What is Losing points when closing a card?

Losing points when closing a card describes the forfeiture of a balance held in the issuer’s own programme as soon as the account is shut.

Also called: Forfeited points.

How it works#

What matters is where the points actually sit. A balance already credited to an airline or hotel programme survives a card cancellation untouched. A balance in the issuer’s own currency is attached to the account and can vanish immediately. The practical rule follows: transfer or redeem first, cancel second, never the other way round.

Not to be confused with#

Losing points on closure is not the same as expiry through inactivity: one follows an account being closed, the other an activity deadline running out.

In German#

The German term is Punkteverfall bei Kartenkündigung. German version of this term

Related terms#

• Product change: A product change is swapping an existing card for a different one from the same issuer without closing the account and reapplying.
• Transfer partner: A transfer partner is an airline or hotel programme that a bank or card programme can convert its points into.
• Mileage expiry: Mileage expiry is the loss of a balance when an account shows no activity for a defined period, or when a fixed deadline runs out.

Articles that use this term#

• What happens to your points when you close the card?
• Cancel the card or downgrade it?
• Do miles expire, and how do you stop it?