Do Airline Miles Expire? How to Prevent Your Rewards From Going to Waste

Whether you’re a once-per-year traveler or a weekly road warrior, accumulating airline miles to redeem for a trip later is a no-brainer. After all, why not earn something back for the travel you’re doing already? 

Some airlines call them miles and points, while others refer to them as Avios, but they all function similarly. While flying is the most popular way to earn miles, you can also rack them up by opening the right travel rewards credit card, via shopping and dining partnerships, and more. 

However, many frequent flier programs also have strict rules on mileage expiration dates — and yes, once they expire, those hard-earned rewards are typically gone for good. (Some airlines do allow you to reinstate expired miles for a fee.) Thankfully, there are also several programs — all U.S.-based — that don’t have any expiration dates to worry about. 

Let’s dive into the mileage expiration policies of popular U.S. loyalty programs, and what to do to prevent rewards from going to waste. 

U.S. Loyalty Programs With No Mileage Expiration

Among global carriers, U.S. airlines lead the way in terms of programs with no mileage expiration. There are a total of six programs with miles that last forever. 

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: While miles do not expire, for security purposes, your account may be locked if it is inactive after 24 months. If this occurs, Alaska Airlines customer service can reinstate your account for no fee — and miles will be returned to your account, too. 

Delta SkyMiles: SkyMiles never expire. 

Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles: Hawaiian miles never expire. 

JetBlue TrueBlue: TrueBlue miles never expire.

Southwest Rapid Rewards: Rapid Rewards points never expire. 

United MileagePlus: MileagePlus miles never expire. 

Other Major U.S. Airline Loyalty Programs

While the majority of U.S. airline programs don’t have mileage expiration policies, there are three notable exceptions.  

American Airlines AAdvantage: Miles expire in 24 months if there’s no earning activity; members under 21 years old are not subject to this policy. In addition, primary AAdvantage credit cardholders (with an open account) won’t have their miles ever expire. 

Frontier Airlines Frontier Miles: Miles expire in 12 months if there’s no earning activity.

Spirit Airlines Free Spirit: Miles expire in 12 months if there’s no earning activity.

Tips to Prevent Miles From Expiring

With varying rules, terms, and conditions, it’s important to check with each airline program — especially those that are based outside of the U.S. — to ensure you understand the requirements for keeping miles active. 

“Whether it’s redeeming miles, transferring miles, or engaging in a program in some way, it’s typically not that hard to keep your account active,” says Juan Ruiz, co-founder of loyalty consulting company JetBetter and senior editor for Upgraded Points. “That means you don’t even need to fly to satisfy an ‘activity’ requirement to prevent miles from expiring.” 

For instance, American Airlines says it will automatically extend the mileage expiration to 24 months from the date of your most recent qualifying activity. That activity can include flying, but also things like accruing mileage credit with participating dining partners, car rental companies, credit cards, and other service providers that are part of the AAdvantage program. 

If you have a credit card that has its own points currency — like Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, or Bilt Rewards — transferring points into an airline frequent flier program also typically counts as “activity.” 

Have airline miles that already expired? Some airlines, like American, allow you to reactivate them after paying a set “reactivation fee.” In the case of American, the fee is determined by the exact number of miles to be reactivated, and you can’t do it more than two years after the expiration date.