How to Travel Like a Pro With Points and Miles in December 2024
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The last month of the year has arrived, but that doesn’t mean it is time to give up on earning points and miles in December or on that last push for elite status with your favorite travel brands. Credit cards can help you complete the race, and even if you don’t make the finish line, there are plenty of other perks in store. With all the promotion and benefit news you need to know for December, we’re here with the last of the 2024 loyalty news.
Earning extra points and miles this holiday season
World of Hyatt members can score 3,000 points for each eligible night spent at participating Hyatt Vacation Club properties between now and March 30, 2025. You can earn as many as 30,000 points after you register for this promotion.
Choice Privileges currently has a promotional offer with Sandals and Beaches Resorts where members of the Choice loyalty program can get up to 65% off a three-night stay or earn a free reward night when booking at least seven nights at a participating Sandals or Beaches Resorts property. You can also earn 35,000 bonus points and automatic Gold Elite status with a stay of at least three nights. This offer is valid through January 8, 2025.
And if you're a Marriott Bonvoy member, be sure to link your account with your Uber profile to earn 750 points; as well as for reciprocal points earning when using Uber or Uber Eats during a Marriott stay.
The latest news in credit card lounges
Capital One fans, rejoice: Venture X cardholders have a nifty new benefit at Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) in the form of Capital One Landing. This new venue—more akin to a restaurant than a lounge—just opened in the National Hall of Terminal 2, where most American Airlines and JetBlue flights depart. Access to the space is complimentary for cardholders within three hours of a flight’s departure (and available for a fee for everyone else). The menu here was designed by the José Andrés Group, and also complimentary for cardholders (including drinks).
Though Chase credit card holders have a bit of bad news—the Chase Sapphire lounge will close its Austin location in March 2025—travelers with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card can use the newly opened lounges in San Diego and Phoenix. Chase has plans to add facilities in Philadelphia, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Cardholders of the J.P. Morgan Reserve or The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card also have access to these lounges.
The good and the bad of new elite status changes
Alaska Mileage Plan is making it easier to reach elite status within its program as well as in the broader Oneworld system. Not only can you now earn elite-qualifying miles on award tickets (flights booked with rewards) with Alaska and its partners, but you can also receive perks when you reach different milestones the more you fly. This will become particularly useful now that Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines are merging. This comes on the heels of Alaska's announcement that it's investing in new onboard cocktails, blankets, and other lounge perks.
Speaking of Oneworld, American and Aer Lingus are deepening their partnership by allowing members to enjoy reciprocal perks like priority boarding, free checked bags, and lounge access for AAdvantage elite status cardholders.
Take note, Delta loyalists: You have the chance to convert your rollover miles to MQDs for elite status in the next year or redeemable miles, but that choice must be made before the end of the year.
And fair warning for United fliers: United MileagePlus has raised the hurdles for status yet again, making it more difficult to rake in the top benefits. For example, to reach the highest Premier 1K status, you will need to accrue 28,000 PQP (Premier Qualifying Points) or a combination of 22,000 PQPs and 60 Premier Qualifying Flights. For reference, it used to be only 24,000 PQPs to reach top status. Luckily, the airline is giving everyone a PQP boost on February 1 to get them started (the amount varies based on your elite status tier).
No word on other changes from American or Delta just yet, but they are surely coming. That’s why it is wise to keep an eye on your mileage expiration dates; they won’t expire as long as you have activity in your account at least once in the past 24 months.
Don’t forget to max out those end-of-year benefits
Many loyalty programs allow travelers to choose special perks once they reach certain thresholds, and credit cards often pile on credits and rebates that need to be used by the end of the year, too. This is your boarding call for a quick check of all of your memberships and credit cards to make sure you get what you deserve.
For example, The Platinum Card from American Express offers two $50 credits to Saks Fifth Avenue and a $200 credit to be used towards airline spending each year. Have you used yours? They expire at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Day.
If you have JetBlue Mosaic status, which comes with upgrade certificates and Blade helicopter credits, now is the time to redeem them. Both will expire at the end of the year (and the Blade partnership will not be coming back in 2025).
Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler
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