Author: travelbestdiscounts

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Depending on how many credit cards you have, the list of benefits you should be using this month might feel overwhelming. Can you remember all of these perks without help? Maybe not.

Rather than trying to keep track of all of them on your own, we’ve compiled a monthly checklist of credit card perks and benefits you might be eligible for. This should take the guesswork out of your benefits, when they expire, and their value.

Here are some important reminders for the month of November.

American Express

There are numerous monthly card perks that you should be using since Amex offers many of its statement credits as monthly amounts — rather than a one-time annual benefit. It’s important to note that these values are “up to” amounts, meaning this is the maximum you will receive in statement credits. If you spend less than this amount, you will be reimbursed only for that lower amount.

Additionally, the Uber credits will disappear from your account if unused by the end of the month.

Overall, these are not benefits you can roll over for later. They are “use it or lose it” type credits.

The Platinum Card from American Express

• Up to $12.95 Walmart+ monthly membership: Pay with The Platinum Card® from American Express, then receive reimbursement in statement credits for one membership fee. Here’s how to enroll (subject to auto-renewal). Plus Up Benefits are not eligible. If you don’t receive the credit automatically, it’s worth requesting any missing credits be applied. The easiest way is via chat (online or through the Amex app; enrollment is required).
• Up to $15 in Uber credits: This can be used for Uber rides or on Uber Eats orders in the U.S. Add your card to your Uber account as a payment method to receive this benefit. Here’s how to use this benefit (enrollment is required).
• Up to $20 digital entertainment credit: This can be used for the Disney Bundle, Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment is required in advance to receive the statement credit. Here’s how to use this benefit.

While not a monthly benefit, cardholders also receive two spending credits with Saks Fifth Avenue on the Amex Platinum each year. From Jan. 1 through June 31 each year, you’ll receive up to $50 in statement credits, and you’ll also have a separate up to $50 credit from July 1 to Dec. 31 in the second half of the year. Enrollment is required in advance.

You can use up to $300 in Equinox statement credits annually. These credits apply to paying for Equinox+ or any Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal). Here’s how to use this benefit. Enrollment is required.

These benefits and statement credits can help offset the card’s $695 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Related: 10 things to do when you get the Amex Platinum

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Apply here: The Platinum Card® from American Express

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The Business Platinum Card from American Express

• Up to $10 wireless credits: Pay for an eligible mobile service and receive a statement credit of up to $10. Enrollment is required in advance.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express doesn’t award credits at Saks or with Uber, but cardholders do receive up to $400 in statement credits every year for Dell purchases (the tentative end date of benefit is Dec. 31). This is split into up to $200 in credits from January to June and another up to $200 from July to December. You can use your credits for the second half of the year now. Enrollment is required in advance.

Related: 9 things to do when you get the Amex Business Platinum Card

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Apply here: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

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American Express Gold Card

Use the following benefits to help offset the card’s $325 annual fee (see rates and fees):

• Up to in $10 Uber credits: Like the perk on the Amex Platinum, this applies to Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. Add your American Express® Gold Card to your Uber account as a payment method to receive this benefit — and note that it can stack with the monthly credit on the Amex Platinum if you have both cards. Here’s how to use this benefit. Enrollment is required.
• Up to $10 dining credit: Use your card to pay at The Cheesecake Factory, Five Guys, Golbelly, Grubhub and Wine.com to receive up to $10 monthly statement credits. Enrollment is required in advance. Here’s how to use this benefit.
• Up to $7 Dunkin’ credit: Cardholders receive up to $7 in monthly statement credits to be used at Dunkin’ locations within the U.S. Enrollment is required.
• Up to $100 annual Resy credits: Cardmembers receive two up to $50 biannual statement credits, one to be used from January to June and another one from July to December. Statement credits can be redeemed by dining at a restaurant (in the U.S.) that accepts Resy reservations and paying with your Amex Gold, as well as on other eligible Resy purchases. A reservation is not required to earn the statement credit. Enrollment is required.

Related: Amex Gold checklist: 4 things to do when you first get the card

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Apply here: American Express® Gold Card

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Delta cobranded cards

• Resy credit: You’ll receive a monthly statement credit of up to $10 for U.S. restaurant purchases on the Resy platform with the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card; and up to $20 with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card. Enrollment required.
• Ride-hailing credit: You’ll receive an up to $10 monthly statement credit for U.S. ride-hailing services, including Uber, Lyft, Revel, Curb or Alto, if you have the consumer or business version of the Platinum or Reserve card. Enrollment is required.

Related: How to maximize the new statement credits on the Delta Amex cards

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

• Up to $200 Hilton Resorts credit per six months: Use your Amex Aspire at participating Hilton Resorts to pay for eligible purchases, such as room charges and incidentals. This benefit is divided into two $200 biannual credits, one for use from January to June and another for use from July to December.
• Up to $50 in flight credits per quarter: Pay for a flight directly with an airline or through AmexTravel.com and receive up to $50 in statement credits each quarter. Datapoints tell us you may be able to use this credit for seat upgrades, and award taxes and fees, and to reload your United TravelBank balance.

The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

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Learn more: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

• Up to $50 Hilton credit per quarter: Receive up to $50 in statement credits each quarter on purchases charged directly with a property within the Hilton portfolio, including bookings and incidental charges. Datapoints tell us you may be able to use this credit for dining and gift store purchases at a Hilton property and online Hilton gift card purchases even if you aren’t staying at a property.

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Apply here: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

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The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

• Up to $60 Hilton credit per quarter: Receive up to $60 in statement credits each quarter on purchases charged directly with a property within the Hilton portfolio, including bookings and incidental charges such as dining and spa services. See our advice for the Surpass credit above.

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Apply here: Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

• Up to $25 in monthly dining credits: This card offers monthly dining statement credits at restaurants worldwide. You don’t need to enroll for this benefit in advance — swipe your card at an eligible restaurant, and you should receive the statement credit within a few days.

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Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

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Chase

Select Chase credit cards offer perks on a monthly basis, so a new month means you have a fresh batch of credits to use.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

• $5 DoorDash credits: When you add your Chase Sapphire Reserve® card as a payment method to your DoorDash account, Chase will add $5 in credits at the beginning of each month. You can roll over a maximum of three months of credits, so you could now have up to $15 to use if you didn’t use any credits over the past two months. The $5 in-app credit applies to all orders through Jan. 31, 2025; however, beginning Feb. 1, 2025, this will change to $5 off restaurant orders only. Note that these credits are in addition to the card’s free DashPass membership.
• $20 DoorDash non-restaurant credits: With an activated Sapphire Reserve DashPass membership, cardholders receive two promos of up to $10 off each calendar month at checkout on grocery, convenience or other non-restaurant orders on DoorDash.

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Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

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Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

• $10 DoorDash non-restaurant credits: Cardholders with an activated Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card DashPass membership receive one promo of up to $10 off each calendar month at checkout on one grocery, convenience or other non-restaurant order on DoorDash.

Cardholders can also use a $50 hotel credit each year when booking through the Chase travel portal. If you haven’t used yours yet this year, here’s how to use this benefit.

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Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

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Chase Freedom (not open to new applicants) and Chase Freedom Flex

• Up to 5% cash back: Current categories include McDonald’s, PayPal, pet shops, veterinarian services and select charities. You must activate your categories to enjoy higher earning rates. The quarter ends on Dec. 31 (and you must activate by Dec. 14), so you have until then to register and maximize these earnings.
• $10 DoorDash non-restaurant credits: Cardholders of any Chase Freedom or Slate family cards receive one promo of up to $10 off each quarter at checkout on one grocery, convenience or other non-restaurant order on DoorDash.

Remember: Even though the Freedom and Chase Freedom Flex® cards are technically cash-back products, you can turn these earnings into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points if you also have a premium Chase card like the Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve.

The information for the Chase Freedom card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

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Apply here: Chase Freedom Flex®

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Citi

Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees) card has several benefits, including the following monthly credits:

• $10 in monthly Lyft credit after three rides: Use your card as the payment method in your account and get a $10 Lyft credit after taking three rides in a month.
• Up to $10 back with Grubhub: When you use your card for Grubhub purchases, you’ll receive up to $10 in monthly statement credits.

Citi recently devalued the annual up to $120 Avis-Budget car rental credit on this card. If you applied for the card before July 15, 2024, you can still use this year’s and next year’s credits on both prepaid and postpaid rentals. Those who applied for the card from July 15, 2024, onward must prepay for their reservation to receive the credit.

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Apply here: Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

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Citi® Dividend Card (not open to new applicants)

• 5% cash back: You can earn 5% cash back each quarter on rotating categories. Unlike other cards that limit your bonus earnings within the quarter, Citi Dividend cardholders can earn 5% bonus cash back on up to $6,000 of spending across the year (then 1% back thereafter), meaning you could maximize your 5% earnings for the whole year during a quarter where the bonus categories are more advantageous for you. Remember to activate your current categories, which include Citi Travel℠, and are active through Dec. 31.

The information for the Citi Dividend has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Discover

Discover it Cash Back

• 5% cash back: Each quarter, you can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined spending on rotating categories, then unlimited 1% cash back. Remember to activate your current categories, including Amazon.com and Target, through Dec. 31. Eligible Amazon.com purchases include those made through the Amazon.com checkout, like digital downloads, Amazon Fresh orders, Amazon Local Deals, Amazon Prime subscriptions, and items sold by third-party merchants through Amazon.com’s marketplace. This also includes purchases in-store at Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh. Purchases made online and in-store with Whole Foods Market are not included in the promotion. Target purchases include those made in-store at Target and Target.com and through the Target app.

The information for the Discover it® has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

U.S. Bank

U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card

• 5% cash back: Each quarter, you can earn 5% cash back on up to $2,000 in combined spending on rotating categories, then an unlimited 1% back on other purchases made with your U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card. You must choose your categories each quarter and activate them for the bonus to apply. The current quarter runs through Dec. 31, and categories include: cellphone providers, department stores, electronics stores, fast food, furniture stores, ground transportation, gyms/fitness centers, home utilities, movie theaters, select clothing stores, sporting goods stores and TV, internet and streaming services.

The information for the U.S. Bank Cash+® has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

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World Elite Mastercards

World Elite Mastercards

Numerous banks issue a World Elite Mastercard. Common products under this umbrella include the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees), the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and the Chase Freedom Flex. Here’s what cardholders can use each month on these cards:

• $5 in monthly Lyft credit after three rides: Use your card as the payment method in your account and get a $5 Lyft credit after taking three rides in a month. This benefit runs through Sept. 30, 2025.
• Up to $5 off monthly Peacock subscriptions: Use your eligible card to pay for a monthly Peacock streaming subscription and enjoy a $3 statement credit every month for Peacock Premium or a $5 statement credit every month for Peacock Premium Plus (the ad-free version). This benefit runs through March 31, 2025. If you have Instacart+, perhaps through an eligible Chase card, then you get Peacock Premium (with ads) for free.
• $10 off your second Instacart order: Join with your eligible card to enjoy two free months of Instacart+ membership plus $10 off your second order placed each month. This benefit runs through March 31, 2025.

Related: The 9 most valuable World Elite Mastercard benefits

Bottom line

Using the perks and benefits on your credit cards is critical for maximizing their value and justifying the cards’ annual fees. Some credit cards make this easy, offering your benefits as a one-time perk to use each year. Other benefits must be used in monthly increments, and it can be easy to forget about them.

This monthly checklist of credit card perks will help you remember to use them now that it’s the start of a new month.

For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.

Hilton may not have as many all-inclusive resorts as its competitors, but the company has consistently been adding new properties to its portfolio for the last few years. Now, Hilton Honors’ 200 million-plus members have a new all-inclusive property to look forward to.

As part of a partnership with Oasis Hotels & Resorts, The Sens Cancun resort will rebrand as The Sens Cancun Adults Only All-Inclusive Resort, Tapestry by Hilton, and undergo an extensive remodel across guest rooms and public spaces.

Set to reopen in 2026, the updated resort will also have new food and beverage options across nine bars and restaurants, and a new rooftop bar with views across the sea and Nichupte Lagoon.

“With breathtaking ocean views, a vibrant atmosphere and a variety of culinary experiences, The Sens Cancun Adults Only All-Inclusive Resort is sure to deliver elevated stays and will be a welcomed addition to our portfolio,” said Jenna Hackett, senior vice president and global leader of Hilton lifestyle brand management, in a press release.

The Sens Cancun brings Hilton’s total count of all-inclusive properties to 15, a number significantly lower than those of its competitors. Hilton has taken an organic approach to building out its all-inclusive portfolio compared to competitors like Hyatt, which acquired about 100 of the know-what-you-pay-upfront resorts in a deal with Apple Leisure Group. Just this week, Hyatt grew its all-inclusive collection by 30% through a new partnership with Spanish company Bahia Principe.

“Hilton’s All-Inclusive growth strategy is focused on being in the right place at the right time to meet the needs of today’s global travelers,” Nicole Tilzer, vice president of Hilton’s all-inclusive and resort strategy, told TPG. “Since 2019, we’ve grown our global footprint by over 60%, adding resorts in prime destinations worldwide.”

Next year, Hilton will welcome another new all-inclusive resort to the family: Zemi Miches All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton in the Dominican Republic. This property will be the first-ever Curio Collection all-inclusive resort, reflecting the trend of major hotel companies merging lifestyle or luxury brands (like Curio Collection) with fresh all-inclusive concepts.

In a similar fashion, Marriott recently opened the first-ever Luxury Collection all-inclusive resort, Sanctuary Cap Cana, also in the Dominican Republic, and has already expanded with the October opening of Almare, another Luxury Collection all-inclusive resort, in Mexico.

Related reading: 

• 17 best all-inclusive resorts in the US
• 21 relaxing adults-only, all-inclusive resorts for a kid-free vacation
• 14 best all-inclusive resorts in Cancun

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor.

Good news for Bilt Rewards members: Nov. 1 is another Bilt Rent Day.

As on previous Rent Days, you can snag double points on non-rent purchases, book a Bilt Neighborhood Dining Series experience and play the Rent Free game. Bilt is also offering a British Airways transfer bonus and a targeted offer of a waived transaction fee on rent payments for Alaska cardholders this Rent Day.

Here’s what you need to know about the November Bilt Rent Day promotions.

British Airways transfer bonus

This Rent Day, you can enjoy a targeted transfer bonus between 50% and 100% when you transfer Bilt Points to British Airways Executive Club by Nov. 2 at 2:59 p.m. EDT.

You’ll learn your targeted transfer bonus when you log into your account within the Bilt app or website. You can convert Bilt points to Avios in increments of 1,000 points, although Blue members must transfer at least 2,000 points.

As a reminder, you can use British Airways Avios to book domestic flights operated by American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. So, you don’t need to travel abroad to get good value from British Airways Avios.

 Related: Best ways to redeem British Airways Avios: From flights to Hawaii to island hopping in the Caribbean

Waived transaction fee on rent payments for select Alaska cardholders

Some Bilt members are targeted this Rent Day for an offer to use their Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card to pay their rent and receive a 3% waived transaction fee (for the first $2,500 of rent spend for a maximum of a $75 fee waiver).

If you’re targeted for this offer, you can enjoy a waived transaction fee when using your Alaska card to pay rent by Nov. 2 at 2:59 p.m. EDT. However, any additional rent spend exceeding $2,500 will be subject to a 3% fee.

Related: Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card review: Earn hard-to-get miles with a valuable welcome offer

Extra Bilt points on non-rent purchases

As on previous Bilt Rent Days, you’ll earn double points until Nov. 2 at 2:59 a.m. EDT when you use your Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees) to make non-rent purchases. You’ll earn as follows for purchases each Rent Day:

• Dining: 6 points per dollar
• Travel: 4 points per dollar
• Other purchases (excluding rent): 2 points per dollar
• Rent: 1 point per dollar (up to 100,000 points in a calendar year)

You must use the card five times per statement period to earn points (see rewards and benefits). However, you can only earn up to 1,000 bonus points on purchases with your Bilt Mastercard each Rent Day.

Related: 6 reasons I love my Bilt Mastercard as a renter in the most expensive city in the US

Rent Free game

In August 2023, Bilt launched a new way to win free rent for a month (up to $2,500): the Rent Free game show. Bilt has since offered the Rent Free game show each Rent Day, with a new creator or personality playing each month. This month, American icon and businesswoman Martha Stewart is the guest.

You’ll earn points when you pick a top-three answer, when you correctly rank that answer and when the celebrity guest picks the same answer as you. You must visit the Bilt app to play the game by Nov. 1 at 3 p.m. EDT. Then, return to the app after Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. EDT to see your score.

The 10 top-scoring players will win free rent for a month (up to $2,500) and a signed copy of Stewart’s newest book. Meanwhile, the next 600 top-scoring members will earn Bilt points. If you tie with another Bilt member, the tie will be broken based on who played the game first.

Related: Bilt Mastercard review: No-transaction-fee rent payments

Bilt Neighborhood Dining Series

Bilt is continuing its Neighborhood Dining Series on November Rent Day. Each month, Bilt is offering reservations at a selection of Bilt Neighborhood Dining restaurants starting at $50 or 3,500 Bilt points per person. Most reservations are for a tasting menu and a selection of premium cocktails. However, Bilt is also offering reservations for a cocktail pairing experience and a happy hour experience this month.

Reservations for November Rent Day opened within the Bilt app and website Oct. 29. As such, many of the reservations are sold out. But it’s worth checking whether a reservation still remains in your city.

Related: Guide to Bilt Dining: How to earn bonus points and snag exclusive reservations

Rent Day SoulCycle rides

Bilt is continuing its Rent Day SoulCycle rides Nov. 1. These rides are 45 minutes long and offer a full-body indoor cycling workout. Bilt also offers up to $2,500 to one rider participating in a November Rent Day Ride class to cover a month of rent.

Bilt members can reserve their rides through the Bilt app and enjoy complimentary bikes in special Rent Day-themed classes at more than 50 locations on a first-come, first-served basis. Bookings opened Oct. 30, but some bikes may still remain in a Rent Day ride near you. If you book and then need to cancel, you may face a $30 late-cancellation or no-show penalty.

Related: The best credit cards to maximize fitness spending

History of Rent Day promotions

Bilt offers at least one special promotion each Rent Day in addition to its standard Rent Day offerings. For November Rent Day, you can enjoy a 50-100% British Airways transfer bonus and waived transaction fees when you pay rent with your Alaska card. Thanksgiving-inspired cooking classes and 2 points per dollar on groceries (up to 500 bonus points) were also on offer this Rent Day, but these have already concluded or sold out.

Here’s a summary of the promotions we’ve seen on previous Rent Days:

• October 2024: Bilt offered a Hilton Gold status match through Dec. 31, 2024 (with the opportunity to secure Gold or upgrade to Diamond through March 31, 2026), more Virgin Voyages experiences with a second guest free and new targeted Bilt benefits for select cardholders.
• September 2024: Bilt offered a 50% transfer bonus to Avianca LifeMiles; a 20%-100% status-based transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club or Virgin Red; more Virgin Voyages experiences with a second guest free; and a buy one, get one ResortPass offer.
• August 2024: Bilt offered extra onboard benefits and a second guest free on select Virgin Voyages sailings, and access to a special party at Blade Lounge East in New York City.
• July 2024: Bilt launched its new Neighborhood Dining Series and offered a status-based transfer bonus and status match with the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program.
• June 2024: Bilt offered Rent Day Brunch experiences in four cities and let members earn 5 or 10 bonus points per dollar spent at Neighborhood Dining restaurants.
• May 2024: Bilt members could book a family-style dining experience to enjoy with other Bilt members at neighborhood restaurants in eight cities. Plus, Bilt members got 100% of their points back (minimum of 1,000 points and maximum of 50,000 points) toward the Bilt Home Collection when redeeming points for rent between April 25 and May 1.
• April 2024: Bilt members could enjoy fitness experiences at studios across the country; a buy one, get one fitness class deal; and the chance to buy new fitness gear.
• March 2024: Bilt members could book men’s college basketball tournament tickets as Bilt Experiences. Plus, Bilt members voted via a single-elimination bracket for March Rent Day benefits. The ability to earn 1,000 points when linking a new credit card (up to two cards) to the Bilt Cards tab won, while the chance to earn 5 points per dollar spent at grocery stores (valid for up to 2,000 points) when paying with the Bilt Mastercard finished second.
• February 2024: Bilt offered several Valentine’s Day dinner reservations and a status-based transfer bonus to Air Canada Aeroplan.
• January 2024: Bilt brought back some of the program’s top Rent Day promotions, including a $5 Lyft credit for Bilt cardholders, a 50% redemption bonus on Amazon, and status-based transfer bonuses to IHG One Rewards, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Air France-KLM Flying Blue.
• December 2023: Bilt offered a special tasting experience in New York City for cardholders Dec. 1, more points at Bilt Dining restaurants from Nov. 24 through Dec. 1, and double points on purchases that would normally earn 1 point per dollar from Nov. 23 through Nov. 27.
• November 2023: Bilt offered special Bilt Experiences at select restaurants and a status-based transfer bonus to Emirates Skywards.
• October 2023: Bilt launched Bilt Experiences at three professional football games and offered 5 points per dollar spent on eligible sports tickets (up to 10,000 bonus points).
• September 2023: Bilt expanded its Rent Day Rides to every SoulCycle studio across the U.S., with 10 complimentary bikes per class. For the Sept. 1 Rent Day, Bilt also paid a month of rent (up to $2,500) for one rider in each Rent Day Ride class.
• August 2023: There was a 75% to 150% transfer bonus to Virgin Red based on your Bilt status tier as of Aug. 1.
• July 2023: You could activate a $10 Lyft ride credit if you were a Bilt member without a Bilt Mastercard or a $20 Lyft ride credit if you had a Bilt Mastercard by the end of July 1. Plus, you could get an additional $5 credit if you activated the offer, had Bilt set as your active Lyft loyalty partner and took a Lyft ride July 1.
• June 2023: Everyone won a gift of Bilt points, points to use toward the Bilt Collection, Lyft ride credit, free rent or round-trip award flights when they solved the June 1 Rent Day Challenge puzzle.
• May 2023: There was a 100% transfer bonus to Air France-KLM Flying Blue on May 1.
• April 2023: Bilt members could enroll between March 28 and April 1, 2023, to obtain World of Hyatt Explorist status for 90 days and then keep Explorist status through February 2025 by staying 10 qualifying nights between April 17 and July 16, 2023. Alternatively, members could unlock Globalist status through February 2025 by staying 20 qualifying nights between April 17 and July 16, 2023. Bilt also hosted members-only social events at three Hyatt properties April 1, 2023.
• March 2023: You could get a 50% bonus when you redeemed points toward Amazon purchases March 1, plus 50% off all items in the Bilt Collection on March 1.
• February 2023: You could get a 100% transfer bonus to HawaiianMiles on Feb. 1. Bilt also launched its exclusive five-piece capsule collection with SoulCycle.
• January 2023: Bilt introduced trivia to Rent Day: Bilt offered its members 10 trivia questions worth 50 points each and an additional question worth 100 points if they got all 10 questions correct Jan. 1.
• December 2022: You could get a 100% transfer bonus to IHG One Rewards on Dec. 1 and double points on nonrent spending from 12:01 a.m. PST on Nov. 25 to 11:59 p.m. PST on Dec. 1.
• November 2022: Bilt members could enroll in a complimentary United Airlines Premier status challenge between Oct. 27 and Nov. 1. Bilt Blue tier members could get Premier Silver, while Bilt Silver, Gold and Platinum tier members could get Premier Gold. Premier status was valid for 120 days, but you could extend your status through Jan. 31, 2024, by getting 1,000 Premier qualifying points and 4 Premier qualifying flights for Premier Silver and 2,000 PQPs and 6 PQFs for Premier Gold.
• October 2022: Bilt launched Rent Day with double points on nonrent spending and themed SoulCycle Rent Day rides Oct. 1.

Related: The best time to apply for these popular travel credit cards based on offer history

See Bilt Mastercard rates and fees here.
See Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits here.

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

By this point, you’ve likely at least heard about, if not tried, the expedited airport security program TSA PreCheck.

TSA PreCheck can be one of the most valuable investments you can make as a frequent traveler, thanks to the amount of time it saves and the peace of mind it provides.

Here’s your ultimate guide to TSA PreCheck, including how the program works, how much it costs and whether it’s worth the money.

What is TSA PreCheck?

TSA PreCheck is a “trusted traveler” program administered by the U.S. government. It allows prescreened, low-risk travelers at the airport to use a PreCheck-designated security line rather than pass through the normal Transportation Security Administration line.

PreCheck users typically pass through security faster than they would otherwise because they do not have to remove their shoes, belts, light jackets, quart-size plastic bag of liquids or electronics from their carry-on luggage.

These travelers are generally screened via walk-through security machines versus full-body scanners.

Currently, travelers can use TSA PreCheck lanes at more than 200 U.S. airports when flying on more than 100 participating domestic and foreign airlines.

How much does TSA PreCheck cost?

The program fees vary by provider. Applying through Idemia costs $78, and applying through Telos costs $85. Online renewal costs $70 through either provider.

To pay for application fees, be sure to use one of the roughly 40 cobranded airline, hotel and other credit cards that offer up to $120 in statement credit reimbursement for the fees associated with trusted traveler programs, including TSA PreCheck. Some popular travel rewards cards that cover PreCheck application fees include:

• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite MasterCard®
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
• IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
• United℠ Club Infinite Card
• United℠ Explorer Card
• United Quest℠ Card

A full list of credit cards with this feature is available here.

Additionally, some loyalty programs allow you to use points or miles to cover the membership fees. However, the return per point is usually less than current TPG points valuations, so we would suggest using a credit card to get a statement credit instead.

Does TSA PreCheck save you time at the airport?

TSA PreCheck can save you the time you would otherwise spend waiting in line for security.

Not only can I personally attest to this, but 99% of PreCheck passengers reported waiting less than 10 minutes at airport security checkpoints nationwide as of October 2024, per TSA data.

There may be rare occasions when there is a wait at the PreCheck line, particularly during high travel seasons or at certain airports. However, on average, this should not be the case for most PreCheck users.

Personally, I pass through PreCheck security in three minutes or less at the airports I frequently fly from, including Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) near Washington D.C., St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) and New York City’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA).

Is TSA PreCheck worth it?

I could sing the praises of TSA PreCheck all day long but don’t just take my word for it. I’m not alone in my enthusiasm for TSA PreCheck; TPG managing editor Clint Henderson said it saved him “hours of waiting time over the years,” including on a recent trip to Hawaii.

“I absolutely love TSA PreCheck. I traveled to Hawaii with my family members who didn’t have PreCheck. I took my nieces and nephews in the PreCheck lanes while my brother had to wait in the regular line,” he said. “We beat him through security by about 20 minutes, and it was a similar story on the way back.”

That’s because travelers aged 12 and younger may use TSA PreCheck lanes when traveling with a parent or guardian who has it.

As our staffers have experienced, the benefits of TSA PreCheck are particularly clear when traveling with people who aren’t enrolled in the program.

“A friend and I flew from Houston to Miami and didn’t really think through how busy the airport would be during spring break. I had PreCheck; my friend didn’t,” said TPG senior credit cards editor Matt Moffit. “I got to the gate with about five minutes to spare before boarding ended. My friend was 20 minutes behind me. Luckily, our flight was delayed by 40 minutes, so we both made it, but it was a good lesson in how valuable the perk is.”

If you know you’re going to pass through a particularly busy airport or are just traveling at a busy time of year, such as during the holidays, TSA PreCheck can be a lifesaver.

“Every time I go through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), especially during the holidays, I’m very happy I have TSA PreCheck. I take one look at the normal line — which is often looping back on itself many times — and am happy I don’t have to wait in it,” said TPG senior writer Katie Genter. “It’s not just Atlanta — I have similar experiences in many U.S. airports and am always annoyed when I’m flying an airline that doesn’t participate in PreCheck.”

TPG senior editor Christine Gallipeau is also grateful for TSA PreCheck since she usually waits less than five minutes in line.

“Every time I fly home to Orlando for the holidays, I’m always grateful to have TSA PreCheck. Typically, I wait no more than five minutes, whereas the regular TSA line is often substantially longer,” she said. “In the days before PreCheck, I was a  solo traveler stuck waiting behind all the families so I’m very relieved to be able to get to the gate faster so I can try to grab a hard-to-find seat as I wait to board.”

Beyond the time saved, passing through a PreCheck lane is just easier logistically since you don’t have to remove any of your belongings from your suitcase or your body.

“Is it wrong that I only have PreCheck because I hate taking my shoes off?” joked TPG senior vice president of content Jamie Page. “It’s like my socks know when I have to go through standard screening and start disintegrating as I walk over there. But seriously, PreCheck has saved me from waiting in long lines with cranky kids.”

Bottom line

TSA PreCheck is just one tool that truly makes navigating air travel and airports much easier, quicker and overall more efficient than it would be without it.

If you are considering purchasing TSA PreCheck, remember that membership also includes a five-year membership to Global Entry, so you can reap the benefits of both programs for an extra $42 (as of October 2024). Global Entry provides preapproved, low-risk travelers expedited clearance upon arrival in the U.S. from abroad at more than 75 airports.

Related reading:

• 8 ways to get free or discounted TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and Clear
• Which airports and airlines use TSA PreCheck?
• TSA PreCheck hits record 20 million members — up 33% since last year
• Amex increases Clear Plus credit to $199 on 6 cards: Still covers full membership for one person
  
• TSA PreCheck adds 2 carriers to program, bringing total to 104 participating airlines
  
• Travelers can now enroll in TSA PreCheck via Clear at 13 US airports
• TSA PreCheck travelers will no longer have to show ID or boarding pass at certain airports

If sailing a luxury yacht from Venice is on your travel wish list, take note.

For the first time ever, Sea Cloud Cruises’ newest and largest vessel, Sea Cloud Spirit, will launch sailings from Venice beginning in the summer of 2025.

While many cruise lines claim itineraries departing from Venice, few cruise ships can actually sail from the city’s historic center. Venice began restricting large ships in 2021 to protect the fragile local environment and temper overtourism. Larger vessels have since been diverted to cruise ports outside of Venice, such as Ravenna, Trieste and Marghera (the latter is a different borough of the larger city of Venice). Only ships under 590 feet long and measuring less than 25,000 tons are permitted to dock within the historic center.

Luckily for luxury lovers, the 136-passenger Sea Cloud Spirit falls within those parameters. The ship will berth at San Basilio Terminal, in the city’s historic area, providing cruisers easy access to the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Bridge of Sighs and other Venice landmarks. (Other cruise lines still permitted to sail from San Basilio Terminal include Windstar Cruises, Uniworld River Cruises and SeaDream Yacht Club.)

A full-rigged, three-masted sailing yacht, Sea Cloud Spirit is driven by 28 huge sails unfurled by hand by a team of deckhands. Two diesel-electric engines power the vessel when it’s not sailing. While Sea Cloud Spirit is modeled on classic sailing ships of old, it features all the modern conveniences you would expect on a new cruise vessel — elegant cabins, upscale dining and modern amenities such as a spa and a fitness center with a sea view.

Sea Cloud Spirit will sail four round-trip, nine-night voyages, including an overnight in the City of Canals. These “Enchanting Croatian Coast” itineraries feature ports of call in Sibenik, Dubrovnik, Korcula, Hvar, Vis and Rovinj in Croatia, as well as two days under full sail in the Adriatic Sea.

Related: 8 best Italy cruises for a Mediterranean vacation

The 2025 nine-night sailings depart July 24, Aug. 2, Aug. 11 and Aug. 20. Passengers on the Aug. 2 sailing will enjoy a special cabaret-inspired theme while on board. Called the “Cabaret Cultivated Journey,” the cruise will feature exclusive performances from notable cabaret, concert and recording artist Travis Moser.

Rates for Enchanting Croatian Coast sailings start from $8,545 per person (based on double occupancy). Beyond accommodations, gratuities and all meals, fares include a complimentary stocked in-room minibar (sodas, wines and other alcoholic beverages), free access to the ship’s thermal spa and 1 gigabyte of Starlink Internet (per passenger). Some shore excursions are also included in the fare.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• 8 cabin locations on cruise ships you should definitely avoid
  
• Cruise packing list: The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
  
• Which cruise brand is best for you? A guide to the most popular lines
  
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise
  
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with the latest information.

Hotel elite status can greatly enhance your vacation experience. From snagging room upgrades to bonus points and even indulging in a complimentary breakfast, having the right status can save you money and add more perks to your trips.

If you haven’t accumulated enough points to earn (or retain) your elite status this year, here are some last-minute tips to help you secure your benefits for another year.

Related: So, what exactly is elite status in travel — and how can I get it?

How to earn hotel elite status

To earn hotel elite status, you can follow these common methods:

• Elite night credits: You generally receive one credit for each eligible paid night at a participating property in a major hotel loyalty program. Award nights, “points and cash” stays and certain credit cards may also earn you elite night credits.
• Stays: Some programs allow you to qualify based on stays — which can be any number of nights.
• Points earned: You earn points based on your spending at participating hotels. Usually, only “base points” count toward elite status, excluding bonus points from status, promotions and other offers. Some programs also count spending with partner companies.
• Credit card elite status: Many hotel and travel credit cards provide automatic elite status as a benefit.
• Spending on credit card: Certain hotel credit cards allow you to earn elite status or progress toward it based on your annual spending.

Of course, whether it’s worth going out of your way to earn status is a question only you can answer.

Here’s a quick overview of how to close the gap and lock in status with the major hotel programs before the end of the year.

Hilton Honors elite status

Qualification method	Silver	Gold	Diamond
Nights	10	40	60
Stays	4	20	30
Base points	25,000	75,000	120,000

End of the elite year: Dec. 31.

Hilton Honors is one hotel loyalty program that counts award stays toward elite status qualifications. If you have Hilton Honors points or free night certificates, redeeming them for free nights gets you closer to your next elite tier. Hilton also allows you to roll over any extra elite night credits at the end of the year and put them toward your status goals for the following year.

For travelers who want Hilton elite status benefits immediately, getting one of Hilton’s many cobranded credit cards is the quickest path. Even the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card (see rates and fees) includes complimentary Silver status, with the ability to earn Gold status through the end of the next calendar year when you spend $20,000 in a calendar year.

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card includes complimentary Gold status, and you’ll be upgraded to Diamond through the end of the next calendar year when you spend $40,000 on the card in a calendar year. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card gives small-business owners the same elite status benefits, complimentary Gold status and the chance to upgrade their status to Diamond through the end of the next calendar year after spending 40,000 or more on the card in a calendar year. For members who don’t want to deal with the high spending hurdle, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card includes automatic Diamond elite status.

The information for the Amex Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Alternatively, you could consider The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express to enjoy automatic Hilton Gold status as long as your card remains open (enrollment required).

Read more: Guide to hotel elite status with the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum

IHG One Rewards elite status

Qualification method	Silver Elite	Gold Elite	Platinum Elite	Diamond Elite
Qualified nights	10	20	40	70
Qualified points	N/A	40,000	60,000	120,000

End of the elite year: Dec. 31.

IHG One Rewards provides several ways to earn elite status, including booking award stays using points or free night certificates and spending with partners like Hertz and Viator. However, points you earn from spending on IHG cobranded cards do not count toward elite status points qualification.

IHG offers three credit cards featuring complimentary elite status, including one with no annual fee. The IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card automatically comes with Silver Elite status and an upgrade to Gold Elite when you spend $20,000 in a calendar year. The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card include automatic Platinum Elite status, and you can earn Diamond Elite status by spending $40,000 on either of these cards in a calendar year.

Another option for earning IHG One Rewards elite status is to buy an InterContinental Ambassador membership. For $200 or 40,000 points, you’ll enjoy Ambassador benefits — which include Platinum Elite status — for 12 months from purchase.

Related: I stayed at the InterContinental New York Times Square as a Platinum Ambassador: Here’s what it was like

Marriott Bonvoy elite status

Qualification method	Silver Elite	Gold Elite	Platinum Elite	Titanium Elite	Ambassador Elite
Nights	10	25	50	75	100 plus $23,000 in qualifying spend

End of the elite year: Dec. 31.

Marriott Bonvoy makes earning elite status simple. You must earn elite night credits, either through hotel stays or credit cards, or hold a card that provides elite status. Nights booked with Marriott Bonvoy points and free night certificates also count toward elite status qualification.

Chase and American Express offer various Marriott personal and business credit cards with complimentary elite status. For example, you can enjoy automatic Gold Elite status with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. Meanwhile, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card includes automatic Platinum status. No Marriott card includes complimentary Titanium Elite or Ambassador Elite status.

In addition, some Marriott cobranded cards include 15 elite night credits toward your desired status level each year, and the Bonvoy Brilliant Amex includes 25 elite night credits annually. Moreover, members can stack elite night credits from any business and personal card for a total of 30 or 40 credits, putting higher elite tiers easily within reach. You can also earn one elite night credit for every $5,000 you spend on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card each year.

And finally, as with Hilton status, the Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum both include complimentary Marriott Gold Elite status (enrollment required).

Related: Is Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status worth it?

World of Hyatt elite status

Qualification method	Discoverist	Explorist	Globalist
Nights	10	30	60
Base Points	25,000	50,000	100,000

End of the elite year: Dec. 31.

With World of Hyatt, you can achieve elite status based on nights stayed or base points earned at Hyatt properties. Elite night credits also include nights booked with points or free night certificates.

Two Hyatt credit cards are available — one for consumers and one for business owners. Both cards have unique features that can help you earn Hyatt elite status quickly.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card includes entry-level Discoverist elite status. While this status may not offer many standout benefits, you can spend your way to a higher tier. The card provides five qualifying night credits every year, and you’ll earn an additional two credits for every $5,000 you spend on the card.

Business owners also receive Discoverist status with the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card. However, this business card is unique on this list because it allows the cardholder to give the gift of Discoverist status to up to five employees. Additionally, you’ll receive five tier-qualifying night credits for every $10,000 you spend in a calendar year. This rate is 25% higher than what’s offered by the personal version of the Hyatt card.

World of Hyatt used to allow members to earn status by hosting a certain number of meetings or events — three for Discoverist, 10 for Explorist or 20 for Globalist — but this is being discontinued on Dec. 31, 2024. In 2025, event planners will earn night credits toward status at a rate of 2 credits per $5,000 spent on meetings and events (up to $150,000 or 60 credits, enough for Globalist status).

Related: Here’s how to quickly stock up on Hyatt points for your next vacation

Other ways to earn hotel elite status

You can earn hotel elite status — or at least receive similar benefits — in other ways than having a hotel cobranded credit card. Use these strategies if you don’t want to be tied to one hotel’s card:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: As noted previously, this luxury travel card includes complimentary Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status. To receive these benefits, you must enroll in this perk to activate your status. You’ll also receive these statuses with The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
• American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts: This is an exclusive hotel booking program for Amex cardmembers with a Platinum or Centurion-branded card. It offers elite-level benefits and promotions at premium properties worldwide, including an on-property spending credit, room upgrade and late checkout. Personal Platinum cardmembers can even receive up to $200 in statement credits each year for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts stays charged to the card. Enrollment is required.
• The Hotel Collection: This program offers benefits at participating properties on stays of at least two nights, and it’s available to those with an Amex Platinum or American Express® Gold Card.
• Capital One’s Premier Collection and Lifestyle Collection: These two boutique hotel programs are available to select Capital One cardholders and offer benefits like free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast and bonus miles.
• The Edit by Chase Travel: Formerly known as Chase’s Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, The Edit offers elite benefits to select Chase cardholders at over 1,000 highly rated properties (including Four Seasons) worldwide, including daily breakfast for two, a unique benefit worth up to $100, complimentary Wi-Fi, room upgrades and early check-in/late checkout at select properties.
• Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection: When you have a Visa Signature card and book through the Visa Signature website, you’ll receive exclusive perks at participating properties.

Related: Complete guide to current hotel elite status match and challenge offers

Bottom line

Options are available if you haven’t locked in your hotel status this year.

Many popular hotel loyalty programs offer alternative ways to achieve elite status without going on an expensive mattress run. Holding the right credit card can often grant you elite status or allow you to earn additional nights through card spending to reach an even higher tier.

If these options don’t work for you, consider looking into hotel booking programs affiliated with your credit card issuer. These programs offer on-property benefits without requiring loyalty to any specific hotel program.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex Card, click here.

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are the currency of most Chase-branded credit cards. You can earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points for everyday spending and then redeem them for a wide range of rewards.

Despite increasing competition from American Express Membership Rewards points, Citi ThankYou Rewards points and Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards points have maintained their place as one of the most valuable and useful points currencies — especially with valuable rewards cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.

Transferring Ultimate Rewards to travel partners is often the most valuable way to redeem your hard-earned points. With 14 different transfer partners, you have plenty of options since you can keep your Chase points in your Ultimate Rewards account until you can transfer them.

Here is everything to know about Chase Ultimate Rewards’ transfer partners.

Related: The best Chase credit cards

Who are the Chase transfer partners?

You can transfer Ultimate Rewards points to 11 airline programs:

• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue
• British Airways Executive Club
• Emirates Skywards
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
• United Airlines MileagePlus
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Chase also partners with three hotel programs:

• IHG One Rewards
• Marriott Bonvoy
• World of Hyatt

All transfer ratios are 1:1 (though there are occasional transfer bonuses), and you must transfer points in 1,000-point increments.

How long do Ultimate Rewards transfers take?

Most transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards to its partner programs are instantaneous. However, in our most recent testing, transfers to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer took about 48 hours.

Note that transfer bonuses can also be inconsistent. For example, when TPG’s senior editorial director Nick Ewen transferred points to Aeroplan to take advantage of a 20% bonus, the base points arrived immediately, but it took three days for the bonus points to post to his account.

While most transfers through the Chase portal should be instantaneous, delays can happen when transferring your points. To help with the transfer process, we recommend making sure that the name on your Ultimate Rewards account matches that on your loyalty program account. Additionally, make sure you have signed up with a loyalty program in advance, as a new account may also cause a delay in the transfer process.

How do I transfer Chase points to partners?

You can easily transfer Chase points online. First, log in to your Chase account and navigate to the Ultimate Rewards portal. Under the Travel drop-down, select “Transfer to Travel Partners” to access the main transfer page.

You will then see the list of transfer partners and any current transfer bonuses. Select your desired transfer partner, link your external account if you have not already done so, select the number of Ultimate Rewards points you wish to transfer and then submit the transfer.

Remember, Ultimate Rewards transfers cannot be reversed, so it’s best to wait until you have a specific use before transferring them.

What are the best Chase transfer partners?

Given the low award chart rates of the World of Hyatt program, many TPG staffers believe Hyatt is the best hotel transfer option for redeeming Ultimate Rewards points.

If you would prefer to transfer to one of the 11 different airline program partners, the best option may depend on which airlines fly to and from the destinations you wish to travel, who the program partners with and which airlines you like to travel with.

There are sweet spots to be found in most airline transfer options, especially those programs that have retained award charts.

Here are some of our favorite Ultimate Rewards sweet spots.

Top-tier Hyatt hotels

The World of Hyatt award chart has two appealing factors. First, its mere existence is notable, given most other hotel programs (including IHG One Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, the other Chase hotel partners) have shifted to dynamic pricing.

Beyond that, Hyatt’s award rates can be incredibly low compared to some competitors. You can book some of the fanciest Park Hyatt properties in the entire portfolio, including the Park Hyatt New York and Park Hyatt Sydney, for just 35,000 points per night during off-peak dates. TPG values Hyatt points at 1.7 cents each (per our October 2024 valuations), so 35,000 points are worth $595.

That’s a great deal for hotels that sell for close to $1,000 per night, even when demand is low.

There’s also great value at the lower end of the Hyatt award chart. Category 1 hotels range from 3,500 to 6,500 points per night, depending on whether you travel on peak, standard or off-peak dates.

Iberia flights to Madrid

Round-trip, off-peak flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Spain’s capital will only set you back 34,000 Avios in economy, 51,000 in premium economy or 68,000 in business when you transfer your Chase points to Iberia Plus. Considering that most airlines charge at least 60,000 miles for a one-way business-class award to Europe, you’re essentially getting a 50% discount.

Related: 7 of the best airline award chart sweet spots

Flights to Hawaii with Alaska and American

By transferring your Ultimate Rewards to British Airways, you can book awards with Oneworld partners American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. As long as your nonstop flight distance is under 3,000 miles each way (and saver-level award space is available), you can leverage British Airways’ distance-based award chart to fly from any West Coast gateway to Hawaii for 40,000 Avios round-trip — after a December 2023 and July 2024 devaluation that saw prices increase.

ANA flights booked through Virgin Atlantic

For just 145,000 Flying Club points, you can fly round-trip in All Nippon Airways first class between the West Coast and Tokyo. Flights from other U.S. gateways only cost an extra 25,000 points (170,000 points round-trip). Business-class redemptions are an even better deal, costing just 105,000 to 120,000 points round-trip, depending on your U.S. departure airport. If possible, you’ll want to route through New York-JFK and fly ANA’s industry-leading “The Room” business class, which is only available on select routes.

However, availability can be difficult to come by.

Short-haul flights to Canada

Aeroplan stuck to an award chart for partner redemptions but added dynamic pricing for Air Canada flights. As a result, you can often find super-cheap short-haul tickets from the U.S. to Canada. For example, New York to Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) can be booked for under 6,000 miles one-way on many dates.

However, you can also find very reasonable award rates on Star Alliance partners through Aeroplan — including Lufthansa, Swiss and EVA Airways.

Related: Your complete guide to Star Alliance benefits

What are Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth?

TPG values Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents apiece, per our October 2024 valuations, and we believe you will receive the best value by transferring points to airline and hotel partners.

However, you’ll get varying values for Chase points if you pursue other redemption opportunities. For example, Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1.5 cents apiece through the Chase Travel℠ portal for Sapphire Reserve cardholders or 1.25 cents for those with the Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred card. You’ll also have access to Chase Pay Yourself Back as a cardholder of any of the above cards, and there are occasionally offers to use Chase points for Apple products or gift cards at an enhanced value.

Finally, Chase points are worth 1 cent apiece if used for simple cash back.

How do I earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points?

There are many ways to earn Chase points at 1-10 points per dollar spent, depending on the specific Chase credit card you carry.

The first three cards below earn fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points by themselves, while the remaining four are technically billed as cash-back credit cards.

However, if you have an Ultimate Rewards-earning card, you can effectively convert your cash-back rewards into Ultimate Rewards points. For this reason, having more than one Chase card can make sense to maximize your earning and redeeming potential.

Here are the cards that allow you to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening, plus a $300 statement credit on Chase Travel℠ purchases within the first year.

Why you want it: This is a fantastic all-around travel credit card. It earns points at the following rates:

• 5 points per dollar on Lyft (through March 2025)
• 5 points per dollar on all travel purchased through Chase Travel
• 3 points per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out
• 3 points per dollar on select streaming services
• 3 points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
• 2 points per dollar on all other travel
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

The Sapphire Preferred has no foreign transaction fees and has many travel perks, including delayed baggage insurance, trip interruption/cancellation insurance and primary car rental insurance.

Annual fee: $95

Application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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Chase Sapphire Reserve

Welcome bonus: 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Why you want it: The Sapphire Reserve offers earning power paired with travel perks that can easily cover the annual fee. It earns points at the following rates:

• 10 points per dollar on Lyft (through March 2025)
• 10 points per dollar on Chase Dining booked through Ultimate Rewards
• 10 points per dollar on hotel and car rental purchases through the Chase Travel
• 5 points per dollar on airline travel booked through Chase Travel
• 3 points per dollar on travel not booked through Chase
• 3 points per dollar on other dining purchases
• 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Other perks include an easy-to-use $300 annual travel credit, a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (up to $120 once every four years) and Priority Pass Select lounge access as well as the growing list of new Sapphire lounges. Cardholders also get primary car rental coverage, trip interruption/cancellation insurance and other protections.

Annual fee: $550

Application link: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

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Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Welcome bonus: 90,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Why you want it: This is one of the best credit cards for small-business owners, earning 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, advertising made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. You earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases, and points don’t expire as long as your account is open.

Annual fee: $95

Application link: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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Cash-back Chase credit cards

Four Chase credit cards are technically billed as cash-back products. However, suppose you have one of the three cards noted above. In that case, you can combine your points in a single account, converting these cash-back rewards into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points.

Even better? None of these cards charge an annual fee.

Here are the four cards that offer this functionality:

• Chase Freedom Flex®: Earn $200 after you spend $500 in the first three months of account opening. Earn 5% back on select bonus categories, which rotate every quarter and apply on up to $1,500 in combined spending (activation required). Plus, earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and 3% on drugstore purchases.
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year), worth up to $300 cash back. Plus, earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and 3% on drugstore purchases. Earn 1.5% on all other purchases.
• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: Earn up to $750: $350 bonus cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months, and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months from account opening. Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year (then 1%). Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year (then 1%).
• Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: Earn $900 cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash-back rewards on every purchase.

Note that Chase also issues the Ink Business Premier® Credit Card. However, the earnings on this card can’t be combined with others in the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem.

Read more: Your guide to the Chase Ink Business credit cards

Bottom line

If you value the flexibility of choosing from 11 airline partners and three hotel partners, Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of our favorite credit card programs at TPG.

In the age of no-notice devaluations by some loyalty programs, it is smart to earn Ultimate Rewards via the range of credit card welcome offers, category bonuses and everyday spending, and then keep your Ultimate Rewards points until you are ready to transfer and book with an airline or hotel partner.

TPG readers and staff members are huge fans of the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program — even those on the East Coast who never actually fly with the carrier. Even though we’ve seen devaluations of Mileage Plan miles in previous years, there are still sweet spots within the program’s Oneworld and nonalliance partners. You can redeem miles for some of the most sought-after premium award seats on airlines like Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and many more.

Although Alaska Airlines miles haven’t traditionally been as easy to earn as those of other programs, with the recent Hawaiian Airlines acquisition news, there’s an interesting new way to convert American Express Membership Rewards points to Alaska’s Mileage Plan.

You can redeem Mileage Plan miles for great rewards, including saving up to 50% on award redemptions to popular destinations using the airline’s Global Getaway promotion.

Are you unfamiliar with earning Mileage Plan miles? We’ll show you how to earn Alaska miles to put your next award trip within reach.

How to earn Alaska miles by flying

The most straightforward way to earn Alaska miles is to fly Alaska Airlines or one of its partner airlines. Alaska is one of the few airlines that still issues miles based on flight distance, not how much money you spend on the ticket. That being said, several factors determine how many miles you’ll earn on a given ticket.

Earn miles by flying on Alaska Airlines

When traveling on an Alaska-operated flight, you’ll earn Alaska miles based on the distance you fly. Unfortunately, Alaska’s basic economy “Saver fare” product earns just 30% of the miles flown.

Meanwhile, tickets booked in higher fare classes earn bonus miles. Here’s the earning chart for Alaska-operated and -marketed flights to determine how many miles you’ll earn on your next trip (while there are two tables depending on whether your travel is in 2024 or 2025, the earning rates on Alaska Airlines flights are the same):

To figure out your flight distance, we recommend using Great Circle Mapper. For example, a one-way ticket from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) booked in a C-class first-class cabin would earn 3,003 miles. These fares earn 100% of base miles (1,716 miles flown) and a 75% class-of-service bonus (1,287 miles).

Elite status bonus

Additionally, those with Alaska Airlines elite status will earn additional bonuses on their Alaska-operated tickets. Here’s how many bonus Mileage Plan miles each MVP status tier earns on these flights through 2024:

• Alaska MVP: 50% bonus
• MVP Gold: 100% bonus
• MVP Gold 75K: 125% bonus
• MVP Gold 100K: 150% bonus

From Jan. 1, 2025, the bonus miles will be awarded as follows:

• Alaska MVP: 25% bonus
• MVP Gold: 50% bonus
• MVP Gold 75K: 100% bonus
• MVP Gold 100K: 150% bonus

These bonuses only apply to the 100% base miles flown, not any class-of-service bonuses for higher fare classes.

Related: What is Alaska Airlines elite status worth?

Earn by flying with partners

When flying a partner airline booked on Alaska Airlines ticket stock (a codeshare flight operated by a partner but booked with an Alaska flight number), you’ll earn 100% of the base miles flown except for basic economy (fare code X), which awards 30%. However, how you earn Alaska miles varies slightly when you book a partner flight on the partner’s ticket stock and add your Mileage Plan number.

When you do this, the exact number will vary based on the airline, status tier and booking class. Generally speaking, you won’t earn 100% of the miles flown for every fare class, though flights booked in higher fare classes will still earn more.

For travel in 2024, each partner has a different earning rate. To check how many miles you’ll earn on your partner ticket, head to Alaska Airlines’ partner page, find the partner you’re flying and check the chart for your booking class, as each chart will be slightly different.

Here’s the British Airways earning chart for travel in 2024:

Starting in January, Mileage Plan is simplifying how frequent flyers earn miles when traveling on partners. The number of miles you earn will depend on whether the flight is booked through Alaska’s website or a partner’s website and your fare class.

Note that Starlux Airlines flights booked via a partner site are not eligible to earn Mileage Plan elite-qualifying miles.

Alaska Airlines is a member of the Oneworld alliance, and you can earn miles on all Oneworld airlines, including:

• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Fiji Airways (Oneworld Connect partner)
• Finnair
• Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian Airlines
• SriLankan Airlines

Further, the airline has a plethora of nonalliance partners with which to earn miles, including:

• Aer Lingus
• Air Tahiti Nui
• Condor
• El Al Israel Airlines
• Hainan Airlines
• Icelandair
• Korean Air (SkyTeam)
• LATAM Airlines
• Singapore Airlines (Star Alliance)
• Starlux Airlines
• Aleutian Airways
• Bahamasair
• Cape Air
• Contour Airlines
• Kenmore Air
• Mokulele Airlines
• Southern Airways Express

Related: How to redeem miles with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Earn Alaska miles with credit cards

One of the easiest ways to earn a large chunk of Mileage Plan miles without flying is through Alaska Airlines co-branded credit cards issued by Bank of America.

One option is the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card, which carries a $95 annual fee. New cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after making $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

If you have a small business, you might prefer the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card. This card has a $70 annual fee for the company and $25 per card. As a limited-time welcome offer, receive 50,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after making $3,000 or more purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.

Note that these cards both offer a free checked bag for you and up to six other guests on the same reservation when you pay for your flight with the card and include discounts on inflight purchases and lounge passes.

When spending with either the personal or business card, you will earn the following miles:

• 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
• 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases
• 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

Additionally, starting on Jan. 1, 2025, if you hold the Alaska personal or business credit card, you will earn 1 elite qualifying mile for every $3 spent (up to 30,000 EQMs each year).

Alaska Airlines transfer partners

Transfer Bilt Points to Alaska Mileage Plan

In March 2024, Bilt Rewards added Alaska Mileage Plan as a transfer partner. Therefore, you can transfer Bilt Points to Alaska at a 1:1 rate. Plus, Alaska Airlines cardholders earn 3 miles per dollar spent (on up to $50,000 annually) when paying rent through Bilt using their Alaska Airlines Visa credit card.

Transfer HawaiianMiles to Alaska Mileage Plan

Since the merger of Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, you can also transfer miles between Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines at a 1:1 rate.

Therefore, if you’re in the market for a new credit card and a way to earn additional Alaska miles without opening an Alaska credit card, you can consider opening a Hawaiian Airlines cobranded credit card.

Hawaiian Airlines cards are currently offering the following welcome bonuses:

• Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 70,000 bonus HawaiianMiles after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 90 days.
• Hawaiian Airlines® Business Mastercard®: Earn 50,000 bonus HawaiianMiles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.

The information for the Hawaiian Mastercard and Hawaiian Business Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

If you don’t have any HawaiianMiles, remember that the program is currently a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, meaning that you could earn a generous welcome bonus from an Amex rewards card and transfer those points to HawaiianMiles, and then transfer them to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. However, it has been reported that this transfer option may become obsolete in 2025.

Related: Transfer Hawaiian miles (and by extension, Amex points) to Alaska Airlines

Transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Alaska

Even if you don’t have any Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines credit cards in your wallet, it’s still possible to generate miles by transferring points from Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 ratio. You’ll also earn a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred.

If you want to transfer your points to book an award flight, make sure you check/find availability before making any point transfers, as transfers are irreversible. 

Earn business rewards with EasyBiz

Alaska Airlines has a business rewards program called EasyBiz. This program rewards businesses for employee travel based on the price of a ticket. Rewards earned with EasyBiz are in addition to the employee’s mileage earnings, so both parties win.

Businesses earn 1 Alaska mile for every dollar spent on base airfare. You can also access features like 24-hour reservation holds, travel management tools and ticket reports. Tools like this help your business better manage employee travel and get more value from the money you’re already spending.

You can enroll in EasyBiz on Alaska’s website. After doing this, you’ll receive an EasyBiz number that you, your employees or your travel agent can attach to Alaska bookings.

Note that according to Alaska’s website, “new EasyBiz enrollments are currently unavailable as we make system updates.”

Earn Alaska miles with travel partners

You can also earn Alaska miles with other travel partners. This lets you earn Alaska miles on other aspects of your trip, like hotels and rental cars.

Book hotels with Alaska partners

You can earn bonus Mileage Plan miles by booking with Alaska Airlines Hotels. If you go this route, you may not earn hotel points on your booking. In other words, you’ll need to decide which rewards currency you value most.

Further, you can earn Alaska miles instead of hotel points when you book with a handful of hotel groups at the following rates:

Hotel	Earning rate
Best Western	Earn 250 miles per stay
Choice Privileges	Earn 250 miles per stay
Coast Hotels	Earn 500 miles per stay
IHG One Rewards	Earn up to 2 miles per $1 spent or up to 500 miles per stay
Marriott Bonvoy	Earn 2 miles per $1 on all qualifying charges, or 1 mile per $1 spent on the room rate, depending on the hotel
Rocketmiles	Earn 500 to 10,000 miles per night on every reservation.

Related: 10 ways you could be earning airline miles other than credit cards

Rent a car and earn Alaska miles

You can also earn Alaska miles when booking car rentals through Alaska Airlines Car Rental. The miles you’ll earn depend on how much you spend on a rental. You won’t earn rental car points on these bookings; prices may differ from booking directly.

You can also book directly with rental car companies and earn Alaska miles instead of rental car points at the following rates:

Rental car company	Earning rate
Alamo	50 miles per day on qualifying rentals. Offer valid in the U.S. and Canada.
Avis	Up to 1,250 miles per rental
Budget	Up to 1,250 miles per rental
Dollar	150 miles on rentals three days or longer through Dec. 31, 2024
Hertz	200 miles per day on rentals of one to four days or 2,000 miles per rental on rentals of five or more days until Dec. 31, 2024.
National	50 miles per day in the U.S. and Canada only
Thrifty	150 miles on rentals three days or longer

Related: How to never pay full price for a rental car

Earn Alaska miles with other partners

Additionally, you can earn Alaska miles through several Alaska Mileage Plan partners for everyday purchases like dining out and even shopping online.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Shopping

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Shopping is a great way to earn bonus Alaska miles on your online purchases in addition to the miles you already earn with your credit card. Sign up for a Mileage Plan Shopping account and find your merchant on the portal before purchasing.

Please note that each participating merchant offers a different number of miles per dollar spent, and their rates fluctuate frequently. Use a shopping portal aggregator like Cashback Monitor to compare earning potential across various sites.

Mileage Plan Shopping periodically offers promotions for spending a set amount of money or buying products from a specific merchant — keep an eye out for promotions.

Related: Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Shopping portal: Earn miles on your online purchases

Mileage Plan Dining

Do you dine out a lot? Make sure you’re a Mileage Plan Dining member. The program is free to join. Sign up, link a credit card and earn extra Alaska miles when dining at participating restaurants. These miles are in addition to the rewards you already earn with your card, so make sure to use one of the best credit cards for dining out.

The number of points you earn on purchases depends on your Mileage Plan Dining membership status. There are currently three status tiers: basic, select member and VIP. You become a select member by signing up for email alerts. You’ll be upgraded to VIP status once you dine 11 times in 12 months.

Select members earn 3 miles per dollar, while VIP members earn 5 miles per dollar. On the other hand, if you don’t sign up for email alerts, you will remain a basic member and earn 1 mile per $2 spent.

If you’re not already signed up for Alaska’s dining plan, you can earn 500 bonus Alaska miles after your first purchase. To qualify for this offer, you must spend $30 or more at a participating restaurant and review it on the Mileage Plan Dining website.

Related: Maximizing restaurant spending with dining rewards programs

Buy Alaska miles

Another way to earn Alaska miles is to purchase them outright. However, buying miles without a promotion typically offers a poor value proposition.

But Alaska frequently runs promotions for buying miles with bonuses of up to 50%. With up to a 50% bonus, your effective purchase price is 1.97 cents apiece, and while that is above TPG’s October 2024 valuations (which pegged Mileage Plan miles at 1.45 cents each), it can still unlock some great value.

Related: Buy bonus points and miles with these promotions

Bottom line

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles are among the most sought-after in the points and miles game. Even though earning Alaska miles can be generally harder to earn if you don’t often fly with the carrier, the transfer partner options and Alaska’s acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines have opened up new avenues for frequent flyers to beef up their account balances.

I’ve had more than 20 credit cards for several years now, and I take great care to maximize each one. Whether I’m transferring rewards to valuable partners, getting a jump start on elite status or leveraging free night certificates, I get thousands of dollars of value from these cards every single year.

But recently, I applied for a new credit card that I never really considered, and it’s already punching well above its weight class.

Here’s why the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® became the newest credit card in my wallet — and why it may stay there for a long time.

The information for the Frontier Airlines Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The welcome bonus

I’m a sucker for a solid welcome bonus on a travel credit card, and the Frontier Airlines Mastercard definitely has one. New cardholders can earn 50,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full within 90 days of account opening.

No, it’s not going to get me a business-class flight to Europe, but based on TPG’s October 2024 valuations, it’s still worth $550. It’s also among the easiest welcome bonuses to earn thanks to the reasonable spending requirement.

I earned these 50,000 miles in the first month of card membership, and I promptly put them to good use.

I’m traveling to New Orleans in February for Mardi Gras, and there was a perfectly timed return flight on Frontier from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) to Orlando International Airport (MCO). This would’ve been $133.98 per person, but the award flight was just 10,000 miles (plus the $5.60 U.S. passenger security fee). That gave me a value of 1.34 cents per mile.

Now, it’s worth noting that this redemption is for Frontier’s basic fare, which includes just the flight and no extras. Thankfully, I can avoid many of those added costs with another part of the card’s current offer.

Related: Ultimate guide to Frontier Miles

The instant elite status

Beyond the bonus miles, the Frontier Airlines Mastercard is currently offering instant Elite Gold status after the first purchase with your card in the first 90 days after account opening. This status will be valid for just 90 days after your account opening date, but you can extend it for a full 12 months by spending $3,000 in the first 90 days.

So naturally, that’s exactly what I did.

Gold status on Frontier can effectively turn your basic fare into a more flexible ticket with many additional inclusions. Here’s a snapshot of what I will get on every Frontier flight I take through August 2025:

• No change and cancellation fees (seven or more days ahead of departure)
• A complimentary seat assignment at booking
• A free carry-on bag

To give you an idea of how valuable this can be, my one-way flight from New Orleans to Orlando has the Economy Bundle available for an extra $59 — which includes seat selection, a carry-on and similar flight flexibility. And that’s just on a single flight.

This can also be super valuable if you book a flight and the price drops closer to departure.

For example, I had a ticket booked to Indianapolis International Airport (IND) in mid-October that I ultimately needed to cancel due to Hurricane Milton. However, the ticket dropped in price two separate times prior to that.

The original itinerary for me, my wife and my daughter was $450.94 (including seat selection for them, since the above perks only apply to those with elite status). The first time I got a notification of a lower price via Google Flights, I canceled and rebooked for $289.94 — giving me a voucher of $161.

Then, just a week and a half later, it dropped again, so I canceled and rebooked a second time for $241.94. That’s another $48 in future flight credit.

Related: How to change or cancel a Frontier Airlines flight

The perks

Even when my Gold status expires — assuming I don’t extend it with spending or flying — the card still offers some really solid perks. As a cardholder, my miles never expire as long as I make at least one purchase a year.

I also enjoy a redemption fee waiver whenever I book an award ticket; this fee starts at $5.60 per passenger for a one-way fare. With my award ticket from New Orleans to Orlando, I saved $45 just by holding the credit card.

I can also get a $100 flight voucher after my account anniversary after spending $2,500 or more on purchases with my card in an account year. Since I needed to spend $3,000 to extend my Gold status, I’ve already hit that threshold, so when my card renews, I’ll have $100 to use for a future Frontier flight.

Finally, shortly after I applied, the card became even more valuable when it began offering two free checked bags to cardholders.

While these are limited to 40 pounds apiece, it effectively means that I can travel with my wife and daughter for the next year without paying any bag fees, as we can easily pack into a carry-on and medium-size checked bag for just about all of our trips.

The best part? All of this is available for just a $99 annual fee.

Bottom line

As someone who typically aims for aspirational travel opportunities with my points and miles, the Frontier Airlines Mastercard was never really on my radar.

However, Frontier has extensive service from Orlando, one of my primary airports, and the array of benefits on the card (including the current offer for Gold status) allows me to book inexpensive flights and avoid many of the extra fees that travelers hate about low-cost carriers.

I’ve already earned the 50,000-mile welcome bonus, and I’m looking forward to booking multiple additional flights to utilize these benefits over the coming year. And when the card comes up for renewal, I just may keep it open as the newest valuable addition to my wallet.

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Learn more: Frontier Airlines World Mastercard

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Related: Frontier Airlines World Mastercard vs. Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Mastercard

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Frequent Delta Air Lines flyers have two fantastic card choices that can elevate their airport and flying experience. While some may gawk at the hefty annual fees, these two cards are well worth the price for those who are loyal to the Atlanta-based carrier.

I’m talking, of course, about the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express.

For those who value Delta Medallion elite status, Sky Club access and the annual round-trip companion certificate, you may already carry Delta’s most premium card in your wallet.

But, for $45 more every year, I’d argue that the Amex Platinum may actually make more sense for most travelers.

Here are the five reasons why you should consider switching from the Delta Reserve to the Amex Platinum.

Comparing the Delta Reserve to the Amex Platinum

Feature	Delta Reserve	Amex Platinum
Welcome offer	Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases on your new card in your first three months of cardmembership.	Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of cardmembership.
Annual fee	$650 (see rates and fees)	$695 (see rates and fees)
Earning rates	3 miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases 1 mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases	5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar) 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
Delta perks*	Delta Sky Club access when traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight for complimentary Delta Sky Club access (no access for basic economy fares; complimentary access will be limited to 15 visits per year starting Feb. 1, 2025). Receive unlimited visits if you spend $75,000 or more on your card per calendar year Complimentary access to the American Express Centurion lounge if you have a same-day Delta flight Annual round-trip companion certificate for domestic first class, Delta Comfort+ or Main Cabin each year upon renewal of the card Upgrade priority over other Medallion members within the same Medallion level and fare class grouping Access to complimentary upgrades for non-elite members Earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after you spend $30,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to four times Medallion Qualification Dollar waiver toward Platinum, Gold or Silver Medallion status if you make at least $25,000 in purchases in a year with your card First checked bag free on Delta flights 20% discount on inflight purchases	Delta Sky Club access on a same-day Delta flight; complimentary access will be limited to 10 visits per year starting Feb. 1, 2025. If you spend $75,000 or more on your Amex Platinum card during a calendar year, you can unlock unlimited Sky Club access through the end of the next program year Annual $200 airline statement credit, eligible for charges like baggage fees, inflight purchases and more by one U.S. airline you designate each year — so you could pick Delta Air Lines
Other benefits*	Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit, once every four/four and a half years, respectively Travel and purchase protections No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)	Access to the Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion lounges, Priority Pass lounges and more, as long as you show a same-day confirmed boarding pass on any airline. You can also bring up to two guests for no additional fee Up to a $200 annual prepaid hotel statement credit, up to a $199 annual Clear Plus statement credit, up to $200 in Uber Cash and more annual statement credits Up to a $120 statement credit for Global Entry or $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck, once every four/four and a half years, respectively Complimentary Gold elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy Complimentary memberships in Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, Avis Preferred and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive Elite-like privileges when you book through the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program Access to the Amex Platinum Concierge Travel and purchase protections No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)

* Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Related: Credit card showdown: Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve

Why you should switch to the Amex Platinum

At $695 per year, the Amex Platinum isn’t the most affordable card — but neither is the Delta Reserve. For a difference of $45, the Amex Platinum can offer better value since there’s a long list of non-Delta benefits that are useful for other parts of the travel experience, whether that’s with hotels or rental cars.

Let’s take a closer look at the top five reasons the Amex Platinum wins over the Delta Reserve.

Expanded lounge access when there’s not a Sky Club

With the Amex Platinum, you get access to thousands of lounges worldwide. With 50 Sky Clubs, the odds are likely that some of your travels bring you to places where you might not find a Sky Club. And while you can visit the Amex Centurion lounge with the Delta Reserve, this is also strictly limited to if you’re flying Delta the same day.

Here’s a list of the lounge access you’ll find with your handy Amex Platinum, dubbed the American Express Global Lounge Collection:

• Amex Centurion Lounges
• Priority Pass lounges
• Delta Sky Clubs (10 visits per year on same-day Delta flights starting Feb. 1, 2025).
• Plaza Premium lounge
• Escape Lounges — The Centurion Studio Partner
• Lufthansa lounges
• Other Global Lounge Collection partner lounges

On the off chance you aren’t flying Delta, you won’t be able to enter any airport lounge if you carry the Delta Reserve alone. But, with the Amex Platinum, the airline you fly won’t matter (in most instances) — just show your same-day boarding pass, and you’ll be able to enter most of the lounges as part of the Global Lounge Collection.

Plus, the Amex Platinum includes a Priority Pass Select membership, which the Delta Reserve does not.

Both cards require guests to pay $50 to enter SkyClubs or Centurion lounges. However, if Amex Platinum cardmembers spend $75,000 per calendar year, then two guests can enter the Centurion lounge with the cardmember for free.

If you’re a frequent traveler, this benefit alone is worth at least the $45 difference in the annual fees.

Just note that Sky Club access when flying Delta with either card is restricted to the primary cardmember only — unless one of the following holds true:

• Your guests are authorized users on your Amex Platinum or cardmember in their own right — which gets them Sky Club access
• You use one of your annual guest passes as a Delta Reserve cardmember
• Your guest is a child under the age of two

Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access

An annual airline credit more suitable for Delta elite members

If you switch from the Delta Reserve to the Amex Platinum, you’ll largely lose out on many of the Delta-specific benefits, such as a free checked bag and the 20% discount on inflight purchases.

But it’s likely that you’re already a Delta Medallion member. Even at the lowest level (Silver Medallion), you’ll get a free first checked bag, so the Delta Reserve doesn’t really present any added value.

However, the Amex Platinum comes with an up-to-$200 credit for airline incidentals every year. You’ll pick one qualifying airline (Delta is on this list), and you’ll be reimbursed throughout the year anytime you’re charged for baggage, seat selection, onboard food and beverages, and more (up to a total of $200 per calendar year).

This could allow you to designate a different airline if you’re loyal to Delta and have Medallion status but occasionally find yourself on another carrier. Without elite status, you’d likely need to pay for things like checked bags and extra-legroom seats. Selecting another airline could allow you to still use this airline incidentals statement credit — beyond what the Delta Reserve can offer you.

Related: How to choose your airline with the Amex Platinum $200 airline fee credit

Holistic travel perks, rather than just with Delta

By switching to the Amex Platinum, there are a few benefits that may be sorely missed, such as the companion certificate and the elite qualification boosts.

But you’ll notice that many of the perks are the same (Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit) or can be replicated (airline incidentals credit) with the Amex Platinum — and there’s more.

There’s a lengthy list of travel benefits that come with the Amex Platinum, and many of them can help you save money or elevate your travel experience. Here are a few of my notable favorites:

• An up to $200 annual prepaid hotel statement credit: Eligible on prepaid Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with Amex Travel when you pay with your Amex Platinum
• An up to $199 annual Clear Plus statement credit: Covers the full cost of an annual Clear membership
• Up to $200 in Uber Cash: Distributed in the form of $15 monthly credits for U.S. Uber rides and Uber Eats orders — plus a $20 bonus in December. Your Amex Plat must be added to your Uber account and you can redeem with any Amex card
• An up to $155 annual Walmart+ statement credit: This covers the cost of one Walmart+ monthly membership (subject to auto-renewal); Plus Ups are excluded
• Up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue statement credits: Distributed as statement credits to cover up to $50 in purchases, one between January through June and another July through December
• Up to $240 in annual digital entertainment statement credits: Distributed in the form of up to $20 in monthly statement credits when you pay for participating digital entertainment services with the Amex Platinum
• Complimentary Gold elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
• Complimentary rental car elite status with Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, Avis Preferred and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive

Even if you don’t use up every single credit or benefit, it’s more than likely that you’ll be able to make up that $45 difference in the annual fees. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Related: How to maximize your earning with the Amex Platinum

Ability to earn Membership Rewards points — worth significantly more than Delta SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles have been devalued a lot over the years. While you can find some great value when redeeming for domestic economy flights, you’re out of luck if you’re trying to find a long-haul business-class flight for reasonable rates.

Unfortunately, those devaluations will likely continue, but the best way to protect yourself from airline and hotel valuations is to open a card that earns transferable points, like the Amex Platinum.

With the American Express Membership Rewards program, you can transfer your points to 20-plus airline and hotel loyalty programs — including Delta SkyMiles. It’s also worth noting that per TPG’s October 2024 valuations, Amex Membership Rewards points are valued at 2 cents each and Delta SkyMiles at 1.41 cents apiece.

These valuations also factor into the ongoing earning rates of these cards:

• Amex Platinum:
  • 5 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline and through Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) — 10% return
  • 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel — 10% return
  • 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases — 2% return
• Delta Reserve:
  • 3 points per dollar spent on Delta purchases — 3.6% return
  • 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases — 1.2% return

Related: The complete guide to American Express Membership Rewards partners

If you fly Delta enough and you don’t need an MQD waiver

If this applies to you, then consider downgrading to the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. For a $350 annual fee (see rates and fees), you’ll enjoy similar perks:

• Receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) each year
• Earn $1 MQD for each $20 in you spend on purchases
• Receive a Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your card

And if you fly Delta enough organically to not need these MQD waivers from these cobranded cards, then there’s no reason why the Amex Platinum shouldn’t be in your wallet rather than the Delta Reserve.

Related: The best credit cards to jump-start elite status in 2022

Are you eligible to apply for the Amex Platinum?

Although both cards are issued by American Express, you won’t be able to request a product change for your cards. If you decide the Amex Platinum is the right choice for you, you’ll need to put in a new application outright — though be sure to check the CardMatch tool to see if you’re targeted for an even higher welcome offer (subject to change at any time).

While that has a temporary effect on your credit score, you’ll be able to work toward the 80,000-point welcome bonus.

To gauge your likelihood of approval, you can review Amex’s eligibility requirements, but anecdotes report that you can carry up to five American Express cards at a time. In addition, you’ll likely only be eligible for the welcome bonus if you’ve never held the Amex Platinum before. So, if you’re clear on both fronts, then submitting an application would be your next step.

Then, you’ll need to decide what to do with your Delta Reserve.

Your options are to cancel your card or downgrade to another Delta cobranded card. Here are those options:

• Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card: If you want the companion certificate and the ability to earn MQDs toward elite status. Note that there’s a $350 annual fee (see rates and fees).
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: If you want Delta benefits such as a free checked bag and an inflight discount but for a reasonable annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150; see rates and fees).
• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card: For no annual fee (see rates and fees), you can keep your card number and still earn miles — which can help your length of credit history.

If you do decide to cancel the Delta Reserve once your annual fee posts, be sure to call customer service and see if you’re eligible for a retention offer. Issuers sometimes provide incentives to existing cardmembers to keep their cards open — including statement credits or bonus miles. That could make the difference between keeping versus canceling your card.

Related: TPG readers find success with retention bonuses

Bottom line

Airline mile devaluations are frequent — and among the best ways to protect yourself is opening a card that earns transferable points instead. For those who already carry the Delta Reserve, the Amex Platinum can make a lot of sense in many ways, especially since you’ll enjoy some Delta benefits and still be able to transfer your rewards to Delta SkyMiles in a pinch.

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Apply here: Amex Platinum
Apply here: Delta Reserve

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For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Blue, click here.  
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold, click here. 
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum, click here. 
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, click here. 
For rates and fees of the Platinum Amex, click here.