How to Travel Like a Pro With Points and Miles in September 2024

Marriott Bonvoy has a couple of its own fall promotions: When you stay two or more nights at any Marriott property around the world, you earn 2,000 bonus points. Furthermore, thanks to Marriott’s new partnership with MGM Resorts, Marriott Bonvoy members get an extra 4,000 points per stay at any MGM Collection property, like the Mandalay Bay or Vdara Hotel & Spa in Las Vegas. You have until November 12 to register for the promotion, but the window for eligible stays is between September 10 to November 26.

Another promotion for the fall season: If you redeem Marriott Bonvoy points to book four nights at select hotels in the Caribbean and Latin America, you get a fifth night for free. On top of that, you also receive a $200 credit to use during the stay. Participating hotels include The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort in Mexico, The Ritz-Carlton, Turks & Caicos, and The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort & Spa in Costa Rica, among many others. You must make your booking by October 1 to take advantage of this offer, but your travel dates can go up to November 19.

And finally, American AAdvantage members who donate to Stand Up to Cancer earn miles while supporting cancer research. This is the eighth year the airline has teamed up with the organization, where a donation of at least $25 will earn 25 AAdvantage miles per dollar spent between now and September 30. Meaning: A $25 donation will net you 625 AAdvantage miles

Get elite status with these airlines faster

For select members, American AAdvantage and World of Hyatt currently have a promotion: You can use your elite status with the hotel to upgrade your status with the airline to the corresponding tier; for example, World of Hyatt members with Explorist status—the program’s middle tier for loyalists—are eligible to have Aadvantage Platinum status for four months. Then, if they earn 25,000 Loyalty Points within that time period, they can keep the status for a year. Hyatt Globalists (the highest tier) receive Aadvantage Platinum Pro—and even have the chance to reach top-tier Executive Platinum. Log into your World of Hyatt account to see if you have an offer.

Worried about making your status goals with Delta SkyMiles this year? Now through September 30, you can earn Medallion Qualification Dollars—or MQDs, the metric that determines your status for the coming year—when booking a hotel, rental car or vacation rental. This is a perfect opportunity for anyone not flying in the next couple of months (maybe you’re road tripping instead), but would still like to stay on track for elite status with Delta. Travel must be completed by the end of October.

JetBlue TrueBlue currently has a status match offer: Travelers who have elite status with the loyalty programs of Alaska, American, Delta, and United can get the corresponding elite status within JetBlue’s Mosaic program. All you have to do is complete a form online.