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If you’re a frequent flyer, you’ve probably accumulated a significant amount of airline miles over the years. However, the question that may linger in your mind is, do American airline miles expire? This topic is vital to understand as it affects how you manage and plan your travel rewards.
The answer is yes; American airline miles do expire, but the duration varies depending on the airline. Some airlines may require you to use your miles within a specific time frame, while others may offer more extended periods. In this article, we will explore the expiration policies of different American airlines and provide tips on how to keep your miles active.
Contents
- Do American Airline Miles Expire?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the American Airlines AAdvantage program?
- How long do American Airlines miles last?
- Can I reactivate expired American Airlines miles?
- What happens to my American Airlines miles if I cancel a flight?
- Can I transfer American Airlines miles to another person?
- What Is United Airlines Slogan?
- The Top 5 Destinations To Explore With United Airlines
- What Are United Regional Airlines?
Do American Airline Miles Expire?
If you are a frequent flyer with American Airlines, you might be wondering if your hard-earned miles will expire. Read on to find out everything you need to know about the expiration of American Airline miles.
Do American Airline Miles Expire?
The answer to this question is both yes and no. American Airlines miles do not expire if you have any qualifying activity within 18 months. Qualifying activities include booking a flight, earning miles with an American Airlines co-branded credit card, or using miles for a purchase.
However, if you do not have any qualifying activity within 18 months, your miles will expire. Once they expire, they cannot be reinstated, and you will lose them forever. Therefore, it is essential to keep track of your miles and ensure that you have some qualifying activity every 18 months.
The Benefits of American Airline Miles
American Airlines miles offer several benefits that make them worth collecting. Some of these benefits include:
- Redeem miles for flights, cabin upgrades, vacation packages, and more
- Access to exclusive lounges, priority boarding, and waived baggage fees
- Earn miles on everyday purchases with a co-branded credit card
How to Keep Your American Airline Miles from Expiring
Keeping your American Airlines miles from expiring is easy. Some ways to keep your miles active include:
- Book a flight
- Earn miles with an American Airlines co-branded credit card
- Use miles for a purchase, such as car rental, hotel stay, or shopping
It is essential to note that not all activities qualify for keeping your miles from expiring. For example, transferring miles or donating miles to a charity does not count as qualifying activity.
American Airline Miles vs. Other Airlines
When it comes to airline miles, every airline has its policy regarding expiration. Some airlines’ miles never expire, while others expire after a certain period of inactivity.
Compared to other airlines, American Airlines has a relatively short expiration period of 18 months. However, the airline offers several ways to keep your miles from expiring, making it easy to maintain your account.
Conclusion
In summary, American Airlines miles do expire if you don’t have any qualifying activity within 18 months. However, keeping your miles active is easy, and the airline offers several ways to do so. With the benefits that American Airlines miles offer, it is worth collecting and using them for travel and other purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions related to American Airlines AAdvantage miles and their expiration policy.
What is the American Airlines AAdvantage program?
The American Airlines AAdvantage program is a loyalty program that rewards frequent flyers with miles that can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other travel-related perks. Members can earn miles by flying with American Airlines and its partner airlines, as well as by using co-branded credit cards and shopping with participating retailers.
Members can also earn elite status by flying a certain amount of miles or segments in a calendar year, which comes with additional benefits like priority boarding, lounge access, and complimentary upgrades.
How long do American Airlines miles last?
American Airlines miles expire 18 months after the last account activity. Account activity includes earning or redeeming miles, as well as purchasing or transferring miles. If you have elite status with American Airlines, your miles do not expire as long as you maintain that status.
American Airlines also offers the option to extend the expiration date of your miles for an additional fee. This can be done through the airline’s “Miles for Opinions” program or by donating miles to a charity through the “Miles for Social Good” program.
Can I reactivate expired American Airlines miles?
Yes, American Airlines allows members to reactivate expired miles for a fee. The fee is based on the number of miles being reactivated and can range from $200 to $600. Members can only reactivate miles that expired within the last 18 months.
To reactivate expired miles, members can contact American Airlines customer service or use the online reactivation tool on the airline’s website. It’s important to note that reactivated miles will still expire 18 months from the original expiration date, regardless of when they were reactivated.
What happens to my American Airlines miles if I cancel a flight?
If you cancel a flight that was booked with American Airlines miles, the miles will be redeposited into your account. However, if you cancel a flight that was booked with a combination of miles and cash, only the miles portion will be redeposited.
American Airlines does not charge a fee to redeposit miles, but any taxes or fees paid with cash will not be refunded. If you used a co-branded credit card to pay for the taxes and fees, you may be able to receive a statement credit for those charges.
Can I transfer American Airlines miles to another person?
Yes, American Airlines allows members to transfer miles to another person for a fee. The fee is based on the number of miles being transferred and ranges from $12.50 to $250. The recipient must also pay a processing fee of $15 per transaction.
Transferred miles do not count as account activity and will not extend the expiration date of the recipient’s miles. Additionally, transferred miles cannot be transferred again or combined with the recipient’s existing miles.
In conclusion, American airline miles do expire. However, the expiration policy varies among different airlines. Some airlines, such as Delta, have eliminated expiration dates for their miles, while others, such as United, still have a strict expiration policy. It is important for frequent flyers to keep track of their mileage expiration dates and plan accordingly to avoid losing their hard-earned rewards.
One way to prevent miles from expiring is to use them regularly. This can be done by redeeming miles for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, or other travel-related expenses. Another option is to earn more miles through credit card rewards programs or by taking advantage of bonus mile promotions.
Overall, understanding the expiration policy of your preferred airline and staying up-to-date on any changes can help you make the most of your rewards. By using your miles wisely and keeping track of expiration dates, you can continue to enjoy the benefits of frequent flying for years to come.
