If you’re an avid points and miles traveler, you probably have a lot of premium credit cards in your wallet. This is for good reason: these cards often have great benefits that can make your travel experience more enjoyable.
That said, some of these cards may have overlapping benefits, such as Global Entry statement credits, lounge passes and airfare credits.
If you have excess or expiring benefits that you can’t take advantage of, consider giving them as a gift this holiday season. Chances are someone in your family and friends would really appreciate Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, a free hotel night or airport lounge access.
Here’s what you need to know if you plan to share the benefits of travel with your loved ones.
Global Entry and TSA PreCheck
Almost all major travel credit cards include a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application refund worth up to $120 once every four or five years, depending on the card. These programs give you access to expedited airport security lines for up to five years.
Fortunately, credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck is not limited to the cardholder. So, if you have multiple cards that offer this benefit, you can use one to pay for your application, and then you can gift someone else by using one of your cards to pay that person’s application fee.
It will appear on your credit card statement as a charge from US Customs and Border Protection, and the credit should appear within a few days.
TSA PreCheck is included with Global Entry, and the price difference is minimal ($78-$85 for the former vs. $120 for the latter). Both will be fully reimbursed by most credit cards with this type of fee waiver.
Here are some top eligible cards that come with a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit:
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I Amex Platinum again Business Platinum cards that offer a Global Entry refund once every four years and a TSA PreCheck refund once every 4½ years. I Citi AAdvantage Executive Card provides reimbursement for any plan once every five years. Some cards on this list offer cashback for any plan every five years.
Related: 14 things to know about Global Entry
Free hotel nights
Some hotel credit cards offer annual rewards nights on your account anniversary, and you can use these rewards to book someone else’s stay. These usually expire after a year. If you can’t use the award night, you can give it to a friend or family member instead.
In most cases, you can book a hotel under someone else’s name with a certificate or book a stay under your own name and add the host as an additional guest. The guest can then check in without you being there.
That said, note that all free nights are not created equal, as there are limits on hotel category and point value. Here’s a look:
Hilton Aspire Amex card information is independently collected by The Points Guy. The card information on this page has not been updated or provided by the card issuer.
Related: 7 of the best hotel credit cards that come with annual free nights
Airline tickets
A few airline cobranded credit cards include affiliate certificates as an annual bonus. You can use these to bring a friend on the flight with you at the cost of taxes and other related fees. If you have a certificate available, invite a friend to come with you on an upcoming trip and cover the cost of their flight booking with their companion ticket.
That said, each airline ticket is created differently. I Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card includes an annual companion ticket that lets you bring a companion for $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees starting at $23). It can only be used for economy fares, but the tickets are eligible for an upgrade with a certificate or a complimentary elite upgrade.
Here’s a look at all the cards that offer companion tickets:
Information for the Aviator Red and Aviator Silver cards has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card information on this page has not been updated or provided by the card issuer.
Related: What happens if you use your friend’s certificate for a canceled flight?
Annual travel credits
If you have a credit card with travel credits, you can use these to improve the travel experience of a friend or relative. That could be a nice seat, a hotel stay or paying for that person’s checked bags.
Redeem annual travel credits on Amex Platinum and Business Platinum
I Amex Platinum comes with up to $200 in annual prepaid hotel credits and up to $200 in annual airline accident credits each year. I Amex Business Platinum and comes with up to $200 in annual flight risk statement credits. (Registration is required in advance to receive selected benefits.)
Check out TPG’s complete guide to using Amex airline credit for more ways to use your credit.
With Amex Platinum, you can book a prepaid hotel stay before the New Year — even if it’s a hotel stay until after New Year’s, as long as you make the payment before the end of the year. Note that you, as the cardholder, must check into the hotel, so this is only possible if you are traveling with your loved one.
Chase’s tour credits are extensive
Those with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card enjoy a $300 annual travel credit. This includes any expenses incurred as travel, including Uber rides, hotel stays, airfare and anything else related to travel.
Most of us have probably used up our Chase travel credit at this point in the year, given how extensive it is, but if you still happen to have some of that credit, you can get smart about how you give it.
Related: What purchases count as travel with the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Some cards have travel credits
There are other credit cards that offer annual travel credits, too. You can use this experience for gift travel or travel promotion for others:
Information for the Altitude Reserve, Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite, and Hilton Honors Aspire cards has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card information on this page has not been updated or provided by the card issuer.
Annual shopping bills
I Amex Platinum again Amex Business Platinum cards offer several annual shopping credits each year, which come in the form of statement credits after qualifying purchases.
The personal version includes:
Meanwhile, the business version offers:
Early registration is required for these benefits, and your refund will come in the form of a statement credit after qualifying purchases. The Dell, Adobe, and Real on Amex Business Platinum credits have an expiration date of June 30, 2025.
Related: Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum shopping credits to reset soon – why you should use them now
Benefits for authorized users
One of the easiest ways to offer a variety of benefits to someone – and not just during the holidays – is to make them an authorized user on your credit card.
The specific benefits offered to authorized users vary from card to card, but this can also be a great way to help someone build or rebuild their credit.
Two of the best credit cards for authorized user benefits are these Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard and Capital One Venture X.
The Citi AAdvantage Executive Card gives Admirals Club access to the primary cardholder and authorized users with same-day boarding on an eligible flight (add up to three authorized users for a total of $175, then $175 for additional.)
The Venture X card also offers lounge benefits for authorized users, and premium rental car status* — both free for up to four authorized users.
*Upon registration, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level throughout the offer period. Please note, registering through the standard Hertz Gold Plus Rewards registration process (eg at Hertz.com) will not automatically qualify the cardholder for the program and cardholders will not automatically be upgraded to an active tier. Additional terms apply
Here are the cards with key benefits for authorized users:
**Effective February 1, 2025: Eligible Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Eligible Platinum Card Visits per year at Delta Sky Club or Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day flight operated by Delta.
***Effective Feb. 1, 2025: Eligible Business Card Savings and Business Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of visits each year beginning Feb 1, 2025, total eligible purchases on the card must be $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter. [Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits (including Grab and Go) at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.]
Bottom line
The holidays are a great time to share the benefits of premium rewards cards. Whether it’s a lounge, a companion certificate or another travel benefit, it can go a long way for someone who doesn’t have their points and miles. And, when you give those benefits as gifts, you let your friends and loved ones experience the value of points and miles. Who knows? The gift alone may inspire them to start their own points and miles journey.
Related: The best credit cards for holiday shopping
For prices and fees for the Amex Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees for the Amex Business Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees for the Amex Marriott Bonvoy business card, click here.
For rates and fees for the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, click here.
For Hilton Aspire Card rates and fees, please click here.
For Delta Reserve card rates and fees, click here.
For prices and fees for the Delta Reserve business card, click here.
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