For those of us into collecting points, one thing to always be on the lookout for is points expiration policies. Most programs won’t expire your points as long as you have consistent activity, though policies do vary.
Even as someone who probably dedicates way too much time to loyalty programs, I’ve had points expire on me, and it’s such a frustrating feeling. In this post I wanted to take a close look at hotel points expiration policies. When do hotel points expire, and what can you do to prevent hotel points from expiring? In a separate post I looked at airline mileage expiration policies.
In this post:
When do hotel points expire?
The major hotel loyalty programs have varying policies when it comes to points expiring. The most common policy is that points expire after 24 months of inactivity. However, as you’ll see below, some hotel points currencies don’t expire at all, while others expire even if you have consistent activity.
With that out of the way, let’s look at the policies of the major hotel loyalty programs.
Accor Live Limitless points expiration policy
Accor Live Limitless points expire after 12 months of inactivity. Any points earning or redemption activity resets the expiration of your points by a further 12 months.
Best Western Rewards points expiration policy
Best Western Rewards points don’t expire, regardless of whether or not you have any account activity.
Choice Privileges points expiration policy
Choice Privileges points expire after 18 months of inactivity. Any points earning or redemption activity resets the expiration of your points by a further 18 months.
Hilton Honors points expiration policy
Hilton Honors points expire after 24 months of inactivity. Any points earning or redemption activity resets the expiration of your points by a further 24 months.
IHG One Rewards points expiration policy
IHG One Rewards points expire after 12 months of inactivity. Any points earning or redemption activity resets the expiration of your points by a further 12 months. However, IHG One Rewards elite members aren’t subject to having their points expire.
Marriott Bonvoy points expiration policy
Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of inactivity. Any points earning or redemption activity resets the expiration of your points by a further 24 months.
Radisson Rewards points expiration policy
Radisson Rewards points expire after 24 months of inactivity. Any points earning or redemption activity resets the expiration of your points by a further 24 months.
World of Hyatt points expiration policy
World of Hyatt points expire after 24 months of inactivity. Any points earning or redemption activity resets the expiration of your points by a further 24 months.
Wyndham Rewards points expiration policy
Wyndham Rewards has two separate expiration policies. First of all, points expire after 18 months of inactivity, so any points earning or redemption activity resets the expiration of your points by a further 18 months. However, Wyndham Rewards points also have a hard expiration of four years after they’re earned, regardless of any activity.
How do you prevent hotel points from expiring?
Are you finding yourself in a situation where your hotel points are expiring imminently? As you can see, most programs let you reset the expiration of your points with any earning or redemption activity.
So, what’s the easiest way to reset your points expiration? You’ll want to check the policy of each specific program, but here are some methods that generally work:
- Most hotel loyalty programs let you donate points to charity, so even a small points donation could reset your points expiration
- Most hotel loyalty programs have online shopping and dining portals, allowing you to earn bonus points for those activities; that would also reset your points expiration
- Most hotel loyalty programs have co-branded credit cards, and any spending on those credit cards would earn points that would reset your points expiration
- Most hotel loyalty programs sell points directly to consumers, and even buying a small number of points would reset your points expiration
- Several hotel loyalty programs partner with major transferable points currencies, and transferring a small sum of points would reset your points expiration
- This is the most obvious, but redeem points for a hotel stay or making a hotel reservation that earns points would also reset your points expiration
If you have any hotel points that are close to expiring, just keep in mind how long it could take for points to post to your account as qualifying activity. For example, if you spend money on a co-branded credit card, it could take weeks before those points post to your hotel account (it usually takes at least until a few days after the statement closes). Meanwhile donating points to charity, buying points, or transferring points, is typically a near instant process in terms of resetting expiration.
Bottom line
Points earned with hotel loyalty programs generally expire based on lack of account activity. The policies vary, but most commonly you’ll find that points expire after 24 months of inactivity.
Fortunately resetting the expiration of hotel points is quite easy, as any points earning or redemption activity should qualify. Just make sure you always keep an eye on expiration policies.
What has your experience been with hotel points expiring?
Some of the programs like Hilton and Marriott tell us our points will never expire as we are Lifetime Diamond and Titanium.
We pushed them for an email of such, but still we are not 100% confident in that from past communications.
Marriott Terms as of Apr 2023
1.6.d
iii. The Points expiration policy does not currently affect Points in a Lifetime Elite Membership Account; however, the Loyalty Program may choose to apply a Points expiration policy to Lifetime Elite Membership Accounts in the future.
Interesting that you only discussed hotel expiry policies and not also major airlines. What about if you have the hotel's credit card? You did not mention that this would basically make the points not expire. I think more people are worried about switches to dynamic pricing making it more expensive or devaluations.
While I find it useful, to have pointers for how to check expiration dates for each program. at the same time I find it very harmful (as opposed to super useful). You might be ask why? One of these customer loyalty programs has announced on its website: "We will remind you by email to remind you foy expiration vicinity of your hotel points ." This will be given to you have an enough confidence that...
While I find it useful, to have pointers for how to check expiration dates for each program. at the same time I find it very harmful (as opposed to super useful). You might be ask why? One of these customer loyalty programs has announced on its website: "We will remind you by email to remind you foy expiration vicinity of your hotel points ." This will be given to you have an enough confidence that even if you don't have personal control over the points' expiration time, you will be informed that way. Now, if they don't send an email to you, and the points expire ( As it was my own experience) who is to blame? The text of the announcement with the name of the program omitted is as follows:
“………::Members must remain active in the …….Loyalty Program to retain Points they accumulate.
If vou have an email on file, you will receive an email alerting you that your ……/// Points are about to expire [See sample email here]”
“Don't Let Your Points Expire in 30 Days
Your 10,000 ………. pointe expire December 31, 2022. But dont worry, you can stay active by eaming or using some of your points. Simply redeem on hotels, …..: Boutiques, gift cards, and more.
What would be super useful are pointers for how to check expiration dates for each program. So frustrating trying to find that info when the hotel sites are seemingly trying to hide it. Always difficult to know when you're in danger of having points expire, particularly with all of the COVID extensions in recent years.