Expiring HHonors points

[JohnK]

How can you tell when points expire? I've been trying to see a date on my account but obviously looking in wrong spot. Last activity date 02 April 2015.

 

[dajop]

From memory the rules state 12 consecutive months without activity so it would seem to be end of April expiry.

 

[cjd600]

Members who do not have eligible activity as defined in a. - d. below in any 12 consecutive month period may be removed from the Program and are subject to forfeiture of all accumulated points. At the discretion of Hilton HHonors Worldwide, such Members may be permitted to remain in the Program and removed after five years of inactivity. To keep accumulated HHonors Points, the Member must take one of the following actions within a 12 consecutive month period:

1. a. stay at a hotel within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio pursuant to the terms herein;
   b. earn HHonors Points through any third party source of HHonors Point accumulation, including a Hilton co-branded credit card, pursuant to its terms;
   c. purchase HHonors Points; or,
   d. donate points through The Hilton HHonors Giving Back Program.

 

[kpc]

Book a redemption stay, and then cancel it

 

[dajop]

Book a redemption stay, and then cancel it

I think there's discussion on Flyertalk that this approach wouldn't work, as when you cancel points also get cancelled.

I was facing similar issue in February and concluded buying 1000 pts for $10USD is easiest way (so cost of $6 USD, as I value HH points @ 0.4c per point), although in February there was a sale that gave you bonus 80% or something. In the end, I managed to get in a stay for work in Sydney as miraculously Hilton halved in price on my last day staying there, so I moved across from the Sheraton.

 

[JohnK]

Book a redemption stay, and then cancel it

Do you know this works for sure or guessing? Have close to 100,000 points. Don't want to lose them.

I have ~6,500 FlySmiles miles which will be expiring soon. When I last checked I can get bottle of duty free with them on a UL flight. Think I can transfer some of these miles to Hilton but have to leave ~2,000 FlySmiles in account at time of transfer. Only see mention of 20,000 FlySmiles miles converting to 10,000 Hhonors points. Not sure if I can transfer 4,000 Flysmiles miles.

Also can transfer some VS miles or Amex MR points. These are all eligible activity right?

 

[dajop]

Do you know this works for sure or guessing? Have close to 100,000 points. Don't want to lose them.

Found the FT references, see here, posts #603, 604 and #682. Seems that booking and then cancelling are not counted as activity and thus would lead to you losing your HH points ... whilst there is a suggestion you may be able to negotiate to get the points re-instated, it may not be worth the risk and headache of doing this.

As far as I can tell, transferring both VS and Amex MR points are eligible, although I wouldn't transfer Amex MR points ... unless going via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Math is simple, on direct transfer Amex is 1 MR = 1 HH, but via Flying Club 1 Amex MR point= 1 VS Mile = 1.5 HH points.

 

[kpc]

Do you know this works for sure or guessing? Have close to 100,000 points. Don't want to lose them.

I have ~6,500 FlySmiles miles which will be expiring soon. When I last checked I can get bottle of duty free with them on a UL flight. Think I can transfer some of these miles to Hilton but have to leave ~2,000 FlySmiles in account at time of transfer. Only see mention of 20,000 FlySmiles miles converting to 10,000 Hhonors points. Not sure if I can transfer 4,000 Flysmiles miles.

Also can transfer some VS miles or Amex MR points. These are all eligible activity right?

It worked when I did it for +1 and my dad's account ....but as always YMMV

 

[JohnK]

As far as I can tell, transferring both VS and Amex MR points are eligible, although I wouldn't transfer Amex MR points ... unless going via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Math is simple, on direct transfer Amex is 1 MR = 1 HH, but via Flying Club 1 Amex MR point= 1 VS Mile = 1.5 HH points.

My 70,000 odd VS miles are pretty much orphaned as I have no intention on heading over to UK/Europe anytime soon. Maybe transfer some of them to Hhonors now as that is what I was thinking at doing anyway.

 

[dajop]

My 70,000 odd VS miles are pretty much orphaned as I have no intention on heading over to UK/Europe anytime soon. Maybe transfer some of them to Hhonors now as that is what I was thinking at doing anyway.

Sounds sensible, but don't forget that VA, SQ and MH are partners of VS so the orphaned miles you have could (in theory ... availability can be an issue) be used to redeem for SYD/BNE or SYD/BKK flights.

 

[JohnK]

Sounds sensible, but don't forget that VA, SQ and MH are partners of VS so the orphaned miles you have could (in theory ... availability can be an issue) be used to redeem for SYD/BNE or SYD/BKK flights.

Tried with SQ. Think 80,000 VS miles is needed for one way business class. Seems a waste to redeem for SYD-BNE flights.

Transfer to Hhonors is probably best but don't need to rush or transfer all at once. Only thing to consider is likely devaluation of transfer rates. Seem to recall they were 1 VS mile = 2 HHonors points when VS stopped flying to Australia.

 

[JohnK]

It would appear all my Hhonors points are gone. No email. No warning. Close to 100,000 points.

 

[Daver6]

It would appear all my Hhonors points are gone. No email. No warning. Close to 100,000 points.

This happened to MrsDaver6 too. They claimed they had sent her emails to let her know about this but she could prove they hadn't. Initially they offered to re-instate half the points and would re-instate the remainder after a single stay with Hilton. She eventually got them to just re-instate all the points.

 

[JohnK]

This happened to MrsDaver6 too. They claimed they had sent her emails to let her know about this but she could prove they hadn't.

That's not good. Definitely no emails. No warning on account either but has been a few months since I checked.

I should have transferred some VS miles but didn't do it since there were no warnings. I've sent email. Wait and see.

 

[jbman]

I use award wallet to get alerts for expiring points

 

[Daver6]

You can also just purchase $10 worth of points and that counts as activity too.

 

[ric_melb]

Did you do any transactions since your March 2016 posts? If not 18 months have gone by which seems to be the usual 12 months expiry period plus 6 months "grace". Even more specifically did you do any transactions in the last 12 months?
Obviously contact Hilton and plead your case. But need to keep track yourself not count on emails.

 

[cove]

My Hilton points vanished so I use Marriott and IHG as a result.

 

[Daver6]

But need to keep track yourself not count on emails.

If Hilton say that they email you to warn you and give you a heads up, then they should do what they say and it should be reliable.

 

[burmans]

I use award wallet to get alerts for expiring points

+1 on that, its easy and oh so useful.