Start here: your first points trip

Step 1: Pick one programme and join

Start with one programme you can join. Marriott Bonvoy says there is no fee or cost to enroll, and membership is available to individuals who are at least 18 or have reached the age of majority in their jurisdiction and have legal authority to agree to the rules. [4] Hilton Honors limits enrollment to individuals of majority age in their country, territory or state of residence. [3] American Express requires at least one eligible and enrolled product for a Membership Rewards account, and Additional Card Members do not get their own Rewards Accounts. [2] Marriott says accounts are individual and may not be shared, jointly held, sold, bartered or transferred except as its rules permit. [4]

Step 2: Protect the balance before you spend

Protect the balance before collecting more. Hilton says no eligible activity in any 24 consecutive months can lead to forfeiture of all accumulated points and removal from the programme; a stay, earning points, buying points and donating points all count. [3] Marriott requires Qualifying Activity at least once every 24 months to retain points, awards and other benefits, and says gifting, transferring or receiving points from another member does not count. [4] After 24 months without Qualifying Activity, Marriott forfeits accumulated points, awards and benefits and says they cannot be reinstated; an account inactive for five consecutive years may be deactivated. [4]

A redeemed award can outlast later inactivity. Hilton says a reward redeemed before points are forfeited is still valid, and Marriott says an award redeemed before point forfeiture remains valid unless it is cancelled after the points expiration date and no Qualifying Activity has extended that date. [3] [4] Marriott adds that points in Lifetime Elite Status accounts are not currently subject to expiration. [4]

Earning rates vary: Hilton advertises 10 base points per U.S. dollar at most brands and lower rates at named brands, while Marriott advertises 10 at most brands, 5 at a named group and 4 at StudioRes. [3] [4]

Step 3: Check any transfer before moving points

A transfer to a partner programme is a one-way move, so check it before using card points. [2] American Express says you must link your Rewards Account to the partner loyalty programme account before transferring, and the partner account must be in your name or the name of an Additional Card Member who has held the Additional Card for at least 90 days before linking. [2] Most transfers require at least 1,000 points and must be in multiples of 1,000. [2]

Timing and reversibility matter: a transfer typically takes 48 hours to process, but some programmes delay posting. [2] Once transferred, points cannot be converted back into Membership Rewards, the partner programme's terms apply, and partner programmes may change award levels, blackout dates, capacity controls or terms at any time. [2] Verify the partner's current award rules and the exact transfer amount before moving points. [2]

Step 4: Search, book and keep records

Search the award before committing cash or points. American says award travel can be booked to more than 1,000 destinations on aa.com and in the American app, and that partner airline flights appear in award search results and can be filtered by preferred airline. [1] Hilton says members can request reward stays online through the Reward tab. [3]

Check the total cost, not just the points. American says award tickets have no change fees, but a change may require paying a difference; miles are reinstated to the original AAdvantage account and any tax difference is refunded to the original credit card. [1] A cancellation before the first flight departs can reinstate miles and refund eligible taxes and fees at no charge up to one year from the date the ticket was purchased. [1] American lists exceptions: sale-imposed nonrefundable taxes, taxes it must pay whether or not the member travels, trips that have already started, and countries with different refund rules. [1]

Hilton's fifth-night rule shows why booking details matter: it applies only to all-points Standard Room Reward Stays of five or more consecutive nights at the same property, up to 20 nights, confirmed at booking, with no more than four free nights per stay and not to Points & Money stays. [3]

After booking, keep the confirmation code: American says a six-character code is needed to find a trip online, and it requires missing-flight-mile requests within 12 months; Hilton's missing-credit window is six months, and Marriott's is one year. [1] [3] [4]

Exceptions and limits

• These four examples show why one programme's rule cannot be applied to another. [1] [2] [3] [4]
• Eligibility: Marriott is open to adults who meet its age and legal requirements; Hilton requires majority age; American Express requires an eligible enrolled product. [2] [3] [4]
• Transfers and availability: Membership Rewards transfers cannot be reversed or converted back, and partner programmes may change award levels, blackout dates and capacity controls. [2]
• Forfeiture: Hilton and Marriott use 24-month inactivity tests, and Marriott says forfeited points cannot be reinstated. [3] [4]
• Cancellation: American's one-year reinstatement limit applies only if the member cancels before the first flight, and its tax-refund exceptions still apply. [1]
• Hotel awards: Hilton's fifth-night benefit has stay-length, room-type, confirmation and forfeiture conditions, and a Standard Room is defined by each hotel and subject to availability. [3]
• Recovery: missing-credit deadlines differ, and Hilton asks for a hotel folio. [1] [3] [4]

Related pages

Choose your main programme, Start here: airline miles, Start here: hotel points, Start here: cards and transfers, First award flight step by step, First hotel award stay step by step, First trip with points: budget, and the frequent flyer glossary.

Sources

Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. It uses American Airlines AAdvantage award travel, American Express Membership Rewards, Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy only as examples; other airlines, hotel programmes and card issuers are not covered.

1. American Airlines: Using miles for travel, checked 18 October 2026
2. American Express: Membership Rewards Program Terms and Conditions, checked 18 October 2026
3. Hilton: Hilton Honors Terms and Conditions, checked 18 October 2026
4. Marriott: Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Program Terms and Conditions, checked 18 October 2026