Apols in advance if this should have gone into a subcategory, but i couldn't locate anything appropriate.

I have 20000 or so points on UA (earned about 3 yrs ago on flights) which I have lost due to inactivity. They expired Feb 08. I can see them as 'Lifetime United Miles' but cannot get to them.

My q is: is there any workaround to retrieving them. I had not realised that points expire after time of non-use.

thanks Geri