Do Marriott Bonvoy Points Expire? 2026 Rules and How to Keep Them
Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of inactivity — but a single small transaction resets the clock. Here is exactly how the policy works, what counts as activity, and the cheapest way to keep your points forever.
- Staying at a Marriott property and earning points on the stay
- Earning points through a Marriott Bonvoy credit card (card spend counts)
- Transferring points in from a partner (Amex, Chase, or airline programs)
- Buying or gifting Bonvoy points
Short answer: Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 consecutive months of inactivity. As long as you earn, redeem, or buy points at least once every 24 months, your balance never expires — and one small transaction resets the clock. Lifetime Elite members are exempt entirely.
Do Marriott Bonvoy points expire?
Yes, but only from inactivity — not on a fixed calendar. If your account goes 24 consecutive months with no qualifying activity, Marriott forfeits your entire points balance at once. Your account stays open and you can start earning again, but the forfeited points are gone. There is no drip expiration: points earned three years ago and three weeks ago all share the same 24-month inactivity clock, and any activity resets it for the whole balance.
How do I keep my Marriott points from expiring?
Do one qualifying thing every 24 months. The clock resets the moment activity posts, so you rarely need to think about it if you travel or use a card at all. The cheapest, do-it-from-your-couch options: transfer a few credit-card points into Bonvoy, buy the smallest allowed points package, or redeem points for a gift card. Any of these counts and buys you another full 24 months.
What activities reset the 24-month clock?
- Staying at a Marriott property and earning points on the stay
- Earning points through a Marriott Bonvoy credit card (card spend counts)
- Transferring points in from a partner (Amex, Chase, or airline programs)
- Buying or gifting Bonvoy points
- Redeeming points — for a stay, a gift card, or a transfer out
Simply logging in to check your balance does not count. You need an actual earn or redeem transaction.
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Does a Marriott Bonvoy credit card keep points from expiring?
Effectively yes, as long as you use it. Marriott does not grant an automatic exemption for merely holding a card the way Hyatt and IHG do — but everyday card spend earns points, and earning points is a qualifying activity. So if you put even one purchase on a Bonvoy card every couple of years, your points stay alive. Lifetime Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Titanium Elite members are the true exception: their points never expire regardless of activity.
Can you reinstate expired Marriott points?
No. Once Marriott Bonvoy points are forfeited for inactivity they cannot be reinstated — unlike Hilton, which sometimes reinstates as a discretionary goodwill gesture. This is why a 30-second reset transaction is worth setting a calendar reminder for. If you are sitting on a large balance and about to cross the 24-month line, act before the deadline, not after.
The easiest way to never lose your points
Keep your balances visible and put them to work before they ever get close to expiring. Pointify links your loyalty accounts in one wallet so you can see every hotel and airline balance at a glance, run the numbers on what a redemption is actually worth with our points value calculator, and search award stays and flights with cash and points side by side. If your Bonvoy points are just sitting there, the best move is usually to spend them — see our award sweet spots for where they go furthest.
Related: Do World of Hyatt points expire? · Do Hilton Honors points expire? · Do IHG One Rewards points expire?
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The Pointify team analyzes loyalty programs, fare data, and booking strategies across 300+ airlines and major award programs. Our goal: help you get maximum value from every point and mile.
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