Are Your Points and Miles About to Expire? Here's What You Can Do About it!
You’ve worked hard to earn all those valuable airline points and miles, so don’t let them go to waste by letting them expire.
Different airline loyalty programs have different rules and it is important you know what these rules are – otherwise that dream flight you have planned could turn into a nightmare!
Below is a summary of the expiry policy of the 19 leading airline loyalty programs that Pointrs supports and what you can do to prevent your points and miles from expiring.
Qantas Frequent Flyer
All your Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points expire 18 months after you last earned or spent Qantas Points with Qantas or their program partners, excluding earning by transferring points by Family Transfer or from Qantas Business Rewards.
There is no advertised way of extending points expiry or recovering expired points, but it is worthwhile contacting their customer service to try. If you contact customer service within 6 months of expiry, they may offer you to undertake the Qantas Points Challenge to get some or all of your points reinstated.
Tips to Prevent Your Qantas Frequent Flyer from Expiring
One of the quickest and easiest ways to prevent your points from expiring is to earn points by making a cheap purchase on Qantas Shopping.
For a quick and easy way to earn points with a small purchase on Qantas Shopping, please click here.
You can also prevent your points from expiring from the many other ways to earn and spend points:
- Click here to find out the many ways to earn points: Ways to Earn Qantas Points
- Click here to find out the many ways to spend points: Ways to Spend Qantas Points
Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer
All your Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points expire 24 months after you last earned or spent Velocity Points, excluding earning by transferring points by Family Points Transfer or from a Family Pool, but including buying points.
There is no advertised way of extending points expiry or recovering expired points, but it is worthwhile contacting their customer service to try.
Tips to Prevent Your Velocity Frequent Flyer from Expiring
One of the quickest and easiest ways to prevent your Velocity Points from expiring is to earn points by making a cheap purchase on their e-store.
For a quick and easy way to earn points with a small purchase on their e-store, please click here.
You can also prevent your points from expiring from the many other ways to earn and spend points.
Click here to find out the many ways to earn points: Ways to Earn Velocity Points
Click here to find out the many ways to spend points: Ways to Spend Velocity Points
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles expire 36 months after the end of the month in which they were earned, unless a PPS Club or Solitaire PPS Club member in which case they never expire.
If your miles are about to expire, you can extend their expiry for up to 6 months for a fee on their website or mobile app. Once miles have expired, there is no advertised way of recovering them, but it is worthwhile contacting their customer service to try.
You can prevent your miles from expiring by transferring all the miles that are about to expire to other loyalty programs - refer to Pointr #1940.
Alaska Airline Mileage Plan
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles never expire.
For account security purposes Alaska Airlines will lock your account if inactive for more than 2 years. However, you can contact their customer service to reactivate your account, and your miles will still be there to spend.
American Airlines Aadvantage Miles
All your American Airlines Aadvantage miles expire 24 months after you last earned or spent miles on American Airlines or with an Aadvantage partner (starting from your 21st birthday), unless a Primary Aadvantage credit card holder in which case they never expire.
If your miles have expired within the last 24 months, you can reactivate them for a fee, either online or by contacting customer service.
Tips to Prevent Your Aadvantage Miles from Expiring
One of the quickest and easiest ways to prevent your miles from expiring is to earn miles by making a cheap purchase on Aadvantage eShopping.
Click here for a quick and easy way to earn miles by making a cheap purchase on Aadvantage eShopping
You can also prevent your miles from expiring from the many other ways to earn and spend miles.
Click here to find out the many ways to earn miles
Click here to find out the many ways to spend miles
To prevent expiry of your miles by earning miles through buying miles - refer to Pointr #1024.
To prevent expiry of your miles by earning miles through transfer of points/miles from other loyalty programs - refer to Pointr #1135.
To prevent expiry of your miles by earning or spending miles through transfer of miles from/to other members' accounts - refer to Pointr #6057.
British Airways Executive Club
All your British Airways Executive Club Avios expire 36 months after you last earned, spent, bought or shared Avios.
There is no advertised way of extending Avios expiry or recovering expired Avios, but it is worthwhile contacting their customer service to try.
Tips to Prevent Your British Airways Executive Club Avios from Expiring
One of the quickest and easiest ways to prevent your Avios from expiring is to earn Avios by making a cheap purchase on their shopping portal.
You can also prevent your Avios from expiring from the many other ways to earn and spend Avios.
Click here to find out the many ways to earn Avios
Click here to find out the many ways to spend Avios
To prevent expiry of your Avios by earning Avios through buying Avios - refer to Pointr #1005.
To prevent expiry of your Avios by earning Avios through transfer of points/miles from other loyalty programs - refer to Pointr #1138.
To prevent expiry of your Avios by earning or spending Avios through transfer of Avios from/to other members' accounts - refer to Pointr #6058.
You can prevent your Avios from expiring by transferring all the Avios that are about to expire to other loyalty programs - refer to Pointr #1126.
Cathay Pacific Cathay Asia Miles
All your Cathay Pacific Cathay Asia Miles expire 18 months after you last earned or spent Asia Miles.
There is no advertised way of extending miles expiry or recovering expired miles, but it is worthwhile contacting their customer service to try.
Tips to Prevent Your Cathay Asia Miles from Expiring
One of the quickest and easiest ways to prevent your miles from expiring is to earn miles by making a cheap purchase on their Cathay Shop.
Click here for a quick and easy way to earn miles by making a cheap purchase on their Cathay Shop
You can also prevent your miles from expiring from the many other ways to earn and spend miles.
Click here to find out the many ways to earn miles
Click here to find out the many ways to spend miles
To prevent expiry of your miles by earning miles through transfer of points/miles from other loyalty programs - refer to Pointr #1013.
To prevent expiry of your miles by earning or spending miles through transfer of miles from/to other members' accounts - refer to Pointr #6059.
Malaysia Airlines Enrich
Malaysia Airlines Enrich points expire 36 months after the end of the month in which they were earned.
There is no advertised way of extending points expiry or recovering expired points, but it is worthwhile contacting their customer service to try.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club
All your Qatar Airways Avios expire 36 months after you last earned or spent Avios, unless a Platinum member in which case they never expire.
If your Avios have expired within the last one year, you can recover them for a fee. Login to your account and then select "Revalidate Avios".
Tips to Prevent Your Qatar Airways Avios from Expiring
One of the quickest and easiest ways to prevent your Avios from expiring is to spend Avios by transferring a small number of Avios to another member's account - refer to Pointr #6063.
You can also prevent your Avios from expiring from the many other ways to earn and spend Avios.
Click here to find out the many ways to earn Avios
Click here to find out the many ways to spend Avios
To prevent expiry of your Avios by earning Avios through transfer of points/miles from other loyalty programs - refer to Pointr #1002.
To prevent expiry of your miles by earning or spending Avios through transfer of Avios from/to other members' accounts - refer to Pointr #6063.
Air Canada Aeroplan
All your Air Canada Aeroplan points expire 18 months after your last account activity of any type, unless an Aeroplan credit card holder or you hold Aeroplan Elite status, in which case they never expire.
If your points expire, you can recover them by getting an Aeroplan credit card, by flying Air Canada within 6 months of expiry, or by buying back your points for a fee.
Tips to Prevent Your Air Canada Aeroplan from Expiring
One of the quickest and easiest ways to prevent your points from expiring is to earn points by making a cheap purchase on Aeroplan eStore.
Click here for a quick and easy way to earn points by making a cheap purchase on Aeroplan eStore
You can also prevent your points from expiring from the many other ways to earn and spend points.
Click here to find out the many ways to earn points
Click here to find out the many ways to spend points
To prevent expiry of your points by earning points through buying points - refer to Pointr #1003.
To prevent expiry of your points by earning points through transfer of points/miles from other loyalty programs - refer to Pointr #1017.
To prevent expiry of your points by earning or spending points through transfer of points from/to other members' accounts - refer to Pointr #6055.
ANA Mileage Club
ANA Mileage Club miles expire 36 months after the end of the month in which they were earned, unless earned as Group 2, Group 3 or Group 4 miles, in which case their expiry varies according to how earned, unless a Diamond Service Platinum member in which case they never expire.
There is no advertised way of extending miles expiry or recovering expired miles, but it is worthwhile contacting their customer service to try.
Avianca Airlines LifeMiles
All your Avianca Airlines LifeMiles expire 12 months after you last earned LifeMiles, unless you are an Avianca Elite member or earned using an Avianca LifeMiles credit or debit card, in which case they expire after 24 months.
If your miles expire, you can reactivate them for a fee by contacting their customer service.
Tips to Prevent Your Avianca Airlines LifeMiles from Expiring
One of the quickest and easiest ways to prevent your miles from expiring is to earn miles by buying a small number of miles - refer to Pointr #1007.
You can also prevent your miles from expiring from the many other ways to earn miles.
Click here to find out the many ways to earn miles
To prevent expiry of your miles by earning miles through transfer of points/miles from other loyalty programs - refer to Pointr #1137.
To prevent expiry of your miles by earning or spending miles through transfer of miles from/to other members' accounts - refer to Pointr #6064.
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles miles expire 36 months after the end of the month in which they were earned.
If your miles are about to expire, you can extend their expiry for a fee on their website or mobile app. Once miles have expired, there is no advertised way of recovering them, but it is worthwhile contacting their customer service to try.
United Airlines MileagePlus
United Airlines MileagePlus miles never expire.
Air France-KLM Flying Blue
Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles expire 24 months after earned, unless a Silver, Gold or Platinum member in which case they never expire.
You can extend the expiry of your miles by 24 months by completing an eligible flight with Air France, KLM or one of their partner airlines or by using an eligible partner bank card. There is no advertised way of recovering expired miles, but it is worthwhile contacting their customer service to try.
Delta SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles miles never expire.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Virgin Points never expire.
Emirate Skywards
Emirates Skywards miles expire at the end of the month of your birthday on/after the third anniversary of when earned, unless a Platinum member, in which case they expire 2 months after your upcoming tier review date.
If you have miles that are due to expire within 3 months, you can extend their expiry for up to 12 months for a fee.
Etihad Airways Etihad Guest
All your Etihad Airways Etihad Guest miles expire 18 months after your last flight with Etihad Airways or their partner airlines, unless a Platinum member in which case they never expire.
There is no advertised way of extending miles expiry or recovering expired miles, but it is worthwhile contacting their customer service to try.
As you can see, there is a vast difference in the expiry policies from loyalty program to loyalty program. If, like most people, your main way of earning airline points and miles is by transferring points from credit cards, we advise that you don’t transfer any unless you are 100% confident in spending these points and miles before they expire.
Being a Pointrs subscriber may be the best insurance policy you can buy when it comes to preventing your airline loyalty program points and miles for expiring. We have a “Travel Better” Pointr for each loyalty program we support, outlining their current expiry policy and what you can do to prevent your points and miles from expiring.
