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Whether you are a Radisson Rewards Americas member or Radisson Rewards member, your points do expire if you have no activity on your account for 24 months.
However, Radisson Rewards is one of many airline and hotel programs that paused the expiration of points and miles. Currently, your Radisson points will not expire due to inactivity until December 31, 2021. That's regardless of the Radisson program you belong to (more on that below).
Two Different Radisson Rewards Programs
In June 2021, Radisson Rewards performed a confusing move — splitting its loyalty program into two different programs: Radisson Rewards and Radisson Rewards Americas. Radisson announced that the rationale behind the move was to serve their customers better. But I fail to see how this is the case.
The difference between the programs and who should use them is as follows:
- Radisson Rewards is for earning and burning Radisson points at hotels in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific.
- Radisson Rewards Americas is for earning and burning Radisson points at hotels in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Unfortunately, you cannot earn or redeem Radisson Rewards points for stays in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Nor can you earn or redeem Radisson Rewards Americas points for stays in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific.
So, what if you travel globally as well as in the Americas? Unfortunately, to use your points on a global scale, you will have to join both programs. Members of both programs can do the following:
- Transfer points between programs at a ratio of 1:1. Here's how to transfer Radisson Rewards Americas points to the Radisson Rewards program and from the global program to the Americas program.
- You can call to receive a free status match from one program to another.
Aside from these differences, both programs seem to have similar terms and conditions. However, these may diverge over time.
Earning Radisson Rewards Points
There are many ways to pick up Radisson Points, although there is some variation between programs:
- Stay at a Radisson Rewards hotel
- Rent a car with a Radisson Rewards car rental partner. Use Budget for Radisson Americas and Sixt globally.
- Purchase flowers through Radisson Rewards partner FTD
- Earn points when you purchase wine through Vinesse (Radisson Rewards Americas only)
- Buy additional Radisson Points (Radisson Rewards Americas only)
- Earn Radisson points for shopping at the Bicester Shopping collection (Radisson Rewards only)
- Transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards (UK cardholders)
- Transfer points to/from another member. The expiration date of both the sending and receiving members will be extended by 24 months once the transfer is completed.
Redeeming Radisson Rewards Points
You can use your points for various redemptions including:
- Reward nights at Radisson Rewards hotels
- Offset your carbon footprint with First Climate
- Redeem your points for airline miles
Some redemption options are only available to Radisson Rewards Americas members:
- Redeem your points for gift cards or prepaid cards
- Redeem your points for in hotel services
- Donate your points to a good cause to the American Red Cross
- Redeem your points towards TSA PreCheck membership
There's just one option available to the Radisson Rewards members not available to Radisson Rewards Americas members:
- Redeem your points towards Priority Pass Membership — 125,000 points for a Priority Pass Standard Plus Membership with 10 free visits
Some of these redemption options — including TSA Precheck and Priority Pass memberships — represent a horrible value. So, please don't cash them in to extend the life of your points. We'd rather you purchase points or make a donation to keep your points alive!
Earning Points With Co-Branded Credit Cards
You can earn Radisson Rewards Points via everyday spending with one of two co-branded credit cards:
Our Take
Although Radisson has added a level of complexity to its program by splitting it into two, it has not devalued it significantly. The move has created more hoops to jump through. However, you still have plenty of options to earn and redeem points, which will ultimately keep whichever Radisson points you have from expiring.
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Very helpful. Reduced my confusion on e-mails I was receiving from Radisson.
Does transfering point from Radisson Reward to Radisson America considered a valid transaction enabling extending expiry date. Thanks
I am looking for a way to extend my points… Looks like I will just have to buy some.
Your report of expiry date extention is not quite true. Unfortunately Radisson Rewards America decided to extend expiration to Dec 31, 2021 of only points that were to expire on or after March 1st 2020. My points expired February 2020 barely missing the March 1st date. No matter how I pleaded my case with Radisson’s CS, they keep repeating there is nothing they can do fir me. They deprived me of 152,082 points hard earned to use during my retirement. I am retired now and could not use the points yet. At no point was I informed that my points were about to expire if I did not do anything. In fact kast year Radisson extended ALL points to expire on March 31st 2021. Then in January 2021 they extended expiry further to Dec 31, 2021. So I thought that the first extention of the expiry date became a new expiry date of all points. But such is not the case. Apparently points kept their original expiry date. Very confusing.
At this point I am convinced that Radisson Rewards Program is designed to remain silent on expiry date and to let hard earned points expire on purpose. Add to that the fact Radisson Rewards Policy states that points May expire and not WILL expire…
This is down right unethical.
Tracking point expiration is such a pain. AwardWallet definitely makes it easier but as a consumer my preference is for the providers that do not expire the points.
Seems like a mess to keep track of for us members.
I cannot see how splitting the loyalty program into two different programs “serves their customers better” in any way. Anyways, good that they paused the expiration of points, hopefully I’ll make a few Radisson stays before the end of the year. In the mean time, I should sign up for a Radisson Rewards America account, adding it to the already way too long list of bonus programs.
Exactly. Radisson is VERY different from Choice.
I have to say these 2 programs are the most confusing ever.
They really should make points not expire.
Is there a limit to the number of times one can do a status match in either program, and if so, do past status matches from external hotel chains to the original Radisson Rewards program preclude matches between Radisson’s two Rewards programs?
It’s unclear, but it seems that the status match between the two Radisson Rewards programs is completely separate from outside status matches.
Good summary. Useful given the changes made to the program. But I’m still longing for the good ole days of the credit card 2-for-1 reward nights.
Thank you for highlighting how to set up both programs and transfer in between.