Dear Santa – My 2025 Points and Miles Wish List

2025 Points and Miles Wish List

We’re a bit behind.  The wife and I have done some Christmas shopping, primarily for the little ones, but we’re usually further along by now.  But we’ll get there.  I’m similarly late making out my 2025 points and miles wish list.  Hopefully, at least a few of my wishes will come true next week.  Here are the quite-reasonable items I’m hoping for.

No Shutdowns

This year has been fairly rough up to this point – not that prior years have been perfect.  I’ve experienced a few shutdowns from multiple angles, something I prepare for but desire to avoid.  Indeed, aggressively doing things in our point and miles hobby can inevitably lead to them.  Up front, I ensure my potential benefit outweighs the shutdown risk.  Still, every shutdown brings an impact.  I know more shutdowns will come, but I’d appreciate a nice, extended break.

Amex Brings Back the EveryDay Cards

Amex removed the EveryDay cards for new applications in Fall 2024.  Previously, I enjoyed the Preferred version, which offered 4.5x Membership Rewards points on grocery store purchases ($6k annual spend cap) and 3x at gas stations when the card was used 30 times in a statement cycle.  The no-fee Everyday card still offered fun at lower reward rates.  While not a super-lucrative pair of cards, I enjoyed quickly racking up MR’s on normal, everyday (there it is) spend.

Amex has been on a heater lately, and I’d like to see that carry over to an enhanced refresh of the EveryDay cards.  Beyond my basic hope of the cards returning, I’d like to see higher bonus category multipliers on the Preferred card in return for a pricier annual fee.

AA Upgrades Keep Flowing

I hit AAdvantage Executive Platinum status again earlier this year, and my Loyalty Points balance is the highest it’s ever been.  Meanwhile, my complimentary first class upgrade hit rate is consistent to the last few years.  I feel like continuing to receive them – at least to and from my small regional airport – isn’t too big an ask.  Primarily, these upgrades have come on AA’s longest route from my home airport, and I’d like to pick up a few more on secondary flights.  Hopefully that higher LP balance helps.  It has a few times already, and I’ll see if that continues.

Hilton Honors Doesn’t Harshly Devalue Certs

Naturally, my primary wish here is that Hilton Honors doesn’t devalue this best-of-its-kind hotel free nights certificate at all.  But I feel we’re already past that.  In my view, these free night certificates are overdue for a devaluation.  They’re redeemable at the vast majority of Hilton Honors properties with a few exceptions.  Importantly, they’re still bulletproof against multiple devaluations throughout this past year.

If and when the devaluation comes, I hope it’s not earth-shattering.  Perhaps Hilton limits them to certain days of the week, but maybe not as stringent as the previous weekends-only version.  Or Hilton Honors institutes a deadline for using certs, maybe ruling out close-in bookings.  Plenty of other methods are available where Hilton can save a bit while still providing an industry-leading cert most any traveler can attain.

An Autograph Journey Approval

I’m a Wells Fargo customer, albeit a minor one.  I hold a checking account I keep fee-free with a low minimum balance, plus I’m a Choice Privileges Select cardholder.  I haven’t sniffed anything close to a Wells Fargo Autograph Journey approval since the card debuted.  The card offers attractive bonus categories and just enough useful partners to keep things interesting for me.  I probably haven’t behaved the way WF prefers in order to receive such an approval.  I’m all gas no brakes in other realms, so maybe this card will never come.  But I’m still hoping for a Christmas miracle here.

2025 Points and Miles Wish List – Conclusion

Any of the above happening is a win for me, but I’ll be the happiest little boy if at least three of the five come true.  Those Amex and Wells Fargo wishes are probably the long shots.  But, like that Sega Genesis from many years ago, sometimes magic happens.  What’s on your 2025 points and miles wish list?