Which US Frequent Flyer Points Never Expire? (2024)

Many travelers spend several months collecting points and miles to redeem for regular award travel or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. The last thing anyone wants when finally planning to use those hard-earned miles is to find out they have expired. There are a few US carriers that allow you to collect miles without having to worry about expiration dates. We will take a look at them in this article.

Expiration policies with the US 'big three'

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

A 2023 report by On Point Loyalty showed that Delta SkyMiles is the most valuable airline loyalty program. It provides several ways of earning miles both in the sky and on the ground, and the best part is that miles do not expire. According to the airline, this policy was introduced over a decade ago. Speaking about the expiration policy, a Delta spokesperson said to Simple Flying,

"Our members’ loyalty means everything to us, which is why we were the first US airline to enact this policy back in 2011. We know the effort they put into earning those miles, and we believe they should be able to keep them and have plenty of ways to use them for meaningful experiences, both in the air and on the ground."

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

While miles can be kept for as long as you want, the airline reserves the right to deactivate a SkyMiles account and subsequently remove all miles. A SkyMiles account can be closed for any of the following reasons:

• Requesting for your account to be closed
• Not responding to repeated alerts about your status
• Fraudulent activity on your account
• Creating multiple accounts under your name
• A member is deceased
• Violating Delta and partner terms and conditions
• Relocating to a country where membership is prohibited

When your account is closed, you will lose your Medallion status, benefits, and miles. The bottom line is if you have not requested an account closure and if you follow all the rules, you don't have to worry about your miles going anywhere.

United Airlines MileagePlus

United's MileagePlus loyalty program was the third-most valuable in 2023 and the last to exceed the $20 billion mark. Members can earn miles that never expire by flying with United Airlines, United Express, and Star Alliance partners, as well as through non-flying activities like booking hotels, vacation homes, and ground transportation. The third US 'big three' airline, American Airlines, will let your miles expire after a certain period of inactivity.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Alaska Airlines miles can be used for award travel to over 1,000 destinations through the oneworld alliance and the airline's global partners. As precious as the miles are, they do not expire. The airline notes the following,

"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."

Photo: Alaska Airlines

Activity in your account includes redeeming a Mileage Plan award or accruing mileage in the program. However, your account can be locked if it remains inactive for over two years. This is done for security purposes, so you can call the help center to reactivate your account. At that point, you will get your miles back, according to NerdWallet.

If your account is locked, you'll have up to a year to reactivate it, after which it can be closed and lead to you losing your miles. In that period, you may receive multiple alerts, so you'll need to follow the steps required to reactivate your account. Members do not always have to fly to earn or spend miles. Miles can also be earned by staying at a partner hotel, renting a car, or using an Alaska Airlines credit card.

HawaiianMiles also do not expire

Hawaiian Airlines rewards customers based on how far they fly, not how much they spend. Apart from flying with the carrier, you can earn miles with Hawaiian Airlines credit and debit cards, turning your everyday purchases into future award travel and partner rewards.

Like many other programs, members can earn miles through airline, hotel, car rental, and shopping and dining partners. Hawaiian Airlines miles will not expire, and you can travel anytime with no blackout dates. This has been in effect since April 2021. However, if you decide to close your account, your miles will be terminated.

Other US loyalty programs

JetBlue's TrueBlue is another valuable US loyalty program. TrueBlue points can be earned with JetBlue, JetBlue Vacations, Pailsy by JetBlue, and select partners. The great thing is that they do not expire. While the airline is not part of any major alliance, it has a number of airline partners, including Hawaiian Airlines and Qatar Airways, where TrueBlue members can spend their points.

Photo:Leonard Zhukovsky | Shutterstock

Southwest is another major US carrier with no expiration period on miles earned by loyal customers. With other airlines, miles can expire after a certain period of inactivity. However, holding a credit card with the airline can keep them from expiring. The table below shows the expiration policies of other US carriers.

Expiration exemption for credit card holders

While AAdvantage miles expire after two years of inactivity, there are a few exceptions and ways to avoid this. Firstly, the rule does not apply to members under the age of 21. Secondly, miles will not expire if you are the primary account holder on an AAdvantage co-branded credit card. Furthermore, AAdvantage miles can also be reactivated for a fee. Up to 500,000 miles can be reactivated within the first 24 months of expiration.

Photo:rafapress| Shutterstock

Similar terms apply to Frontier and Spirit Airlines. One way to keep your Frontier Miles for longer is by applying for a Frontier Airlines World Mastercard and using it at least once a year. Signing up for Spirit's Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Mastercard will also keep your miles from expiring as long as the card is open.

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