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Prevent AA miles / account from expiring / expiration & spend for other than flying

Old Dec 31, 2013, 10:45 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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.

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.
AAdvantage members who are under 21 are not subject to mileage expiration if their birthday is associated with their account.

But note:
Pausing AAdvantage mile expiration through June 2021

Youve worked hard to earn your AAdvantage miles, and we recognize you may need more time than usual to keep them active. Weve 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 theres 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.
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.

Originally Posted by Cygnet
"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.
For other relevant threads and resources see:

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
FlyerTalk:
  • Link - FAQ:: How do I keep my miles from expiring?
  • Link -: Preventing mileage expiration for Canadian AAdvantage members
  • Link - Preventing mileage expiration for UK and other non-US AAdvantage members
  • Link - Charity Donation / Contribution: Miles, Award, Upgrade; Earning Miles

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


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Prevent AA miles / account from expiring / expiration & spend for other than flying

Old Apr 19, 2021, 9:22 am
  #496  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 614
Great, thanks for the confirmation!
bcnfish is offline  
Old Apr 23, 2021, 3:49 pm
  #497  
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, AA ExecPlat, Amtrak Select Exec, former WN apologist
Posts: 1,417
Originally Posted by apeortdz
Or spin the wheel and hope to win 40 miles.
Timing of this might not work. On the miles I won, it said something like "miles will be deposited 8-10 weeks after promotion ends". So if your miles are due expire during that period, you may be SOL.
Mr. BoH is offline  
Old Apr 23, 2021, 5:30 pm
  #498  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,923
Originally Posted by bcnfish
I've read that any earning or redemption will extend the mile expiry date. If you book an award which you later cancel will the expiry stay as the later date?
Link--->Prevent AA miles / account from expiring / expiration & spend for other than flying
Look the wiki and pages near the end
Not hard to keep AA miles alive
Mwenenzi is offline  
Old May 5, 2021, 5:21 am
  #499  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 24
Ways to Earn AAdvantage Miles for Free?

I have over 100k AAdvantage miles that will be expiring in August due to inactivities for 18 months. With the current situation, I do not foresee myself traveling with AA or a partner airlines before August. As I currently live in Europe, my ability to earn miles through an AA partner is also limited.

I have read through some of the forum posts but was not able to find an easy way where I can earn some AAdvantage miles for free in order to keep my account active. I am aware of some options where I have to make a purchase but I am trying to see if there are better options.

I appreciate if any of you have any suggestions of current promotions for free AAdvantage miles.

Thanks!!
altiguy is offline  
Old May 5, 2021, 5:24 am
  #500  
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Posts: 377
Not free, but use their shopping portal and buy something and collect miles for your purchase. You can also buy a magazine and use miles. That would be free and give you activity.
Redhead likes this.
wesport is offline  
Old May 5, 2021, 5:41 am
  #501  
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 11
Yes, AA shopping portal, surveys, and they have a dining program. I opened a savings account with Bask bank. They pay out AA miles, not interest, at a pretty good rate. I got a 5k bonus for signing up and keep $100 in it to keep earning monthly miles with AA and not having to worry about the miles expiring. Hope that helps
ranran likes this.
michy9 is offline  
Old May 5, 2021, 5:55 am
  #502  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Once a somebody now a nobody
Posts: 513
Haven't tried it myself but looks like Award Wallet is giving people 5 AA miles for their first blog comment. Might be something to try.

https://awardwallet.com/blog/earn-bo...or-commenting/

Other than that donating miles counts too. You could donate 1,000 miles and that would reset your clock.
johnndor, Mr. BoH and ovacikar like this.
chicago747 is offline  
Old May 5, 2021, 6:25 am
  #503  
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
Do a simple miles donation.
AAExecPlatFlier is offline  
Old May 5, 2021, 6:33 am
  #504  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: ORD, sadly...
Programs: AA Exec Plat
Posts: 598
Buy a ticket with miles and cancel/re-deposit?
TravelerMSY, bse118 and nk15 like this.
GrumpyYoungMan is offline  
Old May 5, 2021, 7:16 am
  #505  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,361
Originally Posted by GrumpyYoungMan
Buy a ticket with miles and cancel/re-deposit?
This.

Book a simple award ticket for some date way off in the future, wait till it fully tickets and the miles are deducted, then cancel it for a full refund of the miles/taxes. Expiration date is now reset.

Alternatively there is of course a long running thread with many answers to this same question...

Prevent AA miles / account from expiring / expiration & spend for other than flying
JJeffrey is offline  
Old May 5, 2021, 3:07 pm
  #506  
rje
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Titusville,Fl. 32780 USA
Programs: Marriott Gold,United Silver,Delta Silver,Hhonors Diamond., SPG platinum, Priority Club Plat.
Posts: 270
Enroll in Miles for Opinions.
nsx1164 likes this.
rje is offline  
Old May 5, 2021, 3:11 pm
  #507  
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: Jetblue, Turkish, Hilton Gold, Spirit Gold
Posts: 411
Originally Posted by rje
Enroll in Miles for Opinions.
op is in europe, survey site membership is limited to United States.

The 40th anniversary promotion just ended, if op won points there they should be deposited by August.


Also there was another promo back in December 2020 for 100 miles, checking the travel blogs weekly may help next time:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/american-free-gift-promotion/

Last edited by ovacikar; May 5, 2021 at 3:22 pm
ovacikar is offline  
Old May 5, 2021, 6:21 pm
  #508  
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,546
Enroll in AA dining. The number of participating restaurants is pretty small, but you only need to (randomly) hit one every 18 months. It does help to set a reminder on your calender a few months before expiration. I remember some years ago I think I had Southwest miles expiring for both my wife and I, there was a Burger King that participated and I went and bought a cup of coffee with one credit card and a hashbrowns with another.
redtop43 is offline  
Old May 5, 2021, 7:21 pm
  #509  
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: New York City (LGA/JFK/EWR)
Programs: AA, AS
Posts: 72
Or you can just buy the minimum 1000 miles (you have to buy miles in 1000 increments) for around $25, and you are reset for another 18 months.
nsx1164 likes this.
United857 is offline  
Old May 5, 2021, 7:40 pm
  #510  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,923
Originally Posted by JJeffrey
<snip>
Alternatively there is of course a long running thread with many answers to this same question...
Prevent AA miles / account from expiring / expiration & spend for other than flying
Originally Posted by redtop43
Enroll in AA dining. The number of participating restaurants is pretty small, but you only need to (randomly) hit one every 18 months. It does help to set a reminder on your calender a few months before expiration. I remember some years ago I think I had Southwest miles expiring for both my wife and I, there was a Burger King that participated and I went and bought a cup of coffee with one credit card and a hashbrowns with another.
As post 1 and above OP lives in EU.
Mwenenzi is offline  

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