Attention, elite status seekers: New perks, elite night credits and more are posting for 2025

It's always hard seeing most of my elite status levels reset to zero come Jan. 1. It's a tough reminder that if you want to keep your status in the coming year, you'll need to get back on the hamster wheel.

Some of us at TPG have decided the juice is no longer worth the squeeze when it comes to upper-tier elite status or have even decided not to pursue status at all.

But for those of us who are truly addicted to top-tier status (like me), we need to start the games again.

Plus, there are some bright spots: Rollover credits, miles or free nights from credit cards courtesy of some of our favorite programs like World of Hyatt are already here. Also, several programs have new perks or new choices when it comes to benefits.

We've already seen rollovers and credits — including Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt stay credits — hitting our accounts.

Consider this your annual reminder to check your accounts and make a plan for status goals for 2025.

Delta SkyMiles

It's a whole new world for Delta Air Lines' elite members. The airline made headlines back in 2023 when it made a ton of changes to its program. While Delta has since rolled back some of the most draconian steps, what hasn't changed is the end of Medallion Qualification Miles as a metric for elite status.

It's now all about the Medallion Qualification Dollars, as you can see in the tracker in my SkyMiles account:

Your ability to choose your Delta Choice Benefits is not available right now (at least not in my account). I have it on good authority that people (like me) who had enough MQMs last year to roll over their 2024 status won't see choices until after Feb. 1.

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However, there will be a bunch of new choices in addition to previous options like upgrade certificates and bonus SkyMiles.

If you qualified for Platinum or Diamond Medallion status in the 2025 Medallion year (based on qualifying activity during the 2024 calendar year), you have until Jan. 31, 2026, to select your annual Delta Choice Benefits. Note that you must choose your 2024 benefits by the end of January.

According to Delta, you will soon be able to make your choices in the app instead of having to log in on a desktop computer: "Beginning February 1, 2025, enjoy a more seamless experience by selecting your Choice Benefits through the Fly Delta app."

We expect the MQD boost from holding one of the following Delta credit cards will hit sometime in February:

• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

For each of these cards you hold, you get 2,500 MQDs at the start of each year just for being a cardmember. These stack for travelers with multiple eligible cards. That means if you have two of those cards, for example, you'd get a head start of 5,000 MQDs for the year.

Related: Best credit cards for flying Delta

World of Hyatt

Qualifying nights courtesy of World of Hyatt have already posted in my account. In fact, I got an email about the free nights, so look for that in your email account if you haven't yet seen those nights reflected in your tracker.

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Email confirming Hyatt qualifying nights from credit card. WORLD OF HYATT

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Several TPG employees, however, still haven't received them for 2025.

Don't worry if yours haven't yet shown up. Traditionally, they all arrive in the same week.

You get five nights every year toward World of Hyatt status just for holding the World of Hyatt Credit Card (see rates and fees). Plus, you can earn another two nights for every $5,000 you spend on the card.

Hyatt also has the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (see rates and fees); sadly, you do not get any elite qualifying nights just for holding this card. But you can earn five tier qualifying night credits for every $10,000 you spend each calendar year on the card.

By leveraging one (or both) of these cards, you could conceivably spend your way to status — or combine your spending with regular stay activity to elevate your tier in 2025.

Related: How getting the World of Hyatt business card helped me get top-tier Hyatt status

Hyatt has also rolled out several new features. You'll now have more choices at more stops in your elite status journey. Hyatt Milestone Rewards start at 20 qualifying nights or 35,000 base points earned within a calendar year. You'll earn Milestone Rewards on up to 150 qualifying nights per year.

World of Hyatt also ended the unlimited Guest of Honor benefit available to Globalist elite members. Instead, you can now earn Guest of Honor awards through the Hyatt Milestone Rewards program.

Among the choices you get are 2,000 World of Hyatt points for a stay at select brands, club access awards and credits for Hyatt Find experiences. There are new benefits for 2025, too. Beginning at 20 nights, you can now choose two coupons for preferred seats on American Airlines.

For the first time in 2024, Hyatt deposited five Guest of Honor awards into the accounts of all Globalist members (including those with lifetime Globalist status).

There are another five in my account for 2025, with an expiration of Feb. 28, 2026. My new suite upgrade awards have also already hit my account with the same expiration date.

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy fans are already seeing elite night credits hit their accounts. These bonus nights are courtesy of holding a Marriott credit card that automatically awards you anywhere from 15 to 25 elite night credits per year. In my case, I hold the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, which comes with automatic Platinum status and a 25-night head start for the year.

You can only get elite nights from one personal card, even if you have more than one. However, if you open a business card and a personal card, you can get up to 40 elite nights, which is nearly enough for Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status (50 nights).

Read more: Here's why you need both a personal and business Marriott Bonvoy credit card

My colleague Nick Ewen is one of those lucky Bonvoy members. He's already sitting at 40 nights.

This can provide a large boost toward Bonvoy's elite status qualification.

You'll find this elite night benefit as a perk of several cards, including the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card ($95 annual fee; see rates and fees) and the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card ($125 annual fee; see rates and fees).

Related: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant credit card review

Hilton Honors

As of Tuesday, we're also seeing status notifications and status rollover nights posted to Hilton Honors accounts.

If you have Hilton Honors Silver status or above, any qualifying nights beyond the number required to qualify for a given status level are counted toward your elite status qualification for the following calendar year. Those nights should now be posted or will be posted shortly.

You can have Hilton status just by having the right credit card. In fact, I have top-tier Diamond status just because I hold the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.

While the card has a steep annual fee of $550 (see rates and fees), there are other valuable inclusions: an up-to-$400 biannual Hilton resort statement credit, up to $200 in airfare statement credits (up to $50 each quarter), and a free night certificate when you open the account and each year on your card anniversary.

Related reading:

• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you're a beginner or expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• The best current credit card welcome offers
• 7 things to understand about credit before applying for a new card
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can't travel without

For rates and fees of the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Hilton Honors Aspire Card, click here.