The countdown to 2022 is on which is a big deal in the points and miles hobby. Many of the Top Credit Cards include a variety of credits, spending offers, and promotions. Typically, many of these reset at the end of each calendar year which means we are running out of time. As they say, use it or lose it. Use our 2021 year-end Credit Card checklist to ensure you don’t miss out!
In this Basic Breakdown
- Quarterly Spending Categories (Oct-Dec)
- Calendar Year Resets
- Calendar Year Credits
- Bonus – Southwest Companion Pass Strategy
- Basic Breakdown
Quarterly Spending Categories (Oct-Dec)
Chase Freedom & Freedom Flex – 5% up to $1,500 spent at Walmart or through PayPal
Discover It Cashback – 5% up to $1,500 spent at Walmart.com, Amazon.com, and Target.com
US Bank Cash+ – 5% up to $2,000 spent on your chosen categories.
Citi Dividend – 5% on purchases at Best Buy and Restaurants. This is capped at $300 total earned throughout the whole calendar year.
Calendar Year Resets
American Express® Gold Card – 4X Membership Rewards Points earned on Groceries on first $25,000 spent (See Rates & Fees; terms apply)Â
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express – 6% Cashback up to $6,000 spent on Groceries (See Rates & Fees; terms apply)Â
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card – Earn a free weekend night certificate after spending $15,000 each calendar year.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card – Earn a free weekend night certificate after spending $60,000 each calendar year. All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by basictravelcouple.com
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card– Earn a free weekend night certificate after spending $15,000 and a second night after spending $60,000 per calendar year. (See Rates & Fees; terms apply)Â
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Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card– Earn 15,000 MQM’s and 15,000 SkyMiles after spending $30,000 annually. Earn an additional 15,000 of each after spending an additional $30,000 ($60,000 total).
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card – Earn 10,000 MQM’s and 10,000 SkyMiles after spending $25,000. Earn an additional 10,000 of each after spending an additional $25,000 ($50,000 total).
JetBlue Barclay Card – Earn Mosaic Elite Status after spending $50,000.
Calendar Year Credits
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- $200 Airline Incidental Fee
- $200 Hotel Credit (Booked through Fine Hotel & Resorts or The Hotel Collection)
- Uber/UberEats Monthly Credits – $35 in December. $15 all other months.
- Saks Credits – $50 twice per year. January through June and July through December.
- $20 Monthly Credit for Digital Entertainment (Peacock, Sirius Radio, NY Times, Audible)
- $25 Monthly Credit for Equinox Membership
- $12.95 Monthly Credit for Walmart+ Membership
The Business Platinum® Card from American Express
- $200 Airline Incidental Fee
- Dell Credits – $200 twice per year. January through June and July through December.
- $10 Monthly Credit for Cell Phone Service
- $90 Credit towards Indeed per quarter ($360 Annually)
- $150 Adobe Credit
American Express® Gold Card
- $10 Uber/Uber Eats Credit Per Month ($120 Annually)
- $10 Dining Credit per Month ($120 Annyally)
- Good at Grubhub, Seamless, Cheesecake Factory, Ruth Chris’s, Boxed, and Shakeshack.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- $250 Airline Incidental Fee
- $250 Resort Credit
American Express® Green Card
- $100 Clear Credit
- $100 Loungebuddy Credit
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
- $60 Doordash Credit
Chase Ritz-Carlton
- $300 Airline Incidental Fee
Citi Prestige
- $250 Travel Credit
Citi Rewards +
- 10% Rebate on up to 100,000 points redeemed per calendar year.
Bank of America Premium Rewards
- $100 Airline Incidental Fee
Barclays JetBlue Plus
- $100 Credit towards JetBlue Vacations
Bonus Round 1 – Southwest Companion Pass
The end of the calendar year is typically the best time to open a new Southwest Co-branded credit card with the intention of earning the points required early on during the following year. There are two factors at play here. First, the Southwest Companion Pass is valid for the rest of the year in which it is earned and the following year. Second, all points must be earned within the same calendar year in order to qualify for earning the Southwest Companion Pass.
Learn more about the Southwest Companion Pass and Buy-one-get-one free flights in the Basic Guide by clicking here!
Bonus Round 2 – Special Amex Promotions
A couple of other things to consider going into 2022.
- +4 Referral Offer – If you referred anyone to an American Express card to earn +4 Membership Rewards up to $25,000 in spend be sure to notate the final date of the promotion to maximize earnings. The offer is good three months from when the referral was approved.
- Shop Small/Dining Offer – If you opened any American Express Cards that offered a Shop Small or Dining bonus notate when the offers are set to expire. Most of them were only good for six months from the date the card was approved.
- Dining/Wireless Credits – If you opened specific American Express Cards prior to 2021, you should have been able to add dining & wireless credits to your account. These varied from $5-$20 per month depending on the card. Click here for the full list!
Basic Breakdown
Don’t let your credits slip away – now is the time to use them so you don’t lose them!
When it comes to spending offers, it’s certainly worth it to take a look at where you stand in meeting the offer. For example, if you’re close to meeting the $15,000 spending requirement for the Amex Hilton Surpass free weekend night certificate, it might make sense to use that card for the remainder of the year. It’s important to not spend more than usual to meet the offer if that would result in accumulating debt or purchasing items that you wouldn’t necessarily purchase otherwise. I wish you the best as this year comes to a close and as always ~ may the points & miles be with you!
Let us know!
What is your favorite or least favorite annual credit?
I’d love to hear in the comments below or over in our 8,700+ Member Basic Travel Facebook Group!
More Basic Reading
- Knowing the Rules when Applying for a New Credit Card
- Top Travel Credit Card Offers of the Month
- How to book a $4,386 two night stay at Miraval Arizona for $50
- Earn Free Money with these Sofi Bank Promotions!
- How to pay off debt with 0% interest credit cards
- Top 7 Hotels to book with Hilton Honors Points!
For rates and fees for American Express cards mentioned in this post, please see the following links: The Platinum Card® from American Express (See Rates & Fees; terms apply); American Express® Gold Card (See Rates & Fees; terms apply); The Business Platinum® Card from American Express (See Rates & Fees; terms apply); American Express® Business Gold Card (See Rates & Fees; terms apply);Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (See Rates & Fees; terms apply); Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card (See Rates & Fees; terms apply); The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card (See Rates & Fees; terms apply); Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (See Rates & Fees; terms apply); Hilton Honors American Express Card (See Rates & Fees; terms apply)Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Credit Card (See Rates & Fees; terms apply) Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (See Rates & Fees; terms apply);Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (See Rates & Fees; terms apply); Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (See Rates & Fees; terms apply); Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (See Rates & Fees; terms apply);
