Last edit by: Prospero
Preventing AAdvantage Miles and Accounts from Expiring:
What can I do? Alternatives for miles use and discussion.
To check your miles expiration date: Look for the Wallet link on the website or in the app.
AAdvantage members who are under 21 are not subject to mileage expiration if their birthday is associated with their account.
But note:
ANY account activity, earning or using miles, will extend the expiration date of all AA miles by an additional 18 months.
When days count, be aware: it's the transaction date, not the posting date, that counts to extend miles' validity. It can take some time for miles activity to fully post, including the new expiration date. But, read on. Be aware of some vendors’ delayed posting, however.
For other relevant threads and resources see:
aa.com and Others:
Using or getting rid of miles
FlyerTalk:
Here are some suggestions from members on how to prevent miles from expiring easily and/or automatically. Please post your suggestions here.
For previous posts on this topic, please see ARCHIVE: Prevent AA miles / account from expiring / alternate use of miles
Nov 12, 2020 - Formatting % font size
What can I do? Alternatives for miles use and discussion.
To check your miles expiration date: Look for the Wallet link on the website or in the app.
From AAdvantage Terms and Conditions: "AAdvantage members must have mileage earning or redeeming activity once every 18 months in order to retain their miles. If your account has no qualifying activity in any 18-month period, all miles in the account will expire. Qualifying activity extends the expiration date of all unexpired mileage credit in your account for 18 months from the date of the qualifying activity. Qualifying activity is defined as redeeming any AAdvantage award or accruing mileage credit on any eligible American, American Eagle® or AAdvantage airline participant as well as accruing mileage credit with participating hotels, car rental companies, credit cards, telecommunication providers and other service providers offering AAdvantage mileage credit." Gufting or donating miles, doing anything that will cause an increase or decrease in the number of award miles in an AAdvantage account resets the expiration clock by 18 months.
But note:
Pausing AAdvantage® mile expiration through June 2021
You’ve worked hard to earn your AAdvantage® miles, and we recognize you may need more time than usual to keep them active. We’ve paused the expiration of miles through June 30, 2021. If your miles are scheduled to expire on or before June 30, 2021, they will now expire in July 2021, if there’s no additional activity in your account before then. You can find the expiration date of your miles in the Wallet section of your AAdvantage® account.
You’ve worked hard to earn your AAdvantage® miles, and we recognize you may need more time than usual to keep them active. We’ve paused the expiration of miles through June 30, 2021. If your miles are scheduled to expire on or before June 30, 2021, they will now expire in July 2021, if there’s no additional activity in your account before then. You can find the expiration date of your miles in the Wallet section of your AAdvantage® account.
When days count, be aware: it's the transaction date, not the posting date, that counts to extend miles' validity. It can take some time for miles activity to fully post, including the new expiration date. But, read on. Be aware of some vendors’ delayed posting, however.
"Activity date" is how the airline sees it, but beware that the date as reported by the shopping portal vendor can be a "gotcha." From my own experiences of various online vendors, the "activity date" reported can be the date you placed the order, OR the date your order was "received", OR the date your order was "processed", OR the date a transaction "hold" was placed on your credit card, OR the date your credit card company actually approved the transaction, OR the date your order was shipped, OR the date it was picked up (if in-store, for example), OR...etc., etc. And, don't forget time zone differences, too, if your cutoff date is very close (is it the time zone/date of where you ordered, or the vendor's website server, or the vendor's physical store, or...?) In other words, each online vendor may define and report the activity date to the airline in ways you didn't expect. I have seen an instance, for example, where the reported activity date was almost 2 weeks past the actual date I placed the order, simply because a part was on back-order, thus the full order was not "completed" and therefore the credit card not billed until later. Another example is flower delivery, especially if the flowers aren't scheduled for delivery until much later. Buyer beware -- the airline will refer you to the vendor for clarification.
aa.com and Others:
- Link to AA restricts expired miles reactivation within 18 months of expiration (2019) thread
- Link to How to Reactivate / Restore Expired Miles – Reengagement Challenge thread
- Link to Miles for Opinions surveys - not many miles, but it resets the clock.
- Link to Car Rental partners
- Link- Business and Financial: Earn AAdvantage miles when you buy, sell, or move your home with American HomeMiles by SIRVA, BankDirect, Fidelity, Lifelock, Network Solutions, PreFlight parking, Regus, etc.
- Link Buying, Gifting, Sharing AA Miles (Points.com)
- Link- Charities: Contributing Money (Earning Miles): Susan G. Komen, National Cancer Research Foundation, USO
- Link- Financial and Business: Earn AAdvantage miles when you buy, sell, or move your home with American HomeMiles by SIRVA, BankDirect, Fidelity, Lifelock, Network Solutions, PreFlight parking, Regus, etc.
- Link - Home and Health: DIRECTV, Energy Plus, Everything Energy, because Energy, Reliant, Spafinder Wellness 365
- Link to ALL Hotel partners
- Links to Hotel Bookings via pointshound.com, rocketmiles.com and Kaligo.com
- Link - Retail And Dining: AAdvantage eShopping Mall, AAdvantage Dining Program, FTD, Teleflora, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Vinesse Wine
- Linkaa.com - Reactivating expired miles (for fee)
Using or getting rid of miles
- Redeem Miles:- Link
Includes Hotel rooms and auto rentals, Newspapers, Gift Cards, Lifelock.
Includes link to Link to Use AA Miles: (redeem for car rentals and lodging) - Link - Charities: Donating Miles Miles for All Who Serve, Miles for Kids in Need, Miles of Hope.
Here are some suggestions from members on how to prevent miles from expiring easily and/or automatically. Please post your suggestions here.
- Sign up and register a credit card with AAdvantage Dining, go dine at an enrolled restaurant. (Sign up with your email address for notifications for 3 miles per dollar spent instead of one mile; dine 11 times in one year and earn 5 miles per dollar.)
- Make any purchase through https://www.aadvantageeshopping.comthat earns AA miles.
- Another easy/cheap route is ordering photos from Walgreens.com. It specifically says in the terms "photo orders picked up in-store are eligible." Prints are as cheap as US$0.29, but I'd purchase at least $1 worth to make sure you get your miles (2miles/$1).
For previous posts on this topic, please see ARCHIVE: Prevent AA miles / account from expiring / alternate use of miles
Nov 12, 2020 - Formatting % font size
Prevent AA miles / account from expiring / expiration & spend for other than flying
#136
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
... and the Wiki is where it should be. If you're not able to make the update then asking the poster would be appropriate. The process was designed to do exactly what you want, just need to get people to do it.
#137
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
The wiki says, in the banner:
Please read: This is a community-maintained wiki post containing the most important information from this thread. You may edit the Wiki once you have been on FT for 90 days and have made 90 posts.
The way to get an improved wiki is to improve the wiki.
Add the information you have to a post, notify the moderators using the "alert a moderator" radio button (looks like a triangular red-edged white traffic sign with an exclamation point) to let them know if you've insufficient time or posts. One of them will probably add that information.
/Moderator
#138
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL DM/MM, and major hotels
Posts: 501
Account Expiration
I have a card from a US airways account I had last century . Obviously any miles I had with them have long expired. I was considering merging the account with my Advantage account, just in case I can get points towards million miler. What I'm curious about is whether the account itself is gone, does any one know how long accounts with inactivity are kept?
My attempt at checking the account online have failed. I don't think I ever got an online account.
My attempt at checking the account online have failed. I don't think I ever got an online account.
#139
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
I have a card from a US airways account I had last century . Obviously any miles I had with them have long expired. I was considering merging the account with my Advantage account, just in case I can get points towards million miler. What I'm curious about is whether the account itself is gone, does any one know how long accounts with inactivity are kept?
My attempt at checking the account online have failed. I don't think I ever got an online account.
My attempt at checking the account online have failed. I don't think I ever got an online account.
Last edited by RogerD408; Jun 27, 2015 at 5:28 pm Reason: Changed my post being a US issue.
#140
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I have a card from a US airways account I had last century . Obviously any miles I had with them have long expired. I was considering merging the account with my Advantage account, just in case I can get points towards million miler. What I'm curious about is whether the account itself is gone, does any one know how long accounts with inactivity are kept?
My attempt at checking the account online have failed. I don't think I ever got an online account.
My attempt at checking the account online have failed. I don't think I ever got an online account.
#141
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 57
AAdvantage miles about to expier and BA flight not posting
Hi
I have 150000 miles on my AAdvantage account that will expire 2015-07-31. In order to stop them from expiring I have changed (at the airport check in) my FFP from BA to AA two times (in May and July) for a flights OSL-LHR (economy, hand luggage only, regular paid fare). Both have not appeared on my BA account, but neither on my AA account. I have sent two e-mail to AA, but have yet to receive an reply (first sent June 3rd).
I am now considering buying some extra miles from AA in order to stop the points from expiring (I don't need to use the miles anytime soon), but feel that my BA flights alone should stop them from expiring. Do you think I should just let the miles expire now and resolve the reactivation later (when the flights post) or should I fork out the minimum spend of $61.71 for 1000 miles in order to avoid the hassle?
I have 150000 miles on my AAdvantage account that will expire 2015-07-31. In order to stop them from expiring I have changed (at the airport check in) my FFP from BA to AA two times (in May and July) for a flights OSL-LHR (economy, hand luggage only, regular paid fare). Both have not appeared on my BA account, but neither on my AA account. I have sent two e-mail to AA, but have yet to receive an reply (first sent June 3rd).
I am now considering buying some extra miles from AA in order to stop the points from expiring (I don't need to use the miles anytime soon), but feel that my BA flights alone should stop them from expiring. Do you think I should just let the miles expire now and resolve the reactivation later (when the flights post) or should I fork out the minimum spend of $61.71 for 1000 miles in order to avoid the hassle?
#142
Join Date: May 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM; UA 1K; AA 1MM
Posts: 4,514
Since the miles already posted to BA and AA is being slow in responding (or not responding) I would not take any chances and would make sure to get some activity on your account.
Any activity will count, even buying something cheap through the AAdvantage shopping mall or using a small number of miles to redeem for a magazine subscription. Whatever you do, get it done today. (If the activity doesn't post until after 7/31, don't worry. Just make sure the activity happens before expiriation...i.e. TODAY)
Any activity will count, even buying something cheap through the AAdvantage shopping mall or using a small number of miles to redeem for a magazine subscription. Whatever you do, get it done today. (If the activity doesn't post until after 7/31, don't worry. Just make sure the activity happens before expiriation...i.e. TODAY)
#143
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 57
Any activity will count, even buying something cheap through the AAdvantage shopping mall or using a small number of miles to redeem for a magazine subscription. Whatever you do, get it done today. (If the activity doesn't post until after 7/31, don't worry. Just make sure the activity happens before expiriation...i.e. TODAY)
#145
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
And it's the earning date that counts, not the posting date.
But to be sure (if the BA-credited miles are denied) do something else.
We'll move this to a thread with lots of suggestions.
But to be sure (if the BA-credited miles are denied) do something else.
We'll move this to a thread with lots of suggestions.
#146
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 727
I wasn't sure whare to post this. I have 6,428 AAdvantage balance. I want to use points.com to redeem for a $25 Macy's gift certificate.
On the redemtpion page on points.com it says 6,412 AAdvantage® miles US only.
I changed both my AAdvantage account and points.com account from UK to the US address where i will be staying when I visit.
However, points.com reports insufficient balance and US only.
What am i doing wrong?
I've logged out of both accounts and back in.
Thanks
On the redemtpion page on points.com it says 6,412 AAdvantage® miles US only.
I changed both my AAdvantage account and points.com account from UK to the US address where i will be staying when I visit.
However, points.com reports insufficient balance and US only.
What am i doing wrong?
I've logged out of both accounts and back in.
Thanks
#147
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I wasn't sure whare to post this. I have 6,428 AAdvantage balance. I want to use points.com to redeem for a $25 Macy's gift certificate.
On the redemtpion page on points.com it says 6,412 AAdvantage® miles US only.
I changed both my AAdvantage account and points.com account from UK to the US address where i will be staying when I visit.
However, points.com reports insufficient balance and US only.
What am i doing wrong?
I've logged out of both accounts and back in.
Thanks
On the redemtpion page on points.com it says 6,412 AAdvantage® miles US only.
I changed both my AAdvantage account and points.com account from UK to the US address where i will be staying when I visit.
However, points.com reports insufficient balance and US only.
What am i doing wrong?
I've logged out of both accounts and back in.
Thanks
#148
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
#149
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 727
A Live Chat with Points.com informs me that, AAdvantage requires users to have a minimum balance of 25,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles, or have Gold, Platinum, or Executive Platinum status in order to redeem on Points.com.
Is there anything I can do with such a small balance?
Thankyou
Is there anything I can do with such a small balance?
Thankyou
#150
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Park, Metropolis
Programs: AA LT PLT 3MM, Hilton/Marriott/SPG/Club Carlson GLD, IHG PLT
Posts: 4,608
A Live Chat with Points.com informs me that, AAdvantage requires users to have a minimum balance of 25,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles, or have Gold, Platinum, or Executive Platinum status in order to redeem on Points.com.
Is there anything I can do with such a small balance?
Thankyou
Is there anything I can do with such a small balance?
Thankyou