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A few days ago I posted on how to keep your airline miles from expiring. Although airlines have much more strict policies than hotels, I still wanted to outline each hotel’s policy. Typically with hotels, a quick call to customer service can get your points reinstated – hotel programs are pretty lenient with this.
Hotel Expiration Policies:
- Choice Hotels:Â Points expire on December 31, two years after the year in which they were deposited into your account
- Club Carlson: Points expire after 24 months of inactivity. To keep your points active, you must have at least one qualifying point activity (earned or redeemed).
- Hilton: Points expire after 12 months of inactivity. To keep your points active, you must have at least one qualifying point activity (earned or redeemed).
- Hyatt: Hyatt can close your account if there is activity in 12 months, however, this is rarely enforced. *a blog reader commented that his account was closed after years of inactivity
- Marriott: Marriott can close your account if there is activity in 24 months, however, this is rarely enforced.
Priority Club/InterContinental Hotels: Points never expire
- Starwood: Points officially expire every 12 months if no qualifying activity, however, most have confirmed that it is not actually enforced until the 18-month mark. Customer service is very good about reactivating accounts and reinstating points lost (even if it years later – a friend was just able to get his points reinstated after 4 years of inactivity)! Qualifying activity includes:
- Paid stay at any Starwood hotel
- Using your Starwood American Express Personal or Starwood American Express Business card at least once every 12-month (it is also an awesome card and my “go-to” for every day spending
- Dining at a Starwood restaurant, even if you are not staying at the hotel. Must spend at least $10 and ensure it hits your account activity by giving the restaurant your SPG number of faxing the bill to SPG.
- Wyndham: Points expire four years from the date they are credited to your account. Additionally, you must keep your account active with at least one qualifying activity (point earning or redemption) every 18 months. This policy is enforced (from personal experience with Mr. Deals).
Overall, airline and hotel points are extremely valuable, do not let them go to waste!
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
All good info to know…I think I am in the clear…I am always coming up with some crazy scheme to earn points!
@IPBrian – perfect!
I beg to differ about Hyatt – my account was deleted because of several years of inactivity. When I called to ask about it they advised me to create a new one as the old one was gone forever.
@Larry – thanks for letting me know. When was this and how many years was your account inactive for (about)?
I haven’t had activity at Hyatt since 2004 and all my point are still intact. I thought Hyatt points didn’t expire.
@intheD – my understanding is they really don’t expire, but a reader did comment about his negative experience.
I called them last year (September maybe?) but had not used my account in probably 5-6 years. The phone rep told me he could not reactivate it, that it was permanently deleted.
[…] to my Hotel Point Expiration Rules post, points expire four years from the date they are credited to your account. Additionally, you […]