Travel rewards enthusiasts looking to squeeze in one last burst of value before month end have an unusually full slate of deadlines to watch this week.

From Avianca’s steeply discounted award tickets to targeted Barclays business card spending offers and a cash bonus on American Express Rewards Checking, several prominent deals are either expiring today or in the coming days.

For U.S. based travelers planning spring getaways or simply looking to pad their points balances and bank bonuses, these limited time offers represent a final window to lock in above average returns.

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Avianca LifeMiles award sale hits final booking day

Avianca’s LifeMiles program is closing out a short but aggressive award sale that has drawn attention for headline prices starting at roughly 2,000 to 2,400 miles one way on select routes between the United States and Central or South America. The promotion, which must be booked by January 26, 2026, covers travel through May 31, 2026, giving travelers a several month window to actually fly on discounted tickets even though the booking clock is about to run out.

The sale is focused on Avianca operated flights and offers reduced pricing in both economy and business class on many routes across the carrier’s network. While the splashiest numbers are in economy, with sub 3,000 mile one way awards advertised on shorter routes, business class discounts up to around 45 percent off usual LifeMiles pricing have also been reported on some itineraries. Officially, members can redeem for up to eight tickets per LifeMiles account under the promotional terms, and no stopovers are permitted.

As is often the case with flash award sales, availability is the limiting factor. Travelers have reported that the best pricing is concentrated on off peak dates and less popular flight times, while many marquee routes show either standard pricing or only scattered sale seats. That puts a premium on flexibility: those who can adjust departure dates by a day or two, or route through Avianca hubs such as Bogotá or San Salvador at less convenient hours, are more likely to surface the lowest mileage costs before the sale window closes.

Another wrinkle is that the current award sale stacked closely behind a separate promotion on purchased LifeMiles that wrapped up earlier in the month, when the program was selling miles with bonuses of up to 160 percent for targeted members. Travelers who took advantage of that sale and bought miles at a low out of pocket cost now face a last chance to turn those discounted miles into equally discounted flights before standard pricing returns.

What the Avianca sale means for U.S. based travelers

For U.S. based travelers eyeing winter or spring escapes, the Avianca sale has particular resonance because it targets the very markets that many Americans seek out when cold weather drags on. Routes from U.S. gateways into Central America beach destinations and key South American cities are prominently featured, giving deal hunters a shot at surf, sand, or city breaks for a fraction of the usual mileage outlay.

However, potential buyers need to weigh the savings against the quirks of the LifeMiles program. Change and cancellation policies are more restrictive than those of some North American rivals, and inexpensive economy fares may come with limited inclusions, sometimes restricting travelers to a personal item with additional fees for larger carry ons or checked bags. That can erode the effective value of the award if a traveler ends up paying separate charges for basic conveniences after booking.

There is also the issue of mileage expiration. LifeMiles uses an accrual based expiration system in which miles typically remain valid only with recent earning activity, and travelers have reported that redemptions alone may not be enough to reset expiration on purchased miles. That reality underscores that buying miles speculatively during past promotions only makes sense for those with concrete redemption plans such as this week’s sale.

Still, for travelers who already hold transferable points in programs that partner with LifeMiles, and who can find dates that line up with the promotional pricing, this final booking day represents one of the cheapest ways available this season to reach Central or South America using miles. Given that many competing programs have raised award prices over the past two years, a short lived window of sub 3,000 mile one way awards stands out as a notable outlier.

Barclays business cardholders see targeted $100 spending offers

On the domestic credit card front, Barclays has rolled out a fresh wave of targeted spending offers on several of its products, with small business cardholders featuring prominently in recent reports. Owners of cards such as the JetBlue Business Card have been receiving emails or account messages offering a $100 statement credit after spending $750 within a specified promotional period, which in many cases runs through late January 2026.

The effective return on that deal is eye catching for a short burst of spending. A $100 credit on $750 in eligible purchases equates to roughly a 13 percent rebate before factoring in the card’s usual rewards. For small businesses that can time routine expenses such as inventory, advertising, or travel against the promotional window, it can be an effortless way to squeeze triple digit value out of spend they were planning to incur anyway.

These promotions are highly targeted. Cardholders are being advised to check for emails from Barclays or review the offers or promotions section when logged in to their accounts rather than assuming blanket eligibility. Some consumer cards are also reportedly receiving bonus points or elevated earning rates instead of straight statement credits, with variations such as extra points on dining or all purchases up to a capped total through January 31, 2026.

As always with short term spending bonuses, the fine print matters. Meeting the spending threshold typically requires purchases to post by the end of the promotional period, not merely be initiated, so waiting until the final days of January can be risky for anyone cutting it close. Additionally, categories that usually do not earn rewards, such as cash equivalents or certain balance transfers, will not contribute toward the bonus target.

Maximizing last chance Barclays spending bonuses

For small business owners trying to decide whether to chase these Barclays offers as the end dates approach, the key consideration is whether the required spending can be carried out without distorting normal cash flow. A $750 target over a one month window is relatively modest for many operations, but rushing to prepay expenses purely to secure the $100 credit could lead to liquidity squeezes later.

The promotional period is also an opportunity to re evaluate where business spending is allocated across various cards. Some enterprises maintain multiple rewards cards from different issuers, and a limited time 13 percent effective return from Barclays can outpace even attractive category bonuses elsewhere. Temporarily prioritizing the targeted Barclays card over competitors for general expenses can make sense as long as doing so does not jeopardize other long term welcome bonuses or status earning thresholds.

For individual travelers who hold Barclays co branded cards but do not run businesses, checking for similar targeted offers remains worthwhile. While the headline $100 for $750 deal has primarily been associated with business products, other Barclays customers have reported offers like elevated earning rates on restaurant spending or bonus miles for meeting relatively low monthly thresholds across November, December, and January. With January 31, 2026 set as the end date for many of these campaigns, this week is the last chance to top off balances via those extra earning mechanics.

Amex Rewards Checking offers $250 welcome bonus through January 31

On the banking side of the rewards universe, American Express is promoting a nationwide $250 welcome bonus tied to its Rewards Checking product, with an application deadline of January 31, 2026. The offer is currently available to eligible existing American Express consumer cardholders who open a first time Rewards Checking account and then route qualifying direct deposits totaling at least $5,000 within the first 90 days.

Unlike traditional branch based bank promotions that often come with monthly maintenance fees or higher minimum balance requirements, the American Express Rewards Checking account is marketed with no monthly fees and a competitive interest rate on balances. Cardholders can also earn Membership Rewards points on debit card purchases, a feature that helps integrate day to day banking with the broader American Express rewards ecosystem.

The $250 bonus itself is straightforward. Once the account is opened by the January 31 cutoff and the direct deposit requirement is met, American Express indicates that it will credit the bonus to the account within eight to twelve weeks. Direct deposits must be genuine income related transfers such as payroll, government benefits, or tax refunds to count toward the total; internal transfers, person to person payments, and mobile wallet top ups are specifically excluded.

Because the account is limited to those who already have an American Express consumer card, this is not a general public offer in the same way that some competing bonuses are. However, for travelers who already use Membership Rewards earning cards for flights and hotels, folding checking into the same ecosystem via this incentive can be appealing, especially at a time when airline and hotel devaluations have made outsize bonuses harder to find.

Who should consider the Amex Rewards Checking bonus

Determining whether the American Express Rewards Checking promotion fits a specific traveler’s situation depends largely on how complex their existing banking setup is. For those who already split direct deposits between multiple institutions, rerouting at least $5,000 within ninety days may be simple, essentially turning what they were already doing into an extra $250 without major friction. For others, convincing an employer or government benefits provider to adjust payment instructions for a limited time could be more cumbersome.

Travelers should also consider how they value Membership Rewards points relative to cash. While the $250 bonus is paid in dollars, the ongoing value proposition of the account lies partly in its ability to earn points on debit transactions and keep balances within the same universe as American Express credit cards. Customers who redeem Membership Rewards for premium cabin flights or high end hotel stays often realize outsized value compared with simple cashback redemptions, and having a checking account that feeds that pipeline may be attractive.

On the other hand, frequent bank account churners may find that there are richer upfront bonuses available from regional or national banks, particularly when combining checking and savings promotions. Some of those packages can reach $400, $500, or more for meeting balance and direct deposit requirements that are only modestly more demanding than what American Express is seeking. For those consumers, the decision will hinge on whether the integration with Membership Rewards justifies accepting a somewhat lower top line bonus figure.

Other deadlines rounding out a busy January for deal watchers

The Avianca sale, Barclays spending offers, and Amex Rewards Checking bonus are far from the only deals closing their doors in the final days of January. Airline shopping portals have been cycling through layered mileage promotions, with United’s current portal bonus scheduled to end on January 26 after American’s similar offer wrapped earlier in the week. These short term multipliers can quietly boost mileage balances for travelers who time big online purchases to coincide with the promos.

Hotel programs are also in the mix. Choice Privileges is in the final hours of a sale on purchased points set to expire on January 27, 2026, offering a 40 percent bonus that brings the cost per point to roughly three quarters of a cent. That pricing can produce meaningful savings at midscale chains where cash rates have climbed. Meanwhile, regional bank offers and a major checking bonus from a large U.S. bank are scheduled to fall off the board by January 28.

On the credit card side, a separate path to travel value is emerging for certain ultra low cost carriers. Frontier Airlines cardholders, for example, have until January 31 to meet spending thresholds that can unlock companion certificates, potentially cutting the cost of leisure trips in half if used strategically. Simultaneously, an Amex Offer tied to Viator is giving select American Express cardholders statement credits for paid tours and activities booked by the same date, further reinforcing January as a critical planning month for anyone looking to map out 2026 travel and lock in savings.

Taken together, these overlapping deadlines underscore how dense the rewards calendar has become. For travelers and points collectors, the challenge is no longer finding deals but prioritizing which ones best align with real world plans and financial comfort. With January’s final week now underway, the window to act on many of the most lucrative offers is rapidly narrowing, rewarding those who can move quickly and strategically.