Expiring rewards in 2025? A list of loyalty programs and their rewards expiration policies

1 month ago 18

As the end of the year approaches, odds are you're doing a travel rewards self-audit. Do you know which points, certificates, vouchers and credits will disappear at midnight Jan. 1, 2025?

You obviously don't want to leave value on the table if you can help it, so here's a quick look at popular loyalty programs and their rewards expiration policies.

Do points and miles expire?

If you're an avid collector of travel rewards, you can bet that most of the currencies you've amassed have an expiration date. This may seem alarming at first — or, at the very least, inconvenient to monitor — but it's really not that bad. In just about every case, you can push the expiration date by simply earning or redeeming a single point. If you're a frequent traveler, you shouldn't have much to worry about.

To boot, some points and miles will never expire as long as you have a credit card that earns those rewards. For example, World of Hyatt points will never expire if you have an active Hyatt credit card account, and Chase Ultimate Rewards points won't expire if you hold an Ultimate Rewards-earning credit card.

But here's the more important point: Even if the rewards you have never expire, you shouldn't drag your feet in redeeming them. We routinely see loyalty program devaluations that weaken the value of rewards. All this to say, it's likely that the points you have will never be worth more than they are right now.

Do airline credits expire?

Airline credits often expire — but not always. Each airline publishes unique terms, so you'll need to read the fine print. Here's a quick rundown of the rules for the most popular airline credits.

Alaska Airlines

If you cancel your nonrefundable Alaska Airlines flight or change it to a flight that costs less than your original ticket, you'll get a credit certificate for the remaining value of your ticket. This expires either 12 months from the issue date of your original ticket or 30 days from the date of exchange or cancellation, whichever is greater. Credit certificates must be used to purchase a new ticket before the expiration date passes, but the new flight can take place up to 11 months later.

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Similarly, those who hold the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card or the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card will receive Alaska's Famous Companion Fare each cardmember year after spending $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year. This allows you to book your travel buddy a round-trip economy flight from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23). These fare codes generally must be redeemed within 12 months of the issue date, though you can book travel within 12 months beyond the issue date.

American Airlines

Travelers with unused or canceled tickets will receive a flight credit for future travel with American Airlines. To use them, you must book your new flight and travel within one year of the original ticket date.

You may also receive a trip credit for a number of reasons, including as a refund, as compensation or when you don't fully use a flight credit. Trip credits expire one year from the date they are issued unless otherwise specified.

Finally, if you receive a paper travel voucher, you'll have one year from the date it's issued to use it.

Holders of select American Airlines credit cards have the opportunity to earn a companion certificate each year after meeting annual spending requirements. These are generally valid for one year. You can earn this certificate with cards such as the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees) and the AAdvantage® Aviator® World Elite Business Mastercard®.

The information for the AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Delta Air Lines

As a result of an unused ticket or a paid service that was only partially used (such as a flight, seat upgrade or travel voucher), you may receive a Delta eCredit. These expire one year from the date of issue.

Travelers who hold an eligible Delta credit card will receive an annual companion certificate, allowing you to bring a travel partner along with you on a round-trip flight for just the cost of taxes and fees. These certificates typically expire 12 months after they are issued, and you must both book and complete your travel by the expiration date listed on the certificate. You can earn these certificates each cardmember year if you hold the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier issues flight credits and vouchers (or electronic travel certificates) with a 12-month shelf life. However, you can book travel beyond that window.

Southwest Airlines

When you cancel a nonrefundable Southwest flight, you'll receive a flight credit to use toward future Southwest flights. This credit does not expire. Southwest LUV Vouchers, on the other hand, are doled out as compensation for things like flight delays. These expire one year after the issue date, and they must be redeemed and all travel completed by the expiration date.

It's worth noting that those with LUV Vouchers approaching expiration should be able to redeem them for a flight and then cancel — thus turning it into a flight credit with no expiration.

You may also earn the Southwest Companion Pass after taking 100 qualifying one-way flights or earning 135,000 qualifying Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year. This pass allows you to bring a travel companion every time you fly Southwest for just the cost of the taxes and fees. The Companion Pass is valid for the remainder of the year in which you earn it, as well as the following calendar year. In other words, if you earn it anytime in 2024, it'll expire Dec. 31, 2025.

United Airlines

If you cancel your United Airlines flight or change it to a less expensive option, you'll receive a future flight credit. To use it, your future trip must begin before the expiration date, which is typically one year from the date of issuance.

You may also receive a travel certificate, which is a gesture of goodwill by United for doing things like giving up your seat on a full flight. This also expires after one year, but your trip doesn't have to begin by that date. Instead, you need only book the trip before it expires; travel can occur well beyond the expiration date.

Do hotel credits expire?

Hotel credits may also have varying expiration rules, but you'll largely find that certificates will expire a year after they are issued. Let's look at the terms published by the most popular hotel chains.

Choice Hotels

Unlike many hotel loyalty programs, Choice doesn't offer annual free night certificates. However, it's worth noting that Choice Privileges points expire after 18 months of inactivity. You can reset the clock by simply earning or redeeming points.

Hilton

Hilton free night certificates are valid for nearly any Hilton hotel on the planet (minus a few exceptions). If you can find standard rooms for up to 150,000 Hilton Honors points, you can likely use your free night certificate there.

These certificates normally expire within one year of the issue date. Hilton issues annual free night certificates to travelers who hold select Hilton cards, some of which require that you achieve a yearly spending threshold. For instance, with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card you can earn a free night reward after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on the card within a calendar year.

Hilton points expire after 24 months of account inactivity; you can extend their validity by earning or redeeming points at least once during that time.

Hyatt

Hyatt issues free nights in more ways than one. You can earn them by holding (and spending on) the World of Hyatt Credit Card, which provides a free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt property every year after your cardmember anniversary and another free night after you spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year. Additionally, Hyatt enthusiasts can earn a Category 1-4 award night when they reach 30 qualifying nights or 50,000 base points in a year thanks to World of Hyatt's Milestone Rewards and for every five unique Hyatt brands they stay at over the lifetime of their membership via Hyatt's Brand Explorer.

Free night certificates earned from the Hyatt credit card and through Brand Explorer are valid for one year from the date of issuance. Free night certificates earned as a Milestone Reward are valid for 180 days from the date of issuance. When using one of these, you must check out prior to the expiration date.

World of Hyatt points will expire after 24 months of account inactivity, but you can easily extend them with activity. Even holding an active Hyatt credit card associated with your account will keep your points active.

IHG Hotels & Resorts

If you hold the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, you'll receive a free night certificate worth up to 40,000 points after each account anniversary. You'll have 12 months to complete your stay from the issue date. Additionally, InterContinental Ambassador members receive an annual free night certificate that expires 12 months from the issue date.

IHG One Rewards points expire after 12 months of inactivity for basic members. If you have elite status (which you can achieve by simply holding any IHG credit card), your points will never expire.

Marriott

Marriott offers free night awards of varying values. You can earn them by holding a Marriott credit card, such as the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, which offers one free award night worth up to 35,000 points each year after your card account anniversary. (Certain hotels have resort fees.) You can also choose a free night award worth up to 40,000 points as one of your Annual Choice Benefits after earning 75 elite night credits in one calendar year.

Either way, Marriott free night certificates are valid for one year after they are issued. You must check in for your stay on or before the expiration date.

Marriott Bonvoy points will expire if your account is inactive for 24 months. But again, you can prevent expiration by simply earning or redeeming points.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

You can't earn a free night certificate with Wyndham Rewards. The only way to stay for free is by using points, which expire after 18 months of account inactivity. Additionally, points you earn from a hotel stay will expire four years after your checkout date — even if your account is active.

Credit card statement credits

Some travel credits aren't directly tied to an airline or hotel loyalty program. Many travel credit cards offer perks like airline fee credits and hotel credits to help you save money, so it's important to know when these become available to you and when they'll expire.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers up to $50 in annual statement credits toward prepaid hotels booked through the Chase Travel℠ portal. This expires and resets each account anniversary.

The Platinum Card® from American Express offers up to $200 in statement credits each year on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection when you pay with your Amex Platinum. (Hotel Collection stays require a two-night minimum; enrollment is required for select benefits.) The card also provides up to $200 per year toward airline incidental fees (enrollment is required). If not used, both of these perks expire Dec. 31.

Some cards offer annual credits that cover just about anything travel-related. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® will give you up to $300 in statement credits to offset travel; they reset every year on your cardmember anniversary.

These perks allow (or, in some cases, require) that you prepay for your travel, so you should be able to use them for travel beyond their expiration dates.

Bottom line

As you can see, expiration policies vary widely. Some travel certificates expire at the end of each year or on your cardmember anniversary, while others expire a specific number of months after they are issued. To add to the confusion, some require you to simply book a flight or stay by the expiration date, while others require travel to be booked and completed before expiration.

The end of the year is a great time to comb through your stash of certificates, awards and vouchers to ensure that you don't let anything go to waste.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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