[HOTEL] Expiry Policies (updated February 18, 2016)
It has been a while since my last hotel expiry policies update. There have been a few changes ever since, so I thought I’d give my list a quick update.
In deciding my preference for hotel loyalty programs, I give a lot of consideration to the expiry policy. I have been focusing my energy on 4 hotel rewards programs: Best Western Rewards, Hilton HHonors, IHG Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest.
For the list below, I have grouped the hotels into three different categories: (1) Never expire; (2) Never expire with activity; (3) Expire too quickly.
Never Expire
Best Western Rewards: The lone ranger in this category. Points do not expire for members who reside in North, Central and South America, Asia and South Africa. Points may expire for members who reside in other countries not mentioned above. Keep in mind that MBNA offers a co-branded credit card (no annual fee card) to help you rack up points more quickly.
Never Expire with Activity
Choice Privileges: The points do not have an expire so long as the account remains active once every 18 months. An activity includes earning or redeeming points.
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.
IHG Rewards Club: The points do not have an expire so long as the account remains active once every 12 months. An activity includes earning or redeeming points. Note that points will not expire for elite status members, but once you lose your elite status, the 12 months will start counting.
Hilton HHonors: The points do not have an expire so long as the account remains active once every 12 months. An activity includes earning or redeeming points. 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. An activity includes earning or redeeming points.
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. An activity includes earning or redeeming points. You can jump-start your points account with the Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card (first year $120 annual fee waived).
Omni Hotels: The points do not expiry so long as the account remains active once every 24 months. An activity includes a qualifying stay or redeemed a free night award.
Starwood Preferred Guest: The points do not expire so long as the account remains active once every 12 months. An activity includes earning or redeeming points. 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
Wyndham Rewards: The longer ranger in this category. Hopefully they will catch up to the rest of the hotel chains. The points expire 4 years after being posted to the account. Points will also expire if there is no activity after 18 consecutive months.