Starbucks Reward Program Increases in 2023
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The end of 2022 was a big deal for Starbucks rewards after earning bonuses through the Delta SkyMiles partnership. However, all those extra stars won’t go as far as you think due to new increases coming soon to the Starbucks rewards program. So, if you’ve been saving up for a free drink, it will take many more cups of coffee before reaching it.
Starbucks Increases its Star Rewards Tiers
Starbucks is changing its rewards program to make getting free drinks and merchandise more challenging. It’s raising the number of stars required for select rewards and shuffling a few of its perks into new levels.
Each of the Starbucks reward tier levels will increase to the following:
50 Stars – Now 100 Stars
- Redeem for a free brewed hot coffee, bakery item, hot tea, plastic to-go cup, or packaged snack.
150 Stars – Now 200 Stars
- Redeem for a free handcraft drink, hot breakfast, or parfait.
200 Stars – Now 300 Stars
- Redeem for a free lunch sandwich, protein box, packaged coffee (originally 400 stars), or salad
The new reward tiers will go into effect starting February 13, 2023. These represent the first significant changes to the Starbucks Rewards program since 2019 when it first introduced the Star rewards tiers.
Several Perks Left Unchanged
The updates to the Starbucks Rewards program don’t affect the entire program. Loyal Starbucks visitors can count on a few of their favorite reward perks to stay the same. These program features are unchanged in the Starbucks rewards updates:
- Get a free drink on your birthday
- Double Star Days – earn 2x stars on select days
- Free refills on hot or iced coffee or tea
- Level 25 (customize your drink) and 400 Starbucks Rewards (Select Starbucks merchandise or prepackaged coffee) tiers
- Starbucks Stars expire in six months (Stars do not expire for Chase Starbucks® Rewards Visa® Credit Card users.
Maximize Your Starbucks Rewards Stars With Delta
Starbucks customers will need to spend much more at Starbucks before getting their usual free drinks and other rewards. While you’re spending more to cash in on the rewards, why not earn some miles and points toward your next trip at the same time!
Starbucks partners have programs to reward its members as they earn towards the new Star Rewards levels. For example, its partnership with Delta Airlines offers one Delta SkyMiles for every dollar spent at Starbucks. Also, a partnership with Chase rewards stars every time you use it for qualifying purchases–the rewards card is currently unavailable for new users, although current cardholders can include authorized users to maximize star earnings.
Starbucks continues its trend of early-year major news announcements, following its February 2022 news of raising prices for the year and now raising the minimum stars it takes to start earning rewards. And since the new tier increases don’t begin until February 13, 2023, now is the best time to redeem for rewards.
