Credit card rewards offer a great way to save money on travel or accumulate points that can be redeemed for a variety of options to suit your needs. However, some rewards programs won’t let you save up your points for an unlimited amount of time, and they put expiration policies in place as a result.
With most credit card rewards expiration policies, you need to “earn or burn” rewards every 12 to 36 months in order to keep your points “alive.” Each program has its own expiration rules, and rewards may have an expiration date based on account inactivity or other factors. It’s important to review the details of each rewards program’s terms to understand when points and miles expire and how credit card rewards expire. For example, Delta SkyMiles and United miles never expire, yet airline miles in the American AAdvantage program can expire after 24 months of inactivity.
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6 ways to keep rewards from expiring
Keeping your points from expiring is one of the easiest ways to maximize credit card rewards for the long haul. Understanding your spending habits and regularly tracking your accumulated points can help you get the most value from your rewards and avoid losing your hard-earned points. If you don’t pay attention to expiration policies, you risk losing or forfeiting rewards you’ve earned. Here are some smart ways to do just that.
Redeem rewards for gift cards, cash back or travel
One way to keep most types of rewards from expiring is through a redemption, which can be for travel, gift cards, statement credits, or additional options that vary by program. You can also redeem points for statement credits, and understanding how to redeem points is key to preventing expiration. If you have Hilton Honors points that expire after 24 months of inactivity, for example, redeeming points for a hotel stay, a Lyft ride or purchases through Amazon or the Hilton shopping mall could “restart the clock.”
Shop through a portal
Many rewards programs also have shopping portals that let users earn bonus rewards and extra points through special promotions or deals while adding new activity to their loyalty accounts. For example, many frequent travelers use American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping to earn more miles on eligible purchases and extend the validity of their AAdvantage rewards balances.
Join a dining rewards program
There are also dining programs that offer bonus points or miles for dining at eligible eateries, and these purchases also help keep rewards alive. These programs also let you “double dip” on rewards since you can use any type of credit or debit card to pay for eligible dining purchases.
With American AAdvantage Dining, for example, you could earn valuable American AAdvantage miles on eligible dining purchases while paying with a credit card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Miles earned through dining programs count as a qualifying activity, helping to keep your rewards from expiring.
Open a new credit card
Opening a new rewards credit card that earns points in a specific program can also help you keep your rewards balances alive. If you have some Marriott Bonvoy points that are set to expire soon, after 24 months of inactivity, for example, earning a new card sign-up bonus or points for purchases with a Marriott Bonvoy credit card could solve that issue in a hurry. Co-branded credit cards, such as hotel credit cards and airline credit cards, are issued by various card issuers and can help cardholders keep their rewards active by earning or redeeming points.
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Donate points
Some programs also let you donate points to eligible charities, and these donations can count as activity that keeps your rewards balance alive. You don’t have to donate your entire rewards balance, either.
With Choice Privileges rewards, for example, you can donate as little as 1,000 points to charities like the American Red Cross and the National Park Foundation. Doing so restarts the clock on your rewards, which would normally expire after 18 months of inactivity.
Keep your credit card account in good standing
As you learn how to maximize your credit card rewards, you will quickly find that it’s crucial to keep your credit card account in good standing. This means making monthly payments on time and never missing a payment. It also means avoiding any activity that could get your credit card account shut down, like providing false information or misusing credit card benefits. In addition, it’s important to keep your account active by regularly making purchases or redeeming rewards to prevent your rewards from expiring. Most rewards do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing, but you should always check your program’s rules.
Keeping your account in good standing helps ensure you don’t lose your rewards due to account closure. Treating your credit with care can also help you keep your credit score in good shape.
What to do if your points have already expired
The steps we recommend above can help you prevent rewards expiration, but what should you do if your points have already expired? In that case, your options depend on the program the points balance belonged to.
For example, several airline and hotel rewards programs allow you to request the reinstatement of your expired rewards balance. Some of these programs let you recover expired points or rewards by paying a fee or meeting specific requirements. While fees often apply, the cost can be worthwhile if the value of the reinstated rewards exceeds the fee.
You can also contact customer service to inquire about reinstating expired points. Additionally, ask if any special promotions or exceptions might help you recover lost rewards. A helpful and understanding representative may be able to assist you in getting your rewards reinstated.
The bottom line
Different credit card rewards programs, loyalty programs, hotel loyalty programs, and airline loyalty programs each have their own rules regarding when points, miles, or accumulated rewards expire. It’s essential to understand the specific terms of each program. Many airline miles, for example, never expire, so you don’t have to worry about using them within a certain timeframe.
However, if you earn points that do expire, it’s important to stay informed about the expiration policies and ensure you engage in qualifying activity periodically. Regularly monitoring your loyalty account helps prevent losing points and miles due to inactivity.
