Do American Airlines Miles Expire

If you’re saving up American Airlines AAdvantage® miles for your dream vacation, the last thing you want is for those miles to disappear. Yes, American Airlines miles do expire, but the good news is there are plenty of ways to keep them from expiring or even bring them back if they’ve already expired. In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about AAdvantage miles expiration and how to manage them effectively.

Do American Airlines Miles Expire?

Yes, American Airlines AAdvantage miles expire if your account shows no earning or redemption activity for 24 months. However, there are ways to keep your miles active, and some exceptions to the expiration rule may apply.

American Airlines AAdvantage Miles Expiration Overview

American Airlines’ 24-month expiration policy isn’t as strict as some airlines like Frontier (6 months) or Spirit (12 months). But it’s not as generous as Delta or Alaska Airlines, whose miles never expire.

Here’s how American Airlines defines "activity":

• Earning miles through flights, purchases, or partner programs.
• Redeeming miles for flights, upgrades, or other rewards.

Every time you earn or redeem miles, the expiration clock resets for another 24 months.

How to Check When American Airlines Miles Expire

Want to know if your miles are close to expiring? Here’s how to check:

1. Log in to your AAdvantage account on the American Airlines website or app.
2. Go to your account summary, where you’ll see your mileage balance and expiration date.
3. Contact American Airlines customer service if you need clarification.

View your American Airlines miles expiration date online in your account summary page.

How to Not Let American Airlines Miles Expire

You don’t have to fly to keep your miles from expiring! Here are some ways to maintain your account activity:

1. Earn Miles

• Fly with American Airlines or fly Oneworld partner airlines and credit those flights to your AAdvantage account.
• Stay at AAdvantage hotel partners like Marriott, Hyatt, or IHG booking through aadvantagehotels.
• Rent a car from participating partners like Avis and Budget using aadvantagecars.
• Take surveys through Miles for Opinions. You can earn miles for completing surveys, and even if you don’t qualify, you’ll still receive a small amount of miles—like 3—just for starting a survey!
• Shop online via the AAdvantage eShopping portal.
• Join the AAdvantage Dining program and earn miles by eating at participating restaurants.

Earn American Airlines miles easily through the AAdvantage shopping portal.

2. Redeem Miles

• Use miles to book flights, hotel stays, or car rentals.
• Donate miles to charitable organizations.

Redeem American Airlines miles for great flights like Japan Airlines Business Class!

3. Get an AAdvantage Credit Card

Using an AAdvantage co-branded credit card for everyday purchases ensures your miles stay active. (More details in the next section!)

American Airlines Expiration Exemption for Cardholders

If you hold an American Airlines credit card, your miles won’t expire as long as your card account is open. This is one of the easiest ways to keep your miles safe.

Eligible cards include:

• Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
• Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
• Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard

Even if you rarely use the card, simply having it open ensures your miles remain active indefinitely.

Having American Airlines co-branded credit cards are an easy way to keep your miles from expiring.

Keep Your AAdvantage Miles Active Automatically

Want a hands-off way to keep your miles alive? Open a Bask Mileage Savings Account. Instead of earning cash interest, you’ll earn 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar saved annually. Since Bask Bank deposits miles monthly, your account activity never stops, and your miles never expire.

A Bask Bank account lets you keep your American Airlines miles active automatically.

Reinstate Your Expired AAdvantage Miles

If your miles have already expired, don’t panic—you can bring them back! Here’s how:

• Eligibility: You can reinstate miles that expired within the last 24 months.
• Reactivation Fee: The cost depends on how many miles you’re reinstating. For example, 5,000 miles cost $60 plus a processing fee.
• Limitations: You can reinstate up to 500,000 miles in one transaction.

To reinstate your miles, log in to your AAdvantage account or contact customer service.

FAQs About American Airlines Miles Expiration

Do AAdvantage miles expire for minors?

No, members under 21 years old are exempt from the expiration policy.

How can I extend my miles’ expiration date?

Any qualifying earning or redemption activity resets the expiration clock for 24 months.

Will closing my AAdvantage credit card affect my miles?

Yes, your miles will expire 4 months after account closure or 24 months after your last activity, whichever comes later.

What happens to my account if my miles expire?

Your account remains open, but American Airlines can close it if there’s no activity for 36 months and you don’t meet other eligibility criteria.

How long does it take to reactivate miles?

Reactivated miles usually post within 72 hours.

Final Thoughts

Keeping your American Airlines AAdvantage miles from expiring is easier than it seems. Whether you’re flying, dining, shopping, or just using a co-branded credit card, maintaining activity in your account ensures your miles are safe.

If you’re not traveling soon, consider options like filling out a survey or the AAdvantage eShopping portal. And if your miles expire, don’t worry—you can reinstate them for a fee.

Don’t let your miles go to waste—keep them active and ready for your next adventure!