Blog

Editor’s note: Some of the below offers may be targeted.

From bonus points on your next hotel stay to generous sales of airline miles, we’re always looking for travel deals to help you earn and redeem your points and miles better. In other words, we want to help you book the vacation of your dreams.

Recently, we found flights to Hawaii from the East Coast for as low as $370 round-trip and flights to Europe starting at 15,000 Flying Blue miles each way. United MileagePlus is celebrating its new partnership with Turo with 5 miles per dollar on your first car rental. Amex and Chase have announced a new crop of credit card transfer bonuses, including a lucrative 40% bonus from Amex to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Plus, targeted Chase cardholders can save up to 50% on Amazon when using Ultimate Rewards points. But that’s not all.

We help our readers each week by rounding up ongoing promotions so they don’t have to scour the internet for the best reward redemptions and offers. This includes everything from frequent flyer programs and hotel rewards programs to credit card offers and rental car deals. Here’s our latest list of noteworthy new points and miles promotions for December.

Airline loyalty program promotions (December 2024)

Airline loyalty programs can offer trip discounts on certain dates, the chance to earn more miles for future travel and deals to rack up points toward elite status. Below are some of the offers we found for December.

50% off Alaska award tickets to snowy locales

If you’re a skier, a snowboarder or just someone who loves exploring winter wonderlands, this sale is for you. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members can take advantage of the program’s newest Global Getaways sale to save miles on award tickets to snowy destinations across the globe.

• Save 50% on economy and premium economy award fares from the U.S. to select destinations in Europe, Canada and Central Asia. Check out the featured destinations here. You can also book one free stopover of up to 14 days per one-way route on eligible international itineraries.
• Book by Dec. 31, 2024, for travel from Jan. 1 to April 30, 2025.
• No registration or promo code is needed; the discount will appear automatically when you search for award flights.

Half off Miles & More international award flights

Lufthansa Miles & More just dropped its latest Mileage Bargains sale, and it’s a good one. You can save roughly 50% on award flights originating in 12 U.S. airports to over 300 international destinations next spring.

• Discounts vary by route, but most are around 50%. For instance, round-trip tickets to many European destinations now cost 30,000 miles in economy, 40,000 in premium economy and 55,000 in business class.
• Dates vary as well, but most of these deals must be booked by Dec. 31, 2024, and flown between March 15 and April 30, 2025.
• Visit this page to explore all eligible routes, then click on one you like to see the booking deadline and travel dates.

Miles & More miles are among the hardest miles to earn because the program has no transfer partners. But if you have a stash of these miles, this sale gives you plenty of options to use them.

Related: Best airline credit cards

Hotel loyalty program promotions (December 2024)

Hotel loyalty programs occasionally offer discounted stays, ways to earn extra points and deals at various properties. Here are some December deals to consider when booking your next stay.

Double rewards on Qatar flights and Accor stays

In honor of the anniversary of their partnership, Qatar Airways Privilege Club and Accor Live Limitless are offering two lucrative promotions. You can earn double ALL points on Qatar Airways flights and double Qatar Avios on Accor stays, as long as you’re a member of both programs and you’ve linked your accounts.

• Earn two times the Avios you would normally earn on eligible Accor stays and two times the ALL points you would normally earn on eligible Qatar Airways flights. That’s in addition to the ALL points you earn on stays and the Avios you earn on flights.
• Before booking, link your accounts here (if you haven’t already) and register for this promotion here. You must link, register, book and complete travel by Jan. 31, 2025.
• To be eligible, hotel stays must be booked directly with Accor. However, flights may be booked through any channel.

ALL points are among the most valuable hotel currencies out there — TPG values them at 2 cents each per our December 2024 estimates — and Avios are a particularly useful airline currency because you can easily transfer them between five different programs. If you’re still planning your winter travels, this promotion is a great opportunity to stock up on these valuable rewards.

Bonus points at Best Westerns in Asia

If a trip to Asia is on your radar, Best Western has an offer for you. You can earn an additional 5,000 Best Western Rewards points for every three nights you spend in select Asian countries this winter.

• Earn 5,000 bonus points when you stay three nights, either separate or consecutive, at any Best Western hotel in Asia. Applicable countries include Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Pakistan, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
• You can take advantage of this promotion up to two times for a maximum of 10,000 bonus points.
• Register here, then book and complete your stay(s) by Feb. 2, 2025.

Since Best Western reward nights start at 5,000 points, you could potentially earn enough bonus points for two free nights if you maximize this promotion.

Related: Best hotel credit cards

Credit card promotions (December 2024)

Card issuers sometimes offer deals and discounts for certain cardholders on everything from airfare to restaurant dining. Here are some of the offers we’ve rounded up this week. Keep in mind that you must activate these offers on your card and then use your enrolled card to make the purchase to earn the rewards.

Targeted Chase Offer at Hyatt Place

Planning a last-minute ski trip or holiday get-together? This Chase Offer, which we found on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, could help you save money on your next Hyatt Place stay.

• Earn 10% cash back when you spend $100 or more in a single purchase at Hyatt Place, with a $40 cash-back maximum.
• Complete payment for your stay must be made directly with Hyatt by Dec. 24, 2024.

 Targeted Amex Offer at Omni Hotels & Resorts

The hotel savings continue: Targeted Amex cardmembers can save up to 20% on their next stay at select North American Omni properties. We found this offer on The Platinum Card® from American Express.

• Get $150 back as a statement credit when you spend at least $750 on one or more room rate and room charge purchases at participating Omni Hotels & Resorts in the U.S. and Canada.
• Enroll by Feb. 20 and complete your stay by March 20, 2025.

Related: The ultimate guide to saving money with Amex Offers

Ongoing travel deals

In addition to these new offers, many others from previous weeks are still available:

• This 2024-25 football season, Washington state residents can earn 1 Delta mile for every yard the Seattle Seahawks pass for, thanks to Delta’s 12Status promotion. You’ll also get priority (Group 5) boarding on flights departing from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) until the end of the Seahawks’ 2024-25 season and a 12% discount at Seahawks Pro Shop retail stores on the 12th of each Seahawks in-season month. You must first register here (even if you’ve registered for Delta 12Status in previous years).
• Hyatt’s Cyber Sale is still going for a few more days, offering a discount on paid stays at select Hyatt properties in the U.S., Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. World of Hyatt members can get up to 25% off, while nonmembers receive up to 20% off — so you may as well join World of Hyatt for free to maximize your savings. Book by Dec. 9, 2024, using the special offer code “SAVENOW”; complete your stay by April 20, 2025.
• Earn bonus Hilton Honors points on car rentals with Alamo Rent-a-Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental. Earn 500 points per day on rentals completed by Dec. 31, 2024. Reserve your car here.
• Earn an additional 50 Lufthansa Miles & More miles, qualifying points and HON Circle points per flight segment on select Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa and Swiss long-haul routes in business and first class. This applies to all eligible flights taken through Dec. 31, 2024, including those already completed. No registration is required for this promotion; just enter your Miles & More number at the time of booking.
• Earn 10,000 SAS EuroBonus points when you fly five different SkyTeam airlines, 100,000 bonus points when you fly 10 SkyTeam airlines or 1 million bonus points when you fly 15 SkyTeam airlines; you must first register through the SAS app, then complete your trips by Dec. 31, 2024.
• Earn 3,000 bonus points for every two paid nights you stay at participating IHG properties, with no earning cap. Register here first, then complete your stay(s) by Dec. 31, 2024.
• Earn IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status when you stay five qualifying nights in a club room at a participating InterContinental Hotels & Resorts property. Qualifying stays must be booked with cash with a room rate exceeding $175; they can be completed in one stay or multiple stays. Register here and stay by Dec. 31, 2024. You must book your stay through that page for the offer to apply.
• Earn 2,500 bonus Hilton Honors points per stay (with no earning cap) completed by Dec. 31, 2024, at any hotel or resort within Hilton’s portfolio. You must register for this promotion here.
• Get 3,000 or 5,000 bonus Avios when you join Qatar Airways Privilege Club and take your first flight. Sign up using promo code “JOIN0324” by Dec. 31, 2024, then book your first flight and travel by June 30, 2025.
• Earn bonus Spirit Airlines Free Spirit points for completing an eligible round-trip flight at any time in 2024. Register with your Free Spirit number to redeem this offer. Travel must be completed by Dec. 31, 2024.
• Earn triple points when you stay at select IHG brands (Avid Hotels, Voco, Even Hotels, Atwell Suites and Garner Hotels) through the end of the year. Your stay must be booked directly with IHG, with total spending exceeding $30 or equivalent per night. You can register here anytime between now and the end of the year, and you must complete your stay(s) by Dec. 31, 2024.
• If you haven’t set up a Free Spirit account yet, you can get bonus points by registering as a new member through this promotional link. You must register by Dec. 31, 2024.
• Earn three times the ALL points you’d normally get on stays of one night or more in select regions. Register and book by Dec. 31, 2024, and stay by Jan. 31, 2025.
• If you’re not a member of Qatar Airways Privilege Club, you can earn bonus Avios if you join by Dec. 31, 2024. Register with “PCAMER24,” the deal’s promo code, and book a flight by June 30, 2025, to earn bonus Avios.
• Earn 8,000 Choice Privileges points when you stay two or more consecutive nights at a participating hotel; register and stay by Jan. 5, 2025.
• Earn 10,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points with this promotion when you book a minimum four-night stay at a participating all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean and Latin America. Book with promo code “S2449” by Jan. 9, 2025, and stay between Jan. 17 and April 26, 2025.
• Earn double ALL base points on up to two separate stays at participating hotels in Europe. This applies to rewards points only, not status points. Register for this promotion here, then book by Jan. 31, 2025, and stay by Feb. 12, 2025.
• Earn 5,000 bonus points when you join IHG One Rewards and complete your first stay. Set up your new account through this link, then book and complete your stay within 21 days of joining. This offer has been extended through Jan. 31, 2025.
• Earn one free Avis Preferred rental day for every two two-day rentals you complete in an intermediate-class car or above. You can use this promotion multiple times, up to a maximum of five free days earned each month. Register here and complete your rentals by Feb. 28, 2025.
• Enjoy up to 25% off and complimentary breakfast at participating Fairmont properties around the world. Book by March 30, 2025, for stays through May 31, 2025.
• Earn 2,000 bonus miles (valid for one year) when you join Emirates Skywards. Register at this link using code “CONDOR” by March 31, 2025.
• Earn 20% bonus ALL points on qualifying bookings you make through the app by June 30, 2025. Download the app here.
• If you book hotels, car rentals and attractions through the Citi travel portal with your Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees), you will earn 3 additional bonus Citi ThankYou Rewards points per dollar spent. This gets you a total of 5 ThankYou Rewards points per dollar spent on eligible bookings through the Citi travel portal. The offer expires Dec. 31, 2025.

Additionally, there are many stand-alone Amex Offers, a Chase Offer and a Capitol One Offer still available across a variety of credit cards.

Targeted Amex Offers

• Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend a minimum of $700 on room rate and room charge purchases at participating The Leading Hotels of the World properties. This offer is available one time only through Dec. 8, 2024.
• Earn a one-time $300 statement credit after using your card to spend a minimum of $1,200 on one or more purchases for property rates and charges incurred on a reservation with Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy. This offer is valid through Dec. 17, 2024.
• Earn 1,200 bonus Membership Rewards points when you spend a minimum of $150 on one or more purchases at Amazon by Dec. 31, 2024. If you have this offer on multiple cards, you can stack them for a maximum of 3,600 total bonus points.
• Get a one-time statement credit when you spend at least $500 on one or more room rate and room charge purchases at the Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood, California. This offer expires Dec. 31, 2024.
• Get $75 back as a statement credit when you spend at least $300 on one or more room rate and room charge purchases at Destination by Hyatt properties (excluding The Legend Paracas Resort and Vacation Homes at Suncadia Resort). This offer expires Dec. 31, 2024.
• Receive a $180 statement credit when you spend $1,200 or more on an EVA Airways flight originating in the U.S. You must book by Dec. 31, 2024, but the flight can take place at a later date.
• Earn a one-time $200 statement credit or 20,000 Membership Rewards points (depending on your offer) after using your card to spend a minimum of $1,000 on one or more Air France or KLM flights. This offer is valid through Dec. 31, 2024.
• Earn a one-time $50 statement credit after spending a minimum of $250 or more at select IHG Hotels & Resorts properties by Dec. 31, 2024.
• Get $20 back in the form of a statement credit when you spend $300 or more on American Express gift cards and e-gift cards at amexgiftcard.com by Dec. 31, 2024. A limit of two statement credits (for a total of $40 back) per eligible cardmember applies.
• Get $100 back as a statement credit when you spend at least $500 in one or more room rate and room charge purchases at select Wyndham Hotels & Resorts luxury destinations in the U.S. and overseas. This offer ends Dec. 31, 2024.
• Get $75 back as a statement credit when you spend at least $275 on one or more room rate and room charge purchases at participating Ascend Hotel Collection and Radisson Hotels in the Americas. This offer expires Dec. 31, 2024.
• Earn a one-time $200 statement credit (after spending $1,000 or more) on your next Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Swiss or Discover Airlines flight booked online at amextravel.com using your enrolled card. This offer expires Jan. 15, 2025.
• Get a one-time statement credit when you spend at least $250 on one or more room rate and room charge purchases at participating Staypineapple boutique hotels. This offer ends Jan. 25, 2025.
• Earn a one-time $100 statement credit after spending $500 or more on room rate and room charge purchases at the Hard Rock Hotel New York in New York City. This offer is valid until Feb. 28, 2025.
• Get $100 back as a statement credit when you spend at least $500 on one or more room rate and room charge purchases at participating Hilton properties in Nevada. This offer expires March 17, 2025.

Targeted Chase Offer

• Earn $30 cash back when you make a purchase of $150 or more at Turo, including taxes and after any discounts, by Dec. 9, 2024.

Targeted Capital One Offer

• Earn 25 miles per dollar spent on one hotel reservation through Capital One Travel, up to a maximum of 100,000 miles. This offer ends Dec. 31, 2024. To see if you’re targeted, log in to the Capital One Travel portal and click the wallet icon in the upper right corner. Then, click “My travel offers.”

Remember that these are targeted, and you must activate the offers before making eligible purchases to enjoy the cash back or bonus points.

Related reading:

• Best travel credit cards
• The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare
• Cheapest places to travel for the holidays
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• Holiday airfare is rising: What to know if you haven’t booked your flights yet
• The best credit cards to reach elite status