The Cards Guy

U.S. cards only • Personal + business • Citi-branded + co-branded (American Airlines, Costco, and more) Last updated: December 24, 2025 If you’ve been following Citi at all, 2025 was the year everything clicked into place. Citi didn’t just tweak a few categories — it rebuilt the lineup into the new Strata family, made Citi Travel a bigger piece of the rewards story, and leaned hard into its best partnership: American Airlines. This post is a practical, card-by-card breakdown you can actually use: what changed in 2025 (confirmed), what’s already locked in as we head into 2026 (confirmed), and what I’d keep an eye on next (rumored / likely based on trends). Every “Get started” takes you straight to the current offer page. Citi cards at a glance (quick picks) If you only want the short answer: here are the cards people end up choosing most often, depending on the goal. Goal Best Citi pick Why it wins Get started Premium travel + credits Citi Strata Elite℠ Card Big Citi Travel multipliers + multiple credits + lounge passes. Get started Everyday travel points Citi Strata Premier® Card Broad 3X categories + $100 hotel benefit + transfer partners. Get started No-fee points card Citi Strata℠ Card Strong everyday earn + 3X self-select category at $0 annual fee. Get started One-card cash back Citi Double Cash® Card Simple 2% back everywhere (plus extra on Citi Travel bookings). Get started Max 5% category Citi Custom Cash® Card Automatic 5% on your top category each billing cycle (up to $500). Get started American Airlines perks Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® Mid-tier annual fee + 4 Admirals Club day passes + strong earning. Get started Costco-heavy spending Costco Anywhere Visa® by Citi Top-tier gas + dining + Costco rewards, if you’re a Costco member. Get started What changed in 2025 (confirmed) Here’s what actually happened in Citi’s lineup this year — not guesses, just moves Citi (and partners) publicly announced. Citi launched the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card and positioned it as a premium travel + dining flagship. Citi introduced the Citi Strata℠ Card as an upgrade/rebrand of the former Citi Rewards+® Card, adding the new 3X self-select category. Citi strengthened ThankYou points by enabling 1:1 transfers to American Airlines AAdvantage (for eligible cards). American Airlines and Citi launched the Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® to fill the mid-tier gap in the AA card lineup. Costco increased earning to 5% back on gas at Costco (still 4% elsewhere), effective January 19, 2025. Citi highlighted digital features like Flex Pay on Apple Pay and the Citi Shop browser extension as part of its cards growth strategy. What to expect in 2026 (confirmed vs. rumored) Citi doesn’t publish a public roadmap, so I split this into what’s already baked in vs. what’s a reasonable bet based on 2025 direction. Confirmed heading into 2026 Costco’s enhanced gas rewards apply to spending from January 19, 2025 onward and are referenced as showing up in the 2026 Costco cash back balance. American Airlines stopped awarding miles and Loyalty Points on basic economy tickets purchased on/after December 17, 2025 — that change carries into 2026. Citi’s own messaging says it plans to keep building on American Airlines perks beyond 2025. Rumored / likely (based on 2025 trends) More Citi Travel bonuses and limited-time promos (Citi is clearly incentivizing portal booking). More “pick-your-own” style credits and lifestyle perks (the flexible Splurge Credit model is the blueprint). A bigger small-business push: Citi’s business lineup is still co-brand heavy, so a transferable-points business card remains the obvious gap. Citi Strata cards (ThankYou points) — comparison table These are Citi’s core “bank points” cards. If you care about transfer partners and flexible travel, start here. Card Annual fee Welcome offer Top earn rates Key credits / perks Get started Citi Strata Elite℠ Card $595 100,000 ThankYou points after $6,000 spend in 3 months (limited-time). 12X Citi Travel hotels/cars/attractions; 6X Citi Travel air; 6X dining (Fri/Sat nights); 3X other dining; 1.5X other. Up to $300 hotel benefit + $200 Splurge + $200 Blacklane + Priority Pass + 4 Admirals Club passes. Get started Citi Strata Premier® Card $95 60,000 ThankYou points after $4,000 spend in 3 months. 10X Citi Travel hotels/cars/attractions; 3X air + other hotels; 3X restaurants, supermarkets, gas/EV; 1X other. $100 annual hotel benefit; no foreign transaction fees; travel protections. Get started Citi Strata℠ Card $0 30,000 ThankYou points after $1,000 spend in 3 months. 5X Citi Travel hotels/cars/attractions; 3X supermarkets; 3X transit + gas/EV; 3X self-select category; 2X restaurants; 1X other. 0% intro APR window; self-select 3X category; solid everyday earn. Get started Citi Strata Elite℠ Card Welcome Offer: 100,000 ThankYou points after $6,000 spend in 3 months (limited-time). Annual fee: $595 Foreign transaction fee: None (no foreign transaction fees). Rewards: 12X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked via Citi Travel. 6X points on air travel booked via Citi Travel. 6X points at restaurants on CitiNights℠ (Friday & Saturday 6 p.m. – 6 a.m. ET); 3X other restaurant purchases. 1.5X points on all other purchases. Points can transfer to American Airlines and other partners (minimum transfer is typically 1,000 points). Top perks and protections: Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit (2+ night stay booked through Citi Travel). Up to $200 Annual Splurge Credit℠ (choose up to two brands). Up to $200 Annual Blacklane® credit (split by half-year). Priority Pass Select membership + 4 Admirals Club passes each year. Travel protections including trip delay, trip cancellation/interruption, baggage protection, and rental coverage. See terms Best for: Travelers who can actually use the credits and who book travel through Citi Travel enough to justify the $595 fee. Get started Citi Strata Premier® Card Offer snapshot: 60,000 ThankYou points after $4,000 spend in 3 months. Annual fee: $95 • Foreign transaction fee: None (no foreign transaction fees). Rewards: 10X points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel. 3X points on air travel and other hotel purchases. 3X points at restaurants, supermarkets, and

Last updated: December 24, 2025 If you have the Amex Business Platinum (or multiple Business Platinum card accounts), Dell is one of the easiest places to turn card benefits into real savings. Below is a complete, step-by-step playbook to stack: Amex Dell statement credits ($150 + up to $1,000 after $5,000 spend) Dell Rewards (3% back in rewards points; sometimes higher on monitors/accessories) Rakuten cash back / Membership Rewards (rate changes, but can spike during major promos) Dell’s Price Match (Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, etc.) Quick links (official pages): Amex + Dell benefit details (Dell official page) Dell Deals (Holiday Event) Dell Price Match & 30-Day Price Guarantee Dell Rewards (join / terms) Rakuten Signup Page – Earn $50 Rakuten browser extension (official) 1) The Dell credit on the Amex Business Platinum: what you actually get On an enrolled Business Platinum Card Account, you can earn up to $1,150 per calendar year in Dell statement credits: $150 statement credit: Up to $150 back each calendar year on eligible U.S. purchases made directly with Dell Technologies (including Dell.com). +$1,000 bonus statement credit: Earn an additional $1,000 after you spend $5,000 or more on that same enrolled Card Account in the calendar year. Important 2025 timing: For 2025, Dell’s page states the calendar year for this benefit begins 7/1/2025. Enrollment is required, and only purchases made after enrollment are eligible. Credits usually post after the transaction is received/identified by Amex; Dell’s terms note to allow 6–8 weeks. Critical detail about having multiple cards: Amex’s Dell benefit is per “Card Account,” not per piece of plastic. That means: If you have ONE Business Platinum account with multiple Employee Cards, you still have ONE $150 credit and ONE $5,000 tracker for the $1,000 bonus on that account. If you truly have THREE separate Business Platinum Card Accounts (e.g., different businesses / different accounts), each account can have its own $150 + $1,000 structure (once enrolled). To verify your exact remaining credit(s), log in to your Amex account and check the benefit tracker (or call the number on the back of your card). 2) How to use 3 Business Platinum credits on one Dell order (split payment) Dell checkout supports split payments (“use multiple payment methods”). Many shoppers use this to apply multiple card benefits to a single order. If you don’t see the option (or if it errors), Dell sales can often help place the order by phone/chat. Simple example: use three $150 credits Buy $450+ of eligible items on Dell.com and split the charge as $150 / $150 / $150 across three enrolled Business Platinum card accounts. Each account should then receive up to $150 back (assuming each has unused credit remaining). Big example: trigger the $1,000 bonus credit too If you’re planning a larger purchase, allocate at least $5,000 of the order to ONE enrolled Business Platinum Card Account to trigger the $1,000 bonus credit, then spread the rest across your other card accounts to use up to $150 on each of them. Example split on a $5,450 order: Card Account #1: $5,000 (eligible to trigger the $1,000 bonus + up to $150 base credit) Card Account #2: $150 (uses the $150 base credit) Card Account #3: $150 (uses the $150 base credit) Result (if all credits are available): up to $1,300 in statement credits across the three accounts ($1,150 + $150 + $150), plus whatever you earn from Dell Rewards and Rakuten. 3) Stack Dell Rewards + Rakuten on top of the Amex credits Dell Rewards (3% back) Dell Rewards is Dell’s free loyalty program. The base earn rate is 3% back in Rewards Points on qualifying purchases, and Dell sometimes boosts certain categories (Dell notes up to 9% back is available on PC accessories and monitors for a limited time). Join / manage Dell Rewards Rakuten (cash back or Membership Rewards) Rakuten stacks on top of Dell’s price and your Amex credits. The Dell rate changes constantly. Today (Dec 24, 2025), Rakuten lists Dell Technologies at 2% Cash Back. During big promo days, Dell has been featured at much higher rates (e.g., Doctor of Credit reported Dell at 15x/15% during holiday events). Check today’s Rakuten Dell rate Install the Rakuten browser extension (recommended) Tracking tip: Use a clean browser session for portal tracking (disable ad blockers, don’t open extra tabs mid-checkout). If Rakuten doesn’t track, submit a missing cash back claim with your order number. 4) Check for extra Amex Offers before you buy Amex Offers are targeted, so not everyone sees the same deal. But Dell offers show up often, and they can stack with your built-in Dell credit. Example of a recent targeted offer: “Spend $500, get $100 back at Dell.com” (some versions have been reported with an expiration of 1/31/2026). How to find/add Amex Offers (Amex official) 5) Dell Price Match: match Amazon / Best Buy / Walmart and more Dell has two related protections: (1) a Competitor Price Match, and (2) a 30-Day Price Guarantee for price drops on Dell.com itself. You can request a competitor match before purchase (via chat/call) or after purchase (submit through Dell’s Order Support portal). Standard window is within 30 days of invoice date; Dell also advertises an extended holiday period for certain purchase dates (see Dell’s page for current dates). Eligible competitors (per Dell): Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, Walmart.com, Apple.com, HP.com, Lenovo.com, Newegg.com, BHPhotoVideo.com, Microcenter.com, Staples.com, OfficeDepot.com/OfficeMax.com, TigerDirect.com, Sears.com, and more. Exclusions are strict: no marketplace sellers (e.g., Amazon Marketplace), no membership-only pricing (e.g., Costco), no flash/doorbuster/limited-quantity prices, no clearance/Outlet items, and you can’t combine a price match with other coupons/discounts. Dell states the program is for individual consumers purchasing for personal use; business accounts/resellers/bulk purchases are not eligible. Dell Price Match policy (full details + competitor list) Chat with a Dell product expert (price match before purchase) Order Support portal (price match after purchase) 6) Exact step-by-step: combine Price Match + Rakuten + Split Payment + Amex credits Enroll your Business Platinum Card Account in the Dell benefit (do this

Updated: December 24, 2025 If 2025 felt like every “premium” card got more expensive, you weren’t imagining it. This year was defined by higher annual fees, bigger (and more complicated) statement credits, tighter bonus rules, and a clear message from banks: they want profitable long-term customers, not bonus chasers. At the same time, interest rates stayed painful for anyone carrying balances — while 0% intro offers remained a bright spot. Key takeaways from 2025 (and why they matter in 2026) Premium cards moved up-market: higher annual fees, but also more credits — if you can actually use them. Bonus eligibility got stricter: more “family” rules and longer cooldown periods, not just Amex’s famous lifetime language. Lounge access got less generous (especially for guests) — and 2026 is when several of those cuts take effect. 0% intro APR offers stayed strong, including a rare 24-month intro option — a big deal if you’re trying to kill debt. Points didn’t get “worse” overnight, but redemptions got pricier in many programs; earn-and-burn stayed the winning strategy. 1) The 2025 story in one table Theme What happened in 2025 What it means 2026 move Premium fees & credits Top travel cards refreshed with bigger fees and a “coupon-book” style of credits. If you actually use the credits, these cards can still be worth it. If you don’t, you’re overpaying. Audit your credits quarterly; if you’re not using them, downgrade/cancel at renewal. Bonus rules tightened More issuers moved toward “once per X months” or “family” restrictions on welcome offers. Churning gets harder. Timing your applications matters more than ever. Plan 12–24 months ahead and avoid wasting inquiries on bonuses you can’t earn. Lounge access pressure Overcrowding pushed issuers to limit free guests and charge for authorized users. Families and groups pay more to get lounge value. If lounge access is your main reason to keep a card, re-run the math with guest fees. 0% intro APR stayed strong Long 0% periods continued; one issuer went as long as 24 billing cycles. Debt payoff strategies got a real tool — but fees and discipline still matter. Use 0% as a payoff plan (not permission to spend). Set autopay + payoff schedule. Points + portals Banks leaned harder into travel portals and “boosted” redemptions instead of simple fixed values. Great value is still there, but you have to be more intentional about how you redeem. Favor transferable points + strong partners; don’t stockpile points for years. Shutdown/account review risk Banks continued (and in some cases escalated) reviews for behavior that looks like abuse. The fastest way to lose rewards is to trigger a shutdown or clawback. Keep spend patterns “normal,” avoid bounced payments, and don’t push manufactured spend.   2) Personal credit cards: what mattered in 2025 Most years, the credit card world changes in small ways — a bonus here, a new perk there. 2025 was different. The biggest action was concentrated at the top end of the market, where issuers leaned into a “membership” feel: pay more every year, but get more credits, more lounge access, and more perks… as long as you use them. Premium travel cards went up-market (fees up, credits up) Three moves basically defined the premium personal-card conversation in 2025: Chase Sapphire Reserve refresh: Chase raised the Sapphire Reserve’s annual fee to $795 for renewals after late October 2025 and added a long list of credits and updated earning/redemption mechanics. Amex Platinum refresh: American Express lifted the U.S. Platinum Card’s annual fee to $895 and layered in new lifestyle credits (including Resy and lululemon) plus other benefit tweaks. Citi re-entered the premium ring: Citi launched the Strata Elite as a $595 premium travel card, aiming directly at the same audience that lives in the Reserve/Platinum world. Premium personal cards at a glance (2025 changes) Card / Move Annual fee headline What got better What to watch Chase Sapphire Reserve (refresh) $795 (renewals after late Oct 2025) More statement credits; revised earn rates; new portal redemption structure. Whether the credits are easy to use (and whether you actually use them). Amex Platinum (refresh) $895 (for U.S. consumer Platinum) More lifestyle credits and refreshed benefit package. Coupon fatigue: great on paper, but you need a system to capture value. Citi Strata Elite (new) $595 Strong portal multipliers + premium-style credits at a lower fee than Reserve/Platinum. Operational execution (early rollouts can be bumpy). Airport lounge access got stricter (especially for guests) 2025 was the year issuers basically admitted what travelers already knew: lounges are crowded. Instead of building unlimited capacity overnight, issuers started pulling the same lever — make access more expensive for “extra people.” The cleanest example is Capital One’s Venture X changes that take effect in 2026 (more on that below), but the direction is industry-wide. 0% intro APR offers stayed strong — and one went to 24 months Even with high interest rates, issuers kept using long 0% intro APR offers as a customer-acquisition tool. The standout was U.S. Bank’s Shield Visa, which advertises 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 24 billing cycles. That’s unusually long in today’s market and a real option for people who want a structured payoff window. 3) Business credit cards: 2025 was about premium launches and massive bonuses On the business side, 2025 was the year issuers pushed harder for high-spend small businesses. The offers got bigger, but so did the expectations: higher fees, higher spend requirements, and stricter enforcement of bonus eligibility. The premium business-card arms race A few headline moves stood out: Chase launched Sapphire Reserve for Business: Chase introduced a business version of its flagship Reserve product, priced like a true premium card and aimed at businesses with serious travel and purchasing volume. Amex refreshed Business Platinum alongside the consumer card: The Business Platinum moved to the same $895 annual fee level and leaned even more into high-spend incentives and credits. Big bonuses targeted big spend: Across issuers, the biggest bonuses increasingly required big spend thresholds — great

Last updated: December 19, 2025 This is a straight, card‑by‑card breakdown of the statement credits on Amex’s four core Membership Rewards cards—what each credit is worth, how it resets, and the cleanest ways to use it without creating spend you don’t actually want. 1) The Platinum Card® from American Express (Personal) The personal Platinum is the biggest collection of credits. The key is remembering which ones are quarterly or semi‑annual (easy to lose at year‑end) versus true calendar‑year credits that reset on January 1. Credit Value Reset timing Enrollment? What triggers it Best practical use $600 Hotel Credit (FHR/THC) Up to $300 semi‑annually (up to $600/yr) Semi‑annual (Jan–Jun / Jul–Dec) No (booking rules apply) Prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through Amex Travel (THC requires 2‑night minimum) Use for a prepaid hotel you actually plan to stay at—even if the stay is in 2026, the credit is based on when the prepaid charge hits. $400 Resy Dining Credit Up to $100 per quarter (up to $400/yr) Quarterly Yes Eligible purchases with Resy (including dining at U.S. Resy restaurants) Best as a normal restaurant bill at a Resy restaurant—keep the charge clean on the Platinum Card. $300 lululemon Credit Up to $75 per quarter (up to $300/yr) Quarterly Yes Eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon stores (excluding outlets) or lululemon.com Great as a built‑in discount if you already shop lululemon; otherwise don’t force it. $300 Digital Entertainment Credit Up to $25/month (up to $300/yr) Monthly Yes Select eligible subscriptions charged to the Platinum Card Put one eligible subscription on autopay so you don’t miss months. $200 Uber Cash $15/month + $20 bonus in December (up to $200/yr) Monthly (expires monthly) No Add the card to Uber; Uber Cash drops monthly when an Amex card is selected for the transaction Use Uber Eats pickup if you just want to burn the monthly balance cheaply. $120 Uber One Membership Credit Up to $120 per calendar year Calendar year No Auto‑renewing Uber One membership in the U.S. purchased with the Platinum Card If you already keep Uber One, switch billing to Platinum and let the credit offset it. $200 Airline Fee Credit Up to $200 per calendar year Calendar year Yes Baggage fees and other eligible airline incidentals with your selected airline Use for real airline fees you already pay (bags, seats, onboard fees). $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit Up to $209 per calendar year (taxes excluded) Calendar year Yes CLEAR+ membership charged to the Platinum Card (auto‑renewal) Most useful if you fly a few times a year; easy win if you already pay for CLEAR. $100 Saks Fifth Avenue Credit Up to $50 semi‑annually (up to $100/yr) Semi‑annual (Jan–Jun / Jul–Dec) Yes Purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com Simple household items or gifts are the lowest‑drama way to use it. $300 Equinox Credit Up to $300 per calendar year Calendar year Yes Equinox+ digital membership or Equinox club membership charged to the Platinum Card Only count this if you genuinely use Equinox; otherwise it’s easy to waste. $200 ŌURA Ring Credit Up to $200 per calendar year Calendar year Yes Eligible ŌURA Ring purchases at ouraring.com Best used as a straight discount if you already planned to buy an ŌURA. Walmart+ Monthly Membership Credit Up to $12.95 + taxes per month Monthly No Monthly Walmart+ membership fee charged to the Platinum Card Use monthly Walmart+ (not annual) so the credit can offset it month by month. Global Entry / TSA PreCheck® Fee Credit Up to $120 (GE) every 4 years or up to $85 (TSA) every 4.5 years Multi‑year No Application fee charged to the Platinum Card Use it on whoever needs renewal next—easy value, not really a year‑end item. How to use the Personal Platinum credits efficiently Hotel Credit (FHR/THC prepaid) This is one of the most valuable credits and it’s split into two semi‑annual buckets. It only applies to prepaid bookings through Amex Travel for Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection (2‑night minimum for THC). The cleanest use is a prepaid booking you actually intend to take—credits aren’t worth it if they push you into a hotel you wouldn’t otherwise book. Resy + lululemon (quarterly credits) Quarterly credits are the ones people miss at year‑end. The easiest approach is tying each one to a real purchase you already make: one Resy restaurant meal per quarter, and lululemon purchases only if you actually want the merch. Digital Entertainment (monthly) This works best when it’s automatic. Pick an eligible subscription you already pay for and let it bill monthly to the Platinum Card. Uber Cash + Uber One Uber Cash is a monthly drop and it expires if unused—Uber Eats pickup is the cheapest, easiest way to use it. Uber One is a separate calendar‑year statement credit for an auto‑renewing membership, so it’s best if you’re a year‑round Uber user. Airline Fee + CLEAR + Saks These are classic credits where merchant processing matters. If you’re trying to hit a year‑end cutoff, it’s best to keep charges simple and direct (airline incidental fees, CLEAR membership, and a normal Saks purchase). Equinox + ŌURA These are great when they match your life, and a waste when they don’t. If you’re not truly using the service/product, it’s usually smarter to skip the credit than to buy something you won’t keep. 2) The Business Platinum Card® from American Express Business Platinum keeps the travel‑core credits, then adds high‑value business credits (Dell, Adobe, Indeed) and a high‑spend unlock. It’s also the card where timing matters most—especially with retailers like Dell, where the transaction can post when items ship. Credit Value Reset timing Enrollment? What triggers it Best practical use $600 Hotel Credit (FHR/THC) Up to $300 semi‑annually (up to $600/yr) Semi‑annual (Jan–Jun / Jul–Dec) No (booking rules apply) Prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through Amex Travel (THC requires 2‑night minimum) Same play as personal Platinum: use it for a prepaid stay you truly want. $1,150 Dell

Cards covered: Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Personal), Sapphire Reserve for Business℠, and Chase Sapphire Preferred®. If you’ve got a Chase Sapphire card, December is the month when value quietly disappears. Some credits reset every month, some reset twice a year, and others reset on your account anniversary. This post is a practical checklist for using what you already have access to—before December 31—without buying random stuff you don’t need. It also includes the confirmed upgrades coming in 2026, so you can plan ahead. Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Personal) — Year-End Credits & Quick Wins Credit / Benefit Value Where it works (U.S.-friendly) Resets / expires Best low-waste use $300 Annual Travel Credit $300 Broad travel purchases (air, hotel, transit, rideshare, parking, tolls) Account anniversary year Use it on any travel you were already paying for Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables Dining Credit Up to $300/yr (up to $150 Jan–Jun + up to $150 Jul–Dec) Eligible restaurants in the Exclusive Tables program (OpenTable) Jul–Dec portion expires Dec 31 Book one qualifying meal close to the remaining amount StubHub / viagogo Credit Up to $300/yr (up to $150 Jan–Jun + up to $150 Jul–Dec) StubHub or viagogo purchases (activation required) Jul–Dec portion expires Dec 31 Buy tickets you would have bought anyway (local sports, concerts, gifts) The Edit by Chase Travel Credit Up to $500/yr (up to $250 Jan–Jun + up to $250 Jul–Dec) Prepaid 2+ night stays at The Edit hotels via Chase Travel Jul–Dec $250 expires Dec 31 Prepay a 2-night stay (can be a 2026 trip) and keep the price reasonable DoorDash Promos (with DashPass) Up to $25/month (up to $300/yr) DoorDash (restaurants + groceries/retail promos) Monthly — unused promos don’t stack Use December promos on an order you’d place anyway Lyft Credits Up to $10/month (up to $120/yr) Lyft rides (in-app credit) + 5x points Monthly Use it on airport runs, errands, or holiday rides Peloton Membership Credits $10/month (up to $120/yr) Eligible Peloton memberships (activation required) Monthly If you already pay for Peloton, put the bill here Apple TV+ + Apple Music Included (subscriptions run through 6/22/2027) Apple subscriptions (after activation) Ongoing (promo period) Activate once, then stop paying monthly out-of-pocket How to use each Reserve credit without overspending $300 Annual Travel Credit This is the easiest value on the card. If you still have any of it left, use it on travel you’re already paying for—flights, hotels, parking, tolls, transit, rideshare. It resets on your account anniversary year, not the calendar year, so the ‘deadline’ depends on when you opened/renewed your card. Dining Credit (Exclusive Tables, up to $150 for Jul–Dec) If you haven’t used your July–December portion, the simplest play is one meal at a qualifying restaurant close to your remaining credit. If you want to keep costs down, use lunch/brunch instead of dinner, skip extras you wouldn’t normally buy, and split the check so your card is charged near the credit amount. StubHub / viagogo Credit (up to $150 for Jul–Dec) The best use is tickets you’d buy anyway—local sports, concerts, comedy shows, family outings, or gifts. If you’re not sure what to pick, buy something in early 2026 but charge it before December 31 so it counts in this period.   The Edit Credit (up to $250 for Jul–Dec) The trap is booking a hotel you’d never pay for. The smart version is: find a reasonably priced Edit property, book a prepaid stay of 2 nights or more, and use the credit to reduce a trip you already want. Two helpful tools for finding Edit hotels (and filtering by price/location) are: • https://www.awardhack.com/chase-tools/edit-hotels-map • https://theedithotelswithchase.com/ DoorDash Promos (monthly) These are monthly promos (up to $25 each month). If you already use DoorDash, use December’s promos on a normal order. If you don’t use DoorDash much, consider groceries/retail orders when it makes sense rather than forcing restaurant delivery. Lyft Credits (monthly) Easy win: use one Lyft ride in December so you don’t lose the monthly credit. This is perfect for airport runs, holiday errands, or nights out when you’d take a ride anyway. Peloton Credits (monthly) If you already pay for Peloton, make sure the membership is billed to the Reserve and that the Peloton benefit is activated. If you don’t use Peloton, don’t subscribe just to chase a credit. Apple TV+ + Apple Music If you pay for either service, this can be real monthly savings. Activate the benefit, link your Apple ID, and let it replace what you’d otherwise pay out of pocket. Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ — Year-End Credits & Business-Smart Uses Credit / Benefit Value Where it works (U.S.-friendly) Resets / expires Best low-waste use $300 Annual Travel Credit $300 Broad travel purchases Account anniversary year Use on business travel you were already paying for The Edit by Chase Travel Credit Up to $500/yr (up to $250 Jan–Jun + up to $250 Jul–Dec) Prepaid 2+ night stays at The Edit hotels via Chase Travel (not available to employee cards) Jul–Dec $250 expires Dec 31 Use for a trip you’d take anyway (or a client trip) DoorDash promos + DashPass Up to $25/month promos + DashPass membership value DoorDash (team meals, supplies, groceries/retail) Monthly promos Use December promos on normal orders (team lunch, office restock) Lyft credit Up to $10/month (up to $120/yr) Lyft rides Monthly Airport rides and local client meetings Google Workspace credit Up to $200/yr Purchases made directly with Google Workspace Annual If you already pay for Google Workspace, route billing to this card ZipRecruiter credit Up to $400/yr (up to $200 Jan–Jun + up to $200 Jul–Dec) Purchases made directly with ZipRecruiter Jul–Dec $200 expires Dec 31 Only useful if you’re actively hiring; otherwise skip Curated gift card credit Up to $100/yr (up to $50 Jan–Jun + up to $50 Jul–Dec) giftcards.com/reservebusiness Jul–Dec $50 expires Dec 31 Buy gift cards you’d purchase anyway (from the curated list) How to use each Business credit efficiently $300 Annual Travel Credit Same idea as the personal card: use it on travel you’re

https://thecardsguy.com/general-travel/If you asked me how to approach credit card applications, I wouldn’t start with the biggest bonus. I would start with your credit, your spending and what you actually want the card to do for you over the next year or two. This isn’t about collecting as many cards as possible. It’s about choosing a few cards that fit your life and your budget. These are the 10 things I’d want you to understand before you click “apply” on any card. 1. Start with your goal, not the bonus Before you look at any offer, decide what you want this card to do. Is it mainly for travel, everyday cashback, building credit, or business spending? If the goal is credit building, a simple no‑fee card is often better than jumping straight into a premium travel product. 2. Know your credit picture Banks look at more than just your score. They care about how long you’ve had accounts, how many cards you’ve opened recently, and whether you’ve had late payments or high balances. If your history is very new or a bit messy, it usually makes sense to start with easier approvals and work your way up to the bigger offers. 3. Understand the basic rules for each bank Each issuer has its own rules on approvals and welcome bonuses. Chase has the 5/24 rule, where most new approvals are unlikely if you’ve opened five or more personal cards in the last 24 months. Amex often has “once per lifetime” language on the same card. Citi uses 48‑month rules on several products. Capital One can be strict if you’ve opened a lot of cards recently. Checking these rules first can save you wasted hard inquiries. 4. Make sure the minimum spend fits your real budget A welcome bonus only makes sense if you can hit the minimum spend with money you were going to spend anyway. Look at the requirement and compare it to your normal three months of expenses. If you have to invent purchases or stretch your budget, it’s not the right offer for now. 5. Never carry a balance just to earn points If you can’t pay the card in full, the bank wins. Interest on a large balance can easily cost more than the points are worth. Use new cards only for expenses you were already planning, and set up autopay so you don’t miss a payment while chasing a bonus. 6. Use timing to your advantage The timing of an application can matter. For cards with calendar‑year credits, applying toward the end of the year can sometimes let you use credits this year and again next year before a second annual fee. It also helps to line up new cards with known large expenses, like taxes, insurance renewals, a move or business inventory, instead of applying in a slow month. 7. Match the card to how you actually spend Most of the long‑term value comes from multipliers in the categories where you already spend the most. Big dining spend points you toward strong restaurant cards. Heavy grocery spend points you toward supermarket earners. If your spending is spread out across many categories, a simple 2x‑on‑everything style card can be more practical than chasing very high multipliers in narrow categories you rarely use. 8. Space out your applications You don’t need to apply for several cards at once. A slower pace is usually better for both approvals and sanity. In practice, many people do best by focusing on one new card at a time, meeting the minimum spend, using the benefits for a while, and then deciding on the next application. 9. Use autopay and keep balances low Once you’re approved, the way you manage the card matters as much as the application itself. Autopay helps you avoid late payments, which can hurt more than almost any other mistake. Keeping your reported balance under roughly 30% of your limit (and lower if possible) is a simple way to protect your score while you build out your card setup. 10. Have a simple plan for year two Before you apply, think about what you’ll do with the card after the first year. Will you keep it, downgrade it to a no‑fee option, or move on? With premium cards, be honest about which credits and benefits you’ll really use. If you don’t see a path to getting value in year two, be ready to downgrade or change strategy when the second annual fee comes due. FAQs About Credit Card Applications Q: What kind of credit score do I need before I start applying? A: There’s no single cutoff, but scores in the high 600s with a clean history are usually enough for basic cards. Premium cards tend to be easier once you’re around 740+ with some established history. Q: How often is it reasonable to apply for a new card? A: It depends on your profile, but many people space applications every three to six months. That gives you time to hit the bonus, use the benefits and keep your reports from looking too aggressive. Q: How many cards should I work on at the same time? A: In most cases, one at a time is best. Apply, meet the minimum spend with normal expenses, let the account age a bit, and then decide on the next card. Q: Does closing a card always hurt my credit score? A: Closing a card can reduce your available credit and, over time, affect your average age of accounts. Downgrading to a no‑fee version is often a better option if you no longer want to pay the annual fee. Q: Can I get a business card if I only have a side gig? A: Often yes. Many banks allow sole proprietors and side‑gig workers to apply, as long as the information about your income and business type is accurate. Q: What should I do if I feel overwhelmed by all the choices? A: Go back to three basics: your main goal

Updated as of November 28, 2025. These are the rules Chase is using right now and how to think about them as you plan into 2026. Key points at a glance **5/24 is still active.** If five or more personal cards have reported in the last 24 months, most new Chase approvals will be very difficult. **No‑annual‑fee Ink Business cards use “lifetime‑style” language.** If you have ever had an Ink Business Cash, Ink Business Unlimited, or another no‑fee Chase business card, Chase may approve you but block a new welcome bonus. **Ink Business Preferred and Ink Business Premier behave like once‑per‑product bonuses.** The terms say the bonus may not be available if you’ve ever had that specific card. **Sapphire rules changed in June 2025.** You can now hold both Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve, but each card’s welcome offer is effectively once per card, with a bonus‑eligibility pop‑up. **Your last 6–12 months of hard inquiries and new accounts matter.** Recent activity can still lead to denials or small limits even if you are under 5/24. Chase 5/24 today The Chase 5/24 rule is still the first filter. If your personal credit report shows five or more new revolving accounts opened in the last 24 months, Chase will usually not approve another card. That count includes personal cards from all issuers and often picks up store and co‑branded cards. Authorized‑user accounts can also inflate your total until a human analyst agrees to ignore them on a reconsideration call. Most small‑business cards from other issuers don’t appear on your personal file long‑term, so they typically don’t add to 5/24. Chase business cards themselves still require you to be under 5/24 on the day you apply. Because 5/24 is based on accounts, not just inquiries, a quick burst of approvals will push you over the line. If you care about Chase in 2025–2026, you usually want their cards before you go heavy with other banks. Ink Business bonus rules going into 2026 In the second half of 2025, Chase tightened its Ink Business rules and added a bonus‑eligibility pop‑up on some applications. On Ink Business Cash® and Ink Business Unlimited®, the no‑annual‑fee products, the offer terms now say the new cardmember bonus may not be available if you have ever had that card or any other Chase business card with no annual fee. Chase is effectively treating the no‑fee Ink Business cards as sharing one bonus bucket. If you apply today and Chase’s system decides you are not bonus‑eligible, you’ll see a pop‑up before your application is final. You can cancel at that point and avoid a hard pull, or proceed knowing you will not receive a welcome offer. On Ink Business Preferred® and Ink Business Premier℠, the terms now say the bonus may not be available if you have ever had that specific card. In practice, assume you get one clean welcome bonus per Ink product and only one welcome bonus across the no‑fee Ink family. These rules are already in force as of November 2025 and are expected to stay in place into 2026 unless Chase updates them again. New Sapphire rules from June 2025 On June 23, 2025, Chase rewrote the Sapphire rules. Before then you: Could not hold more than one Sapphire card at a time, and Could not get another Sapphire bonus if you had earned any Sapphire bonus in the previous 48 months. Today, as of November 2025: You *can* hold Sapphire Preferred® and Sapphire Reserve® at the same time. There is no fixed 48‑month timer between Sapphire bonuses. Instead, each Sapphire product has once‑per‑card style language. The terms say the welcome offer may not be available if you have ever had that exact card, and Chase uses an internal model to decide whether you are bonus‑eligible. A pop‑up during the application will warn you if you are not going to receive the offer. For planning, the safest approach going into 2026 is: Treat the Sapphire Preferred welcome bonus as **one big shot** per person. Treat the Sapphire Reserve welcome bonus the same way. Expect that you can move between the two later by product change, but you should not rely on getting a second full bonus on the same Sapphire card. Hard inquiries and recent activity The written rules are only part of the story. Chase also looks closely at your recent behavior with credit. A single hard inquiry usually moves your score only a few points, but several new cards and hard pulls in six to twelve months can make you look like a riskier borrower. That is especially true if your balances are high or your average age of accounts is already low. Even with a strong score and a long history, you can see denials for reasons like “too many recent inquiries” or “too many recently opened accounts.” That is already happening today and is unlikely to loosen in 2026. A simple Chase game plan for late 2025 and 2026 Given these rules, most people get only one clean welcome bonus on each Ink and Sapphire product. That makes timing and sequence important. A straightforward way to approach Chase now is: **Protect your 5/24 slots.** Count how many new personal cards have reported since late 2023 and avoid burning your remaining slots on weaker offers. **Open the Ink Business card that fits your spend first.** Assume that welcome bonus is one‑time and choose the offer that really moves the needle for your business. **Add a Sapphire card when your recent inquiries are quiet.** For many people, Sapphire Preferred is still the better first pick; Sapphire Reserve can follow later as a second card or product change. **Let the cards age and keep Chase happy.** Use them for real spend, keep utilization low, pay on time and avoid manufactured‑spending patterns that can trigger extra scrutiny. As of November 2025, this is how Chase is actually operating. If you build your plan around these rules, you can still extract strong long‑term value from Ink

Before you apply: a few quick checks Am I going to spend this money anyway? If you need to buy extra just to hit the bonus, the points aren’t worth it and the balance can turn into interest very fast. Can I comfortably pay the balance in full? A big offer only makes sense if you can clear the statement every month without stress. Is the annual fee really worth it for my lifestyle? Look at the credits and benefits and ask if you would actually use them in a normal year, not just once to “make it worth it.” Can I actually get this card from this bank right now? If you opened five or more personal cards in the last 24 months, most new Chase cards will be very hard to get, so it may make more sense to look at Amex, Citi or Capital One instead. Each bank has its own rules on how often you can get bonuses, so checking that first can save you hard inquiries and a lot of frustration. Quick Overview: Top 10 Offers December 2025 The Platinum Card® from American Express – Welcome bonus: targeted offers as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after $8,000 in 6 months (your offer may differ). – Annual fee: $895. American Express® Gold Card – Welcome bonus: targeted offers as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points after $6,000 in 6 months (offer varies by user). – Annual fee: $325. Prime Visa (Amazon / Chase) – Welcome bonus: limited-time $250 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval for eligible Prime members (no minimum spend). – Annual fee: $0 for the card; eligible Amazon Prime membership required. Chase Sapphire Reserve® (personal) – Welcome bonus: 125,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points after $6,000 in 3 months (with higher targeted offers for some). – Annual fee: $795. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Welcome bonus: 100,000 Capital One miles after $10,000 in 6 months (limited-time highest publicly available offer). – Annual fee: $395. Chase Sapphire Reserve® for Business – Welcome bonus: 200,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after $30,000 in 6 months. – Annual fee: $795. Citi Strata Premier® Card – Welcome bonus: 60,000 Citi ThankYou® Points after $4,000 in 3 months. – Annual fee: $95. Citi Strata Elite℠ Card – Welcome bonus: 100,000 Citi ThankYou Points after $6,000 in 3 months (online limited-time offer). – Annual fee: $595. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – Welcome bonus: 75,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after $5,000 in 3 months. – Annual fee: $95. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Chase) – Welcome bonus: up to 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after $8,000 in 3 months (many links now show 100,000; some still show 90,000). – Annual fee: $95.   At-a-Glance Comparison Table Card Welcome Offer (summary) Annual Fee Top Rewards Amex Platinum Up to 175,000 MR (targeted) after $8k/6mo $895 5x flights; 5x prepaid hotels; 1x other Amex Gold Up to 100,000 MR (targeted) after $6k/6mo $325 4x dining; 4x U.S. supermarkets; 3x flights Prime Visa $250 Amazon Gift Card instantly (Prime only) $0 (Prime needed) 5% Amazon/Fresh/Whole Foods/Chase Travel Chase Sapphire Reserve 125,000 UR after $6k/3mo $795 8x Chase Travel; 4x flights/hotels; 3x dining Capital One Venture X 100,000 miles after $10k/6mo $395 10x hotels/cars; 5x flights; 2x all else CSR for Business 200,000 UR after $30k/6mo $795 8x Chase Travel; 4x flights/hotels; 3x ads Citi Strata Premier 60,000 TY after $4k/3mo $95 10x Citi Travel; 3x dining/supermarkets/gas Citi Strata Elite 100,000 TY after $6k/3mo $595 12x hotels/cars/attractions; 6x flights Sapphire Preferred 75,000 UR after $5k/3mo $95 5x Chase Travel; 3x dining/streaming/grocery Ink Business Preferred 100,000 UR after $8k/3mo $95 3x travel/shipping/internet/ads   Detailed Breakdown of Each Offer The Platinum Card® from American Express Welcome offer: many applicants see targeted language “as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after $8,000 in the first 6 months.” Your offer may be lower or you may not see any welcome offer at all, so always check what appears for you. Annual fee: $895. Key earning and benefits: Rewards: 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (up to the cap); 5x on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel; 1x on all other purchases. Large package of calendar-year credits across airlines, hotels, Uber, dining and digital services (terms apply). Extensive lounge access: Centurion, Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta) and Priority Pass. Strong set of travel protections and purchase coverage compared to many competitors. Why I like this card: If you fly often and can realistically use several of the credits, the overall value can easily outweigh the annual fee. For many people this is the core premium travel card that anchors an Amex Membership Rewards setup.   American Express® Gold Card Welcome offer: many people see targeted language “as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points after $6,000 in the first 6 months.” Your personal offer may be different, so rely on the exact terms you see when you log in. Annual fee: $325. Key earning and benefits: Rewards: 4x points at restaurants worldwide; 4x points at U.S. supermarkets up to the yearly cap, then 1x; 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel; 1x on everything else. Monthly dining and Uber-style benefits that can offset much of the fee if you already use those services. Pairs very well with Platinum for people building a deeper Membership Rewards ecosystem. Why I like this card: One of the best everyday cards for people who spend heavily on groceries and dining, without jumping into the highest premium fee tier.   Prime Visa (Amazon / Chase) Welcome offer: limited-time offer for eligible Prime members: a $250 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval, loaded to your Amazon account, with no minimum spend required. Annual fee: $0 for the card itself (eligible Amazon Prime membership required). Key earning and benefits: Rewards: 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership; 2% back at gas

This document summarizes the limited-time transfer bonuses available as of December 1, 2025, from US-issued transferable points programs (personal and business cards) to airline and hotel partners. It also includes a few closely related promos from non-bank programs that US travelers can use. Offers can change or end early. Always confirm the bonus and terms on the issuer or loyalty program website before transferring points. Lost of Active Transfer Bonuses All bonuses below are live as of December 1, 2025. # From Program To Program(s) Bonus Dates (2025/26) Notes 1 Bilt Rewards (Bilt Mastercard® – US) British Airways Executive Club Iberia Plus Aer Lingus AerClub (Avios) +50%–100% (status-based) Dec 1, 2025 (Rent Day only) US card → Avios; one-day promo; bonus depends on Bilt status. 2 Amex Membership Rewards (US personal & business) Virgin Atlantic Flying Club +40% Nov 21 – Dec 31, 2025 Amex Membership Rewards → airline; must see 40% bonus on Amex transfer screen. 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards (US personal & business) Virgin Atlantic Flying Club +30% Nov 21 – Dec 5, 2025 Chase Ultimate Rewards → airline; follows a short 40% phase that ended Nov 20. 4 Chase Ultimate Rewards (US personal & business) Air Canada Aeroplan +15%–25% (tiered) + extra 10% (with Chase Aeroplan card) Nov 24, 2025 – Jan 5, 2026 Chase Ultimate Rewards → airline; effective bonus up to 35% on large transfers for Aeroplan cardholders. 5 Rove Miles (platform, US-accessible) Finnair Plus (Avios) +20% Sep 22 – Dec 31, 2025 Rove → airline; Finnair now uses Avios; not a bank program but relevant. 6 Wyndham Rewards (hotel points) Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer +20% Oct 28 – Dec 27, 2025 Hotel → airline; best as a top-off for a specific KrisFlyer award. Key Offer Details Bilt Rewards → Avios (Rent Day – December 1, 2025 Only) Eligible card: Bilt Mastercard® (US personal card that earns Bilt Rewards points). Transfer partners: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, and Aer Lingus AerClub (all Avios programs). Bonus: 50%–100% bonus based on Bilt status: • Blue: +50% • Silver: +60% • Gold: +75% • Platinum: +100%. Timing: Transfers initiated within the December 1, 2025 Rent Day window qualify (one-day promo). Effective ratios: Approximately 1:1.5 (Blue) up to 1:2 (Platinum) when moving Bilt points to Avios. Practical note: This is a very strong offer if you already know which Avios booking you want (for example, short-haul American or Alaska flights, Iberia business class to Madrid, or Aer Lingus US–Dublin). Find the award space first, then transfer. American Express Membership Rewards (US) → Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Eligible cards: US personal and business Membership Rewards cards, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express, American Express® Gold Card, Amex EveryDay®, Business Platinum Card®, Business Gold Card®, and similar MR-earning products. Transfer partner: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Bonus: 40% bonus (1,000 Membership Rewards points → 1,400 Virgin points). Dates: Promotional period runs from November 21 through December 31, 2025 (US Membership Rewards accounts). Transfer time: Typically near-instant from Amex to Virgin Atlantic, but delays are always possible. Targeting: You must see the 40% bonus displayed in your Amex transfer interface. If there is no bonus shown, your account may not be targeted. Chase Ultimate Rewards → Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Eligible cards: Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Ink Business Preferred®, Sapphire reserve for Business ,and other Ultimate Rewards-earning cards (you will need to combine the points into a premium card before transferring). Transfer partner: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Bonus: 30% bonus (1,000 Ultimate Rewards points → 1,300 Virgin points). Dates: Promotion runs from November 21 through December 5, 2025. Transfer time: Typically near-instant from Chase to Virgin Atlantic, though Chase warns that transfers can take longer. Chase Ultimate Rewards → Air Canada Aeroplan Eligible cards: US Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Ink Business Preferred®, and other Ultimate Rewards-earning cards (points may need to be pooled into a premium card for transfers). Transfer partner: Air Canada Aeroplan. Chase bonus tiers: Base bonus from Chase is tiered per single transfer: • 1,000–74,000 UR → +15% Aeroplan points • 75,000–174,000 UR → +20% • 175,000+ UR → +25% Chase Aeroplan Card stack: Holders of the Chase Aeroplan Credit Card receive an additional 10% bonus on transfers of 50,000+ UR (capped at 25,000 bonus points per calendar year), allowing effective bonuses up to 35% on larger transfers. Dates: Promotion runs from November 24, 2025 through January 5, 2026. Rove Miles → Finnair Plus (Avios) Program: Rove Miles is a travel rewards platform that US travelers can use; it is not a US bank-issued card program but operates similarly to a flexible points currency. Transfer partner: Finnair Plus (which now uses Avios as its loyalty currency). Bonus: 20% bonus on Finnair Plus points when transferring Rove Miles during the promo window. Dates: Promotion is scheduled from September 22 through December 31, 2025. Wyndham Rewards → Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Program: Wyndham Rewards hotel points, which can be earned via US-issued Wyndham credit cards and hotel stays. Transfer partner: Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. Bonus: 20% bonus KrisFlyer miles on top of the standard conversion when converting Wyndham points during the promo period. Effective ratio during promo: 6,000 Wyndham points → 1,440 KrisFlyer miles (instead of 1,200). Dates: Promotion is scheduled from October 28 through December 27, 2025. Programs Without Current Transfer Bonuses (US Banks) As of December 1, 2025, the following US bank rewards programs do not have any public, limited-time transfer bonuses to airline or hotel partners. Standard transfer ratios apply: Citi ThankYou Rewards (personal and business cards). Capital One Miles (personal and business cards). Wells Fargo Rewards (including Autograph and Autograph Journey products). U.S. Bank points programs (including Altitude). FAQs and Guidance How should I decide whether to transfer during a bonus? Start with your travel plans, not the percentage. In my view, a bonus is only worth considering if you can see a real flight or hotel you want in the near future, and the partner you are transferring to usually receives points

Updated for December 2025. American Express has refreshed both the U.S. Consumer Platinum Card and the U.S. Business Platinum Card with higher annual fees ($895 on each) and over $3,500 in advertised yearly value when you add up all the credits and perks. Because most of those credits reset on a calendar schedule, there’s a window at the end of the year where you can “triple‑dip” – use credits from three different calendar years during one membership run. This guide explains what triple‑dipping actually means, shows a clear December 2025 timeline, and then gives practical, expert‑style tips for using the credits on both the Consumer Platinum and Business Platinum in ways that are realistic and easy to manage. What “triple‑dip” actually means Triple‑dipping is just smart timing. You open a Platinum card late in the year so that your first membership year touches three different calendar years of credits. You then exit (cancel or downgrade) shortly after the second annual fee posts and is refunded, so in practice you paid one fee but got three years of credit buckets. Your annual fee and welcome bonus follow your card membership year (from approval until the next annual fee posts). Most statement credits on Platinum and Business Platinum reset on the calendar: yearly, quarterly, or monthly. If you apply in December, one membership year can cover the end of 2025, all of 2026, and the start of 2027. When the second annual fee posts in early 2027, Amex typically gives a short window to cancel or downgrade and have that second fee reversed (always confirm current rules with Amex). December 2025 timeline: how the triple‑dip plays out Here’s a simple example that applies to both the Consumer Platinum and the Business Platinum. Exact dates vary with your approval and statement cycle, but the pattern is the same. You’re approved on December 10, 2025. From approval through December 31, 2025, you can already use 2025 calendar‑year or quarterly credits (once you enroll). Around early January 2026, your first $895 annual fee posts. That starts your official membership year. From January 1 through December 31, 2026, you enjoy a full year of calendar‑based credits across travel, dining, lifestyle, and business categories. Around early January 2027, your second $895 annual fee posts. You typically have a short window to cancel or downgrade and get that second fee refunded. From January 1, 2027 until the date you cancel or downgrade, you can also touch the fresh 2027 buckets of many credits. In that single membership run, you dip into late‑2025 credits, all of 2026, and early‑2027 credits. That’s the triple‑dip. Consumer Amex Platinum – triple‑dip credit structure After the September 2025 refresh, the U.S. Consumer Platinum Card combines travel, dining, wellness, and lifestyle credits. This table shows how the main calendar‑based benefits can stack if you apply in December 2025 and exit shortly after the second fee in early 2027. Credit (Consumer Platinum) How it resets Late 2025 Full 2026 Early 2027 $600 Hotel Credit (FHR/THC) Up to $300 twice per year Use up to $300 in H2 2025 if booked before 12/31. $300 Jan–Jun + $300 Jul–Dec 2026. Up to $300 from Jan–Jun 2027 before you exit. $400 Resy Dining Credit $100 per calendar quarter Use Q4 2025 $100 before 12/31. $100 each quarter Q1–Q4 2026 (up to $400). Use Q1 2027 $100 before cancelling. $300 Digital Entertainment $25 per month Use December 2025 $25 after enrolling. Use $25 every month in 2026 (up to $300). Use January 2027 $25. $300 Lululemon Credit $75 per quarter Use Q4 2025 $75. $75 each quarter in 2026 (up to $300). Use Q1 2027 $75. $200 Oura Ring Credit $200 per calendar year Use $200 in 2025 on a ring after enrolling. Use another $200 in 2026. Use another $200 in 2027 if desired. $120 Uber One Membership Credit Up to $120 per calendar year Offset December 2025 membership charge. Cover most/all 2026 Uber One charges up to $120. Cover early‑2027 Uber One billing until you cancel. $200 Airline Fee Credit $200 per calendar year with one airline Up to $200 for 2025 airline incidentals. Another $200 in 2026. Fresh $200 bucket in 2027 before you exit. $200 Uber Cash $15/month + $20 bonus in Dec Up to $35 in Uber Cash in Dec 2025. Full $200 in 2026 if used monthly. $15 in Jan 2027 if still active. $100 Saks Fifth Avenue Credit $50 Jan–Jun, $50 Jul–Dec Use Jul–Dec 2025 $50. $50 in H1 + $50 in H2 2026 (up to $100). Use Jan–Jun 2027 $50 before closing. $300 Equinox Credit Up to $300 per calendar year Apply up to $300 in 2025 Equinox charges. Apply up to $300 in 2026. Apply up to $300 in early 2027 if used before exit. Walmart+ Membership Credit Up to $12.95/month Offset December 2025 Walmart+ fee. Cover each month of 2026. Cover early‑2027 months until you cancel. $209 CLEAR+ Credit Up to $209 per calendar year Use up to $209 in 2025 after enrolling. Use up to $209 in 2026. Use up to $209 again in 2027 before cancelling. How to use Consumer Platinum credits effectively Here are practical, low‑stress ways to get real value from the Consumer Platinum credits. The goal is to match credits with things you already do, not to invent new spending just to “use” a perk. Hotel credit ($600/year) Focus on high‑value stays: Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection properties usually come with extras like breakfast, on‑property credits, late checkout, and potential upgrades. Aim the $300 chunks at 1–3 special stays instead of tiny one‑night bookings. Book trips you’d take anyway: Use the credit for trips you’re already planning – anniversary weekends, important business trips, or destinations where hotel prices are high. Don’t book random hotels just to trigger a credit. Watch cancellation rules: FHR bookings are prepaid and can have strict cancellation policies. Always check the rules before locking in a stay with your credit. Resy dining credit ($400/year) Pick restaurants