Last edit by: JDiver
Reengagement Challenge / Challenges to Reinstate / Restore Expired Miles
Some consolidated info about the American Airlines Reengagment Challenge.
NOTE: It appears AA has implemented significant miles reinstatement policy changes as of May, 2019.
1) You may reinstate your miles only within eighteen months after your miles expired because off account inactivity.
2) We know you can pay a fee to do this, but we don’t know at this time if there are still other ways to “re-engage” in some of the ways discussed below.
1) You may reinstate your miles only within eighteen months after your miles expired because off account inactivity.
2) We know you can pay a fee to do this, but we don’t know at this time if there are still other ways to “re-engage” in some of the ways discussed below.
You have to call in to the AAdvantage Customer Service desk to register for this unpublished benefit
What you have to do:
- Subscribe and remain subscribed to receive AAdvantage Account Summary and AAdvantage Promotions emails
- For under 50000 miles
- Earn 5,000 partner base miles*
OR - Earn miles for 1 round trip flight**
- Earn 5,000 partner base miles*
- For 50,001-75,000 Expired Miles
- Earn 7,000 partner base miles*
AND - Earn miles for 1 round trip flight**
- Earn 7,000 partner base miles*
- For 75,001 or More Expired Miles
- Earn 10,000 partner base miles*
AND - Earn miles for 2 round trip flight**
- Earn 10,000 partner base miles*
You can restore part of your balance, then choose to continue on and restore the rest by completing the additional mileage earning activities.
*Partner miles include anything that doesn't involve flying listed under the earn miles section of American's page, however you only earn miles at the published rates as bonus miles (such as the AA Citi Sign up offer do not count).
Based on my questions to the AA desk, transfers of SPG points don't count either.
** Purchase a ticket and fly round trip on American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, or Qantas flight numbers (codeshares marketed by these carriers but operated by others are also eligible), earning miles in your AAdvantage account. You may mix outbound and return carriers.
Here US Airways also counts as American.
Note: AA has more recently offered reinstatement of lost / expired AAdvantage miles by charging a fee (post by myguess1 was an offer to reinstate 84,000 expired miles for $600.00).
How to Reactivate / Restore / Reinstate Expired Miles – Reengagement Challenge
#136
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: EWR
Programs: Alaska, Marriott
Posts: 161
#138
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SIN
Programs: AA Gold/OneWorld Ruby
Posts: 100
I have about 35,000 expired AA miles (I don't fly OW airlines very often, being mostly a *A person), but I have a flight on US coming up at the end of the month, round trip BOS-LAS, via PHL, which should be about 4900 miles. They expired back in 2011, when I wasn't using AwardWallet (now I know better).
Can I use this upcoming US flight to recover my expired miles via the re-engagement challenge assuming I credit it to AAdvantage? Will I need an additional ~100 miles of flying in the re-engagement period to qualify, or will this one round-trip on US suffice?
Can I use this upcoming US flight to recover my expired miles via the re-engagement challenge assuming I credit it to AAdvantage? Will I need an additional ~100 miles of flying in the re-engagement period to qualify, or will this one round-trip on US suffice?
#139
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 23
Reactivate expired AAdvantage Miles
Need your help:
I recently lost 84,000 miles due to 18 month in activities. I called the customer services and they asked to pay $600 to reactivate. I think it is too much. Miles were expired on OCT 15 2014.
I recently flew New York to India (using spouse AA miles) with partner’s airline
I opened a new CITY AA Credit Card (15 Days ago)
Now what is the best way to reactivate them.
Thanks.
I recently lost 84,000 miles due to 18 month in activities. I called the customer services and they asked to pay $600 to reactivate. I think it is too much. Miles were expired on OCT 15 2014.
I recently flew New York to India (using spouse AA miles) with partner’s airline
I opened a new CITY AA Credit Card (15 Days ago)
Now what is the best way to reactivate them.
Thanks.
#141
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: OW Emerald
Posts: 1,452
Did you have any activity in the past 12 months for which she failed to get credit? That's probably the only chance at something cheaper.
#142
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: BA Gold, AA Platinum, SQ Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,582
You can reinstate them for $200, which may not meet the definition of "cheap": https://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/e...vate-miles.jsp
Did you have any activity in the past 12 months for which she failed to get credit? That's probably the only chance at something cheaper.
Did you have any activity in the past 12 months for which she failed to get credit? That's probably the only chance at something cheaper.
#143
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: 대한민국 (South Korea) - ex-PVG (上海)
Programs: UA MM / LT Gold (LT UC), DL SM, AA PLT (AC), OZ, KE; GE and Korean SES (like GE); Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,995
Posted by vishalgupta22: M&M peanuts have half life shorter than radioactive uranium...
Now, to the topic, the buy-back may make sense to you ($200 for 30,000 miles), but your definition of "cheap" might be different from mine. If it were I, I would go for it.
#144
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: Hilton-Diamond Lifetime Platinum AA UA, WN-CP, SPG Gold.
Posts: 7,377
I would just apply for an AA Credit card and get 50,000 miles..., but if you did not use them they are not worth a dime,
Too much trash in the closet,
Too much trash in the closet,
#145
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: BA Gold, AA Platinum, SQ Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,582
I take it this way, 25000 miles is a round trip ticket in coach in NA. Unless a person was going to use the miles for something like BOS-PHL-BOS, you can't get a round trip in NA for under 212$
#146
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: USA
Programs: Chase Ultimate, Amex, Delta, AA, BA Avios, United, US Airways, Marriott, Hilton
Posts: 260
Only one workaround I know!!!
You have to have rented a rental car in the past year...and you need to not have been a loyalty member for their brand.
You register and ask for your points to be credited to AA. Then you ask for missing points on past bookings.
you get points for car rental that you completed but didn't get points for in the time frame you need.
They will post to your AA acct. Then you call and talk to AA rep showing them the date of car rental.
This may or may not work. I know this from hearing from a friend who heard. But I believe this may be your only other bet.
Good luck. And report back if it works.
You have to have rented a rental car in the past year...and you need to not have been a loyalty member for their brand.
You register and ask for your points to be credited to AA. Then you ask for missing points on past bookings.
you get points for car rental that you completed but didn't get points for in the time frame you need.
They will post to your AA acct. Then you call and talk to AA rep showing them the date of car rental.
This may or may not work. I know this from hearing from a friend who heard. But I believe this may be your only other bet.
Good luck. And report back if it works.
#148
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 144
Hi everybody -- I did this reengagement challenge back in 2013 and it worked wonderfully. There was a $30 fee too.
Is this still an active promotion? I have been a good boy but my girlfriend had 35k miles expire a few years ago, and this challenge sounds way better than paying $200...
Has anybody done this challenge recently? I'd rather not spend an hour on hold with AA just to ask this question.
Is this still an active promotion? I have been a good boy but my girlfriend had 35k miles expire a few years ago, and this challenge sounds way better than paying $200...
Has anybody done this challenge recently? I'd rather not spend an hour on hold with AA just to ask this question.
#149
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 108
Expired Miles Reinstatement alternative options
So I made a costly boo boo.
One of my family members accounts miles expired in October 2015.
Account had 140k miles which were rolled over from dividend miles.
I dropped the ball bc my moms account was in the same situation and I always just checked it and assumed the activity and expiration were the same. I was wrong bc mom had a dining purchase that pushed out her date.
Per the website they will reinstate the miles for $600 (ouch).
Any luck with other options?
I thought I read that signing up for the credit card will reinstate them which would be a very easy option.
These were all rolled over from dividend miles.
I contacted Alamo about posting miles from a 2014 rental. (Long shot)
I can't believe I did this I feel like an idiot!
Any help is appreciated
One of my family members accounts miles expired in October 2015.
Account had 140k miles which were rolled over from dividend miles.
I dropped the ball bc my moms account was in the same situation and I always just checked it and assumed the activity and expiration were the same. I was wrong bc mom had a dining purchase that pushed out her date.
Per the website they will reinstate the miles for $600 (ouch).
Any luck with other options?
I thought I read that signing up for the credit card will reinstate them which would be a very easy option.
These were all rolled over from dividend miles.
I contacted Alamo about posting miles from a 2014 rental. (Long shot)
I can't believe I did this I feel like an idiot!
Any help is appreciated