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To keep airline and hotel rewards from expiring, make a qualifying earn or redemption, use a transfer or donation only if your program counts it, or rely on an eligible status or card benefit. The key is to check the rules for each account: there is no industry-wide activity rule, and an action that protects one program may do nothing for another.
How points and miles expiration works
Programs use different expiration rules. Some forfeit rewards after a period without qualifying account activity; others give miles a validity period based on when they were earned. Some programs say miles do not expire under their standard policy, though other account rules may still apply.
These official policies illustrate the differences. They are examples, not rules that apply to every member or account:
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|---|---|
| American Airlines AAdvantage | In 2026, qualifying activity extends the expiration date of unexpired miles by 24 months. Members under 21 are exempt from the general activity requirement until they turn 21; a subsequent activity deadline applies. American Airlines AAdvantage mileage expiration |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | In 2026, points expire after 18 months without activity. The program says earning or redeeming at least one point within that period keeps the account active. Aeroplan points expiration |
| Marriott Bonvoy | In 2026, an account inactive for 24 consecutive months forfeits accumulated points. The terms exclude certain gifts and transfers from qualifying activity. Marriott Bonvoy program terms |
| IHG One Rewards | In 2026, Club-level points expire after 12 months without an earn or redeem transaction. Elite members’ points do not expire while they maintain Elite membership. IHG One Rewards membership terms |
| Hilton Honors | In 2026, members without eligible activity in any 24-consecutive-month period are subject to forfeiture. Hilton Honors terms |
| Emirates Skywards | In 2026, miles are valid for three years from the relevant flight or partner transaction, with expiration at the end of the birthday month following that validity period. This is not simply a clock that starts with the account’s last activity. Emirates Skywards miles expiry |
| Delta SkyMiles | In 2026, the mileage-expiration policy says miles do not expire. Separate rules allow miles to be removed in specified account-closure circumstances. Delta SkyMiles Program Rules |
Policy details may vary by country, account status, age, card product, and transaction type. Check your account’s current terms and dashboard rather than assuming that another member’s rule applies to you.
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1. Earn rewards through an eligible transaction
A qualifying flight, hotel stay, partner purchase, or other eligible transaction may count as activity. For example, American includes eligible mileage earning with participating airlines and other partners, including hotels and credit cards. Aeroplan counts earning at least one point within its 18-month window.
Before relying on a transaction, confirm that the merchant or travel provider participates, that the purchase qualifies, and that the rewards will post to the account you want to protect. A pending transaction may not help if the deadline passes before it is credited.
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2. Redeem a small amount when it suits you
A redemption can count as activity in some programs. Aeroplan includes redeeming at least one point in its activity rule, and American includes redeeming an AAdvantage award as qualifying activity. Check the program’s terms to understand whether that action extends the expiration date of eligible unexpired rewards or only changes the amount you have left.
Do not redeem solely to meet a deadline without checking the value and consequences of the award. The terms, available redemption options, and treatment of remaining rewards differ by program.
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3. Check before transferring, converting, or donating
These transactions are not interchangeable across programs. Aeroplan lists transfers, conversions, and donations among ways to keep an account active. American includes specified buy, gift, or transfer transactions in its qualifying activity rules. Marriott, by contrast, says gifting or transferring points to or from another member does not maintain active status.
Look up the exact transaction type in your program’s current terms before acting. A transfer or donation can be costly or irreversible, and it may not count even when another program treats a similar transaction as activity.
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4. See whether your existing status or card protects rewards
Some programs provide protection for qualifying cardholders or members with status. Aeroplan says certain primary co-branded cardholders and Elite Status holders can prevent points from expiring. IHG says Elite members’ points do not expire while they maintain Elite membership.
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Check that your specific card or status tier is covered and that you still meet its conditions. A card benefit is not a universal fix, and opening a card solely to preserve rewards may involve eligibility requirements, fees, and country-specific terms.
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How to check an account before its deadline
- Open the program’s website or app. Sign in to the specific airline or hotel account and review its balance, activity history, and any expiration notice or date shown.
- Read the program’s current expiration terms. Identify the qualifying activity types, applicable inactivity period or mileage-validity rule, and any exception for your status, age, or card.
- Choose an eligible action with enough time to post. Confirm how long the transaction may take to credit and whether it affects the rewards you intend to keep.
- Verify the result. After the transaction posts, check the account activity and expiration information again rather than assuming the balance was protected.
- Set a personal reminder and keep contact details current. Program notices can help, but a reminder tied to the account’s actual terms is a safer backup.
If your points or miles have already expired
Recovery depends on the program. Aeroplan and AAdvantage describe reinstatement routes in their official policies, while Hilton’s terms say forfeited points cannot be retrieved. Check the program’s current rules before paying for a reinstatement or assuming that an expired balance can be restored.
For rules that are based on transaction dates or member details, use the program’s account record and support channel to clarify the deadline. Emirates’ validity rule, for example, ties expiry to the relevant transaction and the member’s birthday month, not simply the date of the last account activity.
Choose the safest action across multiple accounts
If you have rewards in more than one program, evaluate each account separately. Compare which actions qualify, whether an action extends the relevant rewards or only changes the amount used, how soon it must post, and whether existing status or a card already provides protection. Also consider any cost or irreversible consequence of buying, transferring, redeeming, or donating points. No single option is established as the cheapest or best choice for every member.
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