Even with the exception and the fee, the limit on that, is 1 months. Back in the day, expired, meant expired. Here is the link to the program giving people a 2nd chance to unexpire miles within 1 yr. http://www.ualmiles.com/ReinstatementMiles.jsp

I can't seem to find the link from a yr ago when they announced the accounting boost for reduction in debt due to expiring miles, but this is the one from the 1st 1/4 of 2010...UA valued that at $64 million in credit back to the UA coffers. http://www.gadling.com/2010/04/29/un...hanks-to-your/ For 100k miles, your reinstatement fee would have been $1275.00. Almost makes one glad you can't resurrect them at that price ($0.0125/mile+a $25 flat fee.)

Award programs are big money. The debt added to the books is huge, and the value of expired miles is not chump change. Sorry to hear of your loss, but without ever truly being a frequent flier (but a member of a frequent flyer program) UA has very little incentive to want to re-incur the liability of your miles. I wish you luck, but think of that as (4) inexpensive nonrefundable tickets that wasn't cncld prior to the date of dptr. I've had other things in my life expire or go unused (even concert tickets) that have no residual value 1 day late. It hurts, but life goes on.

"Loyalty" to numerous airlines is tough. One isn't loyal to any, rather just an accumulator of benefits from each. It's tough to keep track of those points when you accrue them over years without any repeat business. My recommendation is to concentrate on 1 program in 1 alliance and keep track of it..."orphan miles" IMHO aren't anything to lose too much sleep over..I've been reset by Starwood and Hilton numerous times, have never redeemed an award, yet give them my numbers every time I stay with them. All I am is a victem of their marketing depts with no value to me...and I don't sweat it.