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One of the biggest secrets in the points world is that some of the best premium credit cards let you triple dip their statement credits when you apply at the right time.

If you love squeezing maximum value out of your cards, these “calendar-year credit” cards are absolute gold.

This means you can use:

• Credits at the end of this year,
• Credits next year, and
• Credits at the beginning following year.

All before paying your second annual fee!

Below are some of the best cards for triple dipping, the exact credits you can double, and how to time your application.

These cards offer credits that can be used annually, semi annually or quarterly – meaning there’s a lot of opportunity to double (or triple) dip!

American Express Platinum Card®

The Amex Platinum is one of the most powerful double dip cards thanks to its long list of calendar specific credits.

• $200 Airline Incidental Fee Credit (calendar year)
• $200 Uber Cash ($15/mo + $20 bonus in December)
• $200 Hilton Credit ($50 per quarter)
• $100 Saks Fifth Avenue Credit ($50 Jan–Jun + $50 Jul–Dec)
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit ($20/mo)
• $600 Hotel Credit ($300 Jan-Jun + $300 Jul-Dec: Fine Hotels + Resorts / The Hotel Collection)

How the Triple Dip Works

If you apply near the end of the year (December):

• Use the $200 Airline Fee Credit before Dec 31.
• Use the new $200 Airline Fee Credit starting Jan 1.
• Use the Saks July–Dec $50 credit before Dec 31.
• Use the following year’s Saks semi annual credits.
• Use the $50 quarterly Hilton credit before Dec 31.
• Use the following year’s $50 quarterly Hilton credits.
• Max out several months of Uber & Digital Entertainment credits on both sides of the year.
• Use the $300 semi annual FHR credit before Dec 31.
• Use the following year’s $300 semi annual credits.

Then when your annual fee comes due next year (around December) you’ll have about 30 days to make your decision if you want to keep, cancel or downgrade. (You can read all about how to make the decision to keep, cancel, or downgrade here.).

You should roll into the following new year before needing to pay your annual fee. Meaning it is time to take advantage of some perks again:

• Use the new $200 Airline Fee Credit starting Jan 1.
• Use the Saks July–Dec $50 credit.
• Use any monthly Uber/digital entertainment credits available.
• Use the quarterly $50 Hilton Credit.

Total Double Dip Value:
Easily $600–$1500+, depending on how aggressively you redeem.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

The Business Platinum mirrors many personal Platinum credits and adds business-focused ones that also follow calendar-year logic.

• $200 Airline Incidental Fee Credit (calendar year)
• $200 Hilton Credit ($50 per quarter)
• $600 Hotel Credit ($300 Jan-Jun + $300 Jul-Dec: Fine Hotels + Resorts / The Hotel Collection)
• $250 Adobe Credit (annual, after spending $600)
• $360 Indeed Credits ($90 quarterly)
• $120 Cell Phone Provider Credit ($10 monthly)$

I’m not going to break down the Triple Dip math with the Business Platinum. It’s very similar to the personal Amex Platinum listed above. Businesses that have spending in the business categories listed above can easily come out ahead with this card’s credits.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

The Hilton Aspire is one of the best Triple Dip cards on the market with multiple credits that reset semi-annually or quarterly — making them VERY easy to stack twice.

• $400 Hilton Resort Credit ($200 semiannually: Jan–Jun + Jul–Dec)
• $200 Flight Credit ($50 per quarter)
• $200 Hilton On-Property Credit at Waldorf Astoria & Conrad hotels (annually)
• Free Award Night (annually)

How the Triple Dip Works

Apply in December:

• Use the Jul–Dec $200 Resort Credit prior to Dec 31.
• Use the semi annual Resort Credits next year.
• Use $50 quarterly flight credits before Dec 31.
• Use $50 quarterly flight credits for the next full year.
• Use the Free Night Certificate anytime during your first membership year.

Once your annual fee posts, you should have a few weeks in the following new year to:

• Use the $200 semi annual Resort Credits (Jan-Jun).
• Use $50 quarterly flight credits.

Total Triple Dip Value:
Often $800–$1,000+ in resort + flight credits in one membership year.

Why This Is a No-Brainer for Hilton Fans

Two rounds of the resort credit alone often equal 400–600+ USD in real value before the second annual fee hits. Add in the free night certificate and high earn rates on Hilton properties and there is solid value in the first year. (BTW, here’s some of my favorite places to use those Free Night Certificates that come with this card.)

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

This card currently has an ELEVATED offer which is truly SO GOOD. Citi Strata Elite is packed with calendar-year credits that can be double-dipped if you open the card late in the year:

• $300 Annual Hotel Credit (For a 2 night stay at cititravel.com)
• $200 Annual Splurge Credit (Best Buy, Live Nation, AA, etc)
• $200 Blacklane Chauffeur Credit ($100 semiannual credit Jan-Jun + Jul-Dec)
• 4 Admirals Club passes annually (can be beneficial if close-in AA travel)

How the Triple Dip Works

Apply in December:

• Use $300 Annual Hotel Credit before Dec 31 (has to be booked by Dec 31 but may travel later).
• Use the $300 Hotel Credit any time in Year 2.
• Use the $200 Annual Splurge Credit before Dec 31.
• Use the $200 Annual Splurge Credit any time in Year 2.

When your annual fee comes due next December, go ahead and take advantage of the Year 3 credits before deciding to keep/cancel/downgrade the card:

• Use Year 3’s annual $300 Travel credit (ideally travel is completed prior to closing/downgrading card).
• Use Year 3’s $200 Splurge Credit.
• Use Admirals Club passes if possible to extract more value!

Total Triple Dip Value:

Often $800-$1200 in hotel credit and splurge credits. Note that I’m not including the Blacklane credit. That’s a pretty specific credit – likely not applicable to a lot of people!

Check out the Best Travel Rewards Cards HERE!

Conclusion

The Triple Dip strategy becomes incredibly powerful when used with premium credit cards that offer calendar-year, semi-annual, or quarterly credits. With the right timing, you can extract a lot of value out of your card – with just one annual fee!

Xoxo, Amber