Timing is everything when opening a new credit card. But it's absolutely critical with American Express cards – and the time has never been better than now.
Of course, the best time to get any new travel credit card is when you have a big purchase coming up, allowing you to earn a big welcome bonus for the money you were going to spend anyhow. But for American Express cards in particular, December stands out.
It starts with some record-setting bonuses currently available on many Amex cards. But more importantly, you can double- or even triple-dip on Amex's (admittedly dizzying) array of money-saving statement credits – once before the year is over, then again as the New Year begins.
Just remember: Credit cards are serious business. No matter the time of year, you should never apply for a credit card if you're already in debt and can't afford to pay off every charge in full. Any points or cash back you might earn simply aren't worth it.
Whether it's this year or next, read on as we unpack why December is the best month on the calendar to add a new Amex card to your wallet.
Double- or Triple-Dip Annual Statement Credits
From Amex's portfolio of its own Membership Rewards cards – like the *amex gold* and especially *amex platinum* – to co-branded Delta SkyMiles credit cards, several top Amex credit cards are on our wish list for December each year.
That's because these cards come with a handful of statement credits, many of which expire and renew on a calendar year basis – not the cardmember year, or based upon the date you opened the card.
Since annual fees typically don't post until your first statement finalizes – usually around a month after opening the card you could theoretically use some of these credits in three different calendar years, all while paying a single annual fee.
Here's a look at a few of our favorites.
Amex Platinum $200 Hotel Credit
For example, *amex platinum* comes with up to $200 of statement credits every year for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings (minimum two-night stays for The Hotel Collection) made through Amex Travel.
Learn more about *amex platinum*.
This credit expires on Dec. 31, and a new on becomes available on Jan. 1. That means that if you open the card in December, you could potentially score yourself two (or even three) $200 statement credits, all while paying a single $695 annual fee (see rates & fees).
Here's how it works: Book a hotel stay now – for stays as far out as the end of next year – and then when the calendar flips to 2025, your $200 credit will renew and you can book another hotel or even add on an extra night at the same property.
Assuming your annual fee doesn't hit until January, you'd be able to use this $200 credit once more in 2026 before deciding if you wanted to keep the card for another year. And since Amex allows you to cancel or downgrade your card within 30 days of the annual fee posting, you've really got even more time than that.
With up to $600 in hotel credit on the table, you can recoup most of the annul fee just by timing your application right.
Thrifty Tip: If you open an Amex Platinum Card in December, you'll also get an “extra” $20 in Uber Cash to use immediately. Cardholders typically get $15 per month, but in December it's bumped up to $35.
Delta Stays
Similar to the Amex Platinum Card, Delta's flagship *delta reserve card* comes with a hefty $650 per year price tag (see rates & fees) that's sure to scare off many travelers. But if you time it right, you could easily cut down the cost by taking full advantage of your card benefits, especially the annual statement credits that expire on a calendar year basis.
Learn more about the *delta reserve card*.
For instance, if you took advantage of your Delta Reserve Card's up to $200 Delta Stays Credit in three different calendar years, you'd be able to get the majority of your annual fee back.
If you're able to do the same triple-dip with the card's $20 per month Resy Credit and $10 per month Rideshare credit – and use them every other month of the year – you'd get $1,020 back in statement credits, effectively canceling out your Delta Reserve Card's annual fee and “making” $370 with these statement credits.
Don't get me wrong, all these credits can be a bear to use and most travelers shouldn't take them at face value. But if you do the math and time it right, you can still come out way ahead.
And the top-dollar Reserve Card isn't the only one that gets these Delta stays credits: Even the entry-level *delta skymiles gold card* will get you up to $100 back each year.
Learn more about the *delta skymiles gold card*.
But here's the best part: The SkyMiles Gold Card has a $0 introductory annual fee and then just $150 each year after that (see rates & fees). That means if you're able to double- or triple-dip this credit, you'll come out $300 ahead without paying a single dollar in annual fees.
If you decide the card's ongoing benefits aren't worth paying an annual fee in year two, you could simply downgrade to the $0 annual fee (see rates & fees) *delta blue* to keep the credit line open and still have a way to earn SkyMiles – though, there are far better options out there for that.
Airline Credits
A handful of Amex Cards come with airline credits that we can apply this same triple-dip strategy to.
Both the Amex Platinum and *biz platinum* offer up to $200 per year in statement credits for incidental airline fees with your chosen airline. This is intended to be use to cover ancillary fees like baggage and seat assignment. And while that complicates things, there are still some ways to squeeze plenty of value out of these credits – including for booking flights on airlines like Delta, Southwest, and United.
Since this credit runs on a calendar year basis, you could use it in three different years and get up to $600 back – again, recouping much of the cards' annual fees and when paired with other credits, helping you come out ahead.
Meanwhile, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card comes with a new $200 flight credit that's far simpler to use, but also runs on a calendar basis … with a twist. This credit is available on a quarterly basis which means you could use it now in December, up to four times in 2025, and then again in the first quarter of 2026, for a total of $300 back – all while paying a single $550 annual fee (see rates & fees).
We consider the Hilton Aspire Card the best hotel credit card, period – read our guide to see why!
All information about the Hilton Aspire Card has been collected independently by Thrifty Traveler and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
Learn more about the Hilton Honors Aspire Card (for full disclosure, this is our personal referral link)
Hilton Credits
Both the *Hilton Surpass* and the Business Platinum come with up to $200 per year in statement credits for hotel stays booked directly with Hilton.
Much like the Hilton Aspire's airline credit, this is broken up into quarterly chunks of $50 every three months. By adding one of these cards now, you could score up to $300 in credit while only paying a single annual fee. And even if you aren't planning to stay with Hilton before the end of the year, you could buy a gift card or pre-pay for a future stay!
Learn more about the *Hilton Surpass*.
The Hilton Aspire comes with a credit for Hilton stays, too, but this one is only good at participating Hilton resorts. With this card, you'll get up to $400 in credit each year, broken up into semi-annual chunks of $200. Adding the Hilton Aspire now means you'd have up to $800 of resort credit at your disposal for a single $550 annual fee.
If you're not planning to stay at a Hilton Resort before the end of the year, you could always plan a stay for further out and then call the hotel to pre-pay $200 now in order to use this credit.
What To Do in Year Two
The reason now is such a good time to get an Amex Card is because of the opportunity to double- and triple-dip on many of these yearly statement credits. But eventually you're going to have to pay a second annual fee … or maybe not.
One thing you don't want to do is cancel your Amex Card within the first year. Not only will that ruin any chance of triple-dipping statement credits, but it's also a sure-fire way to upset the bank and end up in Amex's dreaded pop-up jail.
What you can (and should) do is wait for your annual fee to post and then check with Amex for a retention offer. Oftentimes, the bank will offer you a little something extra to keep your card open for another year – even if you just got it the year before. If the offer is enough for you to keep the card open, you'll be on the hook for a second annual fee but at least you'll score some more points or a statement credit in the process.
If you don't get a retention offer, or still want to avoid paying another annual fee, you can likely downgrade to a cheaper (or free) version of the card. Of course, you can always close the card outright but doing this too often will likely land you in trouble with Amex … and maybe even keep you from getting approved with other banks, too.
Read more: How to Product Change Your Credit Card (& Why You Should)
Bottom Line
There's no wrong time to add a new American Express Card to your wallet – but there is a best time … and that's right now. By opening a new Amex card in December, you'll be able to “triple-dip” on some of your new card's annual statement credits, all while paying a single annual fee.
Unlike most banks' travel credits, Amex awards many of it's best perks on a calendar basis, meaning now is perfect time to open a new card.