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4 Ways Miles and Points May (or May Not) Expire
Each credit card and loyalty program has its own set of rules, so it’s crucial to read through your program’s fine print to determine whether or when your points will expire. Policies can often be found in the rewards guide or frequently asked questions listed online. Generally speaking, there are four different ways programs deal with expiration:
Points or miles don’t expire as long as you’re in the loyalty program: For example, Delta SkyMiles—which can be earned with or without a credit card—don’t expire. Points or miles don’t expire as long as your credit card account is open: Chase’s Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve cards, both part of the Ultimate Rewards program, give you 30 days after your account is closed to use your points. And sometimes even closing your account doesn’t put them at risk. In the case of the Discover it Miles card, your account will be credited with the cash value of your rewards balance if it’s closed. Points won’t disappear unless there’s a period of inactivity: In programs such as Choice Privileges and AAdvantage from American Airlines, you will lose your rewards points if your account hasn’t had any activity in more than 18 months. Different programs have different requirements for “restarting the clock,” but usually it simply requires a purchase with the credit card—or the earning or redeeming of points in some other way. Points expire on a certain date, and account activity doesn’t affect expiration: For example, points might expire three years after the month that you receive them, or five years from the end of the year in which you earn them.
Check your program’s online account or mobile app, as they may show when points or miles will expire.
How To Prevent Expiration Due to Inactivity
If you’re on the verge of losing your rewards stash due to inactivity, as long as you catch it in time, you don’t have to book a trip to restart the clock. Usually, you can become active again simply by making a purchase on your credit card (and thereby earning some points or miles). If you’re a member of a loyalty program but don’t have an associated credit card, you have a number of other options. For one, you can sign up for a credit card. It may even offer a bonus if you charge a certain amount in your first months. You can also buy something through your program’s online shopping portal (if it has one), eat out with one of their partner restaurants, or redeem points for a gift card. Keep in mind that you can also lose points if you misuse them or claim bankruptcy or if your account status changes because of missed payments, among other reasons. Check your terms and conditions for specific details.
How To Spend About-to-Expire Rewards
If you’re planning to close your credit card account or have unused points or miles that are about to expire, you may not be able to travel, or you may not have enough to make a dent in the cost of a trip. Don’t worry—there are plenty of other easy redemption options.
Redeem for cash: If this is an option, it’s definitely the most versatile, though you may not get very much bang for your buck. Redeem for merchandise: Use your miles or points for non-travel options such as gift cards, apparel, electronics, magazine or newspaper subscriptions, and more through an online portal. Again, this may very well not get you the best value per point or mile. Donate: Some programs allow you to donate miles to various causes of your choice. Transfer to family or friends: With some programs, you can transfer rewards to family and friends or give miles to your employees. The recipient should also have a points or miles account to receive your transfer, and there may be a fee involved with a transfer. Transfer to another loyalty program: Flexible rewards programs such as Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and American Express Membership Rewards will let you convert card points to eligible airline or hotel programs. This can be a great way to effectively keep your points for future travel. Just keep in mind that it’s not always a one-for-one exchange.
