TFCanswers. When do points/miles expire? How to avoid losing them
The serial accumulator of points and miles has two nightmares. The first, except in rare cases, is unpredictable and is called devaluation. [...]
The serial accumulator of points and miles has two nightmares. The first, except in rare cases, is unpredictable and is called devaluation. The second, on the other hand, is a fixed date and is the natural expiration of accumulated points.
In this article:
Italian frequent flyers enrolled in Alitalia's old Millemiglia program knew full well that sooner or later the points would expire, unless extended. The same is true for the vast majority of loyalty programs, which, depending on different rules, each have their own deadline.
But with covid, many programs have suspended/eliminated the expiration of points. With this article we will try to list the rules of all major frequent flyers.
When do the miles expire?
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In Italy, all point collections, rewards programs and the like have a maximum duration of three years, this applies to supermarkets as well as airlines, etc. Of course, regulations written one way, or another, allow you to get around this sword of Damocles.
| Company | Deadline |
| ITA Airways | At present, the due date, by regulation, is. October 15, 2024, unless extended. |
| Air Canada (Aeroplan) | The expiration of points is suspended until September 30, 2022. In general they expire after 18 months of inactivity |
| American Airlines | Points expire after 24 months of inactivity, no expiration until the age of 21. |
| ANA | Points expire After 36 months since they were accumulated, there is no possibility of renewal. |
| Asiana Airlines | Points expire After 10 years since they were accumulated, there is no possibility of renewal. |
| British Airways | Points expire after 36 months of inactivity, |
| Cathay Pacific (Asia Miles) | Points expire after 18 months of inactivity, |
| Delta Air Lines | They have no expiration date |
| Emirates | They expire After 36 months since they were accumulated |
| Etihad Airways | Points expire after 18 months of inactivity, |
| Flying Blue (Air France-KLM) | They expire After 24 months of inactivity. They do not expire if you have the status. Minor's points do not expire until they turn 19 years old |
| Iberia | Points expire after 36 months of inactivity, |
| JAL | The expiration of points is suspended until October 31, 2022. In general they expire After 36 months since they were accumulated |
| JetBlue | They have no expiration date |
| Korean Air | Points expire After 10 years since they were accumulated, there is no possibility of renewal. |
| Lufthansa (Miles & More) | In general they expire After 36 months since they were accumulated. If you have a Lufthansa branded credit card you can eliminate the expiration. Finally if you have an elite level the points never expire. |
| Qatar Airways | Points expire after 36 months of inactivity, |
| Singapore Airlines | Points expire After 36 months since they were accumulated |
| Southwest Airlines | They have no expiration date |
| United Airlines | They have no expiration date |
| Virgin Atlantic | They have no expiration date |
Differences between the various programs. Those who have the inactivity rule actually allow the user to renew the validity of the points, in contrast those who make the points expire after X months from when they were accumulated do not allow their validity to be extended, so you either use them or lose them.
Be sure to read the article well and understand WELL the difference between "inactivity" and "since accumulated"... in the first case (inactivity) all it takes is any activity on the account that causes the miles to accrue/spend and all the miles in the account are saved... in the second case (since accrued" means that you absolutely have to use them by that date... it's not enough to "move the account"... either use them or they disappear... if you then have a status with the company check the regulations, sometimes there are exceptions to the deadlines
| Hotel chain | Deadline |
| Accor Live Limitless | They have no expiration date If you do at least one stay per year |
| Best Western Rewards | They have no expiration date |
| Choice Privileges | Points expire after 18 months of inactivity, |
| Hilton Honors | Points expire after 24 months of inactivity, |
| IHG One Rewards | Points expire after 12 months of inactivity, if you have a status they do not expire |
| Marriott Bonvoy | Points expire after 24 months of inactivity, those with "lifetime" status will never lose points |
| Radisson Rewards | Points expire after 24 months of inactivity, |
| World of Hyatt | Points expire after 24 months of inactivity, |
Hotel loyalty programs are definitely more generous than airlines.
What actions are valid to stop the expiration of miles
There is only one thing to learn well, Flying is not the only activity that stops time and resets the countdown. Indeed, many programs allow the point balance to be maintained without flying for as long as 10 years or more. Making the list of activities that allow to restart the countdown is virtually impossible, the main ones are:
- Fly with that airline or a partner airline by crediting the flight points on the program with expiring points
- Accrediting a partner activity (e.g. car rental, hotel stay, online shopping, partner programs, etc...)
- Buy a handful of points through the loyalty program, just spend about ten and you're done
- Transfer points from one program to another. E.g., using Membership Rewards points
- Spending a handful of points from that specific account. E.g., by donating miles for charity
Here are some examples of how you can stop the countdown and start from scratch without losing your accumulated points.
We hope we have clarified the doubts of some readers, if you need to, you can write to us in the comments and on our social profiles or through a dear old email. See you next week with TFCanswers.
