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Miles Expiring? Don’t Panic! Here’s How To Keep Your American Airlines Miles Alive

Jane is the creator and editor of Plane Jane Trips, a website dedicated to sharing travel tips and tricks for air travel on a budget. With over 15 years of experience planning affordable getaways, Jane loves helping fellow travelers save money while still enjoying memorable vacations.

What To Know

  • If you don’t have any upcoming travel plans, you can use your miles to upgrade your seat on a future flight.
  • This can be a good option if you want to use your miles for a flight on a different airline or if you want to combine miles from multiple airlines.
  • This is a good option if you need miles to book a specific flight or if you want to top off your account before your miles expire.

If you’re a frequent flyer with American Airlines, you know the value of AAdvantage miles. These miles can be redeemed for free flights, upgrades, and other travel perks. But what happens if your miles are about to expire? Don’t worry, there are several ways to keep your miles active and prevent them from disappearing.

Understanding the Expiration Policy

American Airlines miles expire after 18 months of inactivity. This means that you need to earn or redeem miles at least once every 18 months to keep them active. If you don’t, your miles will be forfeited.

How to Keep Your Miles Active

There are several ways to keep your American Airlines miles active:

1. Book a Flight

The most obvious way to keep your miles active is to book a flight with American Airlines. Every time you fly with American, you’ll earn miles based on the distance flown and the fare class you purchased.

2. Use Your Miles for Upgrades

If you don’t have any upcoming travel plans, you can use your miles to upgrade your seat on a future flight. This is a great way to use your miles and get a more comfortable travel experience.

3. Purchase Something from the AAdvantage eShopping Mall

The AAdvantage eShopping Mall is a great way to earn miles on your everyday purchases. When you shop through the eShopping Mall, you’ll earn miles on everything you buy, from clothes to electronics to travel.

4. Transfer Miles to a Partner Airline

If you don’t have any immediate plans to use your American Airlines miles, you can transfer them to a partner airline. This can be a good option if you want to use your miles for a flight on a different airline or if you want to combine miles from multiple airlines.

5. Donate Your Miles to Charity

If you don’t want to use your miles for travel or upgrades, you can donate them to charity. American Airlines has partnered with several charities, and you can donate your miles to any of these organizations.

6. Purchase Miles

If you’re short on miles, you can purchase them directly from American Airlines. This is a good option if you need miles to book a specific flight or if you want to top off your account before your miles expire.

7. Get an AAdvantage Credit Card

One of the best ways to keep your American Airlines miles active is to get an AAdvantage credit card. With an AAdvantage credit card, you’ll earn miles on every purchase you make, and you’ll also get other benefits, such as free checked bags and priority boarding.

Key Points: Protect Your Precious Miles

American Airlines miles are valuable, so it’s important to keep them active and prevent them from expiring. By following the tips in this guide, you can ensure that your miles will always be there when you need them.

Top Questions Asked

1. How long do American Airlines miles last?

American Airlines miles expire after 18 months of inactivity.

2. How can I keep my American Airlines miles from expiring?

You can keep your American Airlines miles from expiring by:

  • Booking a flight with American Airlines
  • Using your miles for upgrades
  • Purchasing something from the AAdvantage eShopping Mall
  • Transferring miles to a partner airline
  • Donating your miles to charity
  • Purchasing miles
  • Getting an AAdvantage credit card

3. What happens if my American Airlines miles expire?

If your American Airlines miles expire, they will be forfeited and you will not be able to use them.

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Jane

Jane is the creator and editor of Plane Jane Trips, a website dedicated to sharing travel tips and tricks for air travel on a budget. With over 15 years of experience planning affordable getaways, Jane loves helping fellow travelers save money while still enjoying memorable vacations.
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