefits like statement credits, spending bonuses, and thresholds that end at the close of the calendar year.  So you have 2 more more months to use them – or they’re gone!

These perks help offset a card’s annual fee, or allow you to earn more bonus points.  So if you haven’t already, you have time to make a plan.

Remember, benefits are only valuable if you use them!

I’ll remind you which cards have perks that reset each calendar year!

Credit Cards With Annual Benefits You Should Use by Year End

Link:   How to Meet Credit Card Minimum Spending Requirements

Credit card perks are an easy way to offset any annual fees you pay to have a card.  But there’s a catch – you have to actually use your card’s benefits.  A good deal is worthless if you don’t use it!

There are 3 types of yearly benefits that reset:

• Statement credits
• Awards for spending
• Category spending thresholds

You have 2 months to make the most of them!  Below are cards with annual benefits based on the calendar year (NOT card anniversary year).

And here are 40+ ways to get some extra spending done.

1.   Cards With Statement Credits

AMEX cards with yearly benefits include:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum® Card from American Express – $200 airline incidental credit on your selected airline
• American Express® Gold Card – Up to $100 airline incidental credit on your selected airline
• Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express – Up to $250 airline incidental credit on your selected airline

Also, folks with a Citi Prestige (not currently open to new applications) card have a $250 airfare credit that resets after the close of their December billing statement.

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card also offers up to $100 per calendar year to spend on airline incidentals.

And if you have a Chase Ritz-Carlton card (no longer available to new applicants), don’t forget to use your $300 travel credit!  You have to call to get the credits applied, which can be a hassle.  But it’s worth it to save cash.

2.   Cards With Spending Bonuses

You can earn bonuses through spending on these AMEX cards:

• Hilton Honors American Express Card – Earn Hilton Gold elite status when you spend $20,000 on purchases in a calendar year
• Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card – Earn a free weekend night when you spend $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year, and earn Hilton Diamond elite status when you spend $40,000 on purchases in a calendar year
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card – Earn a free weekend night when you spend $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year, and another weekend night when you spend a total of $60,000 on purchases in a calendar year.  Plus earn Hilton Diamond elite status when you spend $40,000 in a calendar year
• Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express – Earn 10,000 MQMs (for elite status) and 10,000 Delta miles when you spend $25,000 on purchases in a calendar year, and an additional 10,000 MQMs and 10,000 Delta miles if you spend a total of $50,000 on purchases in a calendar year
• Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express – Earn 10,000 MQMs (for elite status) and 10,000 Delta miles when you spend $25,000 on purchases in a calendar year, and an additional 10,000 MQMs and 10,000 Delta miles if you spend a total of $50,000 on purchases in a calendar year
• Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express – Earn 15,000 MQMs (for elite status) and 15,000 Delta miles when you spend $30,000 on purchases in a calendar year, and an additional 15,000 MQMs and 15,000 Delta miles if you spend a total of $60,000 on purchases in a calendar year
• Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card – Earn 15,000 MQMs (for elite status) and 15,000 Delta miles when you spend $30,000 on purchases in a calendar year, and an additional 15,000 MQMs and 15,000 Delta miles if you spend a total of $60,000 on purchases in a calendar year
• Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express – Earn Marriott Gold elite status when you spend $30,000 on purchases in a calendar year (increasing to $35,000 in 2019)
• Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express – Earn Marriott Gold elite status when you spend $30,000 on purchases in a calendar year (increasing to $35,000 in 2019)

If you have the British Airways Visa Signature® Card or Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card, you can earn a companion ticket after spending $30,000 on purchases in a calendar year.  And if you have the Iberia Visa Signature® Card, you get a $1,000 discount voucher to use toward 2 tickets on the same flight for each year you make purchases of $30,000 on your card.

3.   Cards With Spending Thresholds

Some AMEX cards let you earn extra points up to a certain limit each calendar year:

• American Express® Gold Card – 4X AMEX Membership Rewards points at US supermarkets, up to $25,000 per year (then 1X)
• Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express – 2X AMEX Membership Rewards points at US supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year (then 1X)
• Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express – 3X AMEX Membership Rewards points at US supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year (then 1X)
• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express – 3% cash back at US supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year (then 1%)
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express – 6% cash back at US supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year (then 1%)
• The Blue Business®️ Plus Credit Card from American Express – 2X AMEX Membership Rewards points on purchases, up to $50,000 per year (then 1x)
• SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express – 5% cash back on the first $50,000 spent at wireless telephone services purchases directly from US service providers and US office supply stores, and 3% cash back on the first $50,000 spent in one of eight categories you choose (then 1%)

Get your spending done before it resets!

Bottom Line

If you have one of the cards listed here, you have 2 more months to redeem your credits, earn bonus points, or get extra rewards like free hotel nights and credit toward elite status.  Once 2019 rolls around, they’ll all reset – use it or lose it!

If you want some ideas, here are 40+ ways to spend on your cards.

Are you looking forward to using or earning any extra perks from your cards before the end of 2018?