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The only thing better than earning rewards on your credit card is redeeming them. But sometimes, rewards programs have a "use it or lose it" policy that may impact your ability to store up and sit on the cash back, points or miles you've earned.
Knowing the expiration dates and rules for your rewards stash can save you from heartbreak and missed opportunities. Check out our guide below to see if you might need to give some attention to your loyalty account so your hard-earned points don't vanish.
Do general credit card rewards expire?
For many of the biggest credit card rewards programs — including the following — points never expire as long as your account is in good standing:
- Bank of America® points via the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card or the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
- Capital One rewards
- Discover it rewards
However, terms for specific cards within an issuer's family may vary. Call the number on the back of your card if you're unsure of its rewards expiration policy.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Unlike general credit cards, points you earned on store credit cards are more likely to expire. For instance, points on the Petco Pay Credit Cards expire one year after you earn them. The L.L.Bean Mastercard has a slightly more lenient policy, but you'll still lose your rewards if you don't make at least one purchase on this credit card every 24 months. Do airline credit card rewards expire?
It's much more common for miles earned with airline credit cards to have expiration dates, in keeping with the terms of the co-branded airline's frequent flyer program. Here are the expiration policies on miles earned with some popular cards:
If you have a co-branded airline credit card, your rewards miles are deposited directly into your frequent flyer account. With each program, you can typically keep your account active by earning or redeeming miles. Qualifying activities might include booking award travel, making purchases on your co-branded credit card, shopping through the airline's online mall, or just booking a flight and including your frequent flyer number.
Do hotel credit card rewards expire?
As with airline cards, points earned via co-branded hotel credit cards are more likely to have expiration dates, depending on the terms of the hotel's loyalty program. Here are the expiration policies on points earned via some popular cards:
| CARD NAME | REWARD PROGRAM | EXPIRATION |
|---|---|---|
| Best Western Rewards Premium Mastercard | None. | |
| Choice Privileges® Visa Signature® Card | Choice Privileges | You must have at least one qualifying activity every 18 months to maintain an active status and retain your accumulated points. |
| You must have at least one qualifying activity every 24 months to maintain an active status and retain your accumulated points. | ||
| You must have at least one qualifying activity every 24 months to maintain an active status and retain your accumulated points. Owning a Hyatt-branded credit card is considered a qualifying activity. | ||
| You must at least earn or redeem points every 12 months to maintain an active status and retain your accumulated points. | ||
| Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | You must earn or redeem points at least once every 24 months. Otherwise, points will be forfeited. Those with Lifetime Elite Status aren't affected. | |
| The Wyndham Rewards® Visa Signature® Card | Wyndham Rewards | Points expire four years after being posted to the member's account. |
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, see this page. All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is no longer available through NerdWallet.
To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, see this page.
