Do Your Points Expire? Expiration Rules for Every Major Loyalty Program

Points expiration is the loyalty program equivalent of fine print — easy to miss until it costs you 100,000 miles you spent a year accumulating. Here’s the exact expiration policy for every major program and how to keep your balance active with minimal effort.

The Good News: Credit Card Points Don’t Expire (Mostly)

Transferable credit card currencies (Chase UR, Amex MR, Citi TYP, Capital One Miles) do not expire as long as you hold the card. The moment you close the account, though:

• Chase UR: Points expire 30 days after account closure unless transferred to another Chase card with transfer capability
• Amex MR: Points expire when you close the last MR-earning card. If you close your Platinum but still hold a Gold, points are safe.
• Citi TYP: Points don’t expire as long as you have an eligible card open
• Capital One Miles: No expiration while account is open; may expire after 3 years of inactivity after closure

Best practice: Before closing a Chase or Amex card, transfer all points to a loyalty partner or another of your cards in that ecosystem.

Airline Miles Expiration Policies

Program	Expiration Rule	Keep Alive Method
United MileagePlus	24 months inactivity	Any earn or redeem
Delta SkyMiles	Never expire	N/A
American AAdvantage	24 months inactivity	Any earn or redeem
Southwest Rapid Rewards	24 months inactivity	Any earn or redeem
British Airways Avios	36 months inactivity	Any earn/spend in Avios ecosystem
Singapore KrisFlyer	36 months inactivity	Any activity
Emirates Skywards	36 months inactivity	Any activity
Air Canada Aeroplan	12 months inactivity	Any earn or redeem
Turkish Miles&Smiles	36 months inactivity	Any flight, earn, or redeem
Flying Blue	24 months inactivity	Any qualifying activity
ANA Mileage Club	36 months inactivity	Any activity

Delta is the most generous — SkyMiles never expire. This makes Delta a good program to park miles in if you’re accumulating slowly.

Aeroplan is the most aggressive — 12 months of inactivity causes expiration. If you have Aeroplan miles and haven’t done anything in 11 months, use a qualifying partner purchase or book any award to reset.

Hotel Points Expiration Policies

Program	Expiration Rule	Keep Alive Method
World of Hyatt	24 months inactivity	Any earn or redeem
Marriott Bonvoy	24 months inactivity	Any qualify activity
Hilton Honors	Never expire	N/A
IHG One Rewards	12 months inactivity	Any qualifying activity
Accor ALL	12 months inactivity	Any activity

Hilton Honors points never expire — one of the strongest policies in hotel loyalty. Accumulate slowly without worry.

IHG is the most aggressive at 12 months. Use a low-value IHG hotel booking or dining partner purchase to reset.

The Easiest Ways to Keep Miles Alive Without Flying

For programs with inactivity rules, these methods reset the clock cheaply:

1. Shopping portals: Most airline programs have online shopping portals. Buy something small (a gift card or household item) through the United Shopping portal or British Airways Shopping portal — earns 50–100 miles and resets the 24-month clock.

2. Dining programs: United MileagePlus Dining, Delta SkyMiles Dining, and many others allow you to register a credit card and earn miles at partner restaurants. One qualifying meal resets your expiration timer.

3. Surveys and activities: Some programs (LifeMiles, Etihad) offer earning through survey completion or partner apps. Check your program’s earn section.

4. Partner credit card purchase: Using the airline’s co-branded credit card earns miles — and extends the activity window.

5. Minimum redemption: Redeeming even a tiny amount (upgrading to premium meal, booking a basic award) counts as activity on most programs.

Set a calendar reminder: If you have significant balances in programs with inactivity rules, set a calendar alert for 6 months before the expiration date. Never let a large balance expire.

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Expiration policies verified at program websites as of June 2026. Programs change policies; always confirm current rules before relying on them.