My Birthday Wish List
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Today is my birthday and while I've already gotten myself a gift (a $260 roundtrip ticket to Madrid which I splurged and upgraded both directions, an Air Europa ticket to Barcelona, one night at Le Meridien Barcelona on points and two nights at the Westin Palace Madrid on cash and points), I thought I'd create a travel wish list. You know, just in case the loyalty programs needed any ideas on what to get me ;-). Since 13 is my lucky number, I figured I'd stop there, though I could probably go forever. Feel free to comment below with your wish list for loyalty program/travel improvements.
1) Hyatt announces a Faster Free Nights (one free night for every two stays) promotion that mirrors past promotions: no limit on the number of nights earned or category restriction on redemptions
2) SkyTeam becomes friendlier about first class redemptions. Currently Delta doesn't allow first class redemptions on any SkyTeam partner and Air France only lets their elite passengers redeem for First (at insanely inflated prices). Come on - join the club and open up First class redemptions to all - it's not like your product is superior to Oneworld or Star Alliance!
3) American Express adds new transfer partners to Membership Rewards: US Airways, American Airlines, Emirates, bmi, and Qantas.
4) All credit card companies waive foreign transaction fees. Why the hate for international travelers?!
5) The TSA gets rid of full-body scanners and instead invests in training its work force
6) Starwood offers a 50,000 point bonus on their co-branded Amex card
7) British Airways stops charging fuel surcharges on award tickets
8 ) Delta goes back to a two tier award chart and loads more "low" level awards to be competitive with the other US carriers
9) All airlines decide that angled and recliner business class seats aren't acceptable and install fully lie-flat beds (specifically you, Air France and KLM!)
10) The ANA Award Search tool incorporated a calendar feature so you could search Star Alliance award availability by month (instead of the current day by day)
11) Continental hires more phone agents, especially for their international award booking desk which usually has 20+ minute hold times
12) All hotels follow Hilton's lead and allow award nights to count towards elite status
13) All governments (especially the US Department of State) stop fleecing travelers with absurd passport and visa fees. Seriously - let's encourage people to travel!
[card card-name='Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card' card-id='22125056' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.