Here is the short answer: it depends entirely on the program. Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards points never expire from inactivity, but they disappear when you close the card. Most hotel programs give you 24 months before your balance goes to zero. And two of the biggest airline programs, Delta and United, have eliminated expiration entirely.
Understanding which type applies to your programs determines what you actually need to do to protect your balance.
The Two Ways Points Actually Expire
Credit card points and miles expire in two distinct ways, and mixing them up leads to the wrong protective actions:
- Account closure forfeiture: The issuer voids your points when you close the card. This is how Chase, Amex, and Capital One work. Points do not expire from sitting unused, but cancel the card without moving the points first and they are gone.
- Inactivity expiration: The program deletes your balance if you go a set period (typically 24 months) without earning or redeeming. Most hotel programs and some airline programs use this model.
Bank Currencies: No Inactivity Clock, But Card Closure Is the Risk
Chase Ultimate Rewards (Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Ink cards)
Chase Ultimate Rewards points have no inactivity expiration. Your balance will sit untouched for years without shrinking.
The risk is card closure. If you cancel the card that earns Ultimate Rewards without first transferring the points to a travel partner, your entire balance is forfeited immediately. The safe moves: transfer to a Chase partner (United, Hyatt, Southwest, British Airways) before canceling, or downgrade to a no-fee Chase card that still holds a UR balance (Chase Freedom Flex preserves your points).
American Express Membership Rewards (Gold, Platinum, Green)
Amex MR points also have no inactivity expiration. A 200,000-point balance will still be there in five years if you never touch it, provided the account stays open.
Account closure forfeits the balance. Amex sometimes provides a 30-day window to redeem after closure, but this is not a guaranteed policy and should not be counted on. If Amex closes your account for suspected fraud or terms violations, the points are gone with no appeal process.
If you have two or more Amex MR-earning cards (Gold and Platinum, for example), closing one does not forfeit the points as long as another MR-earning card remains open in your name.
Capital One Miles (Venture, Venture X, VentureOne)
Capital One miles do not expire as long as your account is open and in good standing. No inactivity requirement. Closing the card forfeits the miles, so transfer before canceling.
Citi ThankYou Points (Strata Premier, Double Cash, Custom Cash)
ThankYou Points do not expire from inactivity on modern Citi cards. Points are safe as long as the account is open. If you close the account, you have 60 days to redeem the balance before it expires.
The practical risk with Citi is different: Citi will close dormant accounts that have had no activity for an extended period. If your Citi card sits completely unused, Citi may close it and start the 60-day expiration clock. A small recurring charge on the card each year keeps the account alive and your points safe.
Hotel Programs: 24-Month Inactivity Window
The three major hotel currencies all use the same model: earn or redeem within any 24-month window to keep your balance active.
Hilton Honors
Points expire after 24 months with no earning activity. Any activity resets the clock: a hotel stay, credit card spending on a co-branded Hilton Amex, or purchases through Hilton’s shopping or dining programs. You do not need to book a hotel stay to stay active.
Marriott Bonvoy
Points expire after 24 months with no earning activity. A single credit card charge on any Marriott Bonvoy co-branded card resets the clock. With Marriott’s portfolio spanning Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, and dozens of other brands, earning opportunities are plentiful for occasional travelers.
World of Hyatt
Points expire after 24 months of no earning or redemption activity. As Chase’s most popular Ultimate Rewards transfer partner, Hyatt points are often accumulated through Chase rather than direct stays. Keeping a Chase Sapphire Preferred open and occasionally transferring to Hyatt counts as earning activity and resets the clock.
Airline Miles: A Split Story
| Program | Expiration Policy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Delta SkyMiles | No expiration | Account must stay open |
| United MileagePlus | No expiration | Policy changed 2019; account must stay open |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | No expiration | Account must stay open |
| American AAdvantage | 24 months inactivity | Co-branded cardholders exempt from expiration |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | 24 months inactivity | Any earn or redeem resets |
| Alaska Mileage Plan | 24 months inactivity | Earn or redeem resets |
Delta, United, and JetBlue have eliminated inactivity expiration entirely. American, Southwest, and Alaska require at least one earning or redemption activity every 24 months to keep balances active.
One AAdvantage exception worth knowing: holding a co-branded American Airlines credit card (Citi AAdvantage or Barclay Aviator) exempts your miles from the 24-month expiration rule as long as that card remains open.
The Full Reference Table
| Program | Inactivity Expiration | Key Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | None | Forfeit on card closure |
| Amex Membership Rewards | None | Forfeit when last MR card closes |
| Capital One Miles | None | Forfeit on card closure |
| Citi ThankYou Points | None | 60-day window after closure; Citi closes dormant accounts |
| Hilton Honors | 24 months | Any earning activity resets |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 24 months | Any earning activity resets |
| World of Hyatt | 24 months | Earn or redeem resets |
| United MileagePlus | None (since 2019) | Account must stay open |
| Delta SkyMiles | None | Account must stay open |
| American AAdvantage | 24 months | Co-branded cardholders exempt |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | 24 months | Any earn or redeem resets |
Four Actions That Protect Your Points
1. Never close a rewards card without first moving the points out. For Chase UR, Amex MR, and Capital One, transfer to a travel partner before canceling. Transfers to airline and hotel partners are typically instant.
2. Keep dormant cards active with a small recurring charge. A low-cost streaming subscription on a card you rarely use keeps the account alive and prevents the issuer from closing it for inactivity.
3. Keep hotel program accounts active. For Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, American, and Southwest, any earning activity resets the 24-month clock. A single credit card purchase on the co-branded card is sufficient.
4. Verify downgrade paths before product changes. Downgrading a Chase Sapphire to a Freedom Flex keeps your UR balance intact. Downgrading a Citi Strata Premier to a non-ThankYou product may convert your balance to a form that no longer transfers to airline partners. Confirm the downgrade terms before making the change.
Bottom Line
Bank currencies (Chase, Amex, Capital One, Citi) will outlast you if you keep the card open. Hotel and some airline programs have a genuine 24-month expiration window, but any earning or redemption activity resets it. United and Delta have eliminated inactivity expiration entirely. The most expensive mistake is closing a card with a large unredeemed balance: transfer first, then cancel.
FAQ
Q: Do Chase Ultimate Rewards points expire?
A: No. Chase Ultimate Rewards points have no inactivity expiration. They are forfeited only if you close the earning card without first transferring the points to a travel partner or moving them to another Chase card with UR earning status.
Q: Do Amex Membership Rewards points expire?
A: Amex MR points do not expire from inactivity. They are forfeited when you close your last Membership Rewards-earning card. If you hold two or more MR-earning cards, you can close one without losing the balance. Amex sometimes provides a 30-day redemption window after closure, but this is not guaranteed.
Q: What is the Citi ThankYou Points expiration policy?
A: ThankYou Points on modern Citi cards do not expire from inactivity while the account is open. If you close the account, you have 60 days to redeem. The main risk is Citi closing a dormant account, so put at least one small charge on the card each year.
Q: Do Hilton Honors points expire if I stop staying at Hilton?
A: Yes. Hilton Honors points expire after 24 months with no earning activity. Credit card purchases on a co-branded Hilton Amex count as earning and reset the clock, so a hotel stay is not required.
Q: Do United MileagePlus miles expire?
A: No. United eliminated MileagePlus inactivity expiration in 2019. Miles will not expire as long as your account remains open in good standing.
Policies verified as of May 2026.