Taylor Scott
Credit card points and miles are a great way to earn rewards, but it's important to know their expiration policies. While credit card rewards don't typically expire, airline and hotel loyalty programs often have expiration dates, usually after a specific period of inactivity. Some US Bank credit cards, like the FlexPerks Business Travel Rewards Card, offer frequent flyer miles and various benefits. US Bank's flagship Altitude points, on the other hand, cannot be transferred or converted to other travel partners but offer simplicity and accumulate at a fixed value. It's important to understand the nuances of different reward programs to make the most of your hard-earned points and avoid common pitfalls like expiration or inactivity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Expiry of credit card points and miles | Credit card points and miles won't expire if the account is open. |
| Expiry of airline and hotel loyalty programs | These programs typically expire following inactivity. |
| Expiry of US Bank FlexPoints | FlexPoints expire five years from the end of the calendar quarter in which they were earned. |
| US Bank Altitude points transferability | Altitude points can't be transferred or converted to other travel partners. |
| US Bank Altitude points redemption | Altitude points can be redeemed for travel, statement credits, gift cards, or merchandise. |
| US Bank Altitude points value | Points are generally worth between 1 and 1.5 cents per point, depending on the card and redemption chosen. |
| US Bank Real-Time Mobile Rewards | Cardholders can activate this feature to receive texts about redeeming points to cover qualifying purchases. |
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What You'll Learn
U.S. Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Card benefits
Generally, credit card points and miles won't expire if your account is open. However, those earned with airline and hotel loyalty programs typically expire following a period of inactivity.
The U.S. Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Card offers various benefits to its cardmembers. Firstly, cardmembers can earn one FlexPoint for every $1 in eligible net purchases. Additionally, cardmembers can earn four bonus FlexPoints for every $1 spent on prepaid car and hotel reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center. Cardmembers can also earn two FlexPoints for every $1 spent at gas and electric vehicle charging stations, office supply stores, or airlines, whichever they spend the most on each month. Similarly, cardmembers can earn two FlexPoints on qualifying charitable donations and at most cell phone service providers.
Another benefit of the U.S. Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Card is the ability to combine and transfer FlexPoints. If a cardmember has multiple FlexPerks credit cards with different loyalty numbers, they can combine all their FlexPoints under one loyalty number. Furthermore, cardmembers can transfer their FlexPoints to another person at no cost by logging into their online banking and following the necessary steps.
Cardmembers are also eligible to receive up to a $25 airline allowance for each redeemed round-trip airline award travel ticket. This allowance can be used towards baggage fees and other qualified in-flight purchases. To be eligible, cardmembers must redeem a minimum of 10,000 FlexPoints per round-trip airline award ticket.
Lastly, the U.S. Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Card provides cardmembers with access to a Concierge service, which assists with trip planning and offers additional travel benefits in air, hotel, car, cruise, and vacation packages. FlexPoints earned through the U.S. Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Card expire five years from the end of the calendar quarter in which they were earned.
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U.S. Bank Altitude points
U.S. Bank has a couple of rewards currencies, including FlexPerks, which has been reduced over the past couple of years in favour of U.S. Bank's most popular rewards system: Altitude points.
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card members will earn 1 point for every $1 in net purchases. Net purchases are purchases minus credits and returns. In addition, you will earn 5 points (1 base and 4 bonus points) for every $1 on prepaid car and hotel reservations purchased in the online Altitude Rewards Centre using your U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Card. Prepaid car and hotel reservations in the Rewards Centre are not classified as travel category merchant transactions and are not eligible to receive the bonus points for that category.
You will earn 4 points (1 base and 3 bonus points) for every $1 spent on travel category purchases (such as purchases made directly with airlines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, limousines, passenger trains and cruise line companies). You will also earn 4 points (1 base and 3 bonus points) for every $1 spent on your first $1,000 each quarter on gas station and electric vehicle charging station purchases (discount stores/supercentres, wholesale clubs and grocery stores/supermarkets will earn only 1 point).
You can also earn 2X FlexPoints for every $1 spent at gas and electric vehicle charging stations, office supply stores, or airlines—whichever you spend the most on each monthly billing cycle. You can also earn 2X FlexPoints on qualifying charitable donations and at most cell phone service providers. You will earn 1X FlexPoint for every $1 of eligible net purchases charged to your card.
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Reinstating expired points
While some airline and hotel loyalty programs have eliminated expiration policies, many still allow points and miles to expire. Typically, these rewards expire after a specific period of inactivity, usually between one and three years.
If your points or miles have already expired, there are a few options to try and reinstate them. Firstly, it is worth contacting customer support, as some programs may offer exceptions or waivers, especially if your points have only recently expired. Some airlines may show flexibility on a case-by-case basis, even if they do not have a published reinstatement policy.
Some programs may offer a 'Mileage Reactivation Program', where you can get your miles back by purchasing a certain amount of plane tickets or by opening a credit card and spending a certain amount within a given timeframe. This can be a more cost-effective way to reinstate your miles compared to paying a fee.
If your points or miles are particularly valuable, it may be worth paying a reinstatement fee. Some programs charge a flat fee, while others use a tiered structure based on the number of points or miles you are reinstating. Reinstatement fees and policies vary widely between programs, so it is important to compare the cost to the potential value of the rewards.
Preventing Future Expiry
To avoid losing your rewards in the future, it is recommended to keep your accounts active. This can be done by making frequent purchases with your loyalty program or occasionally redeeming your rewards. Using co-branded airline and hotel credit cards can also help you earn hotel loyalty program points.
Some specific programs to consider include:
- American Express Membership Rewards: Points can be reinstated for a $35 fee after paying at least the minimum due.
- Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: If your account has been inactive for two or more years, contact customer service to reactivate your account and reinstate your miles.
- American AAdvantage: You can make one transaction to reactivate up to 500,000 miles that have expired within the past 24 months.
- U.S. Bank FlexPerks: FlexPoints expire five years from the end of the calendar quarter in which they were earned.
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Preventing miles from expiring
Airline miles and points are a great way to earn rewards, but it can be frustrating when they expire. Luckily, there are several ways to prevent this from happening. Here are some tips to keep your hard-earned miles and points from expiring:
Keep Your Account Active
The most common reason for miles expiring is inactivity. Ensure you keep your account active by using your loyalty program to earn or redeem miles. This can be as simple as making a small purchase or using a dining reward program. Co-branded airline and hotel credit cards can also help you earn points every time you use them.
Be Strategic with Redemptions
If you have miles that are close to expiring, consider using them for non-travel redemptions like magazine subscriptions or other items with low point values. This way, you get to keep your miles without having to spend them on flights or hotels.
Take Advantage of Special Offers
Occasionally, airlines sell miles at a discounted rate. Keep an eye out for these offers, especially if you're close to a reward threshold. You may be able to buy enough miles to top off your account and book your reward.
Reinstating Expired Miles
Some programs allow you to reinstate expired miles for a fee. For example, American Express Membership Rewards allow reinstatement for a $35 fee, while American AAdvantage allows you to reactivate up to 500,000 miles that expired within the past 24 months.
Stay Informed about Expiration Policies
Different airlines have varying expiration policies. Some miles expire after a certain period of inactivity, typically ranging from 12 to 24 months, while others may have longer periods or no expiration at all. It's important to understand the policies of the programs you're enrolled in to effectively manage your miles.
By following these strategies, you can effectively prevent your airline miles from expiring and make the most of your rewards.
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Airline reward expiration policies
Some airlines, such as Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Delta SkyMiles, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue TrueBlue, Southwest Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, have more flexible policies that make it easier to maintain your account balances. These airlines may not have expiration dates or may allow extensions through qualifying activities.
To prevent your airline rewards from expiring, it is important to review the specific policies of your chosen airline and loyalty program. Some common ways to extend the validity of your rewards include earning or redeeming points, participating in dining reward programs, shopping through loyalty portals, or donating to charities. Additionally, certain co-branded credit cards may offer benefits like waiving mileage expiration or providing opportunities to earn extra points.
It is worth noting that credit card points generally do not expire as long as your account is open and in good standing, but the rules may differ for transferring points to airline loyalty programs. Therefore, it is advisable to frequently review your points and be proactive in extending their validity to avoid losing your hard-earned rewards.
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Frequently asked questions
US Bank FlexPoints expire five years from the end of the calendar quarter in which they were earned. However, credit card points and miles won't expire if your account is open.
Making frequent purchases with your loyalty program will allow you to earn rewards and keep your account active. Redeem your rewards for a statement credit, hotel room, or flight.
Airlines sometimes sell miles at a discounted rate, so you can buy miles for less than they're worth. You can also contact the credit card or airline/hotel loyalty program's customer service to ask for your rewards to be reinstated.
Yes, most hotel rewards expire after 12 to 24 months of inactivity.
Credit card rewards don't typically expire, but every issuer is different.
