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When do my frequent flyer and rewards points expire?
From Qantas to Velocity, discover when your reward points expire and what you can do to keep them longer.
If you’ve been hoarding and building up your points balance to redeem your dream reward, make sure you keep your eye on the expiry date. Many frequent flyer and credit card reward points expire after some time. And once the points have expired, you usually can’t get them back. This guide lists the expiration details of some of Australia’s favourite frequent flyer, credit card rewards and supermarket loyalty programs, including when they expire and what you can do to prevent it from happening.
Frequent flyer programs
| Program | When do points expire? | Terms and conditions |
|---|---|---|
Qantas Frequent Flyer | After 18 months of inactivity. | Activity excludes family transfers or conversion of points from the Qantas Business Rewards program. |
Velocity Frequent Flyer | After 24 months of inactivity. | Activity excludes transferring points and family pooling. |
Etihad Guest | Etihad Guest: After 2 years from the date they are earned. Etihad Guest Silver: After 2.5 years from the date they are earned. Etihad Guest Gold and Platinum: After 3 years from the date they are earned. | Membership is not transferable and is only open to individuals. |
Emirates Skywards | After 3 years from the date of travel. Within the calendar year that your miles are due to expire, they’ll be removed from your account at the end of your birthday month. So if you earned miles in March 2017 and your birthday is in June, the miles will expire on 30 June 2020. | Membership is not transferable and automatically terminated on the death or bankruptcy of a member. |
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | After 3 years from the equivalent month when miles were earned. | You are able to get a 6- to 12-month extension for a fee. Oldest miles are used first. You can also transfer your miles to Velocity if there’s a risk of expiry. |
Air New Zealand | After 4 years for standard Airpoints members. Points don't expire for Gold and Elite members. | Points over four years old will expire on the anniversary of you joining the program. The oldest points expire first. Expiry may also vary if you earn points through an eligible credit card (though these are typically issued by providers in New Zealand). |
British Airways Executive Club | Yes, Avios miles expire after 36 months of inactivity. | As well as earning and redeeming Avios miles, you can purchase between 1,000 and 35,000 Avios to reset the 36-month period. |
American Airlines AAdvantage | Yes, after 18 months of inactivity. | You can check your account summary to confirm the expiration date. |
Delta SkyMiles | No expiry. | N/A. |
Cathay Pacific Marco Polo + Asia Miles | Marco Polo Club Points reset at the end of your membership year, typically every 12 months. Asia Miles points are valid for 3 years from the month in which they are earned. | Cathay Pacific offers both Marco Polo Club membership (for a fee), as well as Asia Miles, with each program providing different points and benefits. Learn more in this guide. |
Malaysia Airlines Enrich | After three years from the month in which they are earned. | If your miles are due to expire, you can extend them for 12 months by contacting the Malaysia Airlines call centre. You’ll be charged a rate of MYR0.02 per mile and an administration fee of MYR40 for every transaction. |
Credit card rewards programs
| Program | Do points expire? | Terms and conditions |
|---|---|---|
CommBank Awards | No expiry. | Points will only expire if a member leaves the program. |
NAB Rewards | Yes, points expire three years from when the points were earned. | If you close your account, you have 60 days to use any points in your balance before they expire. |
ANZ Rewards | Points expire after three years at the end of the year in which the points were earned. | Once closing your account, you have 90 days to use your points. |
American Express Membership Rewards | No expiry. | N/A |
Citi Rewards | No expiry. | N/A |
HSBC Rewards | Yes, after three years from when the points were earned. | Points will also be forfeited if you close your account and have points remaining in your account. |
Westpac Altitude | No expiry. | Points don’t expire as long as your account is open. |
Supermarket loyalty programs
| Program | Do points expire? | Terms and conditions |
|---|---|---|
flybuys | Yes, points expire after 12 months of inactivity. | You can track your account activity via your online account. |
Everyday Rewards | Yes, after 18 months of inactivity. | You can track your account activity via your online account. |
What can I do to prevent my reward points from expiring?
Although many reward points are subject to expiry, here are a few ways you can keep your account active to avoid forfeiting your hard-earned rewards:
- Redeeming for smaller rewards. If you don’t have enough points to redeem your ideal reward or you don’t have any travel plans, you can use the points to redeem small rewards such as gift cards or products from the rewards store to avoid expiry. That way you’re not blowing all of your points on a big reward but are also keeping your account active.
- Top up points balance. If your points are about to expire and you’d prefer not to spend them just yet, you can also top up your account to keep it active. For example, if your Qantas Points are about to expire, you could make an everyday purchase with a partnered retailer or shop via the Qantas Mall to pick up more points. That way you’re not forking out for something like a flight but can still save your points from expiring.
- Set up calendar reminders. Setting up a calendar reminder on your phone or in your diary regarding when your points are due to expire ensures that you will use them before they are set to expire.
Most reward points are subject to expiry, so knowing when and how they’re forfeited can save you from missing out on potential rewards. Unfortunately, once your points are gone, there is no getting them back. So make sure you’re keeping your points account active and keep an eye on those expiry dates to make the most out of your loyalty program.
Pictures: Shutterstock
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