tom911
Dec 18, 07, 11:57 pm
Q: My frequent-flier accounts have been inactive for too long, and my miles are going to go down the drain. What's an inexpensive last-minute save?
A: Inactivity periods can creep up on frequent-flier members, especially since some major airlines have been reducing the amount of time fliers' accounts can rest idle—no miles earned or redeemed—before wiping clean program members' accounts.
American Airlines' 36-month inactivity period switched to an 18-month limit on Dec. 15, United Airlines will make the same switch on Dec. 31 and Alaska Airlines will cut its inactivity period from three years to two years starting April 1, 2008.
Other airlines' inactivity periods range from JetBlue Airways' one-year expiration date to Continental Airlines' indefinite commitment.
But saving miles is easy—no need to rely on travel to earn miles. A program member can shop, eat out, take a survey, watch an online ad, donate miles to charity or order magazine subscriptions to add mileage to an account in small increments, keeping it alive.
http://www.mercurynews.com/travel/ci_7752116?nclick_check=1
Probably nothing new here if you're a seasoned frequent flyer, but for someone starting out the article does offer some ideas you can look at.
A: Inactivity periods can creep up on frequent-flier members, especially since some major airlines have been reducing the amount of time fliers' accounts can rest idle—no miles earned or redeemed—before wiping clean program members' accounts.
American Airlines' 36-month inactivity period switched to an 18-month limit on Dec. 15, United Airlines will make the same switch on Dec. 31 and Alaska Airlines will cut its inactivity period from three years to two years starting April 1, 2008.
Other airlines' inactivity periods range from JetBlue Airways' one-year expiration date to Continental Airlines' indefinite commitment.
But saving miles is easy—no need to rely on travel to earn miles. A program member can shop, eat out, take a survey, watch an online ad, donate miles to charity or order magazine subscriptions to add mileage to an account in small increments, keeping it alive.
http://www.mercurynews.com/travel/ci_7752116?nclick_check=1
Probably nothing new here if you're a seasoned frequent flyer, but for someone starting out the article does offer some ideas you can look at.