Marriott is one of the largest hotel chains in the world and its loyalty program is one of the largest as well. But do Marriott points expire and what can you do about it?
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What Are Marriott Bonvoy Points?
Marriott Bonvoy points are the currency of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. They are used to redeem rewards such as free nights at Marriott hotels, airline miles, experiences, and merchandise. Marriott Bonvoy points can be earned by staying at a Marriott hotel, receiving points as a gift, transferring points from other loyalty programs (like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards), using a Marriott Bonvoy credit card, and participating in special offers through Marriott Bonvoy.
Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest merged in 2018 to create the world‘s largest loyalty program following the acquisition of Starwood by Marriott. Members of both programs are now able to earn and redeem points at more than 6,700 participating hotels across 32 brands in 131 countries and territories. Ritz-Carlton members continue to earn and redeem in the program, but status and benefits are often run asymmetrically to Marriott’s broader program.
It should be noted, Marriott Bonvoy has not always operated with its customer’s best interests in mind.
Do Marriott Bonvoy Points Expire?
Marriott Bonvoy points do not expire as long as your Marriott Bonvoy account remains active. To keep your account active, you do not need to stay at a Marriott hotel or resort at least once every 24 months but you do need to have some form of activity. If your account is inactive, your points will expire after 24 months of inactivity.
We will cover how to earn and redeem points to keep accounts active in the next section as both earning and redeeming points will count as “activity.” Therefore, if a guest doesn’t have a way to quickly earn points, they can find a minimal redemption to maintain their points balance.
How Can I Earn More Marriott Bonvoy Points?
There are several ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points. Guests can stay at a Marriott hotel or resort and earn points for each stay, or receive points as a gift. They can also transfer points from other loyalty programs or use a Chase or an American Express Marriott Bonvoy credit card. Additionally, guests can participate in special promotions offered by Marriott Bonvoy on social media, or sign up for special offers. Be sure to read the terms and conditions for each offer to make sure you are receiving the most points possible.
Uber
You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points when you use Uber. To do so, first make sure that your Marriott Bonvoy account is linked to your Uber account. Then, when you take an Uber ride, simply enter your Marriott Bonvoy number in the Uber app. For every eligible ride you take, you‘ll automatically earn Marriott Bonvoy points, with no need to redeem them after the ride has been completed.
The number of points will depend on the type of ride you take, the distance traveled, and the country in which you are riding. For example, in the United States and Canada, you can earn up to 10 points per dollar spent. So, if your ride costs $20, you‘ll earn 200 Marriott Bonvoy points. The points can be used for hotel stays, flights, car rentals, and more. Additionally, you can also earn bonus points when you take Uber rides to or from select Marriott hotels.
Dining
Marriott Bonvoy members can earn points by dining at participating restaurants, bars and lounges. When members use their Marriott Bonvoy credit card to pay for eligible dining purchases, they can earn up to five points per dollar spent. Points can also be earned by using the Marriott Bonvoy dining platform to book a reservation at participating restaurants. Members can also earn points through the Eat Around Town with Marriott Bonvoy dining program. With this program, members earn up to three points per dollar spent when they dine at participating restaurants. Additionally, members can earn bonus points when dining at certain restaurants during specific times of the year. The program currently features a 6,000 point bonus for new members.
Conclusion
Do Marriott Bonvoy points expire? Yes, they expire every 24 months. However, by taking advantage of all the different ways to earn (and redeem) Marriott Bonvoy points, you can maximize your hotel loyalty and make the most of your stays. With the right combination of earning, spending, and transferring points, you can ensure that your Marriott Bonvoy points will never expire.
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Lifetime Elite member’s points don’t expire under current rules.
@Kyle, you probably want to edit your post for accuracy. (As an aside, you probably want to edit your past posts for accuracy, too.)
“To keep your account active, you need to stay at a Marriott hotel or resort at least once every 24 months.”
As you point out later, you *don’t* need to stay at a Marriott to keep your account active. Marriott even has a page (https://help.marriott.com/s/article/Article-23644) that lists all the qualifying activity that keeps an account active.
Got it corrected, thanks for catching that.