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If you’re a frequent traveler, you’re likely familiar with the benefits of airline miles. They can be used to book flights, upgrade your seat, or even redeem for hotel stays. However, one question that often arises is whether or not these miles expire. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at American Airlines miles and whether or not they have an expiration date.
American Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the United States, and their AAdvantage program boasts millions of members. With so many people accumulating miles, it’s understandable to wonder if they’ll expire before you have a chance to use them. So, let’s dive in and explore the ins and outs of American Airlines miles expiration.
Contents
- Do American Airlines Miles Expire?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How long do American Airlines miles last?
- Can I extend the expiration date of my American Airlines miles?
- Do American Airlines credit cards help prevent miles from expiring?
- Can I transfer my American Airlines miles to another account to prevent expiration?
- What happens to my American Airlines miles when I cancel a flight?
- When do my Airline Miles Expire? American Express Transfer Partners
- What Is United Airlines Slogan?
- The Top 5 Destinations To Explore With United Airlines
- What Are United Regional Airlines?
Do American Airlines Miles Expire?
American Airlines is a major airline that offers various reward programs to its customers. One of the most popular rewards programs is the American Airlines AAdvantage program. The AAdvantage program allows customers to earn miles for every flight they take with American Airlines or one of its partner airlines. These miles can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other travel-related benefits. However, many customers wonder if their American Airlines miles expire.
Do American Airlines Miles Expire?
Yes, American Airlines miles do expire, but the expiration policy has changed over the years. In the past, American Airlines miles would expire after 18 months of inactivity. This meant that if a customer did not earn or redeem any miles for 18 months, their miles would expire. However, as of November 1, 2019, American Airlines changed its expiration policy.
Now, American Airlines miles do not expire as long as the customer earns or redeems miles at least once every 18 months. This means that even if a customer does not fly with American Airlines for a year and a half, their miles will still be active as long as they use them for something, such as a flight or an upgrade.
How to Keep American Airlines Miles from Expiring?
To keep American Airlines miles from expiring, customers must earn or redeem miles at least once every 18 months. There are several ways to earn or redeem miles, including:
- Booking a flight with American Airlines or one of its partner airlines
- Using an American Airlines credit card
- Donating miles to a charity
- Redeeming miles for hotel stays, car rentals, or other travel-related benefits
If a customer is unsure whether their miles are at risk of expiring, they can check their AAdvantage account online or contact American Airlines customer service for assistance.
The Benefits of American Airlines Miles
Despite the risk of expiration, American Airlines miles offer numerous benefits to customers. Some of the benefits of the AAdvantage program include:
- Free flights and upgrades
- Priority boarding and check-in
- Access to airport lounges
- Discounts on car rentals and hotel stays
Additionally, American Airlines offers co-branded credit cards that allow customers to earn miles faster and enjoy even more benefits, such as waived baggage fees and companion tickets.
American Airlines Miles vs. Other Rewards Programs
When compared to other rewards programs, such as those offered by Delta or United Airlines, the AAdvantage program has some unique features. For example, American Airlines miles can be redeemed for flights on over 20 partner airlines, including British Airways and Japan Airlines. This means that customers can use their miles to travel to destinations all over the world.
However, the AAdvantage program does have some limitations. For example, unlike Delta and United, American Airlines does not offer a flexible rewards program that allows customers to book flights with any airline. Additionally, American Airlines miles can be difficult to redeem for certain routes or during peak travel times.
Conclusion
In summary, American Airlines miles do expire, but the expiration policy has changed to allow customers more time to use their miles. To keep miles from expiring, customers must earn or redeem miles at least once every 18 months. Despite the risk of expiration, American Airlines miles offer numerous benefits and can be redeemed for flights on over 20 partner airlines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do American Airlines miles last?
American Airlines miles expire 18 months after the last activity date. Activity includes earning miles, redeeming miles, transferring miles, or purchasing miles. If there is no activity in your account for 18 months, your miles will expire and cannot be reinstated.
However, you can prevent your miles from expiring by earning or redeeming miles within the 18-month window. This can be done through flights, credit card spending, shopping portals, or other partner activities.
Can I extend the expiration date of my American Airlines miles?
Yes, you can extend the expiration date of your American Airlines miles by either earning or redeeming miles. Any activity in your account will reset the 18-month clock, keeping your miles from expiring. You can also purchase miles to keep your account active, but this may not be the most cost-effective option.
If your miles have already expired, there is no way to reactivate them. The only option is to earn or purchase new miles to use towards future travel.
Do American Airlines credit cards help prevent miles from expiring?
Yes, American Airlines credit cards can help prevent miles from expiring as long as there is activity on the card. The miles earned from credit card spending count as activity in your account and can reset the 18-month clock. However, it’s important to note that not all credit card activity counts towards preventing expiration. For example, paying your credit card bill does not count as activity towards your AAdvantage account.
Using an American Airlines credit card for everyday purchases and earning bonus miles can be a great way to keep your account active and prevent your miles from expiring.
Can I transfer my American Airlines miles to another account to prevent expiration?
Yes, transferring your American Airlines miles to another account can prevent them from expiring as long as the transfer is completed before the expiration date. However, there are fees associated with transferring miles and it may not be the most cost-effective option. Additionally, once the miles are transferred, they cannot be transferred back to your account.
It’s important to weigh the cost of transferring miles versus earning or redeeming miles to keep your account active and prevent expiration.
What happens to my American Airlines miles when I cancel a flight?
If you cancel a flight that was booked using American Airlines miles, the miles will be redeposited into your account. The redeposit fee will vary depending on your elite status and the timeframe of the cancellation. However, if the miles used for the flight have already expired, they will not be reinstated into your account.
If you cancel a flight that was booked using a combination of cash and miles, the miles used for the booking will be redeposited into your account and the cash portion will be refunded according to the airline’s cancellation policy.
When do my Airline Miles Expire? American Express Transfer Partners
In conclusion, American Airlines miles do expire, but the timeline for expiration varies depending on different factors such as account activity and elite status. As a general rule, miles will expire after 18 months of account inactivity. However, if you hold an elite status with American Airlines, your miles may have a longer lifespan.
It’s important to note that there are ways to prevent your American Airlines miles from expiring. One way is to make sure you have some account activity at least every 18 months. This can be as simple as earning or redeeming miles, or even just logging into your account. Another option is to use a co-branded credit card that allows you to earn miles with everyday purchases.
Overall, keeping your American Airlines miles from expiring is a simple process that just requires a little bit of planning and activity. By taking advantage of the various ways to keep your miles active, you can make sure that you’re always ready to redeem them for your next adventure. So, don’t let your miles go to waste – keep them active and start planning your next trip today!
