Credit card reward points expiry — what is the validity period?
Muskan Chaubey
Asked 25 Apr 2026
Do reward points on Indian credit cards expire? If yes, after how many months of inactivity? Which banks have the longest validity?
5 Answers
I've held this card for 3 years. Quick reality check: the welcome benefit is good, the first-year fee waiver is easy, but from year 2 onwards you really have to work for the milestone benefits. Don't keep it if your monthly spend drops below the milestone threshold.
Yes the rewards sound amazing in marketing, but the redemption catalogue is full of products at inflated MRP. The statement credit redemption is almost always the best value. Skip the merchandise, skip the flight bookings, take the cash.
I have had a hard time getting this card approved twice. The third time I applied after a 10% salary hike and got instant approval. Banks re-check eligibility every time. If you got rejected, improve your income proof / CIBIL and reapply after 6 months.
I've owned 4 cards over the last 7 years. The biggest lesson: a card that fits your spend pattern beats the 'most rewarding' card on paper. A 5% cashback card you actually use daily will give you 10x more value than a 10% card you use once a month.
On the lounge access — the PassApp / Dreamfolks integration works smoothly only if you've registered your card on the lounge app before reaching the airport. First-time users always face issues. Do it the night before, not at the lounge counter.
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