Definitive List of US Carriers' Mileage Expiration Policies?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,658
Definitive List of US Carriers' Mileage Expiration Policies?
I searched and came up empty, so I apologize if there's an obvious answer to this...
Is there a definitive and/or comprehensive list somewhere of the US carriers' mileage expiration policies?
TIA.
Keywords for future searchers: mile, miles, mileage, point, points, credit, credits, expire, expiration, forfeit, lose.
Is there a definitive and/or comprehensive list somewhere of the US carriers' mileage expiration policies?
TIA.
Keywords for future searchers: mile, miles, mileage, point, points, credit, credits, expire, expiration, forfeit, lose.
Last edited by SealBeach; Aug 18, 2006 at 7:17 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Washington, DC USA
Programs: UA; Amtrak
Posts: 2,002
now there is
No FF program for Boston-Maine Airways, Cape Air, or USA 3000; MAXflier, Eos Club 48, and Aloha AirPass are no longer in business.
[Thanks to soitgoes for catching my omissions.]
AirTran A+
http://www.airtran.com/a_terms_conditions.aspx
Alaska Mileage Plan
http://www.alaskaair.com/mileageplan/faqs/OtherMP.asp
http://www.alaskaair.com/as/mileagep...age-expiration
American AAdvantage
http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?...m%20Conditions
Continental OnePass
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US.../advisory.aspx
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...s/rewards.aspx
Delta SkyMiles
http://www.delta.com/skymiles/about_...jsp#expiration
Frontier EarlyReturns
http://www.frontierairlines.com/fron...de/accruals.do
go! Miles
https://www.iflygo.com/FrequentFlyerTerms.aspx
(500 miles per segment; after 5000 miles an award good for 1 interisland segment is issued)
HawaiianMiles
http://www.hawaiianair.com/HawaiianM...erms_Cond.aspx
jetBlue TrueBlue
https://www.jetblue.com/trueblue/FF_...onditions.aspx
Midwest Miles
http://www.midwestairlines.com/Midwe...shipGuide.aspx
Northwest WorldPerks
http://www.nwa.com/worldperks/memrules/general.shtml
Southwest Rapid Rewards
http://www.southwest.com/rapid_rewar..._and_regs.html
Spirit Free Spirit
http://www.spiritair.com/FSTermsAndConditions.aspx
Sun Country Ufly
https://ufly.suncountry.com/terms.cfm
United Mileage Plus
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1155,00.html
US Airways Dividend Miles
http://www.usairways.com/awa/content...aspx#milexpire
Virgin America eleVAte
http://virginamerica.com/va/elevateMemberGuide.do
[Thanks to soitgoes for catching my omissions.]
AirTran A+
http://www.airtran.com/a_terms_conditions.aspx
3. Program Earning Period: For Base members, A+ Rewards credits are valid for 12 months after the date on which they were posted to the member's account. For A+ Visa cardholders and Elite members, A+ Rewards credits are valid for 24 months after the posting date. Twenty-four month expiration period for A+ credits is valid only for A+ credits earned after an A+ Visa account is established or after Elite status is attained. A+ Rewards credits will be posted within three days after a flight is completed.
http://www.alaskaair.com/mileageplan/faqs/OtherMP.asp
3. Do my Mileage Plan miles expire?
Mileage Plan miles are "immortal" and never expire (subject to member's account remaining active for 2 years). If no mileage is credited to an account during the first nine months after it's opened, or if an account is inactive for longer than 2 years, Alaska Airlines may close the account, delete any mileage balance and reassign the Mileage Plan number. Deleted mileage can be reinstated for a $75 fee for up to 1 year. Activity in an account includes redeeming a Mileage Plan award or accruing mileage in the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Program.
Mileage Plan miles are "immortal" and never expire (subject to member's account remaining active for 2 years). If no mileage is credited to an account during the first nine months after it's opened, or if an account is inactive for longer than 2 years, Alaska Airlines may close the account, delete any mileage balance and reassign the Mileage Plan number. Deleted mileage can be reinstated for a $75 fee for up to 1 year. Activity in an account includes redeeming a Mileage Plan award or accruing mileage in the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Program.
7. Account and Mileage Expiration
Mileage Plan Miles do not have an expiration date and may remain in an active account indefinitely, provided that the Mileage Plan Program has not been terminated pursuant to these Conditions of Membership. Activity in an account includes redeeming a Mileage Plan award or accruing mileage in the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Program. However, not withstanding any term to the contrary, if a Mileage Plan account is inactive for 2 years, Alaska Airlines may close the account, delete any mileage balance and reassign the Mileage Plan number. Deleted mileage can be reinstated for a $75 fee for up to 1 year. To reinstate a mileage plan account please contact Customer Care at 1-800-654-5669.
Mileage Plan Miles do not have an expiration date and may remain in an active account indefinitely, provided that the Mileage Plan Program has not been terminated pursuant to these Conditions of Membership. Activity in an account includes redeeming a Mileage Plan award or accruing mileage in the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Program. However, not withstanding any term to the contrary, if a Mileage Plan account is inactive for 2 years, Alaska Airlines may close the account, delete any mileage balance and reassign the Mileage Plan number. Deleted mileage can be reinstated for a $75 fee for up to 1 year. To reinstate a mileage plan account please contact Customer Care at 1-800-654-5669.
http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?...m%20Conditions
AAdvantage members must have mileage earning or redeeming activity once every 18 months in order to retain their miles. Miles will first expire under this 18-month policy on December 15, 2007. If your account has no qualifying activity in any 18-month period, all miles in the account will expire except for those miles earned prior to July 1, 1989 in accounts established prior to January 1, 1989 whose mileage credit will not expire. Each 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®, AmericanConnection® 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.
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US.../advisory.aspx
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...s/rewards.aspx
Mileage Expiration
Miles currently have no expiry date; however, Continental Airlines reserves the right to impose expiry limits or terminate the OnePass program, thus terminating your ability to claim rewards.
Inactive Membership
If no mileage is deposited in your account for 18 consecutive months, your membership may be cancelled, and your miles may be forfeited.
Miles currently have no expiry date; however, Continental Airlines reserves the right to impose expiry limits or terminate the OnePass program, thus terminating your ability to claim rewards.
Inactive Membership
If no mileage is deposited in your account for 18 consecutive months, your membership may be cancelled, and your miles may be forfeited.
http://www.delta.com/skymiles/about_...jsp#expiration
Accounts with no activity for 12 consecutive months after enrollment will be deleted. A new SkyMiles number can be obtained by contacting Delta.
Currently, miles will not expire as long as you participate in one of the following activities at least once every two years; mileage expires midnight Eastern time (-5 GMT), 24 months from the date of the last activity: [earn, redeem, or buy miles]
Currently, miles will not expire as long as you participate in one of the following activities at least once every two years; mileage expires midnight Eastern time (-5 GMT), 24 months from the date of the last activity: [earn, redeem, or buy miles]
http://www.frontierairlines.com/fron...de/accruals.do
Mileage in a Member's account will not expire so long as the Member generates accrual or redemption activity in the account. Unredeemed mileage accumulated in a Member's account will expire at the end of the second calendar year after the last accrual or redemption activity date. For example, mileage earned during the year 2007 is valid until December 31, 2009 unless the member has accrual or redemption activity in the interim. Membership in the Program is terminated if the member is inactive for three consecutive calendar years.
https://www.iflygo.com/FrequentFlyerTerms.aspx
(500 miles per segment; after 5000 miles an award good for 1 interisland segment is issued)
25. Awards will expire one (1) year from date of issue ("Expiration Date"), and in the case of Awards provided by a Participating Vendor, on such earlier date as go!'s contract with such Participating Vendor for the provision of Awards expires.
26. The expiration date of a wholly unused Ticket Award for travel on go!, or another carrier, expires one (1) year from the date of the original ticket issuance, and will not be extended. Expired Ticket Awards have no value and cannot be reissued nor miles be re-deposited into the member's account.
26. The expiration date of a wholly unused Ticket Award for travel on go!, or another carrier, expires one (1) year from the date of the original ticket issuance, and will not be extended. Expired Ticket Awards have no value and cannot be reissued nor miles be re-deposited into the member's account.
http://www.hawaiianair.com/HawaiianM...erms_Cond.aspx
Conditions of Membership
5. If a Member fails to earn any miles for eighteen (18) consecutive months, Hawaiian will expire any accrued mileage on the member’s account. Expired miles may be reinstated for a fee.
5. If a Member fails to earn any miles for eighteen (18) consecutive months, Hawaiian will expire any accrued mileage on the member’s account. Expired miles may be reinstated for a fee.
https://www.jetblue.com/trueblue/FF_...onditions.aspx
5.1 Except as may otherwise be provided for Holders of the JetBlue Card from American Express as set forth in paragraph 7.4, POINTS EXPIRE ONE YEAR AFTER THEY ARE EARNED AND TRUEBLUE AWARDS EXPIRE ONE YEAR AFTER THEY ARE ISSUED. Award Travel must be booked for travel available at or before the time of Award Travel expiration.[...]
7.4 The expiration date of all TrueBlue Points in TrueBlue Membership Account's for Holders of the JetBlue Card from American Express will be extended to be 1 year from any date you have a TrueBlue point credited to your TrueBlue Membership Account from one of the following activities: (1) Using your JetBlue Card Account for an eligible purchase (as defined in your American Express Cardholder Agreement), or (2) flying a JetBlue flight segment that is paid for with your JetBlue Card Account. Eligibility and timing are based upon the date the TrueBlue point is credited to your TrueBlue Membership Account from one of the above qualifying activities.
7.4 The expiration date of all TrueBlue Points in TrueBlue Membership Account's for Holders of the JetBlue Card from American Express will be extended to be 1 year from any date you have a TrueBlue point credited to your TrueBlue Membership Account from one of the following activities: (1) Using your JetBlue Card Account for an eligible purchase (as defined in your American Express Cardholder Agreement), or (2) flying a JetBlue flight segment that is paid for with your JetBlue Card Account. Eligibility and timing are based upon the date the TrueBlue point is credited to your TrueBlue Membership Account from one of the above qualifying activities.
http://www.midwestairlines.com/Midwe...shipGuide.aspx
Mileage in a member's account will not expire and will be available for award redemption and other benefits as long as the member has qualifying activity in his or her account during any consecutive 36-month period.… Miles posted to a member's account for enrollment in the Program or through an exchange or transfer with a Program Partner will not be considered qualifying activity. All mileage in a member's account will be deemed expired and not valid for award redemption or other benefits if there is no qualifying activity during any consecutive 36-month period. Accounts without qualifying activity in the first 12 months after enrollment may be deleted.
http://www.nwa.com/worldperks/memrules/general.shtml
3. WorldPerks miles have no expiration date. However, consistent with the general terms and conditions of the WorldPerks program, Northwest Airlines reserves the right to change the WorldPerks program at any time without notice, including imposition of expiration limits or reactivation fees. If no mileage from any source is posted to a WorldPerks member's account for three consecutive years, the account is subject to termination, including forfeiture of all accrued mileage.
http://www.southwest.com/rapid_rewar..._and_regs.html
2. An Award will be automatically deposited into your account once your 16th credit posts to your account during any consecutive 24-month period.
5. Each credit is valid for 24 months from the date earned. Your Rapid Rewards account will contain only valid credits collected within the immediately preceding 24 consecutive months. If a credit is not applied toward an Award within 24 months of the date earned, it will be deleted from your Rapid Rewards account balance. Southwest Airlines reserves the right to cancel the membership of any Member with no credits in the account and who has earned no credits for at least 12 consecutive months.
12. All Awards are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Southwest Airlines is not responsible for and will not replace lost, stolen, or destroyed Awards.
5. Each credit is valid for 24 months from the date earned. Your Rapid Rewards account will contain only valid credits collected within the immediately preceding 24 consecutive months. If a credit is not applied toward an Award within 24 months of the date earned, it will be deleted from your Rapid Rewards account balance. Southwest Airlines reserves the right to cancel the membership of any Member with no credits in the account and who has earned no credits for at least 12 consecutive months.
12. All Awards are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Southwest Airlines is not responsible for and will not replace lost, stolen, or destroyed Awards.
http://www.spiritair.com/FSTermsAndConditions.aspx
FREE SPIRIT Miles will expire when an account becomes inactive for a period of 6 months or more. An "inactive" account is one that has less than 2,000 miles credited to it from any source during the preceding 6 months. Accounts will become inactive during the month end reporting process, which will be reported to the member on the second business day of each month.
https://ufly.suncountry.com/terms.cfm
Earning Ufly Rewards Points
9. Points will not expire as long as you the member earn points or redeem points within Ufly Rewards at least once every 3 years.
9. Points will not expire as long as you the member earn points or redeem points within Ufly Rewards at least once every 3 years.
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1155,00.html
9. Any member who has failed to earn mileage for a calendar quarter may, at United's option, be excluded from receiving newsletters, statements, correspondence or other materials, including notifications of Program changes or special promotions, until the next quarter in which he or she earns mileage. Any member who fails to earn mileage during the first twelve months after enrollment in the Program may be removed from the Program.
10. Effective December 31, 2007 miles will expire if there is no current activity for 18 months consecutive. Therefore if the expiration date on your Mileage Plus summary is December 31, 2007 or after, your new expiration date will be 18 months after your last activity. [ … ]
11. "Account activity", for purposes of these Rules, shall be deemed to occur when a member accrues mileage in his or her account in any manner set forth in these Rules, or as otherwise approved by United, or when the member redeems any Mileage Plus or partner award by the use of mileage in the member's account.
10. Effective December 31, 2007 miles will expire if there is no current activity for 18 months consecutive. Therefore if the expiration date on your Mileage Plus summary is December 31, 2007 or after, your new expiration date will be 18 months after your last activity. [ … ]
11. "Account activity", for purposes of these Rules, shall be deemed to occur when a member accrues mileage in his or her account in any manner set forth in these Rules, or as otherwise approved by United, or when the member redeems any Mileage Plus or partner award by the use of mileage in the member's account.
http://www.usairways.com/awa/content...aspx#milexpire
Reactivation policy
Since January 31, 2007, active membership status is based on having earned or redeemed miles within a consecutive 18-month period. Miles are subject to forfeiture if no miles have been earned or redeemed within a consecutive 18-month period.
Since January 31, 2007, active membership status is based on having earned or redeemed miles within a consecutive 18-month period. Miles are subject to forfeiture if no miles have been earned or redeemed within a consecutive 18-month period.
http://virginamerica.com/va/elevateMemberGuide.do
Your membership account will be activated by flying a Virgin America flight where you earn points, or by any other method authorized by Elevate for earning points. If you do not activate your account within 18 months after enrollment, your account may be considered inactive. Once activated, your account may become inactive if you fail to earn or redeem any points during a period of 18 consecutive months.
Last edited by choster; Aug 24, 2009 at 11:34 am Reason: updated HA
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
Great list!
Two small additions
Spirit Airlines[
AirTran Airways
Two small additions
Spirit Airlines[
your FREE SPIRIT miles can expire. If you have less than 2,000 miles posted to your account from any source during the previous 6 month period, miles older than 6 months will be expired. Because the FREE SPIRIT program calculates your status on a monthly basis, any miles that will expire will do so at the start of every month. If you want to keep your miles, get a FREE SPIRIT MasterCard and make just one purchase per month - then your miles will never expire.
Credits expire one year from their date of posting in your account.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
I love how "mileage does not expire" but if you have no activity within 18, 24 or 3 months your "miles that don't expire" will indeed expire.
I have to be sure to take my USAir business class trip to Europe using miles within the next 18 months, mostly compliments of BofA with their 65,000+ bonus miles
I have to be sure to take my USAir business class trip to Europe using miles within the next 18 months, mostly compliments of BofA with their 65,000+ bonus miles
#6
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Cary, NC, USA - AA Plt 3mm/DL Dia 2mm, Hil/Dia Life, Bonvoy/Titanium Life, Spire
Posts: 3,261
Just thinking about this this morning. Thanks for the list. Mrs. Outoftown, whose UA account last entry was 8/24/03, needs some activity. Just signed her up for mpdining idine and we'll eat at Beef O'Brady's for lunch today.
-Outoftown
-Outoftown
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 24,232
Excellent list, choster!
You might want to add to the AA section that expired miles can be reinstated for a fee of $50 per 5,000-mile increment (the minimum unit) plus $30 per transaction. For example, reactivating 10,000 expired miles would cost 2x$50 + $30 = $130. This offer is currently valid through 2007.
Those familiar with other airlines' programs might want to add any similar offers from them.
You might want to add to the AA section that expired miles can be reinstated for a fee of $50 per 5,000-mile increment (the minimum unit) plus $30 per transaction. For example, reactivating 10,000 expired miles would cost 2x$50 + $30 = $130. This offer is currently valid through 2007.
Those familiar with other airlines' programs might want to add any similar offers from them.
#10
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Posts: 3,796
Originally Posted by fti
I love how "mileage does not expire" but if you have no activity within 18, 24 or 3 months your "miles that don't expire" will indeed expire.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 24,232
Originally Posted by fti
I love how "mileage does not expire" but if you have no activity within 18, 24 or 3 months your "miles that don't expire" will indeed expire.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,377
Originally Posted by Efrem
Technically, it's not the miles that expire. The account is closed for inactivity.
#13
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Washington, DC USA
Programs: UA; Amtrak
Posts: 2,002
Originally Posted by 747LWW
By the way, how did you acquire the info and how long did you labor?
A plurality of that time was spent trying to find the trueBlue T&C, which are buried behind microfont links in a section whose navigation is inconsistent with the rest of their website. Next worse was Alaska, which requires you to download a half-megabyte PDF for program details.
#14
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: United States
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Amtrak
Posts: 4,647
Originally Posted by soitgoes
That depends on the program. Some programs simply expire the miles and keep the account open; others close the whole account.
The account, however, remains open. I guess as long as there's still a valid e-mail address associated with it, they will still send you their marketing materials.
#15
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 348
Originally Posted by fairviewroad
My Amtrak "miles" expired after 3 years of inactivity. (I had enough points to go approximately from the front of the train to the rear, for free)
The account, however, remains open. I guess as long as there's still a valid e-mail address associated with it, they will still send you their marketing materials.
The account, however, remains open. I guess as long as there's still a valid e-mail address associated with it, they will still send you their marketing materials.
don't you have to have a train ride within those 3 years to keep the miles and transfering miles into the account doesn't count?