Mar 26, 2023, 8:55 am
Last edit by: rrgg
Choice points expire after 18 months of inactivity. The Choice FAQ lists ways to extend the expiration date:
- Qualifying point-eligible stay. Must check-in
- Redeeming for free nights (warning: don't touch or cancel the reservation)
- Redeeming for gift cards
- Redeeming for other awards : miles, cruise, magazines, golf, donations
- Earning points with the Choice Mastercard (and presumably the Visa, not currently available)
- Referring a friend who completes a points-eligible stay (the post date is used, not the referral date)
- Purchasing points
- Gifting points counts for the recipient only. (Listed further down in the FAQ.)
- Dining "Eat and Earn" (confirmed working)
- e-Rewards (confirmed)
- Transfer from Amex Membership Rewards to Choice (confirmed working 3/2023, despite terms)
- Transfer from Citi Thank You points to Choice (confirmed working)
- Car rental: Avis or Budget
- Cruise booking
- Golf equipment rental, tee times, and apps
- Transfer from Capital One points to Choice (probably works but unconfirmed)
- Transfer from Radisson Americas to Choice?
- Vinesse
- Redeeming a cash+points stay and then cancelling to effectively "buy" points
- Choice Shopping Mall, 1800Baskets, 1800Flowers, and Quicken Loans programs are discontinued
- You can redeem points for an award dated past your points expiration. If you cancel though, expect to lose points.
- Radisson Americas has a 24-month expiration policy.
- Choice earning page
Cheapest way to extend choice points expiration
May 10, 2019, 2:48 pm
#32
Company Representative, Choice Hotels
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 451
I know at my Econo Lodge stays I'm supposed to get 100 points at check in. Rarely happens. Hotels higher up on the quality level in the Choice ecosystem, its usually not an issue.
When checking you in, they can see right then and there if you are a Choice Privileges member, and what your status is. You would think a light bulb would go off in their heads, telling them to recognize your status and offer up the points at check in.
I'm not expecting to be greeted with celestial choirs when I walk in the door, I just want my damn points without having to point it out to them.
I hit diamond status a few weeks ago, and already have north of 150,000 points so far for the year.
When checking you in, they can see right then and there if you are a Choice Privileges member, and what your status is. You would think a light bulb would go off in their heads, telling them to recognize your status and offer up the points at check in.
I'm not expecting to be greeted with celestial choirs when I walk in the door, I just want my damn points without having to point it out to them.
I hit diamond status a few weeks ago, and already have north of 150,000 points so far for the year.
May 15, 2019, 10:22 am
#33
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 227
would the following activities extend ? Buying a gift card or making a charitable donation or transferring points to an airline miles account or booking and completing a stay? Do they all post instantaneously for purposes of extending the expiration date?
Asking because my points points expire November 1, I may need a stay a few days earlier, but the trip might get cancelled at the last minute.
Asking because my points points expire November 1, I may need a stay a few days earlier, but the trip might get cancelled at the last minute.
May 16, 2019, 6:17 pm
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
would the following activities extend ? Buying a gift card or making a charitable donation or transferring points to an airline miles account or booking and completing a stay? Do they all post instantaneously for purposes of extending the expiration date?
Asking because my points points expire November 1, I may need a stay a few days earlier, but the trip might get cancelled at the last minute.
Asking because my points points expire November 1, I may need a stay a few days earlier, but the trip might get cancelled at the last minute.
Not all of them post instantaneously. Booking and completing a paid stay only posts a couple days after you complete the stay. I would say in general that using up points happens more "instantaneously" than earning points.
May 17, 2019, 8:39 am
#35
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: JFK LGA PBI BOI
Posts: 910
Nov 23, 2020, 6:04 pm
#36
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,784
I'm sad that Choice is NOT extending the points expiration during Covid-19
Donation link don't work for me, anybody else?
https://www.choicehotels.com/choice-...ints/donations
maybe I have to buy some to extend my points then (expires in 7 days!!!), 40% bonus
https://onemileatatime.com/buy-choice-hotels-points/
Donation link don't work for me, anybody else?
https://www.choicehotels.com/choice-...ints/donations
maybe I have to buy some to extend my points then (expires in 7 days!!!), 40% bonus
https://onemileatatime.com/buy-choice-hotels-points/
Dec 8, 2020, 12:51 pm
#37
Company Representative, Choice Hotels
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 451
I'm sad that Choice is NOT extending the points expiration during Covid-19
Donation link don't work for me, anybody else?
https://www.choicehotels.com/choice-...ints/donations
maybe I have to buy some to extend my points then (expires in 7 days!!!), 40% bonus
https://onemileatatime.com/buy-choice-hotels-points/
Donation link don't work for me, anybody else?
https://www.choicehotels.com/choice-...ints/donations
maybe I have to buy some to extend my points then (expires in 7 days!!!), 40% bonus
https://onemileatatime.com/buy-choice-hotels-points/
Dec 9, 2020, 9:57 pm
#38
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,784
Thank you for being one of our Choice Privileges members! Earlier in the year, point expiration was paused through the end of 2020 for all members. The donation link should work if you have enough points. Sorry to hear that you are not able to redeem like you are hoping. In either scenario you outlined, these would count as qualifying activities to extend those points for another 18 months. For live assistance, our Member Services Team is also available at 888.770.6800. Feel free to send a private message if you have other questions. Thanks, again!
I had 100K points, so definitely enough to donate :P
I ended up buying some points to extend the expiry another 18 months
I must say though, those NOT extending the expiry further during Covid-19 gets a bad rep in my view and will look forward to use them up and not accumulate anymore
I saved up 100K to use them for 2020 summer Japan trip that obviously didn't happen
Dec 11, 2020, 4:37 pm
#39
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: YXY
Posts: 3,506
I see that points expiration has been paused until December 31. Any indication of this will be extended?
I'm trying to exchange some Choice points, but when I click on "Transfer Now", all I get is a white circle turning for about half a minute and then a page that is empty except for Choice's header and footer. No error messages, no field where I could pick the exchange partner and points amount. Is that a known issue?
I'm trying to exchange some Choice points, but when I click on "Transfer Now", all I get is a white circle turning for about half a minute and then a page that is empty except for Choice's header and footer. No error messages, no field where I could pick the exchange partner and points amount. Is that a known issue?
Dec 12, 2020, 1:28 pm
#40
Company Representative, Choice Hotels
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 451
Hi, there! That's an excellent question! My team and I would like to look more into this situation for you. Could you please send us a private message with your full name, Choice Privileges number, mailing address, email, and phone number? Once we have this information, we are going to follow-up. -Liz.
Dec 15, 2020, 7:10 am
#41
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 5
Thank you for being one of our Choice Privileges members! Earlier in the year, point expiration was paused through the end of 2020 for all members. The donation link should work if you have enough points. Sorry to hear that you are not able to redeem like you are hoping. In either scenario you outlined, these would count as qualifying activities to extend those points for another 18 months. For live assistance, our Member Services Team is also available at 888.770.6800. Feel free to send a private message if you have other questions. Thanks, again!
Last edited by Roger Young; Dec 15, 2020 at 12:36 pm Reason: I meant expiration not points
Dec 15, 2020, 1:34 pm
#42
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,868
Looks like Choice has decided to further postpone expiration through the end of 2021, I just received an email to that effect. I stay in Choice properties during every decent promo, so it doesn't affect me, but I'm glad they're responding appropriately.
Edit: my apologies, I only glanced at the email and didn't realize that it referenced my elite status as the reason points expiration would be further paused. I don't feel right deleting this first post but wanted to correct my initial misunderstanding.
Edit: my apologies, I only glanced at the email and didn't realize that it referenced my elite status as the reason points expiration would be further paused. I don't feel right deleting this first post but wanted to correct my initial misunderstanding.
Last edited by synergistic; Dec 16, 2020 at 10:11 am
Dec 16, 2020, 5:58 am
#43
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 5
Hi, there! That's an excellent question! My team and I would like to look more into this situation for you. Could you please send us a private message with your full name, Choice Privileges number, mailing address, email, and phone number? Once we have this information, we are going to follow-up. -Liz.
Dec 16, 2020, 7:23 am
#44
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,868
I apologize, reading the email for content instead of just skimming, it appears that it's for 'elite members' - I'm very sorry for the inaccurate post. I hope you are able to find a way to extend your points, I completely understand your frustration. I think that loyalty accounts should be preserved without hoop jumping through all this, at least until things are getting better instead of worse.
Dec 16, 2020, 10:06 am
#45
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 5
I apologize, reading the email for content instead of just skimming, it appears that it's for 'elite members' - I'm very sorry for the inaccurate post. I hope you are able to find a way to extend your points, I completely understand your frustration. I think that loyalty accounts should be preserved without hoop jumping through all this, at least until things are getting better instead of worse.
So, it looks like the 2 fastest ways to extend the date is to either donate 1000 points or buy 1000 points. Or if you have like 2 months or more maybe the shopping mall would work.