"Do Amex Membership Rewards points expire in Canada?"

"Amex Membership Rewards points do not expire as long as you hold an active eligible Amex MR card in Canada. There is no inactivity timer — your points remain valid indefinitely while your Amex card account is open and in good standing. If you cancel your Amex MR card without redeeming, your points will be forfeited."

"What happens to Amex MR points when I cancel my card?"

"If you cancel your American Express Membership Rewards card in Canada, any unredeemed MR points in your account will be forfeited. Before cancelling, transfer your MR points to Aeroplan, British Airways Avios, or another partner, or redeem them through the Amex travel portal. Points cannot be recovered after the account is closed."

"Can I downgrade my Amex card to avoid losing MR points?"

"If you downgrade to another eligible MR-earning Amex card (for example, from the Platinum to the Gold Rewards or from the Cobalt to the Green Card), your MR points balance is typically preserved as long as you stay within the MR programme. Downgrading to a non-MR Amex card would likely result in points being forfeited. Confirm with Amex Canada before downgrading."

"How do Amex MR expiry rules compare to Aeroplan?"

"Both programmes have similar no-expiry policies while your card is active. Aeroplan points expire after 18 months of inactivity (no earn or redeem). Amex MR points have no inactivity clock — they simply remain valid while your account is open. Amex is slightly more forgiving for truly dormant accounts."

Amex Membership Rewards Expiry Rules Canada 2026

Amex Membership Rewards points in Canada do not expire while you hold an active eligible MR-earning card. Unlike some loyalty programmes with 12- or 18-month inactivity timers, MR has no inactivity clock — you don’t need to earn or redeem periodically to keep points alive.

The only thing that causes MR point forfeiture is closing your Amex account without first redeeming or transferring your balance.

The Core Expiry Rule

Situation	Impact on MR Points
Amex MR card open and in good standing	Points never expire
No activity for months or years	Points still valid — no inactivity clock
Downgrade to another eligible MR card	Points typically retained
Cancel Amex MR card	Points likely forfeited
Amex closes account (non-payment or fraud)	Points likely forfeited
Transfer MR to Aeroplan	Points now in Aeroplan; subject to Aeroplan’s rules
Transfer MR to British Airways Avios	Points in BA account; subject to Avios rules

Before Cancelling Your Amex Card

If you plan to cancel an Amex MR card, take one of these steps first to preserve your points:

Option 1: Transfer to Aeroplan (recommended)

Transfer your full MR balance to your Aeroplan account. Aeroplan points also do not expire while your account is active (or as long as you earn or redeem within 18 months).

Option 2: Transfer to British Airways Avios

Avios live in your British Airways Executive Club account. They expire after 36 months of inactivity, giving you a long window to use them.

Option 3: Book travel through the Amex portal

Use the Amex travel portal before cancelling. Book a future flight or hotel — the reservation is made even if the card is subsequently cancelled.

Option 4: Downgrade instead of cancelling

Ask Amex Canada if you can downgrade to the no-fee American Express Green Card (which earns MR at 1x). This preserves your points, eliminates the annual fee, and keeps the account open. This is often the best option if you simply want to avoid paying the Cobalt’s monthly fee.

Points After Transfer: Partner Expiry Rules

Once MR points are transferred to a partner, they follow that programme’s expiry rules — not Amex’s:

Partner	Expiry Rule After Transfer
Aeroplan	Expire after 18 months of inactivity
British Airways Avios	Expire after 36 months of inactivity
Air France/KLM Flying Blue	Expire after 24 months of inactivity
Marriott Bonvoy	Expire after 24 months of inactivity
Hilton Honors	Expire after 24 months of inactivity

Key insight: If you transfer MR to Avios and then don’t use your BA Executive Club account for three years, those Avios will expire. Make at least one earn or redemption activity in each partner account every 24–36 months to keep balances alive.

Amex MR vs. Other Canadian Programmes: Expiry Comparison

Programme	Expiry Rule	Inactivity Clock
Amex MR	No expiry while card is active	None
Avion Rewards	No expiry while card is active	None
Scene+	24 months of inactivity	24 months
Aeroplan	18 months of inactivity	18 months
PC Optimum	No stated expiry (verify)	None
Air Miles	Varies; program has had expiry policies	Check current rules

Amex MR and Avion are the most forgiving for occasional collectors — no periodic activity required. Aeroplan is the most aggressive at 18 months, though a single earn or redemption resets the clock.

Programme terms are subject to change. Verify current MR expiry rules with Amex Canada at americanexpress.com/ca before making decisions. See our Advertiser Disclosure.