Hotel points expire after 12 to 24 months of inactivity, but a single qualifying transaction starts the clock over. The cheapest moves cost less than a dollar, and one of them is probably already in your wallet. The hard part is remembering to do it before the deadline.
Done in seconds. No sign-up required.
Across major US hotel programs, "qualifying activity" means any transaction that adds or subtracts points from your balance. The amount doesn\'t matter. Earning one point or redeeming 100 both count. The clock resets to the date of that transaction, not from when the points first hit your account.
That\'s why almost any action works. Paid stays count. Co-branded credit card purchases count. Online shopping portal orders count. Dining program transactions count. Partner transfers count. Donations of points to charity count. Buying points outright counts. The rare exceptions are administrative entries the program adds itself, like points adjustments or status credits.
Pick the one that takes the least effort. They all do the same job.
Any single purchase on a Marriott Bonvoy AmEx, Hilton Honors AmEx, IHG One Rewards Chase, World of Hyatt Chase, or Choice Privileges Mastercard posts points within a few days. A $1 transaction counts.
Marriott\'s shopping portal, Hilton\'s ShopOnline, and the IHG and Hyatt portals all earn bonus points on regular online retailers. A $5 Amazon order is enough.
Register a credit card with Marriott Bonvoy Eats or Hilton Honors Dining. Any meal at a participating restaurant posts points automatically.
A digital gift card, a magazine subscription, or a charity donation generally starts at 1,000 to 2,500 points and counts as redemption activity.
Outbound transfers count as redemption in the source program. Marriott Bonvoy converts to dozens of airline programs at variable ratios.
Even a single one-night stay at a budget property counts. This is the most expensive option and usually only worth it if you were going to travel anyway.
Marriott Bonvoy: 24 months of inactivity. Any earning or redeeming activity resets the clock. Lifetime Elite members are exempt from expiration. Find your last qualifying activity date in your account under "Points Activity → All Qualifying".
Hilton Honors: 24 months of inactivity. Same earn-or-redeem rule. Diamond and Lifetime Diamond members are exempt. Hilton Honors AmEx cardholders rarely expire as long as the card is active.
IHG One Rewards: only 12 months of inactivity, the shortest of any major program. Any activity resets it. Co-branded card use is the simplest fix.
World of Hyatt: 24 months. Globalist and Lifetime Globalist members are exempt. Hyatt also offers a points purchase option that counts as activity if no other option is convenient.
Choice Privileges: 18 months. Any earn or redeem resets it. Best Western Rewards points never expire, so this brand is the only major program where no action is needed.
None of these tactics are difficult. The catch is that the deadline arrives months or years after you set it. By the time you hit the inactivity window, you\'ve forgotten which programs you have, which dates apply to which, and which card you\'d normally use. The reminder is what bridges the gap between knowing the trick and using it in time.
Set an email reminder for 30 days before each program\'s expiration date. That\'s enough lead time to use a card, run a portal purchase, or redeem a small bonus without rushing. See the expiration policy by brand for exact dates by program.
Almost anything that adds or subtracts points from your balance. Earning points from a paid stay, an online shopping portal purchase, a co-branded credit card spend, a partner transfer, a dining program transaction, or redeeming points for a stay or a gift card all reset the expiration clock. Points purchased outright also count.
Yes. Any single purchase on a Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, World of Hyatt, or Choice Privileges co-branded card posts points to your account and resets the inactivity clock. It can be a $1 transaction. The card does the heavy lifting; you just need to use it once before the deadline.
Running a small purchase through the program's online shopping portal. A $5 Amazon order via the Marriott or Hilton portal earns a few points and posts as activity within a few days. A donation of points to charity also counts and starts at as little as 1,000 points in some programs.
Yes. Outbound transfers count as a redemption in the source program and reset its expiration clock. Marriott Bonvoy converts to many airline programs at variable ratios. The receiving airline program may have its own expiration timer to watch separately.
It depends on the program. IHG runs on a 12-month clock, so you need qualifying activity at least once a year. Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt give you 24 months. Choice resets at 18. Best Western Rewards points never expire. Set a reminder for 30 days before each window closes.
Yes, but it's usually the worst dollar-per-extension trade. A $1 portal purchase or a $1 credit card swipe does the same job. Buying points from the program directly only makes sense when you also need the points for a near-term redemption.
Free email reminder, no account needed. Get notified 30 days before any program's deadline so you have time to act.
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