, - title: “March 31 Deadline: Which Amex Credits to Rush and Which Bonuses to Skip” date: 2026-03-31 description: “Not all expiring Amex offers deserve panic. That Avianca 15% bonus? Wait for Q4’s 30%. Here’s what to actually rush before midnight.” categories: [“Credit Cards”] tags: [“American Express”, “Transfer Bonuses”, “Statement Credits”] draft: false, -

Every month-end, your inbox floods with “last chance” emails. Credit card companies love deadline pressure. But here’s what they don’t tell you: half these “expiring” offers come back stronger. The other half? Gone forever.

I spent the weekend analyzing every Amex offer expiring tonight at 11:59 PM ET. The results surprised me. That Avianca transfer bonus everyone’s rushing? Skip it. The Platinum dining credit nobody talks about? Use it or lose $200.

The Math Behind March’s Expiring Offers

Let’s start with what’s actually expiring tonight versus what’s just marketing noise.

Amex Statement Credits Expiring March 31:

| Credit Type | Card | Amount | Auto-Renew April 1? | |, , , , , , |, , , |, , , , |, , , , , , , , , -| | Uber Cash | Platinum | $15 | Yes | | Dining Credit | Platinum | $200/year | No (quarterly) | | Digital Entertainment | Platinum | $20 | Yes | | Airline Fee Credit | Platinum/Gold | $200/$100 | No (annual) | | Grubhub+ | Gold | $10 | Yes |

Here’s the critical difference: monthly credits auto-renew. Annual and quarterly ones don’t. If you haven’t used your Q1 Platinum dining credit, you have 8 hours to spend $50 or it vanishes.

Transfer Bonuses: When History Beats Hype

Now for the controversial take. That Avianca LifeMiles 15% transfer bonus expiring March 28? Let it die.

Here’s Avianca’s bonus history:

• March 2025: 15%
• July 2025: 20%
• November 2025: 30%
• March 2026: 15%

See the pattern? Avianca runs its biggest bonuses in Q4, right before Star Alliance award inventory opens for next summer. At 15%, you’re getting 1,150 miles per 1,000 MR points. Wait for November’s likely 30% bonus, and you’ll get 1,300 miles. That’s 150 extra miles per 1,000 transferred.

On a typical 100,000 MR transfer, you’re leaving 15,000 miles on the table. That’s enough for a short-haul economy flight.

Current Transfer Bonuses Worth Your Points

Not all bonuses deserve skepticism. Here’s what’s active and actually valuable:

| Partner | Bonus | Expires | Historical Max | Verdict | |, , , , -|, , , -|, , , , -|, , , , , , , , |, , , , -| | Avianca | 15% | Mar 28 | 30% | Skip | | Aeroplan | 25% | Apr 15 | 25% | Transfer | | Emirates | 20% | Mar 31 | 30% | Depends | | Choice | 30% | Apr 30 | 40% | Skip |

That Aeroplan 25% bonus? This matches their historical maximum. Aeroplan rarely goes above 25%, making this as good as it gets. At 1.25:1, you’re getting solid value for North America to Europe redemptions.

Emirates at 20% is trickier. They hit 30% twice in 2025, but only during specific promotional periods. If you have concrete plans for Emirates First Class (and can find availability), 20% is acceptable. Otherwise, wait.

The Hidden Expiration Nobody Mentions

Here’s what kills me: Amex buries the most valuable expiring benefit. Your Platinum’s $200 airline fee credit doesn’t prorate. Use it by December 31 or lose it, but the real deadline is earlier.

Most people pick their airline in January and forget. But airline gift card loopholes close randomly. United stopped working in February. If you haven’t used your credit and selected Delta or Southwest, you have hours to buy gift cards that still trigger reimbursement.

Annual Fee Math Most People Get Wrong

Your annual fee posted in March? Don’t panic-cancel. Here’s what you’re actually giving up:

Amex Platinum ($695 annual fee):

• Uber: $200/year ($16.67/month)
• Dining: $200/year
• Digital: $240/year
• Airline fee: $200/year
• Hotel credit: $200/year

Total: $1,040 in credits versus $695 fee. That’s $345 profit before counting points, lounge access, or status benefits.

The mistake? Canceling in month 11 and losing two months of Uber credits ($33.34) plus potentially unused quarterly credits. Time your cancellations after using Q4 credits in December, not when the fee posts.

Bottom Line

March 31 brings real deadlines and fake urgency. Use your Q1 dining credit today. Grab those airline gift cards if you haven’t touched your fee credit. But those transfer bonuses? That 15% Avianca bonus is nothing compared to recent Amex transfer bonus patterns.

Skip Avianca entirely. Transfer to Aeroplan at 25% if you need Star Alliance miles. Let everything else expire. The best Amex transfer bonuses come in Q4, right when you need them for next year’s summer travel.

One final reality check: Marriott’s current 40% bonus looks generous until you realize it’s actually a trap. The same psychology works here. Just because something expires doesn’t make it valuable.

Set your alarm for 11:45 PM ET. Order that final Q1 restaurant meal on your Platinum. Then relax. The best deals aren’t ending. They haven’t started yet.