Do airline miles expire? Every major airline's policy in 2026
Most people don't think about their miles' expiration date until it's too late. Both devaluation (programmes reduce what miles buy year-on-year) and expiration (accounts go inactive and the balance disappears entirely and permanently) are a real threat to your accounts and hard earned points.
This guide gives you every major airline's current expiration policy in a single table for quick comparison, no digging through individual T&Cs required, plus exactly what you can do if your miles are approaching the deadline. Updated February 2026.
The short answer: Yes, but the rules vary wildly by airline
Airline miles expiration is not standardized across the industry. Four major US carriers - Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, and Alaska (since 2023) - have eliminated expiration entirely. Your miles in those programs never expire, regardless of how long your account sits dormant.
But most international carriers, hotel programs, and a significant number of US airlines still operate expiration policies, typically based on account inactivity. The key distinction is between two types of expiration:
Activity-based expiration. Miles expire after a set period of account inactivity, typically 12, 18, 24, or 36 months. Any qualifying transaction (earning or redeeming miles) resets the clock. This is the most common model.
Fixed-date expiration. Less common, but some programs have historically set absolute expiry dates regardless of activity. Always check your account for any fixed-date notices.
The complete picture is in the table below. Green = never expire. Red = expire after inactivity. The inactivity window is the critical number to know for your program.
Quick comparison table : 2026 airline miles expiration policy for all major programmes
* Credit card points (Amex, Chase, Citi) never expire while the card account remains open. If you close the card, points typically expire within 30–60 days. Miles transferred from credit card programs to airlines then follow the airline's own expiration rules. Expiration policies can change, always verify directly with your program. Last verified: February 2026.
Which airlines have the most aggressive expiration policies?
The programs with 12-month inactivity windows are the ones most likely to catch people off guard. A year passes faster than most travellers expect, and a program you signed up for during a single trip can expire without a single warning.
The four programs to watch most closely in 2026:
Air Canada Aeroplan (12 months). One of the strictest policies in the industry. Critically, only qualifying earn or redemption activity resets the clock, simply logging into your account does not count. If you haven't flown Air Canada or a Star Alliance partner, or used the Aeroplan credit card, in the last year, check your balance immediately.
Qatar Qmiles (12 months). Qatar's Privilege Club operates a 12-month inactivity window. Given the long-haul nature of most Qatar flights, this catches travellers who fly Qatar infrequently.
Avianca LifeMiles (12 months). Avianca's program is popular for Star Alliance redemptions, but the 12-month expiry catches many US cardholders who accumulate LifeMiles through credit card bonuses and then forget to use them.
IHG One Rewards (12 months). Hotel program often fly under the radar compared to airlines. IHG's 12-month policy means occasional hotel guests, those who stay at a Holiday Inn or IHG property once a year at most, frequently expire without realizing.
Practical tip: Set a recurring calendar reminder. For any program with a 12-month inactivity window, set a calendar reminder 90 days before the 12-month anniversary of your last activity. That gives you enough time to buy a small number of miles through the portal or to sell the balance to The Miles Market before it disappears.
How to stop your miles from expiring (without spending money)
If your miles are approaching the inactivity window, you don't necessarily need to book a flight to reset the clock. Most programmes accept a wide range of qualifying activities, many of which cost nothing or a small investment you’d make anyway.
Free and low-cost ways to reset the expiration clock:
- Shopping portal purchases: most major programmes have an online shopping portal that awards miles on purchases from retailers you already use. Even a single small purchase resets the 12 or 18-month clock.
- Dining rewards programmes: American Airlines, United, and several others have dining programmes that award miles when you eat at participating restaurants.
- Linking a credit card: some programmes reset the clock when you link an affiliated credit card and make any purchase.
- Programme surveys and partner activities: a handful of programmes (including some hotel chains) award small point bonuses for completing surveys or partner activities, which count as qualifying activity.
- Small redemptions: redeeming even a token number of miles (for a magazine subscription, small gift card, or similar) resets the clock in most activity-based programmes.
Important nuance Not all activity qualifies equally : American Airlines AAdvantage and United MileagePlus both require account activity broadly, meaning earning through partners, credit card spend, or shopping portals all count. But some international programmes specifically require flight-related earning activity to reset the clock. Always check your programme's definition of 'qualifying activity' before assuming a small purchase is enough.
If none of these options fit, if you don't plan to fly the airline, don't want to maintain the account, and the miles are accumulating idle, the most financially sensible option is to sell the balance for cash.
What happens to miles that expire?
Well, they disappear. Permanently. There is no reinstatement form, no appeals process, and no customer service escalation that reliably recovers expired miles at most airlines.
A small number of programmes, including Delta and American Airlines, have historically offered reinstatement for a fee, typically between $50 and $150 or more depending on the balance size. But these policies change frequently, are at the airline's discretion, and are not guaranteed. Counting on reinstatement as a fallback is not a strategy.
So here is what to do when miles are expiring soon:
If you've checked your account and realised your miles are within 6 months of expiration, you still have options, but you’re on a strict deadline.
Option 1: Use them. Book a flight, hotel, upgrade, or any qualifying redemption. Even a small redemption resets the clock in most activity-based programmes. If you have a trip planned in the next few months, great - this solves itself.
Option 2: Keep them alive. Make a qualifying earn activity through a shopping portal, dining programme, or partner purchase. Set a reminder to do this every 10/12 months going forward if you want to maintain the account long-term.
Option 3: Sell them for cash. If you're not going to fly the airline in the near future and you don't want to manage the account indefinitely, selling is the fastest way to extract full value before the expiration window closes. Miles approaching, but not yet past expiration carry exactly the same market value as miles with years remaining. The Miles Market processes most sales within 24 hours but we recommend allowing at least 2 to 4 weeks before your expiration date to complete a sale. While most transactions complete within 24 hours, building in a buffer ensures you're not racing the clock. If your expiration date is within 2 weeks, contact us immediately, we will prioritise your quote.
Do credit card miles expire?
Credit card reward points, specifically Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Points, operate under a different set of rules to airline miles. In general, these points do not expire as long as your credit card account remains open and in good standing.
However, there are three important exceptions to know:
Card closure. If you close an Amex, Chase, or Citi rewards card, your points typically expire within 30–60 days of account closure, depending on the issuer and the specific card. Before closing any rewards card, always redeem, sell, or transfer your points balance first.
Transferred miles follow destination rules. If you transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles, those transferred miles become Delta SkyMiles, and Delta's expiration policy (none, in Delta's case) applies. But if you transfer to American Airlines AAdvantage, the 18-month inactivity policy immediately applies to those transferred miles.
Account default or fraud. Accounts closed due to fraud, default, or misuse typically result in immediate forfeiture of all points. Keep your account in good standing.
The practical takeaway: credit card points are safer than airline miles on expiration, but they are not risk-free. The most common way to lose credit card points is through an unconsidered card closure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Delta SkyMiles expire?
No. Delta eliminated its expiration policy in 2011. SkyMiles never expire regardless of account activity, you can leave your account completely dormant for a decade and your miles will still be there.
Do American Airlines miles expire?
Yes. AAdvantage miles expire after 18 months of account inactivity. Any qualifying activity, such as earning miles through flights, partners, credit card spend, or shopping portals, or redeeming any miles will actually reset the 18-month clock. Log into your AAdvantage account to see your last activity date and current expiration window.
Do United miles expire?
Yes. United MileagePlus miles expire after 18 months of inactivity. Qualifying activity includes earning miles through United flights, partner airlines, the United credit card, or United's shopping portal. Any of these resets the clock. Check your MileagePlus account for your current expiration date.
Do Alaska Airlines miles expire?
No, not any more. Alaska Airlines eliminated expiration from its Mileage Plan programme in April 2023. Miles no longer expire regardless of account inactivity. This was a significant policy change; if you've been maintaining activity specifically to prevent expiration, you no longer need to.
Can expired airline miles be reinstated?
Rarely, and never reliably. A small number of programmes, including Delta and American Airlines, have historically offered reinstatement for fees of $50–$150 or more, but these policies change frequently, apply at the airline's discretion, and are not guaranteed. The safest and most financially sensible approach is always to act before expiration, either by using the miles, maintaining qualifying activity, or selling them for cash.
How do I check when my miles expire?
Log into your frequent flyer account and look for 'account activity,' 'miles expiration,' or 'last activity date' in your profile settings. Most programmes display your expiration date directly on the dashboard once you're logged in. For activity-based programmes without a displayed expiry date, note your last qualifying activity date and add the inactivity window (12, 18, 24, or 36 months depending on your programme) to calculate when your miles are at risk.
What is the best thing to do with miles that are about to expire?
The obvious solution is to use them for a flight, upgrade, or hotel stay before expiration. If not, selling them for cash through a reputable broker like The Miles Market is the most reliable way to extract their full value before the deadline. We can process most sales within 24 hours, contact us immediately if your expiration date is within a few weeks.
Don't let your miles expire without getting their cash value
Expiration is silent, fast, and permanent. Unlike a flight that can be rebooked or a hotel stay that can be rescheduled, expired miles are gone without notice, without recourse, and without compensation. Add the 15% annual devaluation clock running on top of it, and the case for acting sooner rather than later is clear.
The Miles Market buys miles from 25+ airline programmes, 4 major hotel loyalty programmes, and all major credit card reward programmes. Most sellers receive payment within 24 hours of accepting an offer, which is well within any expiration window.
