The Complete List of Credit Card Perks That Reset Each Calendar Year

WhatsApp Group Join Now

Telegram Group Join Now

Each year, many credit card holders miss out on valuable benefits simply because they don’t realize those perks reset at the end of the calendar year. Whether it’s travel credits, spending bonuses, or complimentary nights, knowing when your perks expire can help you get the most from your cards.

This guide covers a wide range of credit card perks that reset every calendar year, including travel credits, annual benefits, bonus categories, referral limits, and more.

Table of Contents

🧾 Section 1: Statement Credits and Annual Benefits That Reset Each Calendar Year

Many premium credit cards offer statement credits for specific purchases. Most of these benefits reset every January 1st, regardless of when you opened the card.

✈️ American Express Cards

The Platinum Card® from American Express

$200 Airline Fee Credit – Use for incidental fees with a selected airline.
$200 Hotel Credit – For bookings via Amex Travel (Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection).
$189 CLEAR® Credit – Covers your CLEAR membership annually.
$300 Equinox Credit – For eligible fitness memberships.
$100 Saks Fifth Avenue Credit – $50 available twice a year (Jan–Jun & Jul–Dec).

American Express® Gold Card

Dining Credit – Up to $120 annually ($10/month at select restaurants and food delivery services).
Resy Credit – Two $50 credits per year (one every 6 months) for reservations at eligible restaurants.

American Express® Green Card

$100 LoungeBuddy Credit – Use for airport lounge access via LoungeBuddy.
$189 CLEAR Credit – Reimburses CLEAR membership annually.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

$200 Airline Fee Credit – Split into $50 quarterly credits.
$400 Hilton Resort Credit – Split into $200 semiannual credits for eligible stays.
Complimentary Diamond Status – Renewed yearly if card is active.

Hilton Honors Surpass® Card

$50 Hilton Credit – Earned quarterly when booking directly with Hilton.

Delta SkyMiles® American Express Cards

Flight Credits – Depending on the version, you may receive up to $200 in Delta flight credits after reaching certain spending thresholds.
Hotel or Rideshare Credits – Some Delta cards now include up to $200 annually for eligible Delta Stays or rideshare services.

🏦 Citi Cards

Citi Prestige® Card (no longer open to new applicants but still active for existing users)

$250 Travel Credit – Automatically applies to eligible travel purchases each calendar year.

Citi Rewards+® Card

10% Points Back – Receive 10% of your redeemed ThankYou Points back on the first 100,000 points used annually.

💳 Capital One

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

$300 Travel Credit – For purchases made via Capital One Travel.
10,000 Anniversary Miles – Posted each account anniversary, but travel credit resets per calendar year.

🏨 Hotel Credit Cards

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express Card

$300 Dining Credit – Earned as $25 monthly statement credits at eligible restaurants.
Free Night Award – Renewed annually.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Free Night Award – Issued each year after renewal.
$100 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry Credit – Reset every 4–5 years, but tracked by calendar year for reapplication.

World of Hyatt Credit Card

Free Night Certificate – Available every year on your card anniversary.
Extra Night After $15K Spend – Tracks annual spend based on calendar year.

📊 Section 2: Bonus Categories and Spend Caps That Reset Yearly

Certain credit cards offer enhanced earning rates up to an annual cap, which restarts on January 1.

Credit Card	Annual Bonus Category Cap
Amex Blue Business Plus®	2× points on the first $50,000 in purchases/year
Amex Blue Cash Preferred®	6% back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000/year)
Amex Business Gold	4× points in top two categories (up to $150,000/year)
Amex Everyday Preferred®	3× at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000/year)

Make sure to track your annual spending on these categories to maximize rewards before they reset.

🛏️ Section 3: Free Nights, Companion Tickets & Status Boosts

Some of the most lucrative credit card perks include travel certificates and hotel benefits that reset once per calendar year.

Companion Passes & Certificates

British Airways Visa Signature® – Earn a Travel Together Ticket after $30,000 in calendar year spend.
Delta Reserve® Amex – Earn a Companion Certificate on renewal annually.
Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card – Annual Companion Fare awarded each calendar year after account anniversary.

Hotel Anniversary Nights

Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hilton cards all offer free night certificates yearly, either on cardmember anniversary or after a specific calendar year spend (often $15,000).

Elite Night Credits

Marriott Bonvoy Cards – Some provide 15–25 elite night credits per year to help toward elite status, resetting every calendar year.

📬 Section 4: Referral Bonuses Reset Annually

Most major card issuers offer referral programs where you can earn bonus points or cash by referring friends. These programs usually include a yearly cap, which resets on January 1st.

Examples:

American Express – Often capped at 55,000–100,000 Membership Rewards points per calendar year.
Chase – Caps vary by card but typically range from $500 to $1,000 in annual bonuses.

Be sure to refer friends early in the year to avoid missing the cap.

📅 Section 5: Calendar Year vs. Cardmember Anniversary – Know the Difference

Not all benefits reset on January 1. It’s essential to distinguish between:

Calendar Year Perks – Reset January 1. This includes most statement credits and bonus spend caps.
Cardmember Anniversary Perks – Reset on the anniversary of when you opened the card, such as free hotel nights or Companion Fares.

Tip: Check your card benefits guide or issuer’s website to confirm the reset schedule.

🧠 Section 6: Tips to Maximize Year-End Benefits

To make the most of calendar-based perks:

Set Reminders – Add calendar alerts for December 15 to use up any remaining credits.
Track Credit Usage – Use issuer dashboards (Amex, Chase, etc.) to monitor your remaining credits.
Combine with Offers – Stack credits with promotions (e.g., Amex Offers) to increase value.
Use Quarter-Based Credits Wisely – Don’t miss quarterly travel or dining credits that expire every 3 months.

✅ Final Thoughts

Credit card perks can easily add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars in value each year. But to unlock their full potential, it’s critical to understand which benefits reset with the calendar and to act before December 31st.

If you hold multiple premium cards, consider creating a simple spreadsheet or tracker to ensure you’re maximizing every credit before it expires.

The Complete List of Credit Card Perks That Reset Each Calendar Year | Apkacyber