6 credit card benefits that double as last-minute holiday gifts

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6 credit card benefits that double as last-minute holiday gifts
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Crystal Cox/Business Insider

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I have 14 credit cards, and no fewer than five of them offer up to $100 as a statement credit to cover the cost of applying for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

While I'm set with my Global Entry membership (which comes with TSA PreCheck), I was able to put one of my extra credits to use by paying for my brother's Global Entry application with my United Explorer Card. A $100 credit was reflected on my credit card statement, and my brother now enjoys expedited airport security and fast-track immigration. Not bad, especially considering the Explorer card only has a $95 annual fee!

If you need to find a last-minute gift for anyone on your list, don't overlook the benefits offered by several premium credit cards. We're not just talking Global Entry application fee credits, either; you could also use statement credits for Saks purchases, or up to an $100 Away luggage credit with the updated American Express® Green Card (when you apply by January 15, 2020 and make an eligible Away purchase in the first three months).

Keep in mind that we're focusing on the rewards and perks that make these credit cards great options, not things like interest rates and late fees, which will far outweigh the value of any points or miles. It's important to practice financial discipline when using credit cards by paying your balances in full each month, making payments on time, and only spending what you can afford to pay back.

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Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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Up to $50 in Saks credits with the Amex Platinum

Up to $50 in Saks credits with the Amex Platinum

If you have the Amex Platinum, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each year when you use your card to shop at Saks Fifth Avenue.

The benefit is divided into two statement credits of up to $50 — one for January to June, and another for July to December. So you can get up to $50 back when you use your Amex Platinum to buy a holiday gift for someone on your list. And may I suggest, Diptyque candles ($65) make a lovely gift.

Click here to learn more about the Amex Platinum card »

Pay for someone's Global Entry or TSA application, and get reimbursed

Pay for someone's Global Entry or TSA application, and get reimbursed

If you're not set on your gift being a surprise, it's always a nice gesture to offer to cover the cost of applying for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry (which comes with a PreCheck membership). To gift this benefit, you'll probably need to coordinate — your loved one has to make an Trusted Traveler Program account and enter a credit card number for payment.

These are some of the many credit cards that offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit:

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Up to $100 toward Away luggage

Up to $100 toward Away luggage

The Amex Green card was recently updated, and it's currently offering a welcome bonus that includes a statement credit with Away luggage.

If you apply by January 15, 2020, you can get up to $100 back as a statement credit when you make an eligible purchase with Away in the first three months from your account-opening date.

Read more: The best carry-on luggage you can buy now

The Amex Green card also offers up to $100 per year in statement credits when you use the card to pay for CLEAR membership (which costs $179 per year), and up to $100 per year in statement credits for LoungeBuddy purchases. So you have a few different options for gifting benefits from this card.

Click here to learn more about the Amex Green card »

Up to $100 toward a purchase with Dell

Up to $100 toward a purchase with Dell

The Amex Business Platinum card offers up to $200 in statement credits for Dell purchases in the US each year, divided into two credits of up to $100 for each half of the year.

$100 might not make a huge dent in the price of a laptop, but consider using this statement credit to shop for accessories like a laptop case or a smart-home device like the Nest thermostat.

Click here to learn more about the Business Platinum card from American Express »
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Pay for someone's checked bag

Pay for someone's checked bag

Several American Express cards offer annual airline fee credits, which reimburse you up to a specified dollar amount for expenses like checked bags and in-flight purchases with your designated airline (you'll specify this in your Amex account).

Because you're limited to one airline and the credit doesn't apply to actual airfare, it can be difficult to use it all up, especially with the generous $200 limit on the Amex Platinum and Business Platinum. But you can pay for someone else's checked bags, or buy your travel companion an in-flight beverage.

I used my annual airline fee credit from the Amex Platinum to cover checked baggage for both me and my aunt when we went skiing a few years ago — she appreciated the gesture, and I still got nowhere near the $200 limit that year!

Click here to learn more about the Amex Gold card »

Use your points and miles to gift award travel

Use your points and miles to gift award travel

If you're sitting on a stash of points or miles, don't forget that you can use those rewards to book someone a flight or hotel stay.

With cards like the Amex Platinum and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, the points you can earn can be transferred to a number of travel partners, and you can even book travel directly with Amex or Chase, respectively.

You could also use airline miles from a card like the United Explorer or hotel points from a card like the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant to book travel for someone else.

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