I don’t go shopping very often, but when I do, I try to shop online and utilize coupon codes to get the best deal possible. Credit card companies have been making it easy for me lately, by offering some really amazing statement credits at popular online merchants I shop with.
American Express, Bank of America, and Citi are all offering statement credits or discounts on travel and retail purchases. With the holiday shopping season being pushed back ever earlier, you might find some of these deals useful.
Many of these offers are targeted, so be sure to login to your account to determine what’s available to you. Here’s what I got targeted for this time around:
American Express Shop Small: 2X bonus points at small businesses (Amex Offers)
Through December 31, 2016, American Express is offering 2 points per $1 spent at local businesses through Shop Small. Simply register your American Express credit card. When you spend at a qualifying small business, you’ll receive an extra Membership Reward point on up to $100,000 worth of spend.
I did a quick search in my area, and participating businesses include several restaurants I frequent, a local carwash I use regularly, and even a dentist’s office. Be sure to check the list of qualifying merchants – you never know, there might be an opportunity to earn a ton of miles.
Virgin Atlantic: Spend $1,000 or more, get $200 back (Amex Offers)
This is a pretty generous offer from Virgin Atlantic, though. Unfortunately, it excludes gift card purchases and award booking fees. I did notify my friends and family about this deal. That way, if they need to book airfare with Virgin Atlantic, they’ll charge it to my credit card.
If you’re an American Express Platinum cardholder and been targeted for this offer, you’ll also earn 5x points on your purchase since it has to be made directly with the airline. This offer is only valid on bookings made through Virgin Atlantic’s U.S. website and on flights originating in the U.S.
Emirates: Spend $500 or more, get $100 Back (Amex Offers)
From time to time, Emirates offers great fare deals, including 2-for-1 airfare to Europe in both economy and business class. If an offer like that comes along, getting an extra $100 off is just icing on the cake.
Like the Virgin Atlantic offer, this one requires booking flights through the airline’s U.S. website and originating in the U.S.
Aerolineas Argentinas: Spend $500 or more, get $100 back (Amex Offers)
If you’re headed to South America, this deal from Aerolineas Argentinas might be up your alley. American Express cardholders who spend at least $500 on airfare through the airline’s U.S. website will receive $100 back.
Keep in mind that all of these airline offers from American Express require the fare to be paid in U.S. dollars.
Sunglass Hut: Spent $200, get $50 back (Amex Offers)
The $50 off $200 deal for Sunglass Hut purchases presents a small reselling opportunity. Ray bans apparently have a really high resell value. Upon investigating, I found it to be true. It’s totally possible to buy a pair and, after selling fees, earn a small profit.
I personally wouldn’t bother doing this for just one item and a couple of hundred points. But if you know someone who’s interested in buying a new pair of high-end shades, it might be an easy way to score a few extra points.
Victorinox Swiss Army: Spend $200 or more, get $40 back (Amex Offers)
If you’re in the market for new luggage, Victorinox is offering $40 cash back on purchases of $200 or more made with your American Express credit card.
Spend $100+ on your cell phone bill online, get 1,000 Membership Rewards points (Amex Offers)
This is a pretty great offer that was especially well-timed for me. I was just in the process of paying off five cell phone that were on an installment plan. Each phone had a payment of around $103, which worked out perfectly for this offer.
I got the maximum 3,000 Membership Rewards points by using my brother’s Amex Everyday card to pay off three phones. This offer can be applied up to three times per card, which is terrific if you’ve got a large cell phone bill to pay.
Make two $15+ cell phone bill payments, get $75 cash back (Bank of America)
Bank of America has their own statement credit deals, some of which aren’t entirely useless. In my case, I was offered $75 cash back for making two transactions of at least $15 each with AT&T using an eligible Bank of America credit card.
This worked out great for me because I was able to take advantage of the Amex deal for three of the phones I paid off and make the remaining two payments with my Bank of America Alaska Card to get $75 cash back. The cash back won’t post for another 30 days, but it’s free money either way.
2x on up to $2,500 at grocery stores, restaurants, and department stores (Barclay Aviator)
A few of my family members got targeted for various spending bonuses on the Barclay Aviator Red card. Last month, I got a flat 30% bonus on all spending up to $2,500. My brother got a 50% bonus and my mom was targeted for 2x points at grocery stores, restaurants, and department stores.
Look out for an email from Barclays notifying you of your eligibility for a bonus point offer like these.
Get 30% off at Cole Haan retail stores (Citi)
I’ve had my eye on a pair of shoes from Cole Haan that I was going to order online. Lucky for me, they just went on sale and Citi notified my dad that his Citi AAdvantage Platinum Card was eligible for 30% at Cole Haan in-store and online purchases. The best part? The 30% discount can be applied to sale items.
All of these statement credits and bonus point offers worked out nicely for me, since I was going to make these purchases anyway. It’s always worth it to keep track of credit card deals like these. Especially with the holiday shopping season starting so early this year!
Have you been targeted for any of these statement credit offers?
Regarding American Express Shop Small: 2X Bonus Points, are there any opportunities for MS?
Maybe if you have a local grocery store that sells gc’s you can put that to good use. Otherwise, I’m afraid it’s pretty much just limited to legitimate spend.
I got the two Amex cell phone bill offers. The one you posted above, as well as this one:
“Get 10% of your online payment back as a statement credit each time you use your enrolled Card to pay your cell phone bill online @ these accepting major US carriers (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon) by 1/31/17. Limit $30 in total credits.”
I already used this one. They way I did it is, I pre-paid $300 on my cell phone bill and I already received the $30 credit. It posted just a couple of days after. I’m now going to do the second one, although don’t know if I’ll be able to pre-pay even more money, but would like to get the 3K MRs.
Also got the Emirates and Aerolineas Argentinas offer, but likely won’t get to use them.
I got the 10% offer a few months ago. Both my dad and brother got targeted as well, so we saved $90 on our cell phone bills that way. Gotta love Amex!