Forgettable statement credits checklist: Perks and benefits not to be overlooked

At TPG, we’re all about maximizing our credit cards. Part of that motto includes maximizing any and all benefits provided by issuers, which include statement credits.

Our monthly checklist highlights all the perks and benefits you should use every month. Whether you have one or several credit cards, having a checklist as a reminder is an excellent way to ensure you maximize all that’s provided to you.

There are some statement credits provided at irregular intervals, such as quarterly, biannually or yearly, and these are the ones we can easily forget about.

So, here are some important reminders for statement credits that should not be overlooked. I suggest bookmarking this page and revisiting it every quarter.

American Express

Numerous card perks are available, and you should use them since Amex offers a variety of statement credits at different intervals throughout the year. As always, these values are “up to” amounts, meaning it is the maximum amount you will receive in statement credits. If you spend less than this amount, you’re only reimbursed for that lower amount.

Additionally, these are not benefits you can roll over and use later. They are “use it or lose it” credits.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

The Platinum Card from American Express

Yearly — up to a $200 hotel credit: Book a prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or Hotel Collection property through American Express Travel and pay with The Platinum Card® from American Express. For The Hotel Collection bookings, the reservation must be for at least two nights.

Yearly — up to a $200 airline fee credit: Select one qualifying airline and receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Amex Platinum card. The credit can be used all at once or through multiple transactions.

Yearly — up to a $300 Equinox credit: The statement credit can be applied to paying for Equinox+ or any Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal). Check out this guide on how to use this benefit. Enrollment is required.

Yearly — up to a $189 Clear Plus credit: Cardmembers receive up to $189 in statement credits per year toward a Clear Plus membership (excluding taxes and fees).

Biannually — up to a $50 Saks Fifth Avenue credit: Receive annual statement credits for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com when using your Amex Platinum. You receive up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase is required. Enrollment is required.

Using these benefits and statement credits can help offset the card’s hefty $695 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express

The Business Platinum Card from American Express

Yearly — up to a $200 airline fee credit: Select one qualifying airline and receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. The credit can be used all at once or through multiple transactions.

Yearly — up to a $189 Clear Plus credit: Cardmembers receive up to $189 in statement credits per year toward a Clear Plus membership (excluding taxes and fees).

Biannually — up to a $400 Dell credit: Receive up to $200 in credits from January to June and up to $200 in credits from July to December when making purchases at Dell.com. The tentative end date for this benefit is Dec. 31. Enrollment is required in advance.

Apply here: The Business Platinum Card from American Express

American Express Green Card

Yearly — up to a $189 Clear Plus credit: Cardmembers receive up to $189 in statement credits per year toward a Clear Plus membership (excluding taxes and fees).

Yearly — up to a $100 lounge credit: When purchasing airport lounge access through LoungeBuddy to any of the lounges in the LoungeBuddy network, cardmembers receive a statement credit for up to $100.

The information for the Amex Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Delta cobranded cards

Yearly — Delta Stays credit: Cardmembers receive up to $100 as a statement credit when using the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays; up to $150 with the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business Card; up to $200 with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card; and up to $250 with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.

Related: How to maximize the new statement credits on the Delta Amex cards

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Yearly — up to a $189 Clear Plus credit: Cardmembers receive up to $189 in statement credits per year toward a Clear Plus membership (excluding taxes and fees).

Biannually — up to a $200 Hilton Resorts credit: Eligible purchases include room charges and incidentals when using your card at participating Hilton resorts. This benefit is separated into biannual statement credits. You’ll receive up to $200 between January and June and up to $200 between July and December.

Quarterly — up to a $50 flight credit: Pay for a flight directly with an airline or through AmexTravel.com and receive up to $50 in statement credits each quarter. Data points show you may be able to use this credit for seat upgrades, award taxes and fees, or to reload your United TravelBank balance.

The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card review: Premium perks for Hilton loyalists

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

Quarterly — up to a $50 Hilton credit: Receive up to $50 in statement credits each quarter on purchases made directly with a property within the Hilton portfolio, including bookings and incidental charges. Data points show you may be able to use the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card’s credit for dining and gift shop purchases at a Hilton property or online Hilton gift card purchases, even if you aren’t staying at a property.

Apply here: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

Quarterly — up to a $60 Hilton credit: Receive up to $60 in statement credits each quarter on purchases made directly with a property within the Hilton portfolio, including bookings and incidental charges such as dining and spa services. Data points show you may be able to use this credit for dining and gift shop purchases at a Hilton property or online Hilton gift card purchases, even if you aren’t staying at a property.

Apply here: The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

Capital One SULASTRI/SHUTTERSTOCKVenture credit cards

Yearly — up to a $300 travel credit: Cardholders of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture X Business receive $300 in travel credits per cardmember year. The travel credit is only valid toward purchases made through the Capital One travel portal and is, therefore, more restrictive than the more flexible credit on the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

Related: How the Capital One Venture X travel credit can save you $300 on your next trip

Chase

Select Chase credit cards offer statement credits that tend to fly under the radar and can often be missed when focusing on select cards with monthly statement credits.

MICHAEL BROCHSTEIN/SOPA IMAGES/LIGHTROCKET/GETTY IMAGESChase Sapphire Preferred Card

Annually — a $50 hotel credit: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card holders receive a $50 hotel credit each anniversary year for hotel bookings made through Chase Travel℠.

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

United cobranded cards

Annually — an IHG statement credit: Cardholders of the United Club℠ Infinite Card will receive up to $75 in statement credits per calendar year on IHG Hotels & Resorts purchases charged to the card in 2024.

Annually — United credits: Receive up to $125 in statement credits for United purchases made with the United Quest℠ Card each account anniversary year and a $100 United travel credit after seven United flight purchases of $100 or more within each account anniversary year with the United℠ Business Card.

World of Hyatt Business Credit Card

Annually — a $100 Hyatt credit: Spend $50 or more at any Hyatt property and earn $50 statement credits up to two times each anniversary year.

Apply here: World of Hyatt Business Credit Card

IHG cobranded cards

Biannually — United TravelBank Cash: Cardholders of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card receive up to $50 in annual United TravelBank Cash. A credit of $25 is added to the cardholder’s United MileagePlus account around Jan. 5 and is valid until July 15 of the same year, and another $25 is credited around July 5 and is valid through Jan. 15 of the following year. Your card must be linked to your United MileagePlus account for the credit to be automatically deposited.

Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Annually — a $75 Southwest credit: Cardholders of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card receive a $75 Southwest travel credit per cardholder year. Eligible purchases include airfare. Purchasing a Southwest gift card has been known to trigger the statement credit as well.

Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card

Citi

Citi has a wide range of credit cards that offer statement credits that can be overlooked.

CHRISTOPHER DILTS/BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGESCiti / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees) has several monthly benefits, including a $10 monthly Lyft credit and a $10 monthly Grubhub credit, but the following perk is easy to forget about:

Annually — up to a $120 rental car credit: Cardholders can receive up to $120 in statement credits on eligible Avis or Budget car rental purchases every calendar year.

Apply here: Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard

Citi Strata Premier Card

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees) offers great earning rates across many categories, plus a statement credit that is often forgotten:

Annually — a $100 hotel credit: Cardholders receive a $100 credit off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com or by calling 1-833-737-1288. The benefit is applied at the time of booking.

Apply here: Citi Strata Premier Card

U.S. Bank GEORGE FREY/BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGESU.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card

Annually — a $15 streaming credit: Cardholders receive a $15 streaming service credit after 11 months of eligible streaming purchases. Eligible merchants include Netflix, Spotify and Apple TV+.

The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude Go has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature credit card review: A no-annual-fee-card for foodies

Bottom line

The best way to maximize the value of credit cards and justify the annual fees is to use all the perks and benefits offered to you. While many cards have monthly perks and statement credits you can easily keep on top of, it’s easy to lose track of and forget those offered at irregular intervals. Use this guide to keep track of quarterly, biannual or annual benefits to ensure you squeeze every bit of value from your credit cards.

Related: How long does it take to receive statement credits from Amex, Capital One, Chase and Citi?

For rates and fees for the Amex Platinum Card, click here

 

Exit mobile version