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Do Credit Card Points Expire?
Don't let your hard-earned points and miles expire. Check expiration policies for credit card rewards, airline miles, and hotel points below. See which programs expire, which don't, and learn how to keep your points alive.
Select one or more loyalty programs above to check their expiration policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do credit card points expire?
Credit card points from bank programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points, and Capital One Miles do not expire as long as your credit card account remains open. However, once you transfer points to an airline or hotel partner, those points follow the partner program's expiration rules.
Do airline miles expire?
It depends on the program. Delta SkyMiles never expire. United MileagePlus miles don't expire for active members. However, American AAdvantage miles expire after 24 months of inactivity, and IHG One Rewards points expire after just 12 months of inactivity. Always check your specific program's policy.
How can I keep my airline miles from expiring?
The easiest way is to maintain qualifying activity — earn or redeem at least one mile within the expiration window. You can earn activity by making a purchase with a co-branded credit card, transferring points from a bank partner, shopping through the airline's online portal, or booking any flight on the airline.
Which loyalty programs have the strictest expiration policies?
IHG One Rewards has the strictest policy at 12 months of inactivity. Cathay Asia Miles expire after 18 months. American AAdvantage, Southwest Rapid Rewards, JetBlue TrueBlue, Marriott Bonvoy, and Hilton Honors all expire after 24 months of inactivity. Credit card programs like Chase UR and Amex MR don't expire while your account is open.
Are credit card points going away?
Credit card points are not going away, but programs do change their rules and valuations over time. Devaluations — where more points are required for the same redemption — happen regularly. The best strategy is to earn and redeem consistently rather than hoarding, and use a tracker like MileIntel to stay on top of changes.
What should I do if my miles are about to expire?
If your miles are about to expire, the quickest fix is any qualifying activity: make a small purchase through the airline's shopping portal, transfer a small number of credit card points to the account, book a paid flight on that airline, or donate miles to charity. Any earning or redemption activity typically resets the expiration clock.