Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
How to read booking-platform rewards terms: checklist
A booking-platform rewards terms checklist is the set of questions to answer before you rely on a member rate or a reward credit booked through a travel site: who is eligible, what each tier requires, when the reward expires, what is excluded, what happens on cancellation, and which country's terms apply. [2] On Booking.com, for example, Genius rates are reserved for Genius members and wallet rewards carry their own eligibility, expiry and refund rules inside the platform's terms of service. [2]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Booking.com Genius rates are discounted rates offered by participating Service Providers or funded by Booking.com, available to Genius members with no membership fee and tied to one account. [2]
- To receive any Booking.com reward you need a verified account, must be at least 18, must meet the Individual Reward Criteria and must comply with the Rewards & Wallet terms. [2]
- Rewards carry their own expiry dates, expired rewards are not replaced, and the earliest-expiring reward of a type is applied first by default. [2]
- Hotel and airline programmes answer the same questions differently: IHG One Rewards qualifies status per calendar year, Marriott Bonvoy needs Qualifying Activity every 24 months, and AAdvantage status years start on 1 March. [7] [6] [9]
Who is eligible, and what does each tier require?
Genius rates on Booking.com are discounted rates offered by participating Service Providers or funded by Booking.com for certain products and services, and they are for members of the Booking.com Genius programme. [2] There is no membership fee, membership is created by opening an account, and both the membership and the rates are non-transferable and linked to one specific account. [2] Unless otherwise indicated, the platform itself requires users to be at least 18. [2]
Wallet rewards add a second eligibility layer: at the time of qualifying and again when spending, a member needs a verified account, must be at least 18, must meet the Individual Reward Criteria for that reward, must not breach the Rewards & Wallet terms, and needs a valid credit card where the reward is Credit Card Cashback. [2]
Genius Levels count completed bookings made within a given period for any vertical offered by the programme: Level 2 requires 5 completed bookings within 2 years, Level 3 requires 15 within 2 years, and each level provides different travel rewards. [2] Booking.com says it may change any feature of the Genius programme, including membership levels and which booking types count for progression. [2]
Hotel programmes publish thresholds in their own units and counting windows. IHG One Rewards awards elite status to members meeting at least one criterion in a calendar year running from 1 January to 31 December: [7]
| Tier | Elite Qualifying Points | Elite Qualifying Nights |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Elite | n/a | 10 |
| Gold Elite | 40,000 | 20 |
| Platinum Elite | 60,000 | 40 |
| Diamond Elite | 120,000 | 70 |
Only one night per day counts as a qualifying night, qualifying nights count toward the calendar year in which the check-out day falls, and status earned in a calendar year is maintained through the end of the following calendar year. [7] The American Airlines AAdvantage programme runs its qualification year from 1 March, with status valid from the moment it is reached through 31 March of the following full year. [9]
When do rewards and points expire?
Booking.com shows the validity of all Credits in the Rewards & Wallet activity, the Wallet records when rewards were earned, awarded and will expire, and lost, stolen or expired rewards are not replaced. [2] Where several rewards of one type are held, the one with the earliest expiration date is applied first by default, Credits with later dates cannot be spent ahead of it, and vouchers can be chosen freely. [2] A reward that never arrived must be claimed from Customer Service within 12 months of the action believed to have qualified, after which the member becomes ineligible for it. [2]
Loyalty programmes tie expiry to activity. IHG One Rewards Club level points expire when the account has no earn or redeem transaction for 12 months or longer, the annual credit card night does not count as that activity, and elite members' points do not expire while elite membership is maintained. [7] Marriott Bonvoy requires Qualifying Activity at least once every 24 months, and gifting, transferring or receiving points from another member does not count. [6] An AAdvantage account may be deemed inactive and terminated after 36 consecutive months without mileage earning or redeeming activity, among other conditions, while accounts created within the prior 24 months may be terminated after 12 months without activity. [9]
Which bookings, rates and purchases are excluded?
Booking.com excludes cruises, insurance, public transportation and free options from the Genius programme, and additional purchases such as room upgrades for stays, car seats for rental cars and extra luggage for flights do not attract Genius discounts. [2] The Individual Reward Criteria for a particular reward can narrow eligibility further, through time-sensitive restrictions, platform restrictions such as codes usable only in the app, restrictions to specific Service Providers, a minimum spend and a maximum reward value. [2] Vouchers are the most tightly bound: Travel Credits can be spent across bookings, but a voucher covers only the bookings named in its own terms, one voucher per booking, and multiple vouchers cannot be combined. [2]
On the earning side, IHG One Rewards lists online travel agency and third-party channel bookings — giving Expedia, Travelocity and Priceline as examples, while excluding Authorized Travel Agents — among non-qualifying rates, and members on most non-qualifying rates do not earn points on the room rate or receive member benefits for the stay. [7] American Airlines limits mileage accrual and redemption for flights to and from Cuba to American-operated flights. [9] Miles from Buy, Gift and Transfer transactions, and miles earned through offers, are Bonus Miles that do not earn Loyalty Points toward status. [9]
What happens on cancellation, and which country's terms apply?
When a Booking.com booking paid with rewards is cancelled, the Service Provider's cancellation policy decides whether money and rewards come back. [2] That policy also governs cancellation and no-show fees generally, and some bookings cannot be cancelled free of charge at all while others are free only before a deadline. [2] Unspent rewards tied to a cancelled Travel Experience are deleted from the Wallet, [2] and if rewards do not cover the full price and the balance is not paid on time, the booking may be cancelled with the rewards returned on their original terms, including their expiry dates. [2] Hotel terms can be stricter on earning: IHG One Rewards awards no points or qualifying night credit for no-shows or rooms cancelled after the hotel's cancellation time, even if the room is paid in full. [7] At Marriott Bonvoy, an award redeemed before points are forfeited stays valid unless it is cancelled after the points expiration date. [6]
Account country changes the terms. The default currency of a Booking.com Wallet is set by your location, residency, or another currency Booking.com may elect, and rewards issued in another currency are converted at its currency conversion rate. [2] Marriott Bonvoy carries separate special terms for members with Chinese citizenship residing in the Chinese mainland, which prevail over conflicting provisions, with disputes governed by the laws of the People's Republic of China. [6] IHG One Rewards directs members residing in China to the Chinese translated version of its terms and states that participation is void where prohibited or restricted by law in the member's home country or locality. [7]
Exceptions and limits
- Booking.com may change, suspend or end any aspect of the Wallet or rewards programme, including eligibility criteria and which rewards it provides, and will make reasonable efforts to give prior notice; if the Wallet service stops, rewards that have not expired stay valid for another 12 months. [2]
- Booking.com may correct clerical errors in reward calculations or currency conversions, cancel rewards obtained through fraud or misuse without notice, and suspend or cancel a Wallet where the rules are not followed. [2]
- Marriott Bonvoy may change its rules with or without notice even where a change affects the value of points, and may end the programme with six months' notice to active members, or less where the law requires or permits; American Airlines may change AAdvantage at any time and end it with six months' notice. [6] [9]
Frequently asked questions
Do Booking.com Genius rates require a membership?
Yes. Genius rates are for members of the Booking.com Genius programme, there is no membership fee, and creating an account is enough to join. [2]
Can two Booking.com vouchers be used on one booking?
No. Only one voucher can be spent on each booking, and the value of multiple vouchers cannot be combined. [2]
Does a booking paid with rewards still follow the hotel's cancellation policy?
Yes. The Service Provider's cancellation policy determines whether money and rewards are refunded. [2]
How long does an IHG One Rewards Club member have before points expire?
Points expire when the account has no earn or redeem transaction for 12 months or longer, and the annual credit card night does not count as that activity. [7]
Does the Booking.com Wallet currency follow my country?
The Wallet's default currency is determined by your location, residency or another currency Booking.com may elect, and rewards in other currencies are converted into it. [2]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. Agoda Rewards, Priceline VIP, Trip.com Membership and One Key are not covered here and their terms must be checked separately.
- Booking.com customer terms of service, checked 18 October 2026
- Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programme terms and conditions, checked 18 October 2026
- IHG One Rewards membership terms and conditions, checked 18 October 2026
- AAdvantage terms and conditions, checked 18 October 2026