Credit card points usually don’t expire as long as your account is open and in good standing. That’s true for Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One miles and Discover cash back. The risks are elsewhere: closing the card that holds the points, falling behind on payments, or moving points to an airline or hotel program with its own expiration rules.
Do bank points expire? #
| Program | Expire while open? | What happens if you close the card |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | No | Points on that card are lost unless moved first |
| Amex Membership Rewards | No | Safe if you keep another Membership Rewards card open |
| Citi ThankYou | Generally no | Can be lost; redeem or move them first |
| Capital One miles | No, for the life of the account | Lost unless redeemed or moved |
| Discover Cashback Bonus | No, for the life of the account | Discover credits your account or sends a check |
Chase Ultimate Rewards #
Points don’t expire while the account is open. Closing a card forfeits the points on it, so first move them to another Chase card you own, to a household member’s Chase card, or to a travel partner. See the best way to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Amex Membership Rewards #
All your Membership Rewards cards share one balance, so closing one card doesn’t touch your points as long as another Membership Rewards card stays open. Close your last one, and you forfeit whatever’s left.
Citi ThankYou #
ThankYou points generally don’t expire while your account is open, but Citi’s FAQ notes that some points can expire depending on the card, and closing a card can put its points at risk. Check “My Points Summary” in your account before closing anything. One 2026 change: Citi ended points sharing between members on May 17, 2026, so you can no longer rescue points by sending them to another person’s account.
Capital One miles #
Miles don’t expire for the life of the account. Capital One also lets you transfer miles to another Capital One cardholder, which can save them if you’re closing a card.
Discover #
Discover says rewards don’t expire for the life of the account, and if the account closes, it credits your account or mails you a check for the balance. That’s the most forgiving policy of the major issuers.
What happens when you transfer points to airlines or hotels? #
Once points leave your bank, the partner program’s rules apply. So do the rules on co-branded cards, whose rewards go straight into the airline or hotel account.
Airline programs #
- No expiration: Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards and JetBlue TrueBlue don’t expire while your account is open. Atmos Rewards, the combined Alaska and Hawaiian program, also doesn’t expire points, though keeping some activity in the account is sensible.
- American AAdvantage: miles expire after 24 months without qualifying activity. Primary holders of an AAdvantage co-branded card are exempt while the card is open, and members under 21 are exempt until their 21st birthday. See American’s terms.
- British Airways Avios: expire after 36 months without activity. In a Household Account, any member’s activity resets the clock for everyone.
- Air Canada Aeroplan: Aeroplan paused expiration during the pandemic. That pause ends November 30, 2026, when the 18-month inactivity rule returns, per Aeroplan’s inactivity policy.
- Singapore KrisFlyer: miles expire a fixed three years after they’re earned, whatever you do.
Hotel programs #
- Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt: points expire after 24 months without activity.
- IHG One Rewards: points expire after 12 months without an earn or redeem transaction for Club members. Elite members’ points don’t expire while they keep status. Using a card’s free night certificate doesn’t count as activity.
Almost any earning activity resets these clocks: a stay, a small purchase through the program’s shopping portal or dining program, or a transfer from a card.
How else can you lose points? #
- Closing the card. The most common way. Always move or redeem points first.
- Inactivity closure. Banks can close cards you don’t use. That also takes the points with it.
- Late payments. An account that falls behind can have earning or redemptions suspended. If it’s closed in bad standing, the points are usually gone.
- Breaking the rules. Selling points or gaming a program can lead to a closed account and a forfeited balance.
How do you keep points from expiring? #
- Use each card occasionally. A small recurring charge on autopay keeps an account active.
- Transfer or earn small amounts in airline and hotel programs with inactivity rules, before the 12, 18, 24 or 36-month deadline.
- Downgrade instead of cancelling when you don’t want the fee. A no-fee card in the same family usually keeps the points. See how to downgrade a credit card to avoid the annual fee.
- Decide before the fee posts. Most closures happen right after an annual fee arrives. Credit Card Central reminds you 30, 7 and 1 day before each renewal, which leaves time to move points before you close or downgrade. It logs what you decided for each card, and it keeps everything on your phone without a bank login.
If you do close a card, know what else changes: what happens when you close your oldest credit card. For combining balances in one airline account, see can you combine miles from different airlines.
Frequently asked questions #
Do points expire if I close my credit card? #
Often, yes. Chase and Capital One points on a closed card are lost unless moved first, and Amex points are lost if it was your last Membership Rewards card. Discover is the exception: it pays out your balance when the account closes.
Can I get expired points back? #
Sometimes, for a fee. American Airlines lets you reactivate expired miles for a fee within 24 months, and Aeroplan offers ways to restore points within six months. Bank points lost to a closed account usually can’t be recovered.
Do cash back rewards expire? #
Not with the major banks while the account stays open. Some issuers require a minimum balance before you can redeem, so check before closing a card with a small cash back balance.
Does transferring points to an airline reset the expiration clock? #
Yes, for programs with activity-based expiration. A transfer from a card counts as activity in most airline and hotel programs.
Do Hyatt points expire? #
Yes, after 24 months without earning or redeeming. A small transfer from Chase or a single paid stay resets the clock.