EXPIRATION DATE

Remember to take stock of your points and status balance each year - and learn how to extend their shelf life

- WORDS GILBERT OTT

HELP! IT'S THE end of the year and I don't know what to do about my points and status balances. Will my miles reset? Will I lose my room upgrades?'

If this sounds like you: fear not. There are many options to salvage your hard-earned points and perks.

Remember, earning activity breaks down into two main categories: elite qualifying activity (tier points) and redeemable points or miles activity. You typically can't spend the tier points or qualifying points to hit those semiprecious-metal tiers - they're just for keeping track of how VIP you are - but you can always spend redeemable miles or points earned. Here's how to tackle both.

Loyal currency

Let's start with your points, which you can redeem for things like flights, hotel nights or upgrades. In most loyalty programmes, points don't expire as long as you keep earning them. With Avios, for example, as long as you earn at least one point a year, they won't expire.