TravelStrategies:Benefits with Spending Requirements

  Easy Access to Valuable Travel Benefits, Credit Card Reference

Many credit cards have valuable benefits that you can only unlock if you use the card to spend a certain amount of money each year. For example, the Hilton Surpass card gives you a free weekend night that you can use at any Hilton program hotel, if you use the card for at least $15,000 of credit card spending.

If you have high levels of natural (or manufactured) credit card spending, it may make sense to try to qualify for some of these benefits. You can often get more value out of unlocking some of these bonuses, than simply using cards with the highest reward rates for your purchases.

Keep in mind, that in order to qualify, you'll generally wind up learning less valuable rewards than you could by using a card with a better reward rate. So, each of these bonuses comes with some opportunity cost.

Free Night Certificates

Hilton Credit Card Guide	Free weekend night (at any hotel in the program) with $15,000 of spending. You can get these from multiple versions of both the personal and business cards. If you are going to have the card anyway (for the Hilton status benefits), it usually makes sense to try to qualify for the certificate. With the business card spending another $45,000 will get you a second certificate. It usually isn't worthwhile to spend enough to qualify for the second certificate. Spending is based on a calendar year. Depending on when you get your card, it can be hard to qualify during your initial year. Also earns Hilton Diamond status with $40,000 of spending.
Hyatt Credit Cards Guide	A free night (for hotels of up to 15,000 points per night) with $15,000 of spending. If you are going to have the card anyway (for the first free night), it usually makes sense to try to qualify for the second. Spending is based on your anniversary year.
Radisson Rewards Credit Card Guide	Up to 3 free nights (at a US hotel) with $10,000 of spending for each. You can earn these from up to four different cards, for a total of up to 12 certificates. Despite the low opportunity cost of earning these certificates, they may not be worthwhile. Due to the small numbers of more expensive US-based hotels in the program, many people will have trouble getting good value from the certificates. Spending is based on each 12 month period from your account opening date.
Hilton Credit Card Guide	A second free weekend night (at any hotel in the program) with $60,000 of spending. This is usually not going to be worthwhile. If you want another night, get another Surpass or Business version, and earn one with only $15,000 of spending, plus the $95 fee. Spending is based on a calendar year. Companion and airline discount certificates Southwest Credit Card Guide Companion pass for unlimited 2-for-1 award and paid Southwest flights, if you earn 125,000 points. This is not based on a specific level of spending, but just earning enough points during the year. The easiest way to earn points is with the credit card signups, but that isn't always possible due to the Chase 5/24 rule. You can earn points from flights, through Southwest shopping portal, from other other partners, or by simply using your card for a lot of spending. Point accumulation is based on a calendar year. Depending on when you get the card, you may have difficulty qualifying during your initial year (and leveraging the signup bonus spending requirement). American Airlines Credit Card Guide $99 companion certificate (for domestic coach travel) with $30,000 of spending. Citibank Business Aadvantage acard only. Can be worthwhile, but it requires a lot of spending for a certificate that can't be used for international travel. Spending is based on each 12 month period, starting from when you opened your account. Aviator Card Guide The Aviator business card has the same companion deal as the business version of the Citibank Aadvantage card. It also gives you $3,000 of elite qualifying dollars with $25,000 of spending. Aviator Card Guide $99 companion certificate (for domestic coach travel) with $20,000 of spending. This brings the effective cost of the certificate (not including the card's annual fee) to around $350 plus taxes. Aviator Card Guide $99 companion certificate for up to two companions (for domestic coach travel) with $20,000 of spending. If you have an opportunity to bring along two companions, the high spending requirement can be justified. Spending is based on the 12 month period that includes your anniversary month. Avios Credit Cards Guide $1,000 discount voucher (on a transatlantic trip) with $30,000 of spending. This is worthwhile, if you have the opportunity to take an Iberia . Spending is based on a calendar year. Depending on when you get the card, you may have difficulty qualifying during your initial year (and leveraging the signup bonus spending requirement). Avios Credit Cards Guide Companion ticket (on a paid economy transatlantic trip) with $30,000 of spending. This is worthwhile, if you have the opportunity to take an economy-class trip on Aer Lingus. Spending is based on a calendar year. Depending on when you get the card, you may have difficulty qualifying during your initial year (and leveraging the signup bonus spending requirement). Avianca Credit Card Guide Up to 2 50%-off award ticket coupons, each requires $12,000 of spending. You can use these to pay half the normal miles for an award ticket between North America and Columbia or Central America. These are usually worthwhile for people who have an opportunity to fly with Avianca on these routes. Spending is based on a calendar year. Depending on when you get the card, you may have difficulty qualifying during your initial year (and leveraging the signup bonus spending requirement). Avios Credit Cards Guide "Free" companion award ticket (on a transatlantic trip) with $30,000 of spending. Due to the high surcharges, it can be difficult to get enough value from this certificate to justify the large spending requirement. Spending is based on a calendar year. Depending on when you get the card, you may have difficulty qualifying during your initial year (and leveraging the signup bonus spending requirement). Virgin Atlantic Credit Card Guide Half-priced companion award ticket with $25,000 of spending. If, despite their high fuel surcharges and limited route options, you can take advantage of their award tickets, this is an okay value. Spending is based on every 12 billing cycles, starting when you open you account. Om addition, you'll earn 15,000 bonus miles for the $25,000 of spending. Plus, you'll earn 25 tier credits for each $2,500 you spend each month, with a cap of 50 tier credits per month. Higher elite status levels (and qualifying miles) Unless specified, spending boosts for elite status are always based on a calendar year. Hyatt Credit Cards Guide 2 elite night credits for every $5,000 you spend. This is on top of 5 elite night credits you get every year from having the card. This can easily be worthwhile if you are only a few credits short of qualifying for a higher level of Hyatt status. Marriott Credit Card Guide Gold elite status with $35,000 of spending (business and personal versions). After 2018, Marriott Gold status isn't valuable enough to justify this level of spending. Marriott Credit Card Guide Gold elite status with $35,000 of spending (business and personal versions). After 2018, Marriott Gold status isn't valuable enough to justify this level of spending. Ritz Carlton Credit Card Guide Platinum elite status with $75,000 of spending. Marriott Platinum status is valuable enough that this can be worthwhile, especially if you can earn it early in the qualifying year, allowing you to only bother qualifying every other year. Marriott Credit Card Guide Platinum elite status with $75,000 of spending. Marriott Platinum status is valuable enough that this can be worthwhile, especially if you can earn it early in the qualifying year, allowing you to only bother qualifying every other year. Marriott Credit Card Guide One elite credit for each $3,000 in spend. Only available from the older Marriott Premier card, which is not available for new signups. Can be worthwhile if you need a boost to get to the next Marriott status level. Note that these is a delay before you receive the credit for your spending. This card also will give you Gold status with $50,000 of spending. Southwest Credit Card Guide 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points for every $10,000 in spending, up to 15,000 points per year (personal and business versions). Maximum is based on the 12 months starting from your last statement date in December. Delta Credit Card Guide 10,000 MQMs and 10,000 bonus miles for every $25,000 you spend, up to 20,000 per year. You can only earn this from one Delta Platinum card (personal or business, but you can combine with the bonus from the Delta Reserve card. Delta Credit Card Guide 15,000 MQMs and 15,000 bonus miles for every $30,000 you spend, up to 30,000 per year. You can only earn this from one Delta Reserve card (personal or business). But, you can combine with the bonus from the Delta Platinum card. Hilton Credit Card Guide Hilton Diamond status with $40,000 of spending (personal and business version). If you want the extra benefits of Diamond status, it is almost certainly better to just get the automatic status that comes with the Hilton Aspire card. Also earns a free night certificate with $15,000 of spending, and the business card earns a second free night certificate with a total of $60,000 of spending. Aviator Card Guide $3,000 elite qualifying dollars with $25,000 of spending. This can help anyone who flies on American a lot, but doesn't purchase expensive tickets. Plus it provides a $99 companion certificate with $20,000 of spending. Aviator Card Guide 5,000 elite qualifying miles with each $20,000 of spending, up to a total of 10,000 qualifying miles, plus $3,000 elite qualifying dollars for $50,000 of spending. Plus it provides a companion certificate good for two guests, with $30,000 of spending. American Airlines Executive Card Guide 10,000 elite qualifying miles with $40,000 of spending. JetBlue Credit Card Guide Mosaic status with $50,000 of spending. Amtrak Credit Card Guide 1,000 Amtrak elite qualifying points for each $5,000 of spending, capped at 4,000 points. Virgin Atlantic Credit Card Guide 25 Virgin Atlantic tier credits for each $2,500 of spending each month, capped at 50 tier credits per month. You also get 7,500 bonus miles for $15,000 of spending, and an additional 7,500 for an additional $10,000 of spending ($25,000 total), and qualify for a half-priced companion award ticket with $25,000 of spending. Air France KLM Card Webpage 20 Flying Blue XP with $15,000 of spending. Bonus points IHG Credit Card Guide 10,000 bonus points with $20,000 of spending. This isn't worthwhile. Spending based on the period until the first statement after your anniversary date, and every 12 months from then. Amex Platinum Card Guide 5,000 bonus points for each $20,000 in spending, maximum of 30,000 points for spending $120,000. Most people would still be better off spending with a card that earns a higher reward rate. But, it earns more points than the other versions of the Platinum cards if you can hit at least $20,000 of airfare spending. Spending is based on a calendar year. Air France KLM Card Webpage 5,000 bonus points with $50 in spending. Spending is based on your anniversary year. Choice Credit Card Guide 8,000 bonus points with $10,000 of spending. Not very worthwhile, given the spending requirement. Spending is based on each 12 month period from your account opening date. Best Western Credit Card Guide 20,000 bonus points with $5,000 of spending. The business version offers 32,000 bonus points with $25,000 of spending. With the personal card, you are getting about ${{Value|bestwestern|20000), with an opportunity cost of only about $50-75. With the business card you are getting ${{Value|bestwestern|32000), with about $250-375 worth of of opportunity cost. Virgin Atlantic Credit Card Guide 7,500 bonus miles for $15,000 of spending, and an additional 7,500 for an additional $10,000 of spending ($25,000 total). Spending is based on your anniversary year. You also qualify for a half-priced companion award ticket with $25,000 of spending. In addition, you'll earn 25 tier credits for each $2,500 you spend each month, with a cap of 50 tier credits per month. Other American Airlines Credit Card Guide $100 discount coupon with $20,000 of spending Personal version only. Spending based on each 12 month period after the account opening date or the annual fee is charged. Frontier Credit Card Guide $100 voucher with $2,500 of spending. Spending is based on each 12 month period from when you open your account. Up to a $550 airline lounge membership credit with $50,000 of spending. Spending is based on a calendar year. Depending on when you sign up for your card, it may be hard to qualify during the initial year (and leverage the initial spending requirement). Get Free Hotel Nights with Credit Card Certificates Credit Cards 101 Fast Tracks to Elite Frequent Flyer Status TravelStrategies:Benefits with Spending Requirements/Page