How To Keep Your American Airlines Miles From Expiring?

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Are you a frequent flyer with American Airlines? Do you worry about your hard-earned miles expiring? Fret not, as this article will provide you with some simple and effective tips to keep your American Airlines miles from expiring.

American Airlines miles can be a valuable asset for travelers, allowing them to redeem for flights, upgrades, and other benefits. However, it can be frustrating to see your miles expire due to inactivity. With a little bit of effort and planning, you can avoid losing your miles and continue to enjoy the perks of being an American Airlines loyalist. So, let’s dive into some practical tips to keep your miles from expiring.

How to Keep Your American Airlines Miles From Expiring?

How to Keep Your American Airlines Miles From Expiring?

Understanding the Expiration Policy of American Airlines Miles

American Airlines miles are a valuable currency that can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other travel-related expenses. However, if you don’t use them regularly, they can expire, and you can lose all the hard-earned miles. The expiration policy of American Airlines miles is quite straightforward. If you don’t earn or redeem miles in any consecutive 18-month period, your miles will expire. It means that if you earn miles today and don’t use or earn any more miles for the next 18 months, your miles will expire.

To prevent this from happening, you need to understand the expiration policy of American Airlines miles and take appropriate measures to keep them from expiring. Here are some tips to help you keep your American Airlines miles from expiring.

1. Keep Your Account Active

The easiest way to keep your American Airlines miles from expiring is to keep your account active. It means that you need to earn or redeem miles at least once every 18 months. You can earn miles by flying with American Airlines or its partner airlines, using American Airlines credit cards, shopping with American Airlines partners, or participating in other promotional activities. You can redeem miles for flights, upgrades, car rentals, hotel stays, and other travel-related expenses.

2. Set a Reminder

If you are not a frequent traveler and tend to forget about your miles, you can set a reminder to earn or redeem miles before they expire. You can use a calendar, a reminder app, or any other method that works for you. Just make sure that you don’t miss the deadline, or you may lose all your miles.

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Ways to Earn and Redeem American Airlines Miles

Now that you know how to keep your American Airlines miles from expiring, let’s discuss some ways to earn and redeem them.

1. Fly with American Airlines or Its Partners

The most obvious way to earn American Airlines miles is to fly with American Airlines or its partner airlines. You can earn miles based on the distance flown, fare class, and your elite status. You can also earn bonus miles by booking through American Airlines website or using American Airlines credit cards.

2. Use American Airlines Credit Cards

American Airlines offers several credit cards that allow you to earn miles on your everyday purchases. You can earn miles on groceries, gas, restaurants, and other expenses. Some cards also offer bonus miles for signing up or spending a certain amount in the first few months.

3. Shop with American Airlines Partners

American Airlines has several partners in various industries, such as car rentals, hotels, shopping, and dining. You can earn miles by using their services or buying their products. You can also earn bonus miles by shopping through the American Airlines shopping portal.

4. Redeem Miles for Flights and Upgrades

You can redeem your American Airlines miles for flights, upgrades, and other travel-related expenses. The number of miles required depends on the destination, fare class, and availability. You can also use your miles to book award flights with American Airlines partner airlines.

Benefits of Keeping Your American Airlines Miles Active

Keeping your American Airlines miles active can have several benefits, such as:

1. Free Flights and Upgrades

By earning and redeeming American Airlines miles, you can get free flights and upgrades, which can save you a lot of money. You can also use your miles to book flights for your friends and family.

2. Elite Status

If you earn enough miles and fly frequently with American Airlines or its partner airlines, you can achieve elite status, which comes with several benefits, such as priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling, lounge access, and bonus miles.

3. Flexibility

American Airlines miles are quite flexible and can be redeemed for various travel-related expenses. You can use them to book flights, car rentals, hotel stays, and other expenses, which can make your travel more affordable and convenient.

American Airlines Miles vs. Other Airlines Miles

American Airlines miles are not the only airline miles available in the market. Other airlines, such as Delta, United, and Southwest, also offer their loyalty programs. Here are some differences between American Airlines miles and other airlines miles.

1. Redemption Options

American Airlines miles can be redeemed for various travel-related expenses, while other airlines miles may have more restrictions. For example, some airlines may not allow you to redeem miles for car rentals or hotel stays.

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2. Elite Status

The requirements for achieving elite status and the benefits that come with it may vary between airlines. For example, some airlines may require more miles or segments to achieve elite status, while others may offer more benefits, such as free checked bags, lounge access, or priority boarding.

3. Partner Airlines

Each airline has its partner airlines, and the number and quality of partners may vary. American Airlines has several partner airlines in different regions, which can make it easier to earn and redeem miles for international travel. Other airlines may have fewer or less convenient partner airlines.

In conclusion, keeping your American Airlines miles active is essential if you want to make the most out of your loyalty program. By understanding the expiration policy, earning and redeeming miles regularly, and taking advantage of the benefits, you can save money and make your travel more enjoyable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the expiration policy for American Airlines miles?

American Airlines miles expire after 18 months of inactivity, meaning you haven’t earned or redeemed any miles during this time. Inactivity includes not flying on American Airlines or its partner airlines, not using an American Airlines credit card, and not participating in any other mileage-earning activities.

If your miles are about to expire, you can prevent this by earning or redeeming miles before the expiration date. There are many ways to earn miles, including flying on American Airlines or its partners, using an American Airlines credit card, and shopping with American Airlines partners.

How can I keep track of my American Airlines miles?

You can track your American Airlines miles by logging into your AAdvantage account on the American Airlines website or mobile app. Your account will show your current miles balance, as well as any upcoming expirations and recent activity.

It’s a good idea to check your account regularly to ensure your miles are not about to expire and to see if there are any promotions or special offers that can help you earn more miles.

Can I extend the expiration date of my American Airlines miles?

Yes, you can extend the expiration date of your American Airlines miles by either earning or redeeming miles before they expire. If you have a large number of miles about to expire, you might consider using them to book a flight or upgrade to a higher class of service.

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Another option is to purchase or gift miles, which will also count as activity and reset the expiration date. However, this can be expensive and may not be the best value for your money.

What happens if my American Airlines miles expire?

If your American Airlines miles expire, you will lose them and will not be able to use them for any future travel or redemption. Once miles have expired, they cannot be reinstated or reactivated.

To avoid losing your miles, make sure to keep track of their expiration date and earn or redeem miles before they expire.

Are there any exceptions or waivers to the American Airlines mileage expiration policy?

American Airlines may offer exceptions or waivers to the mileage expiration policy on a case-by-case basis, such as in the case of a medical emergency or military deployment. However, these exceptions are rare and are not guaranteed.

To avoid relying on exceptions, it’s best to keep your mileage account active by earning or redeeming miles regularly.

How to Keep Your Points & Miles From Expiring


In conclusion, keeping your American Airlines miles from expiring is essential if you want to make the most out of your travel rewards. By following a few simple steps, you can ensure that your miles remain active and accessible for future use.

Firstly, make sure to keep track of your miles and set reminders for when they are set to expire. This will help you stay on top of your rewards and avoid losing them due to inactivity.

Secondly, consider using your miles regularly to prevent them from expiring. Whether it’s booking a flight or purchasing something from the American Airlines shopping portal, using your miles can help keep them active and valuable.

Lastly, consider signing up for a co-branded credit card that offers miles as a reward. These cards often come with perks such as waived fees and bonus miles, making them an excellent way to earn and keep your American Airlines miles from expiring.

Overall, taking these steps will help you keep your miles active and accessible, ensuring that you can continue to enjoy the benefits of your travel rewards for years to come.

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