[HOTEL] Expiry Policies (updated September 10, 2014)

I thought this would be a good time to update my previous run-down post on hotel expiry policies. I am always trying to decide which hotel loyalty program best suits my travels needs and my portfolio. One of the main factors to consider is the ease of earning the points, because often times we need to keep that account active to prevent the points from expiry. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the expiry policies for each program.

Personally, Best Western Rewards, IHG Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest are my three primary hotel loyalty program that I use. Though I have been shifting more efforts to the Starwood Preferred Guest program mostly.

I have grouped the hotels into three different categories to make it easier to track. The categories are as follows: (1) Never expire, (2) Never expire with activity, (3) Expire too quickly

Never Expire

Best Western Rewards: The account does not require any activity to remain active because points will never expire for North American club members (which includes members who reside in North, Central and South America, Asia and South Africa). Points may expire for members who reside in other countries. You can jump-start your account with the MBNA Best Western Rewards Platinum Plus MasterCard which has no annual fee.

IHG Rewards Club: The account does not require any activity to remain active because points will never expire. There are two Canadian co-branded credit cards associated with IHG, the Capital One World ($120 annual fee) and Platinum (no annual fee) versions.

Delta Privilege: There does not seem to be an expiry policy, so the points will continue to be on your account until the Delta Privilege program decides to terminate, in which case members will receive 6 months noticed to redeem the benefits if the program is terminated.

Never Expire with Activity

Club Carlson: The points do not have an expire so long as the account remains active once every 24 months. An activity includes earning or redeeming points.

Hilton HHonors: The points do not expire so long as the account remains active once every 12 months. You can earn HHonors points by transferring your American Express Membership Rewards points, where 1,000 Membership Rewards points is equal to 1,000 HHonors points (minimum of 1,000 Membership Rewards transfer points required).

Hyatt Gold Passport: The points do not expire so long as the account remains active once every 12 months.

Le Club Accorhotels: The points do not expire so long as the account remains active so long as the member stays in a participating Accor hotel at least once a year.

Marriott Rewards: The points do not expire so long as the account remains active once every 24 months. You can jump-start your account with the Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card (first year $120 annual fee waived).

Starwood Preferred Guest: The points do not expire so long as the account remains active once every 12 months. You can earn Starpoints points by transferring your American Express Membership Rewards points, where 1,000 Membership Rewards points is equal to 500 Starpoints points (minimum of 3,000 Membership Rewards transfer points required). You can also get the American Express SPG Preferred Guest Credit Card ($120 annual fee).

Expire too Quickly

Choice Privileges: The points expire two years after the year in which they were deposited into your account unless forfeited or cancelled earlier due to membership inactivity. The points will be taken off on December 31 of the expiry year. MBNA and Choice Privileges recently broke off ties.

Wyndham Rewards: The points expire 4 years after being posted to the account. Points will also expire if there is no activity after 18 consecutive months.