Do United Mileage Plus Miles Expire?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: DAY
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, BA, DL, CO, UA, F9, AS, SPG, HHonors Gold, WN, Club Carlson Gold,
Posts: 1,378
Do United Mileage Plus Miles Expire?
I know that United Mileage Plus miles used to expire if there was a period of no activity. But, on the new website, I was not able to locate my mileage expiration date, which used to be displayed on the old United website. Am I not seeing it, or do United miles no longer expire?
#2
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: UA-1K, Hertz-Gold, Marriott-Gold, PC-Platinum, SPG
Posts: 2,777
I know that United Mileage Plus miles used to expire if there was a period of no activity. But, on the new website, I was not able to locate my mileage expiration date, which used to be displayed on the old United website. Am I not seeing it, or do United miles no longer expire?
#3
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,933
Log onto your account --- below the "Welcome SWDKE" put your cursor on "MILEAGE BALANCE" and a pop up basically says this, " United Mileage Plus Expiration Policy
A member's miles "will expire if there is no current activity for 18 months consecutive."
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Again, according to the program's TOS, "Account activity, for purposes of these Rules, shall be deemed to occur when a member accrues mileage in his or her account in any manner set forth in these Rules, or as otherwise approved by United, or when the member redeems any Mileage Plus or partner award by the use of mileage in the member's account."
So What Does This Really Mean?
The long and the short of it is this; if you perform any activity that either adds miles to your account or subtracts miles from your account, the life of your miles are extended another 18 months from the date that activity took place. So, for example, if you make a purchase using your United Mileage Plus Visa card and earn miles, the lifespan of ALL of the miles in your account will be extended for 18 months from the date on which your MP Visa miles post to your account.
Alternatively, if you redeem miles for a ticket, the lifespan of ALL of your remaining miles will be extended for 18 months from the date on which the miles were removed from your account.
The key is to ensure that the addition to or subtraction of miles from your account occurs before 18 months have elapsed since the last addition/subtraction, or you could lose all of your miles!
A member's miles "will expire if there is no current activity for 18 months consecutive."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Again, according to the program's TOS, "Account activity, for purposes of these Rules, shall be deemed to occur when a member accrues mileage in his or her account in any manner set forth in these Rules, or as otherwise approved by United, or when the member redeems any Mileage Plus or partner award by the use of mileage in the member's account."
So What Does This Really Mean?
The long and the short of it is this; if you perform any activity that either adds miles to your account or subtracts miles from your account, the life of your miles are extended another 18 months from the date that activity took place. So, for example, if you make a purchase using your United Mileage Plus Visa card and earn miles, the lifespan of ALL of the miles in your account will be extended for 18 months from the date on which your MP Visa miles post to your account.
Alternatively, if you redeem miles for a ticket, the lifespan of ALL of your remaining miles will be extended for 18 months from the date on which the miles were removed from your account.
The key is to ensure that the addition to or subtraction of miles from your account occurs before 18 months have elapsed since the last addition/subtraction, or you could lose all of your miles!
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,225
Yes - they do expire and the period remains 18 months.
When you login, your mileage balance appears in a box on the right hand side of the screen. Hover over the words mileage balance (underlined) and the expiry policy appears.
When you login, your mileage balance appears in a box on the right hand side of the screen. Hover over the words mileage balance (underlined) and the expiry policy appears.
#5
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,295
And for how to keep those miles from expiring, go here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ad-merged.html
I'd recommend buying an iTunes song via the UA shopping mall portal at least once a year to keeps the account fresh.
I'd recommend buying an iTunes song via the UA shopping mall portal at least once a year to keeps the account fresh.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
It used to be 3 years, and before then, no expiration.
UA claims miles won't expire with the Club Visa, but I'm not sure if that's because you'll use it and earn miles thus constantly pushing back expiration or if it's really a perk of the card.
UA claims miles won't expire with the Club Visa, but I'm not sure if that's because you'll use it and earn miles thus constantly pushing back expiration or if it's really a perk of the card.
#9
In Memoriam
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: dallas texas usa
Programs: aa plt 4.9MM LTAC
Posts: 14,828
co non expiring mi now subject to expiration?
#10
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 93
i tried to join the mileage plus dining to earn more points but i am currently living outside USA but still frequently travel there, but i need to enter a Zip Code to register, any way around this? thanks in advance
#11
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS, BWI, DCA, IAD
Programs: American, Delta, JetBlue, United
Posts: 2,049
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
Pick a zip code in a city where you most often frequent.
#13
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,091
#14
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
Supposedly mere possession of the credit card halts expiration; no activity whatsoever is necessary. That said, 1) this may not be the case, despite what UA says, 2) Even if it is the case, UA can change that perk unbeknownst to you, 3) Prudence dictates creating some activity in your MP account frequently enough to forestall expiration.
#15
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold, Club Carlson Gold, National EE, *G
Posts: 470
Interesting thing I saw today when I logged into my United account. When I placed my cursor over the "Expiration" section under "My MileagePlus Summary" it opens up a small box which says that the miles never expire if: My Chase MileagePlus card is open, I have paid the annual fee, and the card is not in default. The system clearly sees that I have at least one of these credit cards, as it thanked me for having it. No where does it say anything about actually using the card (which I do, anyways). Hope this helps.