For many, the last full month of summer—that means August here in the United States—makes way for one more family getaway before school starts. Otherwise, you might sneak in a cheeky goodbye-to-summer barbecue; don’t get too smug when you tell everyone how much money you saved by using points and miles this season. (Or maybe do. Be a good friend. Teach them our ways of traveling with points and miles.)
Or perhaps, the Olympics drew you to France and you have post-game adventures planned elsewhere in Europe. Wherever this month takes you, here are a few ways to squeeze every point out of those last-minute summer trips by taking advantage of the many promotions and bonus opportunities offered right now.
Ways to get bonus points for hotel stays
Accor All Live Limitless
Accor and its All Live Limitless (ALL) loyalty program says that Paris is the place to be this summer to celebrate international athletes and enjoy the city’s many sites. You can earn double or triple the number of ALL points when staying at least two nights at a participating Accor property in Paris or the broader Île de France region between now and September 30. Be sure to make your reservation by August 30 to be eligible. Reserve via the Accor app, and you’ll score another 20% points bonus.
World of Hyatt
World of Hyatt will double the points you earn when staying at its Hyatt House or Hyatt Place hotels around the world between now and October 15; register for this offer by September 15. You can earn up to 25,000 points with this promotion. Additionally, if your travels take you to the Caribbean or Latin America, members can earn 5,000 bonus points for every three nights they stay between now and October 15; register for this promotion by the end of September.
Following the addition of Mr & Mrs Smith to the World of Hyatt portfolio, members now have another option for where they can earn and redeem Hyatt points (and work their way closer to elite status): Under Canvas, a collection of upscale outdoor accommodations. Its portfolio includes 13 outdoor camping and glamping resorts, many of which are close to popular destinations like Yellowstone National Parks and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Wyndham Rewards
The longer you stay at Wyndham Rewards properties this summer, the more points you can earn. Two consecutive nights earn a 7,500-point bonus; three consecutive nights earn a 12,500-point bonus; and four nights or more in a row earn 15,000 points. Register by the end of August, and complete your stay by September 3 to earn the bonus points.
Marriott Bonvoy
There’s a lot going on with Marriott and aviation brands this month. Between now and September 2, Marriott Bonvoy members who book a stay of at least two nights in select suites at participating Marriott hotels in New York City like The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad or The New York EDITION are eligible for a free roundtrip Blade helicopter transfer from New York-JFK or Newark airports.
Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy and United MileagePlus have a loyalty partnership with an extra bonus to reward summer travel. Select elite status members in either program (Marriott Bonvoy Titanium and Ambassador members or United Premier Gold, Platinum, 1K and Global Services members) can register for this special offer and receive 750 Marriott points for each eligible United flight flown through the end of August. For each Marriott stay, travelers will earn 500 MileagePlus miles. Combine the two and take a United flight to or from a Marriott stay and earn a one-time bonus of 350 United miles and 350 Marriott points.
Ways to get extra airline miles
Get miles from back-to-school shopping
If you are planning to do your back-to-school shopping online, consider making purchases using an airline’s online shopping portal to get miles with everything you buy. This can net a lot of extra miles in the process, and many portals are offering seasonal bonuses.
United MileagePlus Shopping has the longest-lasting and most valuable promotion, offering 500 miles for spending $150; 1,500 miles for spending $350; and 2,500 bonus miles for spending $600 between now and August 12. Alaska Airlines’s shopping portal has its own deal through August 5; American has a shopping bonus offer through August 8; and Delta’s lasts through August 9.
Air France-KLM Flying Blue
A new month means new Flying Blue Promo Rewards, Air France-KLM’s regular promotions and discounts on select routes between North America and Europe. For August, travelers can save 25% on economy class award redemptions between Detroit or Toronto and Europe on Air France; or between Houston or Boston and Europe on KLM. If you need to top up your Flying Blue account, transfer them from your Citi ThankYou Rewards account, if you have one. The two have a 25% bonus transfer if you move your credit card points to your Flying Blue account, e.g. 1000 points become 1250 miles. This promotion lasts until August 17.
American Airlines AAdvantage
AAdvantage miles can take you farther than just destinations on its Oneworld route map. Members of American Airlines’s loyalty program can now redeem miles to buy concert, theater, and sports events tickets via AAdvantage Events. You can pay with miles or a combination of miles and cash. When paying cash for tickets, members will also earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points that can help you earn elite status.
Ways to get more credit card points
American Express
The American Express Gold Card is about to get better—but also pricier—when it completes updates to the card this fall. Its annual fee will go from $250 to $325 per year, but the card will also receive a series of new annual statement credits, in addition to its existing $10-per-month Uber credit and dining credit. New for the card: a $7-per-month statement credit to use at Dunkin’ and $100 in Resy credits per year.
Additionally, American Express cardholders with access to Centurion Lounges have several new airport lounges to look forward to this summer at Washington DC Reagan National and Mexico City International. Also, a new lounge will open in Newark by 2026.
Citibank
In news for travelers who love their Citi ThankYou Rewards: The credit card family now has a new partner in Virgin Red. Members of Virgin Red can redeem points for everything from virtual masterclasses and insider experiences to cruise vacations.
Chase
As ever, Chase Freedom Flex credit cardholders can still activate their rotating bonus category earnings for the third quarter of the year. Between now and September 30, cardholders can earn five Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent at movie theaters, at gas stations and on select live entertainment purchases (up to $1,500 in spending). Also, through September 30, travelers who have the United Gateway Card from Chase can activate their own special offer to earn 5x MileagePlus miles for up to $1,000 spent at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants.
