How do I avoid losing miles?
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To keep your frequent‑flyer miles from disappearing, focus on keeping the account active, tracking expiration dates, and using easy ways to generate activity.
Keep the account active
- Earn or redeem miles at least once within the inactivity window (e.g., every 12–36 months depending on the airline) so the miles don’t lapse View from the Wing .
- Small, regular actions such as shopping through an airline portal, dining at partner restaurants, or booking a hotel or rental car can reset the expiration clock Boarding Area Miles to Memories Travel with Grant .
- If you have a co‑branded airline credit card, everyday purchases automatically generate qualifying activity Miles to Memories Travel with Grant .
Use a mileage‑tracking tool
- Programs like Miletracker or Mileage Manager can monitor all your accounts and alert you when miles are about to expire View from the Wing .
- Award Wallet lets you view balances and expiration dates in one place, making it easy to spot accounts that need activity View from the Wing View from the Wing .
Leverage credit‑card and partner programs
- Apply for an airline credit card (e.g., Citi AAdvantage or Barclays Aviator) to earn miles with regular spending Travel with Grant .
- Link your frequent‑flyer number to hotel, car‑rental, and dining partners; each qualifying transaction adds miles and keeps the account alive Travel with Grant .
- Use the airline’s online shopping portal to earn a few miles on everyday purchases Miles to Memories .
Buy or gift miles when a deadline is imminent
- If miles are about to expire and you can’t generate activity quickly, purchasing a small bundle (e.g., 1,000 miles for $27.50) can extend the balance Miles for Family .
Know the specific inactivity periods for your airline
- Review the program’s rules (e.g., 18 months for American Airlines, 24 months for Alaska, no expiration for Delta) and set reminders accordingly View from the Wing View from the Wing .
By combining regular, low‑effort mileage‑earning activities, a reliable tracking app, and occasional purchases when needed, you can keep your miles alive and avoid losing them.
View from the Wing Keeping track of your miles
It’s important to manage your miles and prevent them from expiring. Odds on if you’re reading this website, you don’t need a newspaper article to tell you that! But this article seemed like a good prompt to remind you about a free software program called Miletracker. It’s what I use to manage my frequent flyer miles. It checks all your accounts with a single click and can log you into any of them with a click as well. For a more full service option — including letting you know when your miles will be expiring (so you can do something about it before that happens!), letting you know about current bonuses, and even guaranteeing your mileage against unauthorized use — consider Mileage Manager. It comes with a (very) small cost but is likely worth it for many.
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