Do American Airlines AAdvantage miles ever expire? Finally, sure — and it seems that will not change anytime quickly.
American Airways largely stands alone among the many 4 largest U.S. carriers that management round 80% of the U.S. market share within the airline trade.
AAdvantage miles expire after 24 months of inactivity.
Worth test: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?
Although there are simple methods to maintain your miles lively, American’s coverage is actually extra stringent than what you may discover at its high opponents. Frequent flyer miles by no means expire for Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus and Southwest Rapid Rewards members, for example.
May American change its coverage? Within the airline trade, carriers often make coverage adjustments to match opponents. Look no additional than the wave of airlines that hiked baggage fees in early 2024 — or the transfer an extended listing of airways globally have moved towards dynamic award pricing.
Nevertheless, it seems American is not in any hurry to vary its stance on mileage expiration.
Learn extra: How to keep your airline and hotel points and miles from expiring
American sticks with present expiration coverage
Final month, on the corporate’s third-quarter earnings name, a Wall Road analyst requested American CEO Robert Isom whether or not the corporate had any plans to comply with within the footsteps of its largest opponents and shift to a „miles by no means expire“ coverage.
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„We’re continually taking a look at methods to raised interact our prospects not solely from a loyalty perspective, but additionally from a price perspective,“ Isom replied, providing a moderately oblique reply to the query — however one which appeared to recommend American is snug with its coverage, as-is.
„Whereas there could also be some carriers which might be doing one thing totally different, I do know one factor: You check out any kind of evaluation of the worth of a mile on American Airways, versus anybody else, and you may see that we completely generate extra worth for our prospects,“ Isom added.
How a lot are airline miles price?
To be honest, Isom has some extent in regards to the worth of American’s loyalty forex. In accordance with TPG’s November 2024 factors and miles valuations, AAdvantage miles are price roughly 1.6 cents per mile. That is at present the perfect of any U.S. airline, exceeding Delta SkyMiles (1.2 cents), United MileagePlus miles (1.35 cents), Southwest Speedy Rewards factors (1.4 cents), Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles (1.4 cents) and JetBlue TrueBlue factors (1.3 cents).
Learn how to maintain AAdvantage miles from expiring
We must also be aware that whereas AAdvantage miles technically expire after 24 months of account inactivity, it is extremely simple to maintain your miles lively.
Incomes or redeeming miles on only one flight will do the trick. You too can maintain your miles lively with out even leaving the home by incomes miles by way of the AAdvantage e-shopping portal or one other one in all American’s eligible procuring, journey or eating companions.
Plus, even when your miles do expire, there are methods to stand up to half one million miles reinstated after the very fact.
It is also necessary to know that miles by no means expire for AAdvantage members who carry an American cobranded credit card. That features the Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees), which carries a hefty $595 annual payment however contains complimentary entry to American’s community of Admirals Clubs.
Learn extra: Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard review: Complimentary Admirals Club membership
It is not simply American
Mileage expiration is way extra frequent for worldwide airline loyalty applications, together with in style applications similar to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club and Emirates Skywards — simply to call a couple of. (Actual insurance policies differ from one provider to a different.)
In the meantime, on the lodge entrance right here within the U.S., a number of outstanding loyalty applications, together with Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors and World of Hyatt, stipulate that factors expire after two straight years of inactivity.
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