How do I avoid losing miles?
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You can keep your airline miles from expiring by staying active in your account and tracking the specific rules of your program.
Know Your Program’s Rules
- Review the inactivity period for your airline (e.g., 12 months for Aeroplan, 18 months for American, 36 months for many others) so you know how long you can go without activity before miles lapse View from the Wing View from the Wing .
- Some carriers, like Delta and JetBlue, have no expiration at all, which can simplify planning View from the Wing .
Create Regular Earning Activity
- Use the airline’s shopping or dining portal to earn a few miles each month Miles to Memories .
- Make a small purchase with a co‑branded airline credit card; the transaction counts as qualifying activity Miles to Memories Points with a Crew .
- Transfer a chunk of points from a transferable currency such as American Express Membership Rewards to add mileage and reset the clock Miles to Memories .
Use Tracking Tools
- Set up an account‑monitoring service (e.g., AwardWallet) to receive alerts before miles are due to expire One Mile at a Time .
- Keep a simple spreadsheet or calendar reminder for each program’s expiration date One Mile at a Time .
Leverage Credit Cards and Transfers
- Hold an airline‑co‑branded credit card and use it regularly; many programs treat card spend as activity that extends mileage validity Miles to Memories Points with a Crew .
- If you have a flexible points portfolio (e.g., Chase Ultimate Rewards), move points into an airline program before the inactivity deadline to refresh the balance Miles to Memories .
Avoid Inactivity Traps
- Even if a program advertises “no expiration,” an inactive account can be closed after a long period of zero activity (e.g., 36 months for some U.S. carriers) View from the Wing .
- Periodically redeem miles for a small award or donate them; any redemption resets the inactivity timer Miles to Memories .
By combining regular, low‑effort earning actions, monitoring expiration dates, and using credit‑card partnerships, you can keep your mileage balance healthy and avoid losing valuable miles.
Mile Expiration Policies By Airline: Our Complete Guide
Airline mileage programs have different policies regarding your frequent flier accounts and miles. The policies relating to mileage expiration are among the most important for you to be aware of. We’ve compiled this chart to give you the mile expiration policies for the more popular programs. UPDATED 11/23/21 Related: Guide to Airline Award Change and Cancellation Fees Related: Ways to Get Free or Reduced Cost WiFi on Flights | Airline | Mile Expiration Policy | |---|---| | Alaska | Miles don't expire, but your account can be shut down after 24 months with no account activity
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