What % of miles simply expire?
#1
Original Poster




Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: homeless
Programs: QF Plat, KL Plat, TK Gold, FI Gold, Bonvoy Tit
Posts: 591
Putting together a small paper for an economics class, and was wondering if someone could help me out with some data / hard sources for a question I have - namely what percentage of frequent flyer miles in programmes with expiration actually end up expiring rather than being used?
Have googled but to no avail - any help or ideas appreciated!
Have googled but to no avail - any help or ideas appreciated!
#2




Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: AMS,BRE,ABE
Programs: AY-G, LH *S, DL, UA, BA, AA, all hotel programmes
Posts: 1,351
i guess you need to do more research than just googling or asking in a webforum...
ask the programmes, maybe they can tell you. i bet it is different from programme to programme, especially since they have different expiration rules (3 years no movement, 3 years, 2 years....) and they are enforced differently, too.
ask the programmes, maybe they can tell you. i bet it is different from programme to programme, especially since they have different expiration rules (3 years no movement, 3 years, 2 years....) and they are enforced differently, too.
#4
Original Poster




Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: homeless
Programs: QF Plat, KL Plat, TK Gold, FI Gold, Bonvoy Tit
Posts: 591
Originally Posted by mith
i guess you need to do more research than just googling or asking in a webforum...
ask the programmes, maybe they can tell you.
ask the programmes, maybe they can tell you.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Freeload Univ. Where are you sitting?
Posts: 14,818
Check the bankruptcy filings (US, UA, soon to be others, I suppose). In those papers, they detail their outstanding miles, expected rate on non-redemtion, etc.
I seem to recall that US used a number of about 20%-30% of their outstanding miles would never be redeemed.
I seem to recall that US used a number of about 20%-30% of their outstanding miles would never be redeemed.
#6
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Eco Travel, Signatures




Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA, IHG & Marriott Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 51,876
Just to be sure you have seen this, which is a starting point...
http://www.webflyer.com/company/pres...lyer_facts.php
dennis
http://www.webflyer.com/company/pres...lyer_facts.php
dennis
#7
Original Poster




Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: homeless
Programs: QF Plat, KL Plat, TK Gold, FI Gold, Bonvoy Tit
Posts: 591
Originally Posted by mia
Just to be sure you have seen this, which is a starting point...
http://www.webflyer.com/company/pres...lyer_facts.php
dennis
http://www.webflyer.com/company/pres...lyer_facts.php
dennis
any other facts, anyone?
#8
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One




Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN A-list preferred, United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 22,856
Southwest's annual report says 15% of awards expire unused. Seems high to me, but FTers are atypical. Another problem with this figure is that Southwest allows you to revive an expired award, even long afterwards, for a $50 fee.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: All over
Programs: Most
Posts: 10,839
Originally Posted by nsx
Southwest's annual report says 15% of awards expire unused. Seems high to me, but FTers are atypical. Another problem with this figure is that Southwest allows you to revive an expired award, even long afterwards, for a $50 fee.
Last edited by holtju2; Jun 6, 2005 at 8:21 pm
#10
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One




Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN A-list preferred, United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 22,856
Originally Posted by holtju2
I would argue that way more than 15% of the issued credits expire because of the 16 credit requirement for the awad ticket within a 12 month period.
#11
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Airstrip One
Programs: AA gold, UA Premier, HH Gold, *wood gold, PC gold
Posts: 950
Originally Posted by holtju2
I would argue that way more than 15% of the issued credits expire because of the 16 credit requirement for the awad ticket within a 12 month period.
And I've recently read that in the vacinity of 85% of miles go unused.
#12




Join Date: May 2003
Location: RDU
Programs: TSA/INS/FBI Platinum (stopped last 12 of 13 int'l returns - the computer broke once)
Posts: 2,653
Originally Posted by nsx
Southwest's annual report says 15% of awards expire unused. Seems high to me, but FTers are atypical. Another problem with this figure is that Southwest allows you to revive an expired award, even long afterwards, for a $50 fee.
Obviously, there are a lot more people that have unredeemed credits in the WN system with a 12 month expiration, but I don't think that's what this statistic refers to.

