Are you a Marriott Bonvoy member with a stash of points you're eager to use, but suddenly find yourself wondering, "How long do Marriott points actually last?" You're not alone! It's a common question, and understanding the ins and outs of Marriott Bonvoy's points expiration policy is crucial to ensure your hard-earned rewards don't vanish into thin air.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Marriott Bonvoy points expiration, complete with a step-by-step approach to keep your account active and your points safe.
The Marriott Bonvoy Points Expiration Policy: Don't Let Them Slip Away!
Marriott Bonvoy points generally have a 24-month expiration policy. This means that if there's no qualifying activity on your account for 24 consecutive months, your points will unfortunately be forfeited. It's a "use 'em or lose 'em" scenario, but the good news is that Marriott provides many ways to keep your account active.
It's important to note: If your account goes five consecutive years without any activity, Marriott can deactivate your account entirely, leading to the forfeiture of all points. So, while 24 months is the key for point expiration, a longer period of inactivity can have even more drastic consequences.
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| How Long Does Marriott Points Last |
Step 1: Discover Your Points' Shelf Life – Let's Check Your Account!
First things first, let's see where you stand. Do you know your current points balance and when they might be set to expire?
Here's how to check your Marriott Bonvoy account:
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Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account: Head to marriott.com and log in with your credentials.
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Navigate to your Activity:
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Once logged in, click on your name in the top-right corner of the screen.
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From the dropdown menu, select "Activity."
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Locate your expiration date: On the Activity page, you should see your recent points earnings and redemptions, and, most importantly, your points expiration date (if applicable). If you have achieved Lifetime Elite status, you generally won't see an expiration date, as your points typically do not expire.
Pro Tip: If you've recently had activity, it might take a day or two for the expiration date to update. Don't panic if it doesn't immediately reflect a new activity.
Step 2: Understanding What Counts as Qualifying Activity
QuickTip: Read again with fresh eyes.
This is the most critical part! Not all activities will reset the 24-month clock. You need to ensure your activity is a "qualifying" one.
Here's what WILL extend your Marriott Bonvoy points expiration by another 24 months from the date of activity:
Sub-heading 2.1: Earning Points
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Hotel Stays: This is the most obvious one. Earning points from an eligible paid stay at any Marriott Bonvoy participating property will extend your points' validity.
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Marriott Bonvoy Co-branded Credit Cards: Using your Marriott Bonvoy credit card for any purchase that earns points is a fantastic and easy way to keep your points active. Even a small purchase will do the trick!
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Transferring Points from Partners: If you transfer points to Marriott Bonvoy from a partner program (like American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards), this counts as earning activity.
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Purchasing Marriott Bonvoy Points: You can buy Marriott Bonvoy points directly from Marriott. Even purchasing a small amount (e.g., 1,000 points) will extend the expiration date of all your points. This can be a worthwhile option if you're close to expiration and don't have other immediate plans.
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Marriott Eat Around Town: Link your credit card to the Marriott Eat Around Town program and earn points by dining at participating restaurants. Any earning activity through this program will extend your points.
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Marriott Bonvoy + Uber: Link your Marriott Bonvoy and Uber accounts. Earning points through eligible Uber or Uber Eats transactions (e.g., qualifying Uber rides or Uber Eats orders) will count as activity. Be mindful of any minimum spend requirements for points earning.
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Hosting Meetings & Events: If you organize a meeting or event at an eligible Marriott property, you can earn Bonvoy points, which will reset your expiration clock.
Sub-heading 2.2: Redeeming Points
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Redeeming Points for a Free Night Stay: Using your points to book a free night at a Marriott property is a surefire way to extend their life.
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Redeeming Points for Other Awards: This includes redeeming points for travel packages, experiences, or other available awards through the Marriott Bonvoy program.
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Converting Marriott Bonvoy Points to Airline Miles: Transferring your Marriott Bonvoy points to one of their many airline partners is considered a qualifying activity. This is a popular option for many members.
Step 3: Activities That DO NOT Count
Just as important as knowing what counts, is knowing what doesn't count!
The following activities will NOT prevent your Marriott Bonvoy points from expiring:
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Gifting or Transferring Points to another Marriott Bonvoy member: While you can transfer points to another member, this action does not reset the expiration clock for either the sender or the recipient.
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Receiving Points as a Gift or Transfer: Similarly, receiving points from someone else will not extend the expiration of your existing points.
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Earning points through social media programs or promotions: While these might add points to your account, they often don't trigger an expiration reset. Always double-check the terms of any special promotion.
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Registering for a Marriott promotion: Simply signing up for a promotion, without completing the earning activity, will not extend your points.
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Booking a reward stay and then canceling it: While booking temporarily reserves the points, if you cancel the reservation without having completed another qualifying activity, those points will still expire if the original expiration date has passed.
Step 4: Lifetime Elite Status – The Ultimate Exemption
Tip: Take mental snapshots of important details.
If you're a truly loyal Marriott traveler, you might have achieved Lifetime Elite Status. This is the holy grail for points expiration, as points in a Lifetime Elite Membership Account currently do not expire.
The Lifetime Elite tiers are:
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Lifetime Silver Elite: 250 lifetime nights + 5 years of elite status
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Lifetime Gold Elite: 400 lifetime nights + 7 years of Gold Elite status or higher
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Lifetime Platinum Elite: 600 lifetime nights + 10 years of Platinum Elite sta
If you've reached one of these levels, congratulations! You can breathe easy about point expiration.
Step 5: Don't Rely on Memory – Track Your Points!
It's easy to forget when your last activity was, especially with a 24-month window. Don't wait until the last minute!
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Set a Reminder: Put a recurring reminder in your calendar (e.g., every 18-20 months) to check your Marriott Bonvoy account activity.
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Utilize Third-Party Tracking Tools: Services like AwardWallet (free and premium versions available) can track your loyalty program balances and often send you email reminders before your points are set to expire. This is an incredibly useful tool for managing multiple loyalty accounts.
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Opt-in for Marriott Bonvoy Communications: Make sure you're opted in to receive emails from Marriott Bonvoy. They often send out warnings when your points are at risk of forfeiture.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Marriott Bonvoy Points Expiration
Here are 10 common questions related to Marriott Bonvoy points expiration, with quick answers:
How to check when my Marriott Bonvoy points expire?
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account on marriott.com, click on your name in the top right corner, then select "Activity." Your expiration date, if applicable, will be displayed there.
Tip: Write down what you learned.
How to prevent Marriott Bonvoy points from expiring without a hotel stay?
You can prevent expiration by earning points through a co-branded credit card, purchasing points, transferring points from a partner (e.g., Amex, Chase), dining with Eat Around Town, or linking your Uber account and making eligible purchases.
How to use a small amount of points to extend their expiration?
Redeem a small number of points for an eligible award, or consider purchasing the minimum amount of points (e.g., 1,000 points) if you have no immediate redemption plans.
How to know if I have Lifetime Elite status and if my points still expire?
Check your elite status within your Marriott Bonvoy account online. If you've achieved Lifetime Silver, Gold, or Platinum Elite status, your points generally do not expire.
How to reactivate expired Marriott Bonvoy points?
Once Marriott Bonvoy points expire, they are typically forfeited and cannot be reinstated. The key is to prevent expiration in the first place by maintaining regular activity.
Tip: Don’t skip the details — they matter.
How to link my Uber account to Marriott Bonvoy to extend points?
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account and navigate to the "Partnerships" or "Link Accounts" section to connect your Uber account. Ensure you understand the qualifying activity requirements for earning points.
How to use Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards to keep points active?
Simply make any purchase (even a small one) with your Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit card. The points earned from that transaction will count as qualifying activity and extend the expiration of all your points.
How to use the "Eat Around Town" program to extend points?
Register your credit card(s) with Marriott Bonvoy Eat Around Town (eataroundtown.marriott.com), then dine at a participating restaurant. Earning points through this program will reset your expiration clock.
How to transfer points to an airline partner to extend their validity?
Log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account, go to the "Redeem" section, and look for the option to "Transfer Points to Miles." Select your desired airline partner and transfer the minimum required amount.
How to get notified before my Marriott Bonvoy points expire?
Opt-in for marketing emails from Marriott Bonvoy. Additionally, consider using a third-party loyalty program tracker like AwardWallet, which can send you automated alerts.
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