It's time to take stock of your points and miles and make sure you start 2017 with VIP status. There are several ways to earn your gold or platinum status without necessarily going on a mileage run halfway around the world. Here are nine quick and painless strategies to employ before the ball drops on Dec. 31.
1. Audit your airline frequent-flier accounts
Check that you've received credit for all eligible flights you have taken with your primary airline and its partners; then see how that stacks up against the carrier's flight and spending requirements. Remember, on carriers such as Delta and United, there are new rules governing how many dollars you need to spend on airfare (in addition to flying a certain number of miles or segments) to earn your elite credentials.
Credit cards, including the Delta Reserve from American Express, will give you elite-qualifying miles in exchange for hitting spending thresholds through the year.
2. Cash in on bonuses and affiliate hotel stays
Hotels calculate your loyalty status based on the number of nights or stays you complete from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. Make sure that stays at affiliated properties have been counted, then check to see if your co-branded credit card entitles you to any elite-status bonuses. For example, if you have the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express, you're entitled to two stays' and five nights' worth of credit toward elite status each year.
3. Don't let good points and miles go to waste
Don't lose your miles just because you haven't flown on a specific airline or stayed with a particular hotel group in a while. Instead, download AwardWallet, a free app that keeps track of your points balances and expiration dates. If you find that some accounts are on their last legs, make a token purchase through an airline or hotel's shopping portal. Dine out at a restaurant partner. Buy something via a co-branded credit card. In general, all you have to do is earn a single point to keep your account alive.
