Why the end of the year is the best time to open a premium card

There are many reasons why the end of the year is a great time to open a new premium rewards credit card. It’s not just that these cards offer perks that can help you make the most of your typically hectic holiday travel. Some also offer statement points that reset at the end of the calendar year, while others offer limited-time bonuses or holiday shopping or travel promotions.

Additionally, increasing your spending around the holidays—gifts, holidays, even holiday dinners and decorations—can help you meet the spending requirements for your massive welcome bonus.

Here are some reasons why you might want to open a new premium card before the end of the year, and how to maximize the card’s benefits if you do.

Related: The best premium credit cards: Side-by-side comparison

Year-end spending credit double dip

Many premium credit cards have benefits that reset annually. If you open a new credit card in November or December, you may be able to take advantage of the card’s benefits in late 2025 and early 2026 and double your savings in a short period of time. Examples include:

• Get up to $100 in annual bill credit when you shop at Saks Fifth Avenue American Express Platinum Card®. (This benefit requires early registration and provides up to $50 in credits every six months.)
• Earn up to $150 in statement points on purchases made directly with Dell in the U.S. and up to $1,000 in statement points when you spend $5,000 or more at Dell each calendar year American Express Business Platinum Card® (Advance registration required).

Related: Don’t let points go to waste: Your year-end credit card checklist

Some other examples of where you might be able to double your annual travel points using this strategy include:

These points help offset the annual fee of up to $895 for the Platinum and Business Platinum Cards (see Platinum and Business Platinum Card rates and fees).

RELATED: American Express Platinum and American Express Business Platinum Card Shopping Points Are About to Reset — Why You Should Use Them Right Now

Take advantage of opportunities to use your points and miles

Whether it’s a welcome bonus or income from your daily expenses, now is the perfect time to use your hard-earned rewards for the trip of a lifetime.

An example that comes readily to mind is using Atmos Rewards points to book short-haul flights on American Airlines. These flights can be expensive if you’re paying cash during the holidays, but using your Atmos Rewards points to offset the cost of a family reunion can save hundreds of dollars from your year-end budget.

For some redemption inspiration, check out the following:

Plus, you can use points from your new card to pay for your loved ones’ travel next year. Travel isn’t cheap, and using points and miles to offset those costs is a great reason to add a premium credit card to your wallet.

Give gifts to others during the holidays

Premium credit cards offer valuable benefits that you can give to others. Consider these factors when deciding on gifts for friends and family during the holidays.

For example, you can use the Amex Platinum Card to make qualifying purchases from Saks Fifth Avenue, or the Amex Business Platinum Card to make qualifying purchases from Dell. Since you receive statement points for qualifying purchases (after joining benefits), these gifts may come at no out-of-pocket cost.

You can also gift lounge access to the travelers in your life. This could come from adding a loved one to your American Express Platinum Card or Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® For example (see Rates and Fees). Remember, you are responsible for all spending by authorized users on your account, so set expectations and spending limits before adding them to your account.

Note that most loyalty programs allow you to use points or miles to book travel for others. If you’re looking for a gift for someone who has everything, using your rewards to book them a flight or hotel stay can give them the trip of a lifetime while saving you money.

For more ideas, see our guide to credit card perks you can give as holiday gifts.

Related: The Best Value Credit Cards for Authorized Users

Get a generous welcome offer

Let’s end with the biggest reason to apply for a credit card: the welcome offer. Earning a quick windfall of points or miles is always appealing, and your holiday shopping can help you meet the spending requirements for those bonuses.

Capital One Venture X Business offers a welcome offer to earn up to 400,000 bonus miles. Earn 200,000 miles when you spend $30,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening, and earn an additional 200,000 miles when you spend $150,000 in purchases within the first six months of account opening. Based on TPG’s December 2025 valuation, this offer could be as high as $7,400.

Plus the current offers mentioned above American Express Business Platinum Card: Earn 200,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 in qualifying purchases within the first three months of card membership.

This welcome offer is worth $4,000 based on our December 2025 valuations, but it could be worth more if you redeem your points for business class flights or last-minute travel.

These welcome offers and more will help you start the new year on a good financial footing.

bottom line

The end of the year is a great time to consider adding a premium credit card to your wallet. Between the great bonuses we covered above and the ability to double your points on spending, you can treat yourself this holiday season by applying for a premium credit card and reaping its many benefits. If you’re really in the vacation spirit, you can share some of these benefits with travelers on your shopping list.

For American Express Platinum Card rates and fees, click here.

For rates and fees on the American Express Business Platinum Card, click here.