First, identify where the points live
The confusion comes less from any single rule than from having four kinds of rewards at once: bank points, airline miles, hotel points and certificates or credits. They appear in different accounts and answer to different terms.
In plain English, activity usually means a real earn or redemption recognized by the program. Opening an app, changing a password or registering for a promotion usually does not count; the transaction often needs to post before the clock changes.
| Reward type | Where it lives | Typical expiration trigger | Common trap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transferable bank points | Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One or Bilt | Account closure, account status or inactivity | Keeping points does not always preserve partner-transfer access |
| Airline miles | Frequent-flyer account | A fixed term or months without earning/redeeming activity | Transfers from a bank are generally irreversible |
| Hotel points | Hotel loyalty account | Commonly 12, 18 or 24 months without qualifying activity | Gifts, transfers or canceled reservations may not count |
| Certificates and credits | Card or loyalty benefit dashboard | A fixed date tied to issue or membership year | Point activity generally does not extend the benefit |
Bank points usually do not expire—the card closure is the risk
Amex, Chase and Capital One generally do not clear points on a scheduled date. The balance still depends on an eligible account, however. Before closing the last linked product, keep another eligible account, combine the balance or redeem it.
Citi resembles a drawer holding points from different sources. Shared ThankYou Points expire 90 days after receipt, while Bank of America and Discover have their own post-closure treatment. “No expiration” does not mean close first and decide later.
| Program | Normal rule | Primary risk | Before closing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Membership Rewards | No fixed expiration date | Closing the last linked Amex Card or Checking account generally forfeits the balance immediately | Keep another eligible product or redeem/transfer first |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | No expiration while the account is open and in good standing | Unused points are lost after closure | Combine to another eligible Chase card or redeem first |
| Capital One Rewards | No expiration for the life of the account | An account closure may forfeit unredeemed rewards | Redeem, cover an eligible purchase or transfer first |
| Citi ThankYou Points | Depends on the card and point source | Shared points expire 90 days after receipt; other balances may have separate rules | Open My Points Summary and review each source |
| Bank of America Rewards | Most card rewards do not expire while the account is open with charging privileges | Some products provide only 90 days after voluntary or inactivity closure | Use the exact program rules and redeem before closure |
| Discover Rewards | No expiration for the life of the account | Discover controls how rewards are disbursed after closure | Redeem first to avoid a later check or account credit |
| Bilt Rewards | No expiration while the account remains active | 18 months without activity as defined in the terms | Use a genuine housing payment, eligible co-brand purchase or redemption |
Do airline miles expire? Which programs require account activity?
Once points move to an airline, the bank's rules fall away. Delta, United and Southwest currently have no routine expiration date, while American and Aeroplan still use qualifying-activity windows. For those accounts, a small transaction that has actually posted can matter more than repeated logins.
| Airline program | Published 2026 rule | Keeping it active |
|---|---|---|
| American AAdvantage | Expires after 24 months without qualifying earn or redemption; exceptions apply to primary cardholders and members under 21 | Fly, earn through a co-brand or partner, or redeem miles |
| Delta SkyMiles | Miles do not expire | No routine activity needed, but keep the account in good standing |
| United MileagePlus | Miles do not expire | No routine activity needed; avoid violations or closing the account |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | Points do not expire; closing the membership forfeits them | Maintain account access and accurate profile information |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Forfeited after 18 consecutive months without earning or redeeming | Earn or redeem at least one point within 18 months |
Hotel points usually follow the last qualifying activity
Hotel programs typically count 12, 18 or 24 months from the most recent qualifying activity rather than clearing balances every December. The details matter: a completed stay may count, while a canceled award, a member-to-member transfer or simply registering for a promotion may not.
| Hotel program | Inactivity window | Qualifying activity and exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| Choice Privileges | 18 months | Qualifying stays, redemptions, co-brand earning, partner activity, inbound transfers or buying points can reset it; registering for a promotion does not |
| Hilton Honors | 24 months | Stays, co-brand or partner earning, buying or donating points can maintain activity |
| World of Hyatt | 24 months | Earning, completed redemptions, buying or combining points, or an active linked Hyatt card count; canceled/no-show awards do not |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 24 months | Stays, redemptions, co-brand earning, buying or bank transfers can count; member-to-member gifts and transfers do not |
| IHG One Rewards | 12 months for Club members | Elite points do not expire; Club members need qualifying earning or redemption activity |
Which activities can extend points and miles?
- Complete a qualifying stay or mileage-earning flight and confirm the points post.
- Make a normal purchase on a linked co-branded card and wait for the points to reach the loyalty account.
- Earn through an official shopping portal, dining program, rental-car partner or another eligible partner.
- Check the program before relying on a small redemption, point purchase or bank transfer.
- After posting, confirm the new expiration date and save the record.
Which actions do not extend points and miles?
- Logging in, changing a password, subscribing to email or registering for a promotion usually does not reset the clock.
- Member-to-member gifts or transfers may not count in some hotel programs.
- Hyatt excludes canceled and no-show award reservations from activity.
- Do not assume a pending co-brand purchase has already extended the deadline.
- Fixed-date certificates and travel credits usually do not extend with point activity.
How should you handle points before closing a card?
- Review bank, airline, hotel and certificate balances 30 to 90 days early.
- Confirm whether the card is the last eligible product supporting that currency.
- Wait for pending rewards, then combine eligible balances in your own portfolio.
- Transfer only after finding a real booking; otherwise compare cash or statement-credit options.
- Save balances and confirmation numbers before downgrading or closing.
Frequently asked questions
Do credit card points reset at year-end?
Most bank points do not reset solely because the year ends. Closure, account problems and loyalty-program inactivity are more common risks.
Can a downgrade cost me points?
Not necessarily, but the new product may lose partner-transfer access. Confirm the balance location and available redemptions first.
Is transferring to an airline always safer?
No. Transfers are usually irreversible, and the airline then controls expiration and devaluation. Find bookable space first.
Does one small credit-card purchase extend every mileage balance?
Not automatically. It must be an eligible purchase on a correctly linked co-branded card, and the points generally need to post.
How long do shared Citi points last?
Citi says shared points expire 90 days after receipt, so treat them as a short-dated balance.
Sources and verification
- American Express Membership Rewards — No scheduled expiration, subject to forfeiture rules
- Chase Ultimate Rewards — No expiration while open; redeem or move before closing
- Capital One Rewards — Rewards last for the life of the account; closure may forfeit them
- Citi ThankYou Rewards FAQ — Expiration varies by source; shared points expire after 90 days
- Bilt Rewards Terms — 18-month inactivity definition
- American AAdvantage FAQ — 24-month qualifying-activity rule and cardholder exception
- Delta SkyMiles Program Rules — SkyMiles do not expire
- United MileagePlus announcement — MileagePlus miles do not expire
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Terms — Points do not expire; account closure forfeits them
- Air Canada Aeroplan Terms — 18 months without earning or redemption activity
- Choice Privileges FAQ — 18-month qualifying-activity rule
- Hilton Honors Terms — 24-month qualifying-activity rule
- World of Hyatt FAQ — 24-month inactivity rule and qualifying actions
- Marriott Bonvoy Points Expiration — 24-month rule and excluded activities
- IHG One Rewards Points FAQ — Different expiration rules for Club and Elite members
- NerdWallet rewards expiration guide — Used as an editorial structure reference; program rules verified with official sources
Summary
- Points still at the bank：Confirm that an eligible account will remain; closing the last qualifying card can matter more than a calendar date.
- Miles or hotel points：Check the inactivity window and the program's definition of a qualifying earn or redemption.
- Certificates and travel credits：These usually carry a fixed deadline that new account activity may not extend.