Do Amex Membership Rewards Points Expire? What to Know

The Short Version

• Amex Membership Rewards points do not have a standard expiration date.
• Points can still be forfeited if you close your last eligible Amex account or fail to meet certain payment requirements.
• Keeping an eligible linked account open can preserve your Membership Rewards balance.
• Transferring points to an airline or hotel program can protect them from Amex account closure, but those programs have their own rules.
• If you want to redeem points for flights, award-search tools can help you identify available travel before transferring points.

Introduction

You have been earning Amex points for months, but now you are wondering: Do Amex Membership Rewards points expire? Could an unused balance disappear after sitting untouched? What happens if you cancel your Amex card?

The good news is that Amex Membership Rewards points do not have a standard calendar expiration date. American Express states that points do not expire, although points can still be lost under specific circumstances outlined in its program terms.

That distinction matters because Amex points expiration is less about time passing and more about how you manage your eligible accounts and payments.

In this guide, we explain how Amex Membership Rewards expiration works, what can cause points to be forfeited, and how to protect your balance.

The Key Takeaways

• Do not confuse points having no expiration date with points being impossible to lose.
• Check your Membership Rewards terms before closing an Amex card.
• Keep payments current to avoid forfeiting points earned during an affected billing period.
• Transfer points only after confirming award availability and the receiving program’s rules.
• Use award-search tools to research flight options before moving valuable points.

Do Amex Membership Rewards Points Expire?

No. Under the current American Express Membership Rewards terms, points do not have a standard expiration date. Amex’s U.S. customer guidance also states that points have no expiration date.

This means you generally do not need to redeem your balance simply because you have held the points for a certain amount of time. However, the program terms specify circumstances where points can be forfeited.

The important distinction is simple: Amex points expiration is not normally triggered by age, but points can still be lost through account or payment-related events.

When Can Amex Membership Rewards Points Be Lost?

The biggest risks involve account closure and payment problems. If you cancel your Membership Rewards program and do not have another eligible American Express product linked to the account, Amex says your unredeemed points can be forfeited immediately.

That makes checking your linked products particularly important before canceling a card.

The exact consequences depend on the card product and applicable Membership Rewards terms, so check the current terms associated with your account before making changes.

What Happens If You Cancel an Amex Card?

Canceling one Amex card does not necessarily mean your entire Membership Rewards balance disappears. The key question is whether another eligible product remains linked to the same Rewards Account.

Amex states that when you cancel or unenroll your last linked product, you can immediately lose the points in that Rewards Account. If the last linked product is a Corporate Card, different redemption provisions may apply.

Before canceling a card, therefore, check which products are connected to your Membership Rewards account and decide how you want to handle the balance.

Can Late Payments Affect Amex Points?

Yes. Having no expiration date does not remove payment-related forfeiture rules.

Amex explains that certain cardholders can forfeit points earned during a billing period if the required payment is not received by the applicable deadline. The program also provides a reinstatement process for certain forfeited points, subject to the applicable terms and fees.

Keeping payments current is therefore part of protecting your points balance. It is also worth checking your specific card’s terms because the requirements can differ by product.

Should You Transfer Amex Points Before Closing a Card?

Sometimes, but do not transfer points simply because you are worried about an expiration date. Your points generally do not expire while your eligible Membership Rewards relationship remains intact.

If you are closing your last eligible product, however, transferring or redeeming your balance before closure may be one way to avoid forfeiting it. Transfers are irreversible once completed, and the receiving airline or hotel program will have its own rules. Amex specifically notes that transferred points cannot be transferred back into Membership Rewards.

That makes award availability an important part of the decision.

How to Protect Your Amex Membership Rewards Points

The simplest approach is to treat your points like an asset that needs account management, rather than something that merely expires.

Before closing a card, check whether another eligible product remains linked to your Rewards Account. Keep required payments current, and review the latest Membership Rewards terms whenever your account structure changes.

If you are ready to redeem for travel, search for award availability before transferring points. This reduces the risk of moving points without having a suitable redemption available.

How Flightpoints Can Help You Use Amex Points

If you are considering transferring Membership Rewards points for travel, the first step is finding an award you can actually book.

Flightpoints searches award availability across more than 25 programs and lets travelers compare mileage costs, availability, and cabin options. It also offers real-time award availability and alerts for newly available seats.

This can be useful when you are deciding whether to transfer Amex points to a particular airline program. Instead of transferring first and searching afterward, you can research the available award space and then make the transfer decision.

The Bottom Line

So, do Amex Membership Rewards points expire? Generally, no. American Express does not currently impose a standard expiration date on Membership Rewards points. However, that does not mean your balance is permanently protected from forfeiture. Account closure, payment issues, and certain other circumstances can affect your points.

If you plan to cancel an Amex card, check your linked Rewards Account first. If you want to redeem for travel, use an award-search tool such as Flightpoints to check availability before transferring your points.

FAQs

Q. How long do Amex Membership Rewards points last?
A: Amex Membership Rewards points do not have a standard expiration date. You can generally keep them without redeeming them simply because a certain amount of time has passed.
However, points can still be forfeited under certain circumstances, including account closure or failure to meet applicable payment requirements.

Q. Can Amex points expire if I do not use my card?
A: No simply because the points remain unused. Amex states that Membership Rewards points have no expiration date.
However, Amex can close an account because of inactivity, and the consequences for your points depend on the applicable program terms.

Q. Will I lose Amex points if I cancel my card?
A: You may. If you cancel your last linked Membership Rewards product, Amex states that your unredeemed points can be forfeited.
If you have another eligible product linked to your Rewards Account, the outcome can be different. Check your current terms before canceling.

Q. Can I transfer Amex points to an airline before closing my card?
A: Yes, eligible Membership Rewards points can be transferred to participating airline and hotel loyalty programs. However, transfers are generally irreversible, so you should check award availability before transferring.
Flightpoints can help you search award availability across multiple programs before deciding where to move your points.

Q. Do transferred Amex points expire?
A: Once transferred, the points are governed by the receiving airline or hotel program rather than the Membership Rewards program. That program may have different expiration or activity rules.
Check the destination program’s current terms before transferring, particularly if you do not have an immediate redemption planned.