The honest answer is "it depends, and probably not". Most hotel programs say "no reinstatement" in their terms, but the door isn\'t always fully closed. Acting within a few days, asking politely, and knowing each program\'s actual policy can occasionally get points back.
Done in seconds. No sign-up required.
The Marriott Bonvoy terms read: "Once Marriott Bonvoy Points are forfeited, the Marriott Bonvoy Points cannot be reinstated." That\'s the official answer. The unofficial answer is that customer service has discretion, and Reddit reports show occasional reinstatement for members who call within a few days, are polite, and frame the request as a one-time exception. The success rate is uneven and skews toward members with longer tenure.
Hilton is the only major US hotel program with an official reinstatement option. Through the "Pay to Reinstate" feature, you can recover points that expired within the past 18 months, one time per account, for a per-point fee of roughly half a cent. It\'s priced so it only makes sense for substantial balances, but it\'s a real option that doesn\'t depend on agent goodwill.
IHG has no published reinstatement policy. Customer service may make a one-time exception, and some travelers have had success escalating through the executive team. Speed matters. The 12-month inactivity window is the shortest of any major program, so points often expire before members realize they\'re close.
Hyatt terms state plainly that forfeited points cannot be reinstated. A widely shared Reddit post from a member who lost 294,000 points confirmed there was no recovery path. Hyatt is the strictest of the major programs.
Choice has no formal reinstatement program. Customer service occasionally makes exceptions. Best Western Rewards doesn\'t need this section because Best Western points never expire.
Call the loyalty-program customer service line directly. Don\'t use the chatbot, don\'t email. Ask for a supervisor only if the first agent declines. Be calm and brief. Something like:
"Hi, my points expired on [date] because of account inactivity, and I didn\'t catch the warning email until today. I know reinstatement isn\'t guaranteed under your terms, but I\'d like to ask for a one-time exception. I\'m ready to make a qualifying transaction right now to keep the account active going forward."
Three things make this version work: it acknowledges the policy (so you don\'t come off as entitled), it specifies "one-time" (which gives the agent permission to bend), and it offers immediate action on your end (which makes saying yes easier).
If the first agent says no, politely ask if a supervisor can review. If still no, send a short email to the program\'s executive team. Some travelers have had success writing to the CEO\'s office, especially at IHG. Be polite, be brief, attach your member number.
Reinstatement is uncertain even at the friendliest programs. The cost of preventing expiration is essentially zero: one card swipe, one portal purchase, one redemption. The cost of recovering expired points ranges from "free if they say yes" to "half a cent per point if Hilton" to "fully gone if Hyatt." The math heavily favors prevention.
Set a reminder for 30 days before each account\'s expiration date. See expiration dates by brand for the right windows, and how to keep hotel points from expiring for the cheapest qualifying actions. The main reminder page sets it up in 30 seconds.
Officially no. The Marriott Bonvoy terms state that forfeited points cannot be reinstated. In practice, Reddit reports show customer service occasionally makes exceptions if you call within a few days of expiration, are polite, and explain you missed the warning email. The success rate is uneven and the answer is more often "no" than "yes".
Yes, sometimes, through a paid reinstatement. Hilton added an official "Pay to Reinstate" option that lets you recover points expired within the past 18 months, one time per account, for a per-point fee. It costs roughly half a cent per point, so the math works only if your balance was large enough to be worth recovering.
There's no official reinstatement program. Customer service may make a one-time exception, especially if you're a longtime member with recent activity. Some travelers have had success escalating to the executive team. The faster you reach out, the higher the chance.
No. World of Hyatt terms state that forfeited points cannot be reinstated, and the program enforces it. There is no pay-to-reinstate path. The only path forward is rebuilding your balance from zero.
Same-day to a few days is your best window. After two to three weeks, the points have usually been processed out of the system and even goodwill recovery becomes much harder. Treat it like a credit-card chargeback: the clock matters.
Set an email reminder for 30 days before each program's expiration date, separately for each loyalty account you hold. The reminder doesn't depend on the program's warning landing in your inbox or your password being current. You set it, it fires, you act.
Free email reminder, no account needed. Get notified 30 days before any expiration so you don't have to plead for points back.
Set My Hotel Points ReminderLast modified: