Do Marriott Bonvoy Points Ever Expire? A Comprehensive Guide
Marriott Bonvoy points are one of the most valuable travel currencies, offering opportunities for free nights at hotels or exclusive experiences among Marriott’s massive footprint. Now, it is important to know the points expiration policy in order not to remove your points with nothing to show for all of that time you put into gaining them. Read on for everything you need to know about the Marriott points expiration policy as well as strategies to keep your account active.
Understanding Marriott Bonvoy Points Expiration Policy
Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of inactivity. Inactivity is defined as a period where no qualifying activity occurs on your Marriott Bonvoy account. Marriott’s policy is designed to encourage members to remain active within the program, but it’s possible to prevent points from expiring with minimal effort.
- Expiration Window: Points expire if there’s no account activity for 24 consecutive months.
- Qualifying Activities: Not all activities count towards maintaining your points; only certain actions will reset the expiration clock.
- Forfeiture of Points: Once points expire, they cannot be reinstated unless you are an elite status member or under special Marriott promotions.
How to Keep Your Marriott Bonvoy Points from Expiring
There are several straightforward ways to keep your Marriott Bonvoy points from expiring, even if you’re not planning on traveling anytime soon. Engaging in any qualifying activity will extend the life of your points for another 24 months.
- Stay at Marriott Properties: One of the easiest ways to keep points active is by booking a stay at any Marriott property.
- Earn Points Through Partners: Earning points via Marriott’s travel and retail partners will also reset the expiration clock.
- Use the Marriott App: Regularly logging into the Marriott Bonvoy app and using your points for various activities, such as dining, helps in tracking your points and ensuring they remain active.
Qualifying Activities to Extend Your Marriott Bonvoy Points
To keep your Marriott Bonvoy points active, you need to participate in certain qualifying activities. Here are the main ones:
- Paid Stays: Book and complete a stay at any Marriott Bonvoy-participating hotel or resort.
- Redeem Points: Use your points for a hotel stay, travel experiences, or other Marriott Bonvoy perks.
- Book Travel with Points: Booking flights or rental cars through Marriott’s travel partners can also count as qualifying activity.
- Earning Through Dining Programs: Marriott partners with dining programs that allow members to earn points when dining out at participating restaurants.
Engaging in any of these activities will ensure your points do not expire for another 24 months.
Using Marriott Co-Branded Credit Cards to Maintain Points
With a Marriott Bonvoy credit card in your possession, your points will not expire as long as this remains active. Paying with Marriott co-branded credit cards, like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express®, ensures your points never expire without having to book a stay.
- Daily Purchases to Earn on Everyday Purchases: Each purchase you make with these credit cards moves a point closer and counts as qualifying activity.
- Annual Free Night Awards: A few Marriott Bonvoy credit cards come with the annual free night certificates that can add value to you and help workout your points balance.
- Otherwise, if you do not travel as often, one of the easiest ways is to put all Marriott purchases on a Marriott co-branded credit card.
Redeeming Points: Ways to Prevent Expiration
Another way to prevent these from expiring is by using your Marriott Bonvoy points in return. Going so far as a small redemption resets the 24-month clock.
- Exchange Points for Gift Cards: Marriott provides more flexibility if you aren’t planning on staying at a hotel with their gift card redemption option.
- Use Points on Hotel Stays: Points for free nights at over 6,500 Marriott properties around the world.
- Redeem for Merchandise: We might not recommend this as a best option, but Marriott has an online store where you can redeem points for items to keep your account current.
What Does Not Count Towards Keeping Points Active
To be clear, some transactions are not considered valid account activity to maintain your Marriott Bonvoy points from expiring. It is also essential to discern what does not count so that you do not miss out on points unintentionally.
- Transferred Points: Transferred points do not qualify as an activity.
- Gifted With Points: This means if someone gifted you points, it will not reset the timer on expiry.
- Purchasing Points Directly: Simply buying points without any other activity on your account doesn’t count towards extending your expiration date.
Taking these into account will help stop you from falling victim to typical point forfeiture pitfalls.
Checking Your Marriott Bonvoy Points Expiration Date
Monitoring your Marriott Bonvoy account is crucial to ensure your points remain active. Marriott Bonvoy’s website and mobile app make it easy to keep track of your points balance and expiration date.
- Marriott Bonvoy App: The app provides real-time updates on your point balance and expiration status.
- Online Account: Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account online to review your point history and find the expiration date.
- Customer Service: Marriott Bonvoy’s customer service team can help with questions about your points, including verifying expiration dates.
Is It Worthwhile to Keep Marriott Bonvoy Points Active?
Marriott Bonvoy points for people who travel a lot and those who love exotic stays can save you quite some money. However, if you likely will not be using your points in the near future, it may make sense to look for other redemptions like gift cards or merchandise so that they do not go unused.
