Do Marriott Bonvoy Points Expire? (The 24-Month Rule Explained)

Last reviewed: October 19, 2026

Disclosure: Points Compass may earn a commission from some links on this site. That never changes our editorial picks. See our advertiser disclosure.

The short answer

Yes, they can. Marriott Bonvoy's program terms say you need "Qualifying Activity" at least once every 24 months to keep your points. If your account goes 24 months in a row with no qualifying activity, all your points are forfeited and can't be reinstated.

The good news: keeping your account active is easy if you know what counts. And some things that seem like they should count don't.

How the 24-month rule works

Marriott's terms (updated October 2026) set out the rule plainly:

You need qualifying activity at least once every 24 months.
If 24 straight months pass with none, your points, awards, and other benefits are forfeited.
Forfeited points can't be reinstated.
If your account stays inactive for five consecutive years, Marriott may deactivate it.

Each piece of qualifying activity effectively restarts your 24-month window. So the habit to build is simple: do one small qualifying thing well before two years pass.

What counts as qualifying activity

The terms list these examples:

Earning points or miles
Redeeming points or miles
Buying points
Completing a qualifying stay
Converting points or miles with designated partners

Marriott's "keep your account active" page adds more everyday options:

Earn

A qualifying paid stay at a participating hotel
A stay at a vacation rental booked through Homes & Villas by Marriott
Earning with partners such as Eat Around Town by Marriott Bonvoy or Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities
Points on eligible incidental charges (like food and beverage) at qualifying brands
Hosting a qualifying group or event with Marriott Bonvoy Events
Earning on qualifying Uber rides and deliveries after linking your accounts

Spend on a Marriott Bonvoy credit card

Marriott lists qualifying Marriott Bonvoy credit card purchases as a way to keep your account active. For a business owner with a Bonvoy business card, regular spending can quietly keep the clock reset.

Redeem

Award stays, including vacation rentals booked through Homes & Villas
Partner redemptions such as merchandise, cruises, and gift cards
Donating points to nonprofits
Purchases at Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques

Buy, convert, or exchange

Buying points (Marriott's page says purchases start at 1,000 points)
Converting points to airline miles, or airline miles to points
Exchanging Marriott Vacation Club weeks or points for Bonvoy points

What does NOT count

This is the trap. Marriott's terms say gifting, transferring, or receiving points from another member does not count as qualifying activity.

So if your spouse moves points into your account, that doesn't reset your clock. You'd still need your own qualifying activity.

Watch out: award cancellations

There's one more rule that's easy to miss. Marriott's terms say awards you redeemed before your points would have expired stay valid. But if you cancel an award after your points' expiration date, and you haven't done new qualifying activity to extend that date, the points used for that award will expire.

In plain terms: if you booked a free night to keep your points safe and then cancel it later, you could lose those points. Double-check your activity date before you cancel.

Lifetime elite members

The terms say points in Lifetime Elite Status accounts aren't currently subject to expiration. They also say Marriott may apply an expiration policy to those accounts in the future.

A simple plan for busy business owners

You don't need to stay at a hotel to keep your points. Here's an easy routine:

Check your last activity date in your Bonvoy account once or twice a year.
Set a reminder for about 18 months after your last activity. That leaves you plenty of buffer.
Do one easy qualifying action: a Bonvoy card purchase, an Uber ride on a linked account, or a small redemption.
Plan the big redemption around your family's travel dates, not around the expiration clock.

If you're deciding between hotel points and flexible bank points for a family trip, see our guide to transferable points vs airline and hotel points for families.

Keep the dates in one place

Points Compass is an iPhone app that helps you plan when your points could cover a family trip. You enter your balances yourself, so there's no account linking. It's a handy spot to note your Marriott balance next to your other programs so the 24-month window doesn't sneak up on you. Try Points Compass on the App Store.

FAQ

How long do Marriott Bonvoy points last?

They stay in your account as long as you have qualifying activity at least once every 24 months. After 24 months in a row with no qualifying activity, they're forfeited.

Does a transfer from my spouse reset my Marriott points?

No. Marriott's terms say gifting, transferring, or receiving points from another member doesn't count as qualifying activity.

Do Marriott credit card purchases keep my points active?

Marriott's account-activity page lists qualifying Marriott Bonvoy credit card purchases as a way to keep your account active.

Can I get expired Marriott points back?

According to Marriott's terms, forfeited points can't be reinstated. You can still earn new points as long as your account hasn't been deactivated.

Is buying points a way to stop them expiring?

Yes. Marriott lists purchasing points as qualifying activity. Just make sure the purchase is worth it for you before you buy.