Do American Airlines Points Expire?

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American Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the United States, offering a wide range of travel opportunities to its customers. For frequent flyers, accumulating points is a common practice to earn free flights or upgrades. However, a question that often arises is whether these points expire, and if so, what can be done to prevent it?

If you’re a loyal American Airlines customer, you’ll want to know whether your hard-earned points will still be valid months or even years down the line. In this article, we’ll answer the question “Do American Airlines Points Expire?” and provide you with tips on how to keep your points from disappearing. So, let’s dive in and explore this important topic!

Do American Airlines Points Expire?

If you are a frequent flyer with American Airlines, you may be wondering whether your hard-earned points will expire. American Airlines AAdvantage program is one of the most popular loyalty programs in the US, allowing members to earn and redeem points for flights, upgrades, and other travel-related expenses. In this article, we will discuss whether American Airlines points expire and what you can do to keep them from expiring.

Do American Airlines Points Expire?

American Airlines AAdvantage points do not expire as long as you keep your account active. An account is considered active if you earn or redeem points at least once every 18 months. If you have not earned or redeemed points in the last 18 months, your account will be considered inactive, and your points will expire.

To keep your account active, you can earn points by flying with American Airlines or its partners, using an American Airlines credit card, or shopping with American Airlines partners. You can also redeem points for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel-related expenses.

How to Keep Your American Airlines Points from Expiring?

To keep your American Airlines points from expiring, you need to keep your account active. As we mentioned earlier, an account is considered active if you earn or redeem points at least once every 18 months. Here are some ways to keep your account active:

Earn Points:

You can earn points by flying with American Airlines or its partners, using an American Airlines credit card, or shopping with American Airlines partners. Every time you earn points, your account will stay active for another 18 months.

Redeem Points:

You can also keep your account active by redeeming your points for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel-related expenses. Every time you redeem points, your account will stay active for another 18 months.

Shop with American Airlines Partners:

American Airlines has partnered with several retailers and service providers, including hotels, car rental companies, and online shopping portals. By shopping with these partners, you can earn points and keep your account active.

Use an American Airlines Credit Card:

If you have an American Airlines credit card, you can earn points on all your purchases. This is a great way to keep your account active, especially if you do not fly with American Airlines often.

The Benefits of American Airlines AAdvantage Program

American Airlines AAdvantage program offers several benefits for frequent flyers, including:

Free Flights:

You can redeem your points for free flights to any destination served by American Airlines or its partners.

Upgrades:

You can use your points to upgrade to a higher class of service, such as business or first class.

Priority Boarding:

As an AAdvantage member, you can enjoy priority boarding, which means you can board the plane before the general public.

Lounge Access:

If you have a certain level of elite status, you can enjoy access to American Airlines lounges, which offer free food, drinks, and Wi-Fi.

American Airlines Points vs. Other Airlines’ Points

When it comes to loyalty programs, American Airlines AAdvantage program is one of the most generous. Here are some ways in which American Airlines points differ from other airlines’ points:

No Expiration:

As we mentioned earlier, American Airlines points do not expire as long as you keep your account active.

Easy to Earn:

American Airlines has an extensive network of partners, making it easy to earn points on your everyday purchases.

Flexible Redemption:

You can redeem your points for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel-related expenses, giving you more flexibility than other airlines’ programs.

Generous Reward Chart:

American Airlines has a generous reward chart, which means you need fewer points to redeem for free flights than with other airlines’ programs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, American Airlines AAdvantage program is an excellent loyalty program that offers several benefits for frequent flyers. The good news is that American Airlines points do not expire as long as you keep your account active. By earning and redeeming points regularly, you can keep your account active and enjoy the many benefits of the AAdvantage program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you wondering if your American Airlines points expire? Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about American Airlines points.

How long are American Airlines points valid?

As long as there is earning or redemption activity on your American Airlines account every 18 months, your points will not expire. This means that you can keep your points from expiring by either earning or redeeming them for a flight or other awards within 18 months of your last activity on your account. If you do not have any activity on your account for 18 months, your points will expire.

What happens if my American Airlines points expire?

If your American Airlines points expire, they will be removed from your account and cannot be restored. This means that you will lose all of the points that you have accumulated over time. To avoid this, make sure that you keep your account active by earning or redeeming points regularly.

Is there a way to extend the expiration date of my American Airlines points?

Yes, you can extend the expiration date of your American Airlines points by either earning or redeeming them. Any activity on your account will reset the 18-month countdown, so even a small transaction can help you keep your points active. Additionally, American Airlines may offer promotions that allow you to extend the expiration date of your points without any additional effort from you.

Do all types of American Airlines points expire?

Most American Airlines points, including AAdvantage miles and credit card rewards points, are subject to the 18-month expiration policy. However, some points, such as those earned through elite status, may have different expiration policies. Be sure to check the terms and conditions of your specific rewards program to understand the expiration policy for your points.

Can I reinstate my expired American Airlines points?

Unfortunately, once your American Airlines points have expired, they cannot be reinstated. The only way to keep your points from expiring is to earn or redeem them regularly. If you do lose your points, you will need to start earning them again from scratch.

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In conclusion, American Airlines points do expire, but there are ways to prevent this from happening. By using your points regularly, you can ensure they don’t expire due to inactivity. Additionally, by choosing to fly with American Airlines or their partners, you can earn and redeem your points, keeping your account active and your points alive.

If you do find yourself with expiring points, don’t worry. American Airlines does offer the ability to reinstate expired points for a fee. So, if you have a specific redemption in mind, you may still be able to use your points and not lose them altogether.

Overall, it’s important to stay up-to-date on your American Airlines points and their expiration dates. By doing so, you can maximize your rewards and ensure you always have the points you need to travel and explore the world.

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