Is having an affiliated credit card (even if not used) generally a good way to avoid having rewards points expire? Also, any recomendations for good ways to use Amex MR points? I have to use the corporate card for business, but the points seem pretty useless (at my old company they let me use my personal SPG card)

I travel frequently for business, but- due to company travel restrictions- tend to have my points scattered among different hotel chains. I also have a decent amount of skymiles, but have found redeeming them for flights to be a complete hassle (and since I live in NY, and flying in and out is completely annoying, try to go on vacations to places within driving distance), so would like to use them for hotel stays. I'm considering getting an Amex DL card so I can use the DL points for Marriott and Hilton.

For context, my base card is an Amex SPG. I also have an Chase Amtrak card (no fee, good to have since I take Amtrak frequently), Chase Marriott, Chase Ultimate Rewards (which I'll probably cancel as soon I get the 40k bonus), a standard corporate Amex green card, and have just applied for an Amex Hilton I figured why not, since no fee and it's easy to hit the minimum spend for the bonus)

Welcome to FlyerTalk.

In general, merely possessing an affiliated card will not prevent miles or points from expiring, but in most program if you use the card periodically this will create account activity that restarts the clock.

American Express Membership Rewards points are valuable because they can be transferred in real time to several airline programs, allowing the transfer to be made during the award booking process. Membership Rewards points can be used for travel on every airline in all three alliances, plus several independent carriers:

• OneWorld - transfer to BA, CX or IB
• SkyTeam - transfer to AF, AM, AZ, DL
• Star Alliace - transfer to AC, NH, SQ

Full list of transfer partners is here:

http://www.membershiprewards.com/cat...readcrumb=true

I believe merely having the Amex Hilton prevents expiration.

I have held a bronze (no fee) AA card for a decade that ran my ez-pass through (an occasional re-occurring bill) for the sole purpose of keeping miles alive over a decade when I stopped travelling for biz. But, as stated, you need transactions to post to keep them alive. It was a no hassle way to go, and its now my oldest active line of credit.

Agreed:

In general, merely possessing an affiliated card will not prevent miles or points from expiring, but in most program if you use the card periodically this will create account activity that restarts the clock.

Exception:

Chase United MileagePlus Explorer card, which mere possessing the card prevents the miles from expiring.

https://www.theexplorercard.com/MPYoureIn40kAFW.aspx