How do I avoid losing miles?

You can keep your frequent‑flyer miles from expiring by staying active in a few simple ways.

Choose programs that don’t expire

• United MileagePlus, Delta SkyMiles and JetBlue TrueBlue keep miles forever, so enrolling in one of these programs removes the worry about expiration altogether One Mile at a Time .

Generate regular qualifying activity

• Use the airline’s shopping portal or dining rewards program; a single purchase or meal can reset the inactivity clock One Mile at a Time .
• Make a small purchase with a co‑branded airline credit card each month to register activity and keep the account alive Miles to Memories .
• Transfer points from a flexible currency such as American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Capital One Venture into the airline program; the transfer itself counts as qualifying activity Miles to Memories .

Leverage credit‑card and transfer options

• Points.com lets you move a few miles between programs for free, which both adds miles and updates the account’s activity status View from the Wing .
• Buy or transfer miles directly through the airline’s purchase portal (often for $35 or less) to inject fresh miles and reset the expiration timer View from the Wing .
• Transfer miles from hotel loyalty programs (e.g., Starwood) or from a credit‑card rewards program to generate activity without spending extra cash View from the Wing .

Use alternative mileage‑earning tricks

• Rent a car and credit the rental to the airline’s program; even a small rental generates miles that keep the account active View from the Wing .
• Redeem a few hundred miles for a magazine subscription; the redemption and subsequent credit count as activity View from the Wing .
• Participate in trivia or audience‑reward quizzes (e.g., US Airways or Delta) to earn a handful of miles and refresh the account View from the Wing .
• Complete survey programs (e‑rewards, e‑miles) that award points transferable to the airline View from the Wing .

Track expiration dates proactively

• Sign up for a service like AwardWallet that monitors all your loyalty accounts and sends alerts when miles are close to expiring Live and Let’s Fly .

Program‑specific tips (e.g., Spirit)

• For Spirit Rapid Rewards, ensure you have earning activity at least every 24 months; you can transfer 1,000 Ultimate Rewards points, shop through Spirit’s partners, join a dining program, or simply purchase miles to stay current Miles for Family .

By combining these habits—choosing non‑expiring programs, performing regular qualifying actions, using credit‑card transfers, and monitoring your balances—you can keep your miles alive and ready for future travel.