Last Chance: Roundup of Offers Ending May 31
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here - IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card, The Hyatt Credit Card, United MileagePlus Explorer Card
Deals come and go, and a good way to maximize your travel rewards is by making sure you get in on the best ones. Today TPG Senior Points & Miles Correspondent Nick Ewen looks at some particularly juicy deals and promotions that are disappearing soon.
It's been a busy few months in the points and miles world, with American and US Airways integrating their respective frequent flyer programs, a variety of enhanced credit card offers and (unfortunately) devaluations from British Airways and Southwest. Some of the deals that have popped up during this time are set to expire in the next few days, so today I want to give you a quick roundup of offers that you should take advantage of before they're gone for good!
Hyatt Bonus for Purchasing Points
From now until May 31, Hyatt Gold Passport is offering a 40% discount on purchases of 10,000 points or more (up to a maximum of 55,000). While buying points or miles tends to be a pretty poor value proposition, this bonus actually drops your cost to 1.71 cents per point. This is lower than TPG's most recent valuation of 1.8 cents per point, making it a good option for boosting your account balance.
This is even more lucrative if you have the Hyatt Credit Card from Chase and plan to redeem points for a stay in the next couple of months, since Hyatt is currently offering a 20% refund on award stays for cardholders (though you had to have registered by March 31 to be eligible for this promotion). If you can take advantage of both offers, the purchase price drops to 1.36 cents per point, which is a phenomenal value! If you need some inspiration for where to spend those points, check out my posts on top overall Hyatt properties and top low-tier Hyatt properties.
FoundersCard Discount
Another great offer expiring on May 31 is the special discount on new FoundersCard memberships exclusively for TPG readers. If you apply for the card and use the code FCPOINTSVIP, you'll get a $400 yearly discount on the card's annual fee and have the $95 initiation fee waived. This card offers some terrific travel benefits, including hotel and airline elite status, hotel benefits and other business discounts. For more information, check out TPG Contributor Leigh Rowan's review from earlier in the year.
Club Carlson Bonus Award Night/Lower Category Redemption
Two of the biggest devaluation bombs to drop this spring came from Club Carlson. First, the program announced the end of the bonus night award benefit on the Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa Signature Card and other co-branded cards. Then, just a month later, the program announced category changes that resulted in over 200 of its properties moving up at least one category. Fortunately, neither one of these changes kicks in until June, so you still have a few days to take advantage of each. Check out my list of top Club Carlson properties for award redemptions for additional information.
Avianca LifeMiles Buy Miles Bonus
Through May 29, you can purchase Avianca LifeMiles for as little as 1.5 cents apiece. The bonus for US residents is limited to 100% (1.65 cents apiece), while residents of countries outside of the US and certain Central American countries can enjoy the full bonus. This Colombia-based carrier can be a terrific option for booking Star Alliance awards without fuel surcharges despite last year's devaluation. Just be aware that these need to be booked on the phone, and Avianca's customer service leaves a bit to be desired.
IHG Rewards Club Card Bonus
Another limited-time offer that's rumored to be expiring in a few days is the increased sign-up bonus on the IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card. This bonus was originally set to expire on March 31 before Chase extended it. You'll earn 70,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 in the first three months, and enjoy benefits such as IHG Platinum Elite status and a free night certificate just for paying the $49 annual fee. I recently added this card to my wallet and met the spending requirements; now I'm just waiting for the bonus to post!
Unfortunately, many IHG properties are changing categories in July, with 300 going up by 5,000 to 10,000 points per night. However, you can still get some great value out of the program; see my list of top IHG properties for award redemptions to get an idea of where to redeem your points.
United MileagePlus Explorer Bonus
Ok, so this one technically doesn't expire until June 2, but it's another great bonus that ends soon, and is worth including. For the next few days, the United MileagePlus Explorer Card is offering an increased sign-up bonus of 50,000 miles when you spend $3,000 in the first three months after opening your account. In addition to the bonus, the card comes with a number of lucrative benefits, including free checked bags and priority boarding on United, plus no foreign transaction fees. Check out my earlier post for other reasons to get the Explorer Card, as well as my tips on how to use the sign-up bonus for travel to Europe this summer!
Are you planning to take advantage of any of these deals before they're gone?
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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.