Warning over using your McDonald's points before cut-off date next month

Anyone who has been saving their McDonald’s points for a rainy day feast is advised to cash in before 17 March - and here’s why.

As far as fast-food loyalty schemes go, Maccies has one of the best, with every menu purchase, including fizzy drinks and meal deals, earning you a cool 100 points.

Once you’ve accrued enough, you can trade your points in for edible prizes at the kiosk, drive-thru, or front counter. If you’re getting your items delivered, then you can also redeem them via the official McDonald’s app.

In the past, you’d need to spend £15 for 1,500 points. £25 would get you 2,500 points.

By forking out £40 on McDonald’s orders, you would accrue 4,000 points to spend on freebies. Items from the fourth and final tier could be swapped for 5,500 points (£55).

The McDonald's reward tiers are changing (TG Photography/Getty Stock Image)

But things are changing, as confirmed by Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert site.

On 22 January, it was revealed that the tiers were increasing in price from 17 March.

New McDonald’s rewards tier system

To achieve the lowest tier, you need to have 500 more points in your account than previously outlined.

That means you will be forced to spend an extra £5 to get a free: hash brown, medium soft drink, mini McFlurry, regular hot drink, side salad, or small fries.

To make it to tier two, you’ll need to spend £35 to get 3,500 points - a £10 increase.

These points can be swapped for an: apple pie, cheeseburger, cheesy bacon flatbread, four chicken McNuggets, or a mayo chicken.

You can also use them to purchase a medium fries, regular McFlurry, or a vegetable deluxe.

To qualify for a free tier three item, you will now need 5,000 points. This means you will have to fork out £50 on your treats, rather than £40.

Redditors have been having their say on the upcoming changes (McDonald's)

This list includes: a chicken salad, double cheeseburger, filet-o-fish, and a McChicken sandwich.

The 5,000 points can also be redeemed on a sausage and egg McMuffin, or swapped for six chicken McNuggets.

Fourth tier freebies now include: a Big Mac, a double Filet-O-Fish, a double sausage and egg McMuffin, McCrispy, McPlant, McSpicy, or nine chicken McNuggets.

You will need to redeem 6,500 points for these items which will set you back £65 (£10 increase).

If you want to make the most of your stashed points, it’s worth redeeming them now to maximise what you get, Money Saving Expert warned.

Redditors have been debating the McDonald’s rewards price increase, with one typing: “Definitely using my points before then when they still hold a tiny bit of value.”

You can accrue points by purchasing menu items, such as the Big Arch (McDonald's)

“Wow this is poor, already such bad value with prices now,” someone else remarked.

A third said: “I only buy large cokes, and get a free medium with my points and repeat the cycle. I spend over a thousand pound per year on McDonald’s coke.”

New McDonald’s menu items

If you want to start accruing points but don’t know what to purchase from the fast food joint, then there are a plethora of new products to choose from.

These include items from the new ‘Secret Menu’, such as the Chicken Big Mac, the divisive Surf N’ Turf burger, and a mini McFlurry and apple pie combo.

The cult-favourite Big Arch is also available to purchase, as are pots of Big Mac sauce. You can also take advantage of the newly-revamped £5.59 ‘meal deal’.

The Sun recently reported that a Chicken Tikka wrap and the USA-based McGriddle is heading to UK menus in February, alongside Pizza Mozzarella Dippers, and the Philly Cheese Steak.