American Airlines Improves Mileage Expiration Policy

American Airlines Improves Mileage Expiration Policy

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Not only has American AAdvantage introduced its new Loyalty Points elite system as of March 2022, but the program has also improved its mileage expiration policy.

American AAdvantage mileage expiration policy

American Airlines has updated its AAdvantage mileage expiration policy, as follows:

  • AAdvantage miles now expire after 24 months of inactivity; any account activity that leads to miles being earned or redeemed resets the expiration counter
  • Primary cardmembers of a co-branded American Airlines credit card from Barclays or Citi won’t have their miles expire, regardless of account activity; in the event a card is closed, there’s a four month grace period to make sure you’ve had activity within the past 24 months
  • Miles don’t expire for AAdvantage members under the age of 21; once a member turns 21, the 24 month clock for activity will start

What’s changing here, compared to the previous policy? Miles used to expire after 18 months of inactivity, rather than after 24 months of inactivity. Furthermore, there was no exception for miles not expiring for those with a co-branded AAdvantage credit card.

The good news is that there are lots of easy ways to prevent AAdvantage miles from expiring, so this really shouldn’t be a huge issue one way or another.

AAdvantage miles have an improved expiration policy

How does this compare to other mileage expiration policies?

Of the “big three” US airlines, American is the only program that expires miles:

  • For many years now, Delta SkyMiles don’t expire
  • Since August 2019, United MileagePlus miles don’t expire

Personally I’m not sure I’m in favor of airline miles not expiring. Sure, it seems wholly positive for miles to simply not expire, though it’s also important to keep in mind that there’s significant liability associated with outstanding miles.

There’s a reason airlines expired them in the past — there were billions of dollars worth of unredeemed miles, and realistically a good number of those would have never been redeemed, as there’s always breakage with loyalty programs.

Asking adults to have some sort of activity in a loyalty program at least once every couple of years isn’t exactly a big ask. This could be as simple as making an online purchase or dining at a restaurant.

Furthermore, as Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus miles have moved toward no longer expiring, we’ve also seen the miles issued by the programs become more of a fixed value currency, where you’re getting about one cent of value per mile. I wouldn’t say that’s exactly a great trend.

United MileagePlus miles don’t expire at all

Bottom line

American AAdvantage has improved its mileage expiration policy. Miles now expire after 24 months of inactivity. There are exceptions for those with a co-branded credit card, as well as those who are under the age of 21.

American’s policy here isn’t as generous as the policies of Delta and United, but personally I don’t mind. Sure, if having miles that don’t expire doesn’t come at any cost to the overall value of the program then it’s a positive. However, given the liability associated with miles, I would assume that it does come at some cost.

Adults needing to have some sort of program activity once every two years isn’t a big hurdle to overcome.

What do you make of American’s new mileage expiration policy? Do you care about program miles not expiring?

Conversations (7)
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  1. AC Guest

    18 months or 24 months flies by fast and if you don't fly alot you may forget and lose those miles. It's great you don't have to keep track of the kids miles and you just give it to them when they turn 21. They can apply for an Advantage card and fly free for their first time.

  2. J.T. Guest

    Question: does an advance flight booking with miles reset the expiration clock? Mine are due to expire March 31st, but I want to use them for a ticket to fly
    April 8th.

  3. Jon Guest

    My aadvantage account was 25 years old when I turned 28... Growing up overseas, I had countless tatl flights and miles that have expired a dozen times over before I was old enough to start buying my own flights. Glad they finally made this decision. Maybe I can submit for mileage earned back in the 80s?

  4. Alberto Guest

    My account just changed! My miles now will expired 18 months later! But I will loose my Executive Platinum status! at the end of March!
    Thanks Ben for the info! it is very useful for my plans!

  5. Pablo Guest

    My account still shows the miles expiring in 18 months of inactivity, but the account itself now has a 24 month expiration date.

  6. derek Guest

    The exception for kids' miles not expiring is very good. Kids without divorced parents can have a hard time flying a certain airline regularly unless they order magazines just to extend miles from expiring

  7. echino Diamond

    My AA account (address in Canada) still showing 18 month expiry.

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The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

AC Guest

18 months or 24 months flies by fast and if you don't fly alot you may forget and lose those miles. It's great you don't have to keep track of the kids miles and you just give it to them when they turn 21. They can apply for an Advantage card and fly free for their first time.

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J.T. Guest

Question: does an advance flight booking with miles reset the expiration clock? Mine are due to expire March 31st, but I want to use them for a ticket to fly April 8th.

0
Jon Guest

My aadvantage account was 25 years old when I turned 28... Growing up overseas, I had countless tatl flights and miles that have expired a dozen times over before I was old enough to start buying my own flights. Glad they finally made this decision. Maybe I can submit for mileage earned back in the 80s?

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