If you’re giving tickets to concerts, sporting events, or theater shows as a holiday present, there’s great news: A new partnership between American Airlines and Ticketmaster will reward you with one mile for each dollar you spend, as well as one American AAdvantage Loyalty Point that helps to qualify for elite status with the airline. Delta has its own version that offers one SkyMile per dollar spent through the entertainment ticket platform.
American has a new “instant status match” program designed to earn new business from Delta and United top elite travelers. Provide details of your existing elite status with either carrier, and American will match it for four months and continue to extend it if you meet certain travel thresholds.
Rack up bonus points galore
British Airways and the Avios program have a new promotion that could literally double your path to free travel. Between now and November 21 (for flight reservations through January 14, 2024), members can receive double Avios points on their next ten trips after registering. Keep in mind that you won’t earn double points on flights booked before you register for the promo.
If you prefer a private residence or villa for your vacation plans, Marriott Bonvoy is offering double elite qualifying nights for elite status and 10% off on reservations made between now and December 24 for completed stays by the end of the year. The stay must be for at least two nights to benefit from the bonus.
American Airlines and Qatar Airways have a promotion this fall where you can earn a significant bonus by adding your AAdvantage account number to American or Qatar Airways flights between the US and Doha. Travelers in business class can earn 15,000 bonus miles for each American or Qatar Airways flight between the U.S. and Doha between now and November 17 (premium economy passengers on American flights only earn 5,000 miles in each direction). The promotion is targeted but is available for eligible members in the American Airlines mobile app or online. You can earn as many as 90,000 miles.
World of Hyatt is out with its fall promotion called Bonus Journeys, offering 3,000 bonus points for every three nights you stay (up to 21,000 points in total). If you have the World of Hyatt Credit Card, you will earn an additional 1,000 points at a subset of participating hotels. Be sure to register by November 10 and stay by the end of November to earn the bonus at popular properties like the Park Hyatt Sydney or the Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid.
Bask in these bank and credit card perks
The Preferred Rewards program from Bank of America is on the heels of adding nine new partners to its benefits list. The no-fee program has different elite tiers based on member balances across various accounts like savings, investments, and credit cards. New for Diamond and Diamond Honors members this season: an instant suite upgrade, $200 resort credit, and free spa service at any Canyon Ranch property. If they book before the end of the year, they will receive a $500 bonus resort credit to use by next summer. Other program goodies for members that can make holiday travel easier are discounts on CLEAR membership and up to a 75% points or cash back bonus on credit card spending.
Amex Offers—bonus promotions that you can add to your account within your online profile—is back with some cash-back offers for the holidays. Use your eligible American Express card and spend at least $750 at one of Hilton Honors’ properties in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Latin America, and you will receive $150 back in your account between now and February 15, 2024. Log into your online account to activate this offer.
American Airlines credit cardholders have another promotion in their online account, but you will want to act fast. By November 6, register to earn one additional AAdvantage mile (as well as one Loyalty Point, which counts towards elite status) for each dollar spent on American flights in November.
Citi Double Cash card members are in for some extra cash back when making holiday travel plans. When booking hotels, car rentals, and attractions through the Citi Travel portal, they will receive 5% cash back (up from the normal 2%) between now and December 31, 2024. That’s over a year of double cash back perks that arrived just in time for the holidays.
