2025 Points and Miles Predictions
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I know we’re now seven days into the New Year, but is it too late to make predictions about 2025?
If this year is anything like the last, it promises to be full of the unexpected. What can we anticipate when it comes to points and miles?
Here are seven predictions I have for the year ahead:
1. Credit cards will include special one-time statement credits as part of a limited-time offer.
Traditionally, credit card companies offer a big pot of bonus points or miles to entice you to sign up for a card.
That’s not going away, but we saw a new trend emerge last year. Multiple credit cards—from several different issuers—included a one-time statement credit as part of a card’s limited-time offer. That’s in addition to an elevated amount of bonus points or miles.
I expect this trend to continue with credit card offers in 2025.
The reason is simple. One-time statement credits provide a tangible, easy-to-use benefit. It’s harder to imagine how to use 75k bonus miles, but a $300 credit in the travel portal? That translates to a free night in a hotel.
That said, I think a card’s bonus points are still the most valuable part of a signup bonus. Stick with us here at Going and we’ll show you ways to use those points and miles.
Check out the best card offers available now.
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2. More co-branded airline credit cards will become powerful tools to earn elite status.
Nearly all major US carriers tie elite status to dollars spent with the airline, not actual miles flown.
As a result, some co-branded airline credit cards (usually the pricier, more premium options) offer elite status headstarts or the ability to earn elite status points through credit card spending.
For example, this one and this one already do.
I predict this trend will accelerate. I wouldn’t be surprised for co-branded airline credit cards to increase the amount of the elite status headstart cardholders receive annually, or even start to offer elite status points as part of a card’s limited-time offer.
Learn more about airline co-branded cards.
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3. A popular points currency will lose Hawaiian Airlines as a transfer partner.
As part of its merger with Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines announced it will roll out a “single combined loyalty program” in 2025.
Currently, Hawaiian Airlines is a transfer partner with the points earned from this card, this card, and this card (among others).
However, I predict that this points currency will lose Hawaiian as an airline transfer partner.
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4. Another airline will devalue its awards.
Award devaluation is inflation in points and miles. When airlines raise the number of miles needed to book an award flight, your current stash of miles and points loses value because you need to use more for a redemption.
Last year, we saw Virgin Atlantic and Avianca LifeMiles devalue their miles, raising the amount of miles it’ll cost you to book a ticket.
I predict that this will happen again this year. I predict that at least one US carrier and one international airline will devalue its awards.
But don’t expect a big news release about this. Award devaluations are more likely to happen in the dark of the night.
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5. We’ll see a one-time 20% sale for redemptions to Australia.
Australia is one of the top places Going members want to use their points and miles to visit.
And in 2024, we spotted several economy class points deals to Australia for 80k.
I predict that at least once in 2025, we’ll see points deals to Australia for at least 20% less—64k points roundtrip or fewer.
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6. We’ll see two points and miles mistake fares in 2025.
Mistake fares—when an airline lists a ticket at substantially lower prices because of human error, technology issues, or another reason—are the holy grail for fans of cheap flights. They’re rare in cash fares and even rarer in points and miles fares because of preset award charts.
Still, they can happen, and I’m bullish about this year. I predict we’ll see not one, but two mistake fares in 2025.
My guess is we’ll see one mistake fare to Oceania and one mistake fare to Europe.
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7. Bonus: The Going app will send you exciting and unexpected points deals.
Ok, this can’t be considered a prediction because I’m 100% confident on this one.
Download our app, subscribe, and you won’t miss a deal.
P.S. If you’re curious about how well I did on my 2024 predictions, check out the results here.
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Don’t miss out—Save hundreds on international flights with Premium ($49 $37) or Elite ($199 $149).
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With expert:
Kurt Adams
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Kurt is a writer with too many credit cards in his wallet. Before becoming a credit card points pro, he wrote personal finance and small business content. A graduate of Princeton, he lives in New York City.
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