Don’t let your frequent flyer miles become inactive…
In an obvious attempt to reduce travel bonuses, recent changes in many frequent flyer programs will make it even more difficult to cash in your airline miles. Two of the biggest U.S. air carriers, United Airlines and US Airways, have reduced the amount of time your miles will remain active by half (from 36 to 18 months), making it harder for infrequent fliers to accumulate the necessary points to take advantage of rewards. Delta Airlines made a similar change last year dropping their cutoff for inactive accounts to 2 years.
“Frequent-flier miles are a liability on the company books,” says Barbara Beyer, president of airline consultant Avmark. “The airlines want to get rid of them as they clean up their balance sheets.” The airlines claim that their new policy is favorable to frequent fliers because it will eliminate infrequent fliers and open up more available seats for redemption. But shortening activity life will cost many unsuspecting cardholders valuable bonuses.
If you travel less frequently than the new posted intervals or don’t accumulate miles quick enough, you’ll need to use your card more often and cash in on miles faster. Take advantage of other opportunities to earn points such as making purchases from participating vendors or from the airline’s retail outlet store at the airport (or online). Using your card to send flowers from a participating vendor, for example, will keep your account active and prevent your from loosing your accumulated miles. Another option is to visit e-miles.com to earn points.
If you can be more flexible with your travel plans, consider earning your miles on Aloha Airlines where your miles will not be purged because of inactivity. Continential is also a good choice. USA TODAY notes that “Continental has a written policy stating that miles can expire if none are earned in 18 months, but the airline doesn’t act on it, says spokesman David Messing.”
At the other end of the spectrum, USA TODAY says “AirTran and JetBlue have the strictest expiration policies, with credits or miles expiring one year after they are earned.” JetBlue points, however, can be extended for frequent-flier members who use the JetBlue-branded American Express card. Curious about your airline? Here’s a list of airlines and their expiration periods:
Frequent Flyer Programs and Inactivity Expiration Periods
AirTran A+ Rewards Credits = 12 months.
Alaska Mileage Plan Miles = 3 years
Aloha AlohaPass Miles don’t expire.
America West Dividend Miles Miles = 18 months
American AAdvantage Miles = 36 months
ATA Travel Awards Points = 24 months
Continental OnePass Miles don’t expire.
Delta SkyMiles Miles = 2 calendar years
Frontier EarlyReturns Miles = 2 calendar years
Hawaiian HawaiianMiles Miles = 36 months
JetBlue TrueBlue Miles = 1 year after the date earned
Midwest Midwest Miles Miles = 36 months
Northwest WorldPerks Miles = 3 calendar years
Southwest Rapid Rewards Credits = 24 months
United Mileage Plus Starting = 18 months
US Airways Dividend Miles = 18 months
* See a complete list of Airline Mile Credit Cards >>>