Most bank points do not expire from sitting still. Hotel and airline balances often do. Below is the inactivity rule for each major program we cover, plus the cheapest legit reset we can source — usually a small bank transfer, a partner purchase, or a stay.
Checked October 16, 2026 against program terms and official FAQs. Programs change rules without notice. Confirm on the linked page before you move anything. MaxUrPoints is 100% free. We help you find bonuses and rules; we never touch your accounts or ask for logins.
These are the flexible piles people transfer from. Most have no inactivity clock — the risk is closing the card, not forgetting to click.
Rule: Points do not expire from inactivity while the card account stays open. Closing the account (or Chase closing it for misuse/default) can forfeit them; ordinary closures usually get at least 30 days to redeem.
Cheapest keep-alive: Keep at least one Ultimate Rewards card open. Before closing a card, move points to another open Chase UR card (free between your own accounts).
Source: Chase — Do rewards points expire? (checked Oct 16, 2026).
Rule: Points have no expiration date. You can still lose them: canceling or unenrolling your last linked MR product generally forfeits the balance immediately. If Amex cancels a card for inactivity, terms give 90 days to use points first.
Cheapest keep-alive: Keep one MR-eligible product open. Redeem or transfer before canceling your last card.
New in Oct 2026: Amex now puts a new card’s points in its own separate Membership Rewards account by default (existing cards unchanged). Link it to your main balance under Manage Connections in the Amex app or website, so canceling that card later doesn’t strand its points. Source: Doctor of Credit, Oct 15, 2026 (checked Oct 17, 2026).
Source: Amex FAQ — points expiration; MR Terms (March 2026 PDF) “Lose Points” (checked Oct 16, 2026).
Rule: Citi’s FAQ says ThankYou Points may expire depending on your credit card. Shared points expire 90 days after receipt. Log into ThankYou.com → My Points Summary to see any balance due to expire in the next 60 days.
Cheapest keep-alive: Check your specific card’s ThankYou terms. Keep an eligible Citi card open; use or transfer points before product changes.
Source: Citi ThankYou FAQs (checked Oct 16, 2026). Full detail is in the ThankYou Rewards Terms on ThankYou.com for your card.
Rule: Rewards do not expire for the life of the account while it is open and in good standing. Closing the account or a bad standing (suspended, delinquent, default) can forfeit unused rewards.
Cheapest keep-alive: Keep an eligible Capital One rewards card open and in good standing.
Source: Capital One — Do rewards expire? (page dated Aug 27, 2026; checked Oct 16, 2026).
Rule: Bilt defines an Inactive Account as 18 months with no activity. Activity includes: rent or mortgage payments through the account, qualified purchases on a Bilt co-brand card, any points redemption, or entry in a Bilt promotional sweepstakes. Terms also say points don’t expire while the account is open and active — inactive status can forfeit the balance.
Cheapest keep-alive: Pay rent/mortgage through Bilt, make a qualifying card purchase, redeem a small amount, or enter an eligible Bilt sweepstakes before 18 months of silence.
Source: Bilt Rewards Terms (last updated July 14, 2026; definitions + §10; checked Oct 16, 2026).
Rule: Public Autograph / Wells Fargo Rewards summaries state points do not expire while the account remains open and in good standing. Closing the account typically forfeits unused points.
Cheapest keep-alive: Keep the rewards card open. Confirm in your card’s Wells Fargo Rewards terms.
Source: Wells Fargo Rewards terms at wellsfargo.com (card-specific). Independent summaries agree “no expire while open”; treat the PDF on your account as authoritative (checked Oct 16, 2026).
Rule: Rove Miles do not currently expire based on account inactivity, provided the account stays in good standing. Forfeiture is still possible for termination, suspension, or fraud/abuse.
Cheapest keep-alive: Keep the Rove account open and in good standing.
Source: Rove Miles Program Terms §4.1 “No Expiration” (last updated April 1, 2025; checked Oct 16, 2026).
Hotel points are where Reddit threads about “I lost 300k” usually come from. One qualifying action often resets the entire balance.
Rule: Need Qualifying Activity at least once every 24 months or all points/awards forfeit and cannot be reinstated. Qualifying Activity includes earning or redeeming points/miles, purchasing points, completing a Qualifying Stay, or converting points/miles with designated partners. Gifting / receiving member-to-member points does not count. Lifetime Elite accounts are not currently subject to expiration.
Cheapest keep-alive: Transfer 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards into Bonvoy (usual 1:1 minimum — confirm in your bank’s transfer UI), or buy 1,000 Bonvoy points (~$12.50 at Marriott’s standard buy rate), or earn via dining / shopping portal / completed stay. Booking a future award alone is not enough — activity must post.
Source: Marriott Bonvoy Terms §1.4 Qualifying Activity (updated Oct 2026; checked Oct 16, 2026). Transfer mins: see Chase → Marriott / Amex → Marriott.
Rule: No eligible activity in any 24 consecutive months → forfeiture of all points (membership may also be discontinued). Eligible actions: (a) stay at a Participating Hotel, (b) earn points through Hilton or a third-party source including a Hilton co-branded card, (c) purchase points, or (d) donate points through Hilton Honors Giving Back.
Cheapest keep-alive: Donate points via Giving Back, earn a few points on a Hilton co-brand card or partner, buy the minimum points package, or complete a stay.
Source: Hilton Honors Terms General §17 (effective July 15, 2026; checked Oct 16, 2026).
Rule: Points expire after 24 consecutive months without activity that earns or uses points (stay, redemption, purchase, transfer, etc.). Holding an eligible Hyatt co-branded credit card is widely reported to keep the account active — confirm on your Hyatt account / card terms.
Cheapest keep-alive: Small transfer in from Chase or Bilt (check current minimums), purchase points, redeem a small amount, or complete a stay. Hyatt cardholders: verify card activity still counts for your product.
Source: Hyatt Inclusive Collection FAQ (24-month inactivity); confirm on world.hyatt.com account terms (checked Oct 16, 2026). Bank paths: Chase → Hyatt, Bilt → Hyatt.
Rule: Club (base) points expire if there is no earn or redeem transaction for 12 months. Elite members’ points do not expire while Elite status is maintained. Using the co-brand “one night per year” alone does not count as earn/redeem for expiration.
Cheapest keep-alive: Any earn or redeem that changes your balance (stay, Points + Cash, convert to a partner, or transfer points to another member in 1,000-point increments). Or maintain Elite status.
Source: IHG Member Terms §39 Point Expiration; How to keep your points (terms updated June 24, 2026; checked Oct 16, 2026).
Rule: Accor Reward Points are typically valid for 365 days from crediting and are extended when new points are credited or when you donate points (per Accor ALL terms). Confirm the exact wording for your region.
Cheapest keep-alive: Earn any points (stay, partner) or donate points so the validity window extends. Bank transfer-in from Bilt/Rove/others can also credit points — check Convert.
Source: Accor ALL Terms and Conditions (verify your market; checked Oct 16, 2026).
Rule: Points may be forfeited after 24 continuous months without qualifying activity (booking/staying or using points). Some summaries say member transfers do not extend validity — treat as unverified until you confirm on Radisson’s current FAQ/terms for your region.
Cheapest keep-alive: Complete a stay or redeem points. Do not rely on a transfer alone until Radisson’s page says it qualifies.
Source: Radisson Rewards FAQ / Terms (checked Oct 16, 2026 — confirm before acting).
Rule: Miles stay in the account until redeemed or forfeited for reasons listed in the Rules (Prohibited Conduct, account closure, death, failure to respond to account-status communications, etc.) — not for simple inactivity.
Cheapest keep-alive: None needed for inactivity. Still keep the account open and contact info current.
Source: United MileagePlus Rules — “Mileage expiration” (checked Oct 16, 2026).
Rule: Normal rule: expire after 18 months inactive. Expiry is paused until November 30, 2026 (points that would have expired through Nov 29, 2026 won’t). From Nov 30, 2026 the normal policy returns. Eligible activity: earn, redeem, donate, transfer, or convert. Co-brand cardholders / Elite status can prevent expiry under Aeroplan’s stated exceptions.
Cheapest keep-alive (after pause ends): Earn or redeem at least 1 point within 18 months (eStore, partner hotel/car, small transfer in, donation).
Source: Aeroplan — expiry paused until Nov 30, 2026; Keeping points active (checked Oct 16, 2026).
Rule: For typical Explorer members (18+), Miles generally expire after 24 months without eligible earning activity; an earn extends the whole balance. Silver and above (Elite) Miles do not expire under the current policy (as of the May 2026 update reported by program FAQs). Confirm the validity date shown in your Flying Blue account.
Cheapest keep-alive: Transfer a small block from Amex, Chase, Citi, Cap One, or Wells Fargo (check live minimums — often 1,000), or any other eligible earn.
Source: Flying Blue / Air France FAQs and programme terms (see Air France Flying Blue Miles FAQ); confirm in-app expiry date (checked Oct 16, 2026). Live bonuses: Transfer bonuses.
Rule: Avios won’t expire as long as you collect, spend, buy or share at least one Avios every 36 months. Three years of total silence → balance removed.
Cheapest keep-alive: Any partner collect (shopping, hotel), spend 1 Avios, buy Avios, or share/transfer Avios between eligible Club accounts. Bank transfer-in also collects Avios.
Source: BA Club — Collecting Avios / expiry rules (checked Oct 16, 2026). Other Avios programs (Iberia, Aer Lingus, Qatar, Finnair) have their own clocks — check each.
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