Nov 12, 2013, 11:05 am
Last edit by: Oxon Flyer
UPDATE AS OF 28 NOVEMBER 2017 :
For our members with SPG Lifetime™ status: We’ll always recognize your lifetime achievement. And starting now, your Starpoints will never expire.
When do my SPG points expire?
Per the SPG T&C,
What activity counts towards keeping an account active to prevent points from expiring?
"Any account activity resets the clock. Earning, burning, transferring, buying...anything that creates activity." (from Starwood Lurker, post #78)
This means your options for resetting the clock are
What happens if I am a SPG Lifetime Platinum or Lifetime Gold?
According to the T&C, your lifetime status will be lost and your points forfeited after the period of inactivity.
Starpoints never expire for Lifetime Platinum members.
For our members with SPG Lifetime™ status: We’ll always recognize your lifetime achievement. And starting now, your Starpoints will never expire.
When do my SPG points expire?
Per the SPG T&C,
Forfeiting Starpoints. Except for SVO Owners to whom the obligations in Section 9 apply, Starpoints earned or otherwise obtained by an SPG Member will forfeit without notice if the SPG Member becomes Inactive, even if the SPG Member has achieved SPG Lifetime Gold or SPG Lifetime Platinum status. An SPG Member is considered "Inactive" if during a 12 month period: (a) the SPG Member has not had an Eligible Stay at an SPG Participating Hotel; (b) the SPG Member has not earned or redeemed any Starpoints, or (c) the SPG Member's account has been cancelled.
"Any account activity resets the clock. Earning, burning, transferring, buying...anything that creates activity." (from Starwood Lurker, post #78)
This means your options for resetting the clock are
- Earning points via a paid (cash) hotel stay
- Earning points via an SPG Amex card
- Earning points from food/beverages >$10 purchased at a Starwood property
- Make sure that server understands that SPG # must be added to system
- This option does not apply to alcohol purchases in CA, OR, HI, or MA
- Earning points in any other legal manner.
- Redeeming points for an award (such as a hotel stay, SPG Moments, etc.)
- This includes booking and then canceling an award; see post #155
- Purchasing SPG points (you can purchase 500 points for $17.50; takes 24-hours to hit your account) https://storefront.points.com/spg/en-US/buy
- Transfering SPG points to/from the SPG account of another member of your household (note: now requires transfers in 1,000-point increments)
- Transfering SPG points to or from your linked Marriott Rewards account (FYI, the reverse does not count as qualifying activity for your Marriott Rewards account)
- Transfering SPG points to an airline or other travel partner
- Transfering Amex Membership Rewards Points into your SPG account
Starpoints never expire for Lifetime Platinum members.
How to keep SPG points from expiring after 12 months of account inactivity
Jan 1, 2017, 12:44 am
#211
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Everywhere
Programs: AA EXP - 3.7MM, Bonv LIFETIME Titan, HH Dmd, Hyatt Glob., Priority Clb Dmd, Ntnl Exec El., Sixt PLT
Posts: 1,680
Other hotels like Westin Diplomat simply left SPG.
Then there is some uncertainty with the Marriott merger.
Jan 1, 2017, 7:32 am
#212
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 78
I know you can earn spy points by hiring a uber, should that extend expiration date also?
Jan 2, 2017, 12:51 am
#213
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Singapore
Programs: SPG
Posts: 4,002
I may be out of touch but is this a new term?
[email protected]
Thyetus Lee | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd
Jan 2, 2017, 1:44 am
#215
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 265
- I would still encourage you to use your points because the points devalue over time. I do remember staying in Kauai Princeville resort (when it was luxury collection and then immediately after the renovation into St. Regis) for 48,000 SPG points for 5 nights around Christmas. Right now I would have to find 140,000 SPG points for Dec.24-29, 2017. That is some inflation!
Other hotels like Westin Diplomat simply left SPG.
Then there is some uncertainty with the Marriott merger.
Other hotels like Westin Diplomat simply left SPG.
Then there is some uncertainty with the Marriott merger.
Jan 4, 2017, 11:23 am
#216
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Monterey, CA
Programs: UA Gold, United Presidential Card, Amex Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 58
I posted in this forum about a year ago, describing the misinformation that was given to me by Starwood's phone representatives. It seems that you really cannot rely on information given to you about Starwood's points program. Today I called to confirm that transferring points from my wife's account to mine would extend the expiration date on my account. I spoke to Will, who said that only incoming point activity counts to move the expiration date. I told him that this goes contrary to all my experience with the program. He then spoke with a supervisor, came back, and said yes, only incoming point activity counts to move the expiration date.
Flabbergasted, I've then went online and ended up checking some forums and SPG's official language:
4.2 Forfeiting Starpoints. Except for Vistana Owners to whom the obligations in Section 11 apply, Starpoints earned or otherwise obtained by an SPG Member will forfeit without notice if the SPG Member becomes Inactive, even if the SPG Member has achieved SPG Lifetime Gold or SPG Lifetime Platinum Status. An SPG Member is considered "Inactive" if during a 12-month period: (a) the SPG Member has not had a Stay at an SPG Participating Hotel; (b) the SPG Member has not earned or redeemed any Starpoints; or (c) the SPG Member's account has been cancelled.
The language that redeeming points counts as activity is still in there, and makes me pretty sure that the agent gave out misinformation -- again!
Come on Starwood, surely you can train your representatives better.
Flabbergasted, I've then went online and ended up checking some forums and SPG's official language:
4.2 Forfeiting Starpoints. Except for Vistana Owners to whom the obligations in Section 11 apply, Starpoints earned or otherwise obtained by an SPG Member will forfeit without notice if the SPG Member becomes Inactive, even if the SPG Member has achieved SPG Lifetime Gold or SPG Lifetime Platinum Status. An SPG Member is considered "Inactive" if during a 12-month period: (a) the SPG Member has not had a Stay at an SPG Participating Hotel; (b) the SPG Member has not earned or redeemed any Starpoints; or (c) the SPG Member's account has been cancelled.
The language that redeeming points counts as activity is still in there, and makes me pretty sure that the agent gave out misinformation -- again!
Come on Starwood, surely you can train your representatives better.
Jan 5, 2017, 8:58 pm
#217
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 169
i've learned to use email so there is a track record. the phone conversation is not helping me if I had issues later.
Apr 27, 2017, 3:45 pm
#218
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
I am so confused.
I called to ask when my points expire, and before I say what date I was told, here is a brief summary of my "activity".
Last hotel stay/points earn was June, 2016.
Since that time, I have transferred some points from my husband's account INTO mine, made (and subsequently cancelled) some award reservations, and merged my SPG and Marriott accounts. I'm not sure which of these things resets the calendar, but the last of these activities was in February, 2017.
Imagine my surprise when I call and I'm told my points will expire December, 2018, yes EIGHTEEN.
How is that even possible if you have to have activity during a 12-month period, and that hasn't even happened yet? SPG CS was insistent that is what she was seeing. If it's true, great, but if it's not would my last activity be June, 2016 (with an expiration date of June, 2017), or will it be one of the other faux activities I had, around Feb. 2017 which will put it out to Feb. 2018?
I called to ask when my points expire, and before I say what date I was told, here is a brief summary of my "activity".
Last hotel stay/points earn was June, 2016.
Since that time, I have transferred some points from my husband's account INTO mine, made (and subsequently cancelled) some award reservations, and merged my SPG and Marriott accounts. I'm not sure which of these things resets the calendar, but the last of these activities was in February, 2017.
Imagine my surprise when I call and I'm told my points will expire December, 2018, yes EIGHTEEN.
How is that even possible if you have to have activity during a 12-month period, and that hasn't even happened yet? SPG CS was insistent that is what she was seeing. If it's true, great, but if it's not would my last activity be June, 2016 (with an expiration date of June, 2017), or will it be one of the other faux activities I had, around Feb. 2017 which will put it out to Feb. 2018?
Apr 27, 2017, 4:08 pm
#219
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
"Any account activity resets the clock. Earning, burning, transferring, buying...anything that creates activity." (from Starwood Lurker, post #78 )
I sincerely hope this helps.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, LLC
[email protected]
Apr 27, 2017, 4:42 pm
#220
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
It may seem like faux activity to you, but it is still activity. I will repeat this from the attached wiki:
"Any account activity resets the clock. Earning, burning, transferring, buying...anything that creates activity." (from Starwood Lurker, post #78 )
I sincerely hope this helps.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, LLC
[email protected]
"Any account activity resets the clock. Earning, burning, transferring, buying...anything that creates activity." (from Starwood Lurker, post #78 )
I sincerely hope this helps.
Best regards,
William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, LLC
[email protected]
May 10, 2017, 12:31 am
#221
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: FRA
Posts: 614
Hello all!
Just a Question with the "Book award Stay"-Option...As my Points expire on May 15th, here's the Idea: Could i book an award stay for some time in the future...wait a day or two...cancel the Award-Stay and prolong the Expiration Date for all my Points by a year?
Just a Question with the "Book award Stay"-Option...As my Points expire on May 15th, here's the Idea: Could i book an award stay for some time in the future...wait a day or two...cancel the Award-Stay and prolong the Expiration Date for all my Points by a year?
May 10, 2017, 4:53 am
#222
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: On strike
Posts: 8,135
Answered fully and clearly in the wiki above.
May 18, 2017, 6:26 pm
#224
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
I am so confused.
I called to ask when my points expire, and before I say what date I was told, here is a brief summary of my "activity".
Last hotel stay/points earn was June, 2016.
Since that time, I have transferred some points from my husband's account INTO mine, made (and subsequently cancelled) some award reservations, and merged my SPG and Marriott accounts. I'm not sure which of these things resets the calendar, but the last of these activities was in February, 2017.
Imagine my surprise when I call and I'm told my points will expire December, 2018, yes EIGHTEEN.
How is that even possible if you have to have activity during a 12-month period, and that hasn't even happened yet? SPG CS was insistent that is what she was seeing. If it's true, great, but if it's not would my last activity be June, 2016 (with an expiration date of June, 2017), or will it be one of the other faux activities I had, around Feb. 2017 which will put it out to Feb. 2018?
I called to ask when my points expire, and before I say what date I was told, here is a brief summary of my "activity".
Last hotel stay/points earn was June, 2016.
Since that time, I have transferred some points from my husband's account INTO mine, made (and subsequently cancelled) some award reservations, and merged my SPG and Marriott accounts. I'm not sure which of these things resets the calendar, but the last of these activities was in February, 2017.
Imagine my surprise when I call and I'm told my points will expire December, 2018, yes EIGHTEEN.
How is that even possible if you have to have activity during a 12-month period, and that hasn't even happened yet? SPG CS was insistent that is what she was seeing. If it's true, great, but if it's not would my last activity be June, 2016 (with an expiration date of June, 2017), or will it be one of the other faux activities I had, around Feb. 2017 which will put it out to Feb. 2018?
Jul 1, 2017, 4:32 am
#225
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: LAX, BUR
Programs: AA, DL, HH, NW, UA, SPG
Posts: 169
I notice some people are mentioning dates of expiration like 12/18.
I don't see any expiration date on the site. Should there be and expiration date?
I don't see any expiration date on the site. Should there be and expiration date?