Why December Is the Best Time to Open a Premium Credit Card
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If you want to squeeze the most value out of premium credit cards (the ones with lots of perks, credits, and higher annual fees), December is one of the best months to apply!
Here’s why: many premium travel cards reset certain benefits every calendar year, so if you open a card in December you can use the perks now and again starting January. That means you get extra credits—sometimes even two or three rounds—while only paying one annual fee.
How to Double (and Even Triple!) Dip Credit Card Benefits at Year-End
If you’re thinking about applying for a premium credit card soon, the end of the year is the perfect time to make your card work extra hard for you! In this guide, we’ll break down how the strategy works, why this timing is so powerful, and how you can maximize year-end credits specifically with:
The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (🚨 Limited time offer!)
Let’s dive in.
What Does “Double” or “Triple Dip” Actually Mean?
Many premium credit cards offer statement credits that reset at the start of each calendar year (January 1) rather than on your card-membership anniversary.
That means if you time your card opening right — typically late November or December — you can often use:
Credits for the current year to use immediately (Year 1)
Freshly reset credits on January 1 (Year 2)
And potentially another full set of credits at the start of your second cardmember year (Year 3)
… all before your second annual fee posts.
This overlapping timing is the key of the double and triple dip strategy. If you were already planning to apply for a premium travel card, this timing can front-load a ton of value and help offset the annual fee in a big way!
Cards That Shine With the Triple Dip Strategy
Let’s break down how year-end timing works for the three awesome credit cards!
1. Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
🚨 Limited-time 100,000-point offer!
Because Citi ThankYou Points now transfer to American Airlines, that welcome bonus could turn into 100,000 AA miles.
Citi’s newest premium travel card has strong year-end potential for maximizing benefits. As of December 2025, it includes:
$300 annual hotel credits (2 night stay booked at cititravel.com)
$200 annual splurge credit (you can select 2 options from Best Buy, American Airlines, Live Nation, 1stDibs, Future Personal Training)
4 Admirals Club passes annually (each pass can be used for 1 adult and up to 3 kids. These can be valuable if you’re traveling with American Airlines for the holidays!)
Because these benefits reset every calendar year, opening the card in early December could allow:
One round of credits right after approval
A second round starting January 1
And then, depending on how Citi handles anniversary timing, a possible third before your next annual fee hits
That means hundreds of extra dollars in value before paying a second annual fee.
Despite having a $595 annual fee, getting to triple-dip JUST the Spurge Credit would cover the cost of the annual fee for one year! This makes the Strata Elite especially compelling if you want to earn credit card points and premium travel perks outside of the Chase, Capital One and American Express ecosystems!
💳 Check out the best travel reward cards -> HERE
2. American Express Platinum Card®
The Amex Platinum is packed with statement credits—and many of them reset on a calendar-year basis. That means if you open the card in December, you can potentially double dip (or even triple dip!) before paying a second annual fee.
Yes, the annual fee is $895 😅 (Rates & Fees) BUT using these credits across multiple calendar years can easily outweigh that fee.
Here are some of the most useful calendar-year credits:
$200 Airline Incidental Credit
$600 Hotel Credit for Fine Hotels + Resorts / The Hotel Collection
($300 January–June + $300 July–December)
You don’t need to travel in those windows—just book during them!$100 Saks Fifth Avenue Credit
($50 January–June + $50 July–December)$400 Resy Credit
($100 per quarter)$300 lululemon Credit
($75 per quarter)
What happens if you open the card in early December?
Use the current year’s credits immediately
Get a reset on the credits January 1
And then potentially get another set in 2027 before you second annual fee hits
That’s how one card can give you hundreds of dollars in extra value—before you’ve ever paid a second annual fee.
💳 Check out the best travel reward cards - > HERE
3. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Amex Business Platinum Card has a large suite of annual benefits — and the calendar structure is similar which allows double- and triple-dipping when you apply at the end of a calendar year.
Despite having a $895 annual fee (Rates & Fees), timing your application in December can let you use some credits immediately, then again in January - and in some cases again before your next annual fee posts. That extra value can easily offset the fee during your first year.
Key credits include:
$200 airline incidental credits
$600 Hotel Credit for Fine Hotels + Resorts / The Hotel Collection ($300 January-June and $300 July-December)
$250 Adobe Credit (after spending $600)
When you apply at the end of the year, it can look like this:
Year 1 (December): Use your first set of credits
Year 2 (January): Reset for a full year of benefits
Year 3 (Card Anniversary): Another possible reset before your next annual fee posts
This timing creates one of the most generous first-year value opportunities of any premium business card.
💳 Check out the best travel reward cards - > HERE
Tips to Maximize Your End-of-Year Strategy
Here are a few smart ways to make the most of your credits without wasting a dollar:
1. Activate Everything Right Away
Many credits require enrollment before they start working. As soon as you’re approved, go into your benefits dashboard to activate.
2. Use Calendar Reminders
Set alerts for:
The day you open the card
January 1 resets
Semiannual credits
Your 12-month anniversary
This keeps you from leaving benefits on the table!
3. Know Which Credits Are Calendar Year vs. Cardmember Year
Not all credits reset on January 1, so double-check your card’s terms. For the ones that do reset, year-end timing is especially powerful.
My Take
If you can only open one card, my top recommendation right now would be the Citi Strata Elite. Here’s why ⬇️
the welcome bonus is currently elevated at 100,000 points
the $200 annual Splurge Credit can essentially offset the annual fee if you’re able to triple-dip
AND Citi ThankYou Points can transfer to American Airlines—a perk you can’t get from Chase, Capital One, or Amex
That combination makes the Strata Elite a standout at this exact moment, especially if American Airlines flights are on your radar.
💳 Check out the best travel reward cards -> HERE!
FREE Beginner’s Guide to Points and Miles
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I appreciate it so much when you use my affiliate links that are linked in the post.
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