The Best Airline Promotions of December 2023

It would take a lot of flights and a lot of money to earn airline miles only by flying. Thankfully, there are plenty of other ways to earn miles through airline credit cards, dining programs, online shopping portals, cruises, vacation packages and rental cars. If that list isn’t long enough, check out some of these limited-time bonus mile offers from airlines.

Get your fourth night free on hotel stays booked with points

Now through Dec. 31, 2024, Aeroplan® Credit Card cardholders can book four consecutive nights at a participating hotel using Aeroplan points and get the fourth night free. There is no cap on the number of free nights that cardholders can earn.

Through the airline's HotelSavers partnership program, cardholders can book these promo-eligible stays at a wide range of properties around the world. To learn more about this promo, click here.

Earn double elite-qualifying miles on flights within California

Alaska loyalists can earn double elite-qualifying miles on eligible nonstop flights within California between Aug. 15, 2023, and Nov. 15, 2023.

Mileage Plan members must register by Oct. 31, 2023, to take advantage of this promotion. The promotion applies to First Class and Main Cabin fares, though Saver Fares and award travel are excluded.

To learn more and register for this promotion, click here.

1,000 bonus miles when you join Mileage Plan Dining

Joining Mileage Plan Dining is free, and you’ll earn miles at over 10,000 participating restaurants. All you have to do is sign up and register your credit cards to earn up to 5 miles per dollar at select restaurants.

Plus, you’ll get 1,000 bonus miles when you spend $30 in the first 30 days of joining the program and submit a review within 30 days of your visit.

2,250+ bonus miles for joining a wine club

Wine aficionados have multiple miles-earning opportunities with Alaska's partners, Vinesse and Laithwaites Wine Club. Your first box of wine will get you 2,250 bonus miles when you join either one. Buying any additional wine in later shipments from Vinesse will earn 5 miles per dollar.

With Laithwaites Wine Club, the earning structure is a little different. Each case of wine after the first one will earn 1,000 miles each, and non-wine club purchases will earn 3 miles per dollar.

» Learn more: The beginner's guide to flying first class

1,000 bonus miles per box on your first 5 boxes from Home Chef

Meal kits might be one way to spice up your current grocery and takeout routine. When you order a box of ingredients for a Home Chef recipe, you'll earn 1,000 miles per box with this Alaska Airlines promotion. The bonus miles are applied to your first five boxes.

Fast track to Hyatt elite status through February 2025

Now through Nov. 30, 2023, AAdvantage elites who have linked their American and Hyatt loyalty accounts can register to receive a 90-day trial of Hyatt Explorist status, the World of Hyatt loyalty program's mid-level status tier.

AAdvantage elites of any tier who stay at least 10 qualifying nights at eligible Hyatt properties during that 90-day trial period will have their Explorist status extended through February 2025.

What's more, AAdvantage elites who hold Platinum Pro status or higher can earn Hyatt Globalist status — World of Hyatt's highest tier — through February 2025 by staying 20 qualifying nights during the 90-day Explorist trial period.

Log in to your World of Hyatt account and register for the promo here.

2,000 bonus miles on your wine delivery

American Airlines' partnership with Vinesse Wines means you can earn miles while you sip wine at home during social distancing measures. Your first shipment of wine will net you 2,000 bonus miles. After that, you'll earn 5x miles per dollar on every subsequent shipment.

Bonus miles by opening a savings account with Bask Bank

If you're trying to save money instead of spend it, opening a savings account with Bask Bank might be a good way to boost your mileage earnings. Instead of earning interest, you'll earn 1 mile per dollar that's in your Bask Bank savings account per year.

The real boost in miles comes from the sign-up bonus, which is 1,000 miles for maintaining a $5,000 balance in your account for 90 days within 120 days of the account opening. There are additional bonuses available for providing feedback and keeping higher minimum balances of $25,000 or more.

1,000 miles by spending $25 in the first 30 days of joining the AAdvantage dining program

New AAdvantage dining members earn 1,000 miles after spending $25 in the first 30 days of joining the program. (Pro tip: Register your Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, which offers double points on dining already.) When you pay for your meal with a registered card at a participating restaurant, you will earn at least 1 mile per $1 spent.

Registering your card and signing up for emails from the program is an easy way to earn at least 3 miles per dollar spent at participating restaurants. This promotion is ongoing.

10x miles on your donations to Stand Up to Cancer

American Airlines has partnered with the Stand Up to Cancer charity to offer AAdvantage miles for donating. You'll get 10 miles per dollar you donate on contributions of more than $25. You must donate through this special link to receive the points.

» Learn more: How to avoid getting a raw deal on airline miles purchases

Up to $200 in Avelo credit through Capital One partnership

Apply for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card through Avelo Airelines' site and earn flight credits and priority boarding in your first year of card membership. When you apply for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you'll get a $200 statement credit valid for spending with Avelo during your first year of card membership. Applying for the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card through Avelo's site will get you a $100 credit toward Avelo spending in your first year of card membership. Apply here.

Earn double Avios on up to 10 flights

Register and book by Nov. 21, 2023, and earn 2x Avios on every dollar spent on British Airways flights, up to 10 flights. Executive Club members can also 2x Avios on vacation packages booked through British Airways.

Travel must be completed by Jan. 14, 2024, to qualify. Register here.

Earn 2,000 miles for your first car rental through Turo

Delta SkyMiles members can link their SkyMiles number to their Turo profile and earn 2,000 miles on their first Turo trip. On subsequent Turo rentals, Delta members will earn 500 miles per trip.

NerdWallet values 2,000 Delta SkyMiles at about $26, while 500 miles are worth about $6.50. While that's not enough for a free flight, it's an easy way to earn Delta SkyMiles, particularly if you have a penchant for rental car alternatives like Turo anyway.

Earn bonus miles with Lyft rides

Thanks to a partnership between Delta and Lyft, you can earn SkyMiles every time you ride with Lyft. You can also earn 2 miles per $1 on airport rides. Just make sure your SkyMiles and Lyft accounts are linked to start earning.

» Learn more: All the ways riding Lyft can earn you travel rewards

Earn up to 3,000 bonus miles in the first 30 days of joining SkyMiles dining

Join the SkyMiles dining program, register your credit card and you could get 500 miles by spending $30 at participating restaurants within the first 30 days of joining. Elite Medallion members earn 1,000 bonus miles on their first visit.

You can earn an extra 1,000-mile bonus on your second visit when you spend $30. Finally, get another 1,500 miles on your third visit with a minimum spend of $30. Keep in mind you must complete an online review after your visits to receive the miles. You must create a dining profile by June 30, 2022, to qualify for these bonuses.

Earn up to 8 miles per $1 spent on Hertz car rentals

Delta SkyMiles members already earn 4 miles per $1 spent on car rentals with Thrifty and Dollar, but members with elite Medallion status can earn even more with Hertz.

Here's how much each level of elite status earns:

SkyMiles Members will now earn extra miles according to their status with Delta:

• Diamond Medallion: 8 miles per $1 spent.

• Platinum Medallion: 7 miles per $1.

• Gold Medallion: 6 miles per $1.

• Silver Medallion: 5 miles per $1.

• SkyMiles Member: 4 miles per $1.

Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on Airbnb bookings

Staying at Airbnb can get you miles, similar to staying at the airline's partner hotels. Book your stay through Delta's Airbnb portal to earn 1 mile per dollar spent on your booking. Make sure to enter your Delta SkyMiles account number before you book. This earning opportunity is ongoing.

» Learn more: Unpopular opinion — Airbnb has become terrible

Yearly miles bonuses

JetBlue offers bonus miles when you fly a certain number of flights in a calendar year. Award flights do not count toward the bonus.

• Receive 5,000 bonus miles when you complete three round-trip flights.

• Receive 7,000 bonus miles when you complete seven round-trip flights.

• Receive 10,000 bonus miles when you complete 10 one-way flights that are 1,600 miles or longer.

3 miles per dollar spent on in-flight Amazon purchases

Save your Amazon shopping for your flight. When you log into JetBlue’s Fly-Fi network and visit Amazon.com, you can earn 3 miles per $1 spent on eligible purchases.

This bonus will not apply if you purchase through the Amazon app onboard your flight.

» Learn More: Find the best airline credit card for you

Earn 30 miles per €1 spent

A pretty remarkable deal from Lufthansa and Booking.com gets Miles & More members 30 miles for every €1 (or euro equivalent) spent on hotel stays booked through the online travel agency, up to 150,000 miles.

Even with current exchange rates, you're bound to get pretty significant value out of your spending with that earn rate. If you're not a regular Lufthansa flyer, the airline is a Star Alliance member, so you've got options for using those miles.

Stays must be booked in December 2023, but there are no restrictions on when stays can occur. Miles earned through the promotion will be credited to member accounts 64 days after the completion of eligible stays. Just be mindful that Lufthansa miles expire after 36 months for non-elite Miles & More members.

Learn more and book at the promo page here.

Earn 1,000 bonus miles for joining the dining program

You know the drill. Register your card, dine at a participating restaurant within the first 30 days of joining Spirit’s dining program, submit a review and get 1,000 bonus miles.

30% off base rates and 3X Rapid Rewards earnings on Budget car rentals

Now through Dec. 31, 2023, Rapid Rewards members can earn 3X points and save 30% off the base rate on qualifying car rentals made with Budget at the company's airport locations.

Rentals must be for four days or more to qualify for the elevated 3X earn rate. Bonus points earnings are capped at 1,800. Promo valid on rentals from Sept. 25, 2023, through Dec. 31, 2023.

Southwest loyalists must book via this link to take advantage of this promo.

Earn up to 125,000 points by referring companies to Southwest Business

Southwest is giving Rapid Rewards members the opportunity to earn bonus points for referring companies to Southwest Business (SWABIZ), the airline's corporate travel program. Members can earn 25,000 points per qualifying referral, pending company completion of the referral process. Members can make up to five referrals (125,000 points total) in a 12-month period.

Learn more and start referring companies here.

Get 500 bonus points for earning 1,500 points in the dining program

Members with a Rapid Rewards dining account can earn a "First Step" bonus. After earning 1,500 points through dining at participating restaurants and completing reviews, members will receive 500 bonus points. New member bonuses do not count toward the first 1,500 points needed to qualify for the First Step promotion.

10x points on carbon offsets

Southwest Rapid Rewards members can earn 10x points on every dollar they spend on carbon offsets (excluding fees). All you have to do is purchase a carbon offset for an upcoming flight here. You can earn up to 500 bonus points per month through Southwest's carbon offset program.

Get a 30% bonus on transfers from Citi ThankYou

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members who also collect Citi ThankYou points can transfer their ThankYou points to Virgin in increments of 1,000 and get a 30% on those transfers. That's 1,300 Flying Club points for every 1,000 ThankYou points transferred. Promo active through Oct. 14, 2023.

To review this promo and other Citi transfer opportunities, click here.