Beyond earning valuable points and miles you can use to book free flights and hotels, many travel rewards credit cards also come with a host of benefits that can save you even more money on your travels and beyond. But keeping track of them all isn't easy.
From monthly Uber Cash, Resy, and rideshare credits through American Express to $300 annual travel credits from Chase and Capital One, these perks can help offset the cost of these cards' annual fees, which range from $95 to nearly $700 a year.
These credits are use-it-or-lose-it perks, though: They won't roll over. Forgetting to spend a monthly credit or, even worse, an annual one could keep you from treating yourself to a luxury hotel stay or upgraded seat on the plane.
Don't leave money on the table! Here's a roundup of credit card perks you should make sure you're using up before the end of 2024.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
$200 Hotel Credit
*amex platinum* cardholders get an annual credit of up to $200 to use for prepaid hotel stays through the Amex Travel booking portal. This credit only applies to Fine Hotels + Resorts® (FHR) or Hotel Collection properties. Notably, The Hotel Collection bookings require a minimum stay of two consecutive nights.
After making a prepaid booking through the travel portal, you will receive the $200 back as a statement credit within 90 days (usually within days). And since this is a calendar year benefit, you still have time to take advantage of it before the end of the year! You don't need to complete your stay before the calendar flips to 2025, just make sure to make your booking before then.
Using this credit is a great way to recoup part of the Amex Platinum card's $695 annual fee (see rates & fees).
With expensive hotel prices, this credit could be your ticket to a really cheap luxury hotel stay and FHR bookings even come with elite-like perks. When I used this credit earlier this year for a luxury stay at the Brach Paris – Evok Collection in Paris, I got daily breakfast for two, a room upgrade, late checkout, and a $100 credit to use at the property's spa or restaurants.
Read our guide to using the $200 Amex Platinum Hotel credit
$200 Airline Fee Credit
*amex platinum* also comes with up to $200 per year in statement credits for incidental airline fees. What does that mean?
Technically, they're supposed to be used for things like checked baggage, guest access at a lounge, and paid seat assignments. And it's not as simple as swiping your card with any old airline – you'll first need to enroll in this benefit and pick your airline of choice before taking advantage.
That means, on paper, you can't put these credits toward the cost of booking a flight. But in practice, there are a few great workarounds to make it happen:
- Got eCredits with Delta after canceling flights this year? Use them to rebook travel for 2024, then put the remaining balance on your Amex Platinum or Gold Card. So long as you charge less than $250 to your card and have selected Delta as your preferred airline, it should trigger the credit.
- Pick Southwest as your preferred airline for these credits and book a cheap flight – flights under $99 typically trigger it, in our experience.
- Select United Airlines instead, then load up your United TravelBank account using your Amex card – allowing you to use the airline credit to book tickets with United.
- Pay for your pal to get into the Delta Sky Club with you.
- Upgrade to the Spirit Big Front Seat for your next flight.
- Book an award ticket and charge the taxes and fees to your Platinum card!
Like most of these Amex statement credits, this is a “use it or lose it” perk. If you don't use up every dollar, it won't roll over into 2025. Luckily, American Express makes it easy to track whether you've used up your airline credits – just log into your account check your benefits tab.
Remember, this benefit is based on the calendar year, not when you opened your Amex Platinum. That means you've got just a couple weeks left to use these credits before they're gone.
Read our full guide on the best ways to use these airline credits to get the most out of them!
$200 Uber Cash Credit
If you have an Amex Platinum Card, you get up to $200 in Uber Cash to use on rides and Uber Eats orders.
Here's how it works: Platinum cardholders get up to $15 per month in Uber Cash – plus, an additional $20 in December (for an annual total of $200). But critically, that monthly allotment doesn't roll over to the next month. That means it's even more important to remember to use up your Uber Cash before year's end.
Thrifty Tip: For Uber Eats orders, opt for picking up instead of delivery to save on the additional fees and tipping.
Utilizing this benefit month in and month out is another great way to help offset the card's annual fee.
Read our guide to using the Amex Uber Cash credits!
$100 Saks Credit
Just for holding the *amex platinum*, you get up to $100 in credits annually to use online or in-store at Saks Fifth Avenue. These credits are available in two installments: One $50 credit will be available from January through June and you'll get another one to use from July through December.
That means time is running out to use the second $50 credit for 2024. You’ve got through Tuesday, Dec. 31, to use this $50 Saks credit … but I wouldn't recommend cutting it that close. In many cases, Saks won't actually charge you until your item ships which means you're best off to place your order as soon as possible.
Read our guide to using the $100 Amex Platinum Saks Credit!
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit
Think that's all you need to keep track of? Think again.
The Amex Platinum also gets up to $20 in statement credits each month for select digital entertainment purchases like Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal.
Once again, you'll need to enroll in this benefit first. But once you do, simply charge your subscription for these services to your Platinum Card and it will kick in to cover up to $20 a month. Just like the rest of these benefits, any unused credits won't roll over from month to month.
Read our guide to using $240 Amex Platinum Entertainment Credit!
American Express Gold Card®
$120 Amex Gold Dining Credit
If you've got the *amex gold card* in your wallet, you've got your fair share of monthly and semi-annual statement credits to keep track of and use up before the end of the years as well.
For starters, you get a monthly dining credit of up to $10 (up to $120 a year) to use at any of the following: Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys.
If you just picked up the Gold Card or haven't used this benefit before, you'll need to enroll first – once you do, you're all set. Simply use your card to make a purchase with one of those merchants and your credit should kick in a few days later.
Just remember,this dining credit does not roll over to the next month and your unused balance will expire by the end of the month.
Read our guide to using the $120 Amex Gold dining credits!
$120 Uber Cash
The Amex Platinum isn't the only card that gets a stash of monthly Uber Cash. Amex Gold Cardholders also get up to $10 per month for use on either Uber or Uber Eats.
Once again, this is a use-it-or-lose-it benefit: If you don't spend $10 with Uber or Uber Eats in one month, it won't carry over to the next.
Thrifty Tip: If you have both the Amex Platinum and Gold Card, you could use the total of $25 Uber Cash together for your transactions each month.
$84 Dunkin' Credit
Gold cardholders now get up to $84 per year at Dunkin' – the coffee chain formerly known as Dunkin Donuts. But that's split into installments of $7 a month.
Much like the Resy credit, you'll need to enroll your card in this benefit before taking advantage of it. Once you do, simply swipe your Gold Card when purchasing your morning coffee at Dunkin', and you're all set. Amex will automatically reimburse you up to $7 per month.
That means a free coffee or two every month!
$100 Resy Credit
With the *amex gold card*, you'll get up to $50 semi-annually (January to June and July to December) in statement credits on eligible purchases made with U.S. Resy restaurants. To take advantage, you'll need to find a Resy partner restaurant and then spend money directly with that restaurant. You're not required to make a reservation through Resy or pay through the app for the credit to work.
Just like many of these other credits, you'll need to enroll online in your Amex account before dining at one of these restaurants. And once again, this is a use-it-or-lose-it benefit. If you don't spend the full $50 before the year's over, it won't roll over to the next six months.
Delta SkyMiles Cards
Delta Stays Credits
Depending on which SkyMiles credit card you carry, you've now got up to $250 in credits to use with Delta Stays each year. Delta Stays is similar to other online travel agencies (OTAs) in that you can easily search for hotel and vacation rentals in thousands of cities worldwide.
Here's how much you'll get depending on which card you have:
- The *delta skymiles gold* comes with an up to $100 Delta Stays credit each calendar year.
- The *delta skymiles platinum card* comes with an up to $150 Delta Stays credit each calendar year.
- The *delta skymiles reserve* comes with an up to $200 Delta Stays credit each calendar year.
To take advantage of your credit, head to the dedicated Delta Stays website to begin your search. The terms for these credits say that they only apply to prepaid hotel and vacation rental bookings – if you choose the “pay at property” option, you wouldn't be eligible for the credit.
Once you make your reservation and prepaid with your eligible SkyMiles card, the Delta Stays credit should be applied to your statement almost instantly.
Since these credits renew on the calendar year, you've got just a few short weeks left to take advantage. And even though you need to make a prepaid booking, you don't actually have to complete your stay before the end of the year.
That means if you're just picking up one of these cards for the first time, you'd be able to use the credit both this year and next, all while paying a single year's annual fee.
Resy Credits
The *delta skymiles platinum card* and the *delta reserve card*, also come with Resy credits of their own. How much you get depends on the specific SkyMiles card that you have.
Here's a look at what each card gets:
- *delta reserve card*: You get up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants.
- *delta skymiles platinum card*: You get up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants.
- *delta reserve business*: You get up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants.
- *Delta SkyMiles Platinum Biz*: You get up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants.
You can easily make a dent in your card's annual fees just by remembering to use your Resy credits each and every month.
Rideshare Credits
It's also worth noting that the *delta skymiles platinum card* and the *delta reserve card* now come with a monthly rideshare credit, which you could even stack with the Uber Cash that comes with the Platinum and Gold Cards.
With each of Delta's top two cards, you get up to $120 in statement credits (doled out in $10 monthly installments) a year when you use your card to pay for a ride with Uber, Lyft, Curb, Revel, or Alto.
Only rides booked with Uber, Lyft, Curb, Revel, or Alto will earn a statement credit back – and critically, you can't use this on Uber Eats orders.
But there is one workaround: Purchasing Lyft Cash will also trigger the rideshare credit, although you can only purchase Lyft Cash in amounts of either $25, $50, or $100. An Uber Cash transaction, however, will not.
Hilton Honors Cards
$400 Hilton Resort Statement Credit
Each year you hold the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, you get up to $400 in Hilton resort statement credits to use at select Hilton properties around the world. It's broken up into two chunks: You'll get $200 the first half of the year (January through June) and then another $200 in the second half of the year (July through December).
This credit alone eats up more than half of the card's annual fee, and it's incredibly easy to use. It works at hundreds of participating Hilton properties around the globe – and not just spots with the word “resort” in them but Waldorf Astoria locations in Las Vegas and Dubai, Conrad locations in Mexico and the Caribbean, and some everyday Hilton's across the U.S. and around the world.
Just charge your dinner, activities, or trip to the spa to your room, pay with your Aspire card at checkout, and voila – the credit kicks in. Even some room rates will qualify for this resort credit, so even if you're not planning to stay at a Hilton Resort before the end of the year, you could always plan a stay for further out and then call the hotel to pre-pay $200 now in order to use this credit.
$200 Hilton Credit
The *Hilton Surpass* now comes with a Hilton statement credit of up to $200 a year, eligible to use at any Hilton property worldwide – and it's not just usable at Hilton resorts, as is the case on the higher-end Hilton Aspire Card.
But this is a quarterly benefit: You'll get $50 in statement credits to use at Hilton properties once every three months. If you don't use it from October through December, you'll lose it.
Simply stay at a Hilton once a quarter, pay with your Surpass Card for nightly rates or room charges, and get up to $50 back each quarter in statement credits.
And even if you aren't planning to stay with Hilton before the end of the year, you could buy a gift card or pre-pay for a future stay!
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
$400 Dell Credit
One of the many benefits of holding *biz platinum* is that you get $400 in credits annually to use online at Dell, split up into two $200 installments. You'll receive $200 from January through June and another $200 from July through December. These credits are a use-it-or-lose-it benefit, meaning any balance you have left each six-month period will be forfeited.
While half of those credits have already lapsed, Business Platinum cardholders still have another $200 credit to use up before the end of the year.
While the thought of using $200 towards a new Dell computer might not sound overly exciting, you might be surprised at the vast array of products you can buy at Dell.com. From furniture to smart devices and other tech, they've got much more than just Dell products to offer.
$200 Hilton Credit
Just like the Hilton Surpass card, *biz platinum* now comes with a statement credit of up to $200 per year for purchases made at Hilton!
You'll get a quarterly allotment of $50 in statement credits to use at Hilton properties once every three months. If you don't use it from October through December, you'll lose it. That means you've got just a few weeks left to book (and pay for) a Hilton stay to use up this quarter's credit.
If you're not planning to stay with Hilton before the year's over you could always pre-pay for a stay next year or consider buying a Hilton gift card to ensure your credit doesn't go to waste!
$200 Amex Airline Fee Credit
This card comes with the same Airline Fee Credit that comes with the Amex Platinum Card.
Each year, you'll get up to $200 in fees at one qualifying airline for things like checked baggage, guest access at a lounge, and others will be reimbursed. You have to pick one U.S. airline to use them at by logging into your American Express account and navigating to your Benefits, though you might be able to switch mid-year by calling or messaging Amex.
Marriott Bonvoy® Brilliant American Express® Card
$300 Dining Credit
Believe it or not, the *bonvoy brilliant* is a valuable option for more than just hotel stays. Foodies who hold the Bonvoy Brilliant card will get up to $300 in dining credits each year, doled out in monthly $25 statement credits. And unlike the dining credits on other Amex cards, there aren't any hoops to jump through with this one. Simply use your Bonvoy Brilliant card to pay the bill at any restaurant and you'll automatically get a statement credit for up to $25.
This is the perfect way to bring down the card's hefty $650 annual fee (see rates & fees). But that's as long as you remember to use it each month – any unused credits won't roll over.
Bottom Line
The sheer number of credits and perks you get with travel rewards cards can be overwhelming, and it's easy to lose track of all the different ways you can save.
Whether it's ordering in with Uber Eats or booking a five-star hotel for you and your loved ones, scan through this list to see if there are any perks on your card you haven't used up yet, and start plotting how you're going to take advantage of them before the end of the year.