Do Airline Miles Expire? | Stop Losing Points Quietly

It depends on the program: some balances vanish after inactivity, while many major airlines now keep miles as long as your account stays open.

You earn miles, you feel set, then life gets busy. Months pass. A year passes. Then you open your account and wonder, “Wait… where did they go?” That fear isn’t paranoid. Some loyalty programs still wipe balances after a quiet stretch, and the rules can feel buried in fine print.

This article clears it up without the fluff. You’ll learn which programs expire miles, what “activity” really means, how to protect a balance with low-effort moves, and the traps that still cause people to lose miles even when a program says “no expiration.”

What “Expiration” Means In Airline Loyalty Programs

Airline miles usually expire in one of two ways.

• Inactivity expiration: If your account has no qualifying activity for a set time window, the program cancels some or all miles.
• Account closure forfeiture: Miles don’t “age out,” yet you can still lose them if the airline closes your account under program rules or you close it yourself.

That second one surprises people. They hear “miles don’t expire” and stop paying attention. The miles might not have a timer, but they can still disappear if the account gets shut down for rule violations, fraud flags, duplicate accounts, or a closure request.

Why Some Airlines Let Miles Expire

Programs set expiration rules to reduce dormant liabilities and push members to engage. If a program requires activity every 18 or 24 months, it’s nudging you to keep earning or redeeming. That can be as small as a partner transaction, not always a flight.

Other programs removed inactivity expiration to feel simpler and more forgiving. Even then, the account still needs to remain open and in good standing.

Do Airline Miles Expire? What Changes The Answer

The honest answer is: it depends on three things.

• The airline program: Each one sets its own window and definition of activity.
• Your age or account type: Some programs exempt certain members (like younger members) or keep miles active when a linked card account remains open.
• What you count as “activity”: A portal purchase may count. Browsing a portal may not. A transfer might count. A balance check might not.

So the safest approach is simple: treat miles like store credit with rules. Check the program’s terms, then set up one tiny habit that triggers activity on your schedule.

Common Expiration Patterns You’ll See

Inactivity Windows

Many programs use a window like 18 months or 24 months. The clock usually resets on the date of your most recent qualifying activity, not the date you earned your first mile.

Activity Definitions

“Qualifying activity” often includes earning miles or redeeming miles. It may also include partner earning like shopping portals, dining programs, hotels, car rentals, or credit card spend tied to the program.

Partial Expiration Vs. Full Wipe

Most airline programs that expire miles do a full wipe of the balance after inactivity, not a partial decay. That’s why a small balance can still matter. If you plan to build later, losing the account history hurts.

How To Check Your Own Expiration Risk In 5 Minutes

1. Log in and find the activity page. Look for “recent activity” and “expiration date.” Some programs show the earliest possible expiration date right in the account view.
2. Open the program rules or FAQ. Search within the page for “expire,” “expiration,” “inactivity,” and “qualifying activity.”
3. Write down the inactivity window. If it’s 24 months, put a reminder at 20 months so you have buffer time.
4. Pick one easy activity trigger. Choose something you can repeat without thinking, like a small portal purchase once a year.
5. Confirm the activity posted. After you do the trigger, verify it shows in your mileage activity list.

If your account page doesn’t show an expiration date, don’t assume that means “no expiration.” Some programs simply don’t display it clearly.

What Major U.S. Airline Programs Say About Expiration

Many travelers in the U.S. earn miles through the big legacy carriers and Southwest. These programs are widely used, so it helps to know their published stance.

Delta states in its program rules that miles do not expire, while still listing situations that can lead to account deactivation or closure. You can read the exact wording in Delta’s SkyMiles program rules.

American uses a qualifying-activity model for many members. Its FAQ explains that earning or redeeming miles at least once every 24 months keeps the account active and extends the expiration date. See American’s AAdvantage FAQ on keeping miles from expiring.

United has publicly stated that MileagePlus miles never expire, and it announced that policy change in a company release. The announcement is documented in United’s MileagePlus “miles never expire” release.

Southwest states that points don’t expire on its Rapid Rewards page. The phrasing appears right on Southwest Rapid Rewards.

Even when a program says miles don’t expire, treat the account rules as real. If the airline closes an account for rule violations or fraud concerns, the balance can vanish.

Program Type	How Expiration Works	What Keeps Miles Safe
No Inactivity Expiration	Miles stay in the account with no timer, yet the account can still be closed under program rules.	Keep account details accurate, avoid duplicate accounts, follow program terms, and keep login access secure.
24-Month Inactivity Window	Miles can expire if there’s no earning or redemption activity for 24 months.	Post at least one qualifying activity within the window, then verify it shows in account activity.
18-Month Inactivity Window	Miles can expire after 18 months without qualifying activity.	Set a yearly habit that triggers activity so you never reach the cutoff.
Short Inactivity Window (6–12 Months)	Some programs outside the U.S. use shorter windows that catch casual travelers off guard.	Use a recurring micro-activity like a small partner earn or a small redemption.
Miles With “Soft” Expiration	Miles don’t expire for elites or cardholders, yet can expire for others.	Confirm your status rules, and don’t assume a card exemption applies unless the terms say so.
Co-Branded Card Linked Protection	Expiration can be paused while a linked card account remains open (program-specific).	Confirm the card exemption in the airline’s published FAQ or terms, then keep the card in good standing.
Account Closure Forfeiture	Miles vanish if the account is closed, even if there’s no inactivity timer.	Don’t close accounts with balances, and resolve identity or access issues quickly.
Program Rule Changes	An airline can change expiration policies, sometimes with limited notice in member communications.	Skim emails from the program, and check rules before letting an account sit.

What Counts As “Activity” To Prevent Expiration

Most programs count activity that changes the balance: earn or redeem. The trick is choosing activities that are cheap, repeatable, and easy to confirm.

Low-Effort Ways To Trigger Qualifying Activity

• Redeem a small amount: Some programs let you redeem miles for a magazine subscription, a small donation, or a low-mile award add-on. If redemptions count, this works.
• Earn through a shopping portal: A small online purchase through the airline’s portal can post miles without a flight.
• Dining programs: If the airline has a dining rewards partner, a single meal on a linked card can post miles.
• Hotel or car rental partner earn: A one-night hotel stay or a short rental can count if it posts as partner earning.

Watch out for “activity” that feels like it should count but often doesn’t, like checking your balance, updating your profile, or opening an email. If it doesn’t post as earn or redeem, it’s usually not activity.

Ways People Lose Miles Even When There’s No Expiration Timer

Account Closure After Suspicious Activity

If an account is flagged for fraud, resale, or abuse, the airline can close it. That can happen after unusual redemption patterns, compromised logins, or attempts to sell miles in ways the program prohibits.

Duplicate Accounts And Name Mismatches

Some programs restrict members to one account. If you accidentally create a second account, merge attempts can get messy. Also, mismatched names between your profile and booking details can delay crediting, which matters when you’re trying to post activity before a deadline.

Email Loss And Password Lockouts

If you lose access to the email tied to the account, a routine login reset can become a dead end. That’s not an expiration rule, yet it can strand miles. Update recovery options now, while you still have access.

When You Should Act Right Now

Act quickly if any of these are true:

• Your program uses an inactivity window and your last activity is older than 18 months.
• Your account page shows an expiration date inside the next 90 days.
• You changed your legal name and haven’t updated the loyalty profile yet.
• You haven’t logged in since an email provider change or phone number change.

If you’re inside 30 days of a listed expiration date, avoid “maybe it posted” actions. Choose something that reliably posts, then verify the activity appears in your account history.

Best Habits For Keeping Miles Alive Without Thinking About It

The goal is not constant engagement. The goal is one simple routine that resets the clock.

Pick A Single “Anchor” Activity

Choose one action you can repeat once per year. A small portal purchase works for many people. A tiny redemption works for others. The best anchor is the one you’ll actually do.

Use A Calendar Reminder With Buffer Time

If your program uses 24 months, set a reminder at 18 or 20 months. If it uses 18 months, set it at 12 or 14 months. That buffer protects you if partner miles post slowly.

Confirm Posting, Then Screenshot The Activity

Once the activity posts, grab a quick screenshot of the activity line showing the date. If something goes wrong later, you’ll have proof of timing when you contact the airline.

Keep-Alive Move	Cost Level	Why It Works
Small shopping portal order	Low	Posts as earning activity without needing a flight.
Dining rewards purchase	Low	Can trigger partner earning on a normal meal.
Redeem a small amount for a minor reward	Low	Redemption activity often resets the inactivity clock.
Hotel partner stay credit	Medium	Earns miles through a partner you might already use.
Car rental partner credit	Medium	Adds earning activity during trips where you rent anyway.
Transfer from a bank rewards program	Varies	Often counts as earning activity when the miles arrive.
Buy a small number of miles	High	Works in many programs, yet it’s usually the priciest option.

Edge Cases That Change The Timing

Age-Based Exemptions

Some programs exempt members under a certain age from inactivity expiration rules. If that applies to you or your child’s account, confirm it in the program’s published terms, then still keep login access secure.

Co-Branded Card Rules

A few programs pause expiration for members who hold a linked airline credit card in good standing. Card rules can be specific, so don’t assume. Check the program’s FAQ or terms language tied to that card relationship.

Partner Posting Delays

Partner miles can take days or weeks to post. If you’re near a deadline, do the activity earlier or choose an action that posts faster within your program.

A Simple Checklist To Protect Your Miles This Week

1. Log in to each airline account you care about and note the last activity date.
2. If an expiration date is shown, set a reminder 60–90 days before it.
3. Pick one keep-alive action you can repeat yearly.
4. Do the action, then confirm it posted.
5. Update your email, phone number, and password recovery options.
6. Store account numbers in a secure password manager so you don’t create duplicates.

If you do only one thing, do the keep-alive action early, then verify it posted. That single step saves more miles than any hack or trick.