Do Credit Card Points Expire? What You Need to Know

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• Airline miles generally expire 18 to 24 months after you last earned or used rewards.
• Hotel points typically expire 12 to 24 months from your last account activity.
• Some brands have pushed back points expiration dates due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Introduction to Credit Card Points

It's easy to earn points and miles by using rewards credit cards and joining hotel and airline loyalty programs, but when it comes time to redeem them, there's often some fine print to parse through.

Types of Credit Card Rewards

Not only do different hotel and airline rewards programs have their own award charts specifying how many points or miles you'll need to book a hotel room or a flight , but programs also have their own expiration policies that dictate the lifespan of your hard-earned rewards.

Do Credit Card Points Expire?

Typical Expiration Policies

In most cases, your points or miles will expire in 12 to 24 months from your last "account activity," which could be anything from purchasing points or miles to taking a flight to using an airline or hotel credit card to make a purchase.

Credit Card Points Never Expire

Unlike many airline miles and hotel points, credit card points don't expire as long as you keep your account open and in good standing (meaning you continue to pay off your balances or communicate with the bank if you need any financial assistance).

Find out how much your airline, hotel, and bank loyalty program rewards are worth in Business Insider's guide to points and miles valuations .

Here are the main credit card points currencies, along with the top credit card options for earning each of them:

These transferable credit card points can be extremely valuable, not just because you have so many options for using them to book travel, but also because there are certain sweet spots you can use to your advantage.

For example, if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, your Ultimate Rewards points are worth 50% more when you book travel through Chase or through Pay Yourself Back . Plus, you may be able to use your bank points for things beyond travel. Some issuers have added new ways to earn and redeem rewards, and in many cases, you'll have options to redeem points for cash back, gift cards, merchandise, and even toward everyday purchases.

Even if you're a very frequent flyer and love your Delta or American Airlines card for earning miles and enjoying perks like a free checked bag, adding a credit card that earns Amex, Chase, Capital One, or Citi ThankYou rewards to your wallet is a smart strategy. You'll be diversifying your rewards, and those bank points will never expire.

How to Keep Points and Miles from Expiring

Because the travel rewards you earn are only as valuable as the flights or hotel stays you're able to book with them, you won't want to let them expire — even if you're not sure when you'll be able to travel again.

Here are some of the top ways to keep them alive:

Use a Co-Branded Credit Card

If your American Airlines miles are in danger of expiring, you can make a purchase with an American Airlines credit card to keep your rewards active. This will work with almost any airline or hotel rewards program; using a Marriott credit card will prevent your Bonvoy points from expiring as well.

Transfer Flexible Points to an Airline or Hotel Account

If you have transferable rewards at your disposal, such as Amex Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards , you can move a small number of points to a partner program to generate activity and prevent your airline or hotel points from expiring.

For example, if your IHG points are close to expiring, you could transfer 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to your IHG Rewards account and reset the expiration clock, as that's considered earning activity.

Go Through an Online Shopping Portal

If you're making a purchase online, check to see if your airline or hotel has a shopping portal .

Shopping portals earn you a specified number of points or miles per dollar when you shop with participating retailers. For example, by going through the Alaska Airlines MileagePlan portal, you could earn miles for shopping with retailers like Apple and Sephora — and extend the life of your Alaska miles by two years.

Use Your Points or Miles

Redeeming your rewards is included under the umbrella of account activity that will preserve your points. Even if you don't want to book a travel reservation, you could redeem a small number of points or miles for merchandise, like a magazine subscription. To see your redemption options, log into your loyalty account and navigate to the rewards section.

What to Do If You Let Your Points and Miles Expire

If you do slip up and let your points or miles expire, you may be able to pay to get those rewards reinstated. Only two airline programs publicly advertise this option (American Airlines and Alaska Airlines), but it's still worth calling your loyalty program's customer service to see if there are any options for you.

FAQs

Do all credit card points expire?

Expiration policies vary by credit card issuer and rewards program. While some points expire after a certain period of inactivity or after a fixed time, others may not expire at all as long as the account remains open and in good standing.

How can I find out if my credit card points expire?

Check the terms and conditions of your credit card rewards program or contact your credit card issuer directly. The expiration policy should be clearly outlined in your account details or rewards program documentation.

What can I do to prevent my credit card points from expiring?

Keep your account active by regularly using your credit card for purchases. You can also look into transferring points to partner programs or redeeming points for rewards to reset the expiration clock.

Can expired credit card points be reinstated?

Some issuers may allow you to reinstate expired points for a fee or by meeting certain criteria, such as making a purchase within a specified time frame. However, policies vary, so it's important to contact customer service for specific details.

Are there strategies to maximize the value of credit card points before they expire?

Focus on redeeming points for high-value rewards, such as travel bookings or cash back. Consider transferring points to airline or hotel loyalty programs where they might have a higher value and potentially longer expiration terms.