Do Airline Miles Expire? Every Major Program's Rules (2026)
Quick answer
Airline miles can expire, but the rule depends on the program. Delta, United, and Alaska miles do not expire. Most other programs reset an inactivity clock when you earn or redeem miles. Singapore KrisFlyer uses a hard 36-month expiry per mileage batch, so activity cannot preserve those miles indefinitely.
Do airline miles expire?
Airline miles expire under three broad kinds of rules: some never expire, most remain valid when qualifying account activity resets an inactivity clock, and a few expire on a hard schedule that activity cannot change. Delta, United, and Alaska are in the first group. Singapore KrisFlyer is the clearest example of the last group, with each mileage batch expiring 36 months from the month earned (AwardWallet, 2026).
A small top-up bought at today's marketplace prices counts as qualifying activity in several programs, so a modest purchase can protect a much larger balance. The safe move depends on the specific program: activity-reset miles can be maintained, while hard-expiry miles should be acquired only when a usable award is in sight.
Which airline miles never expire?
Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus miles, and Alaska Atmos Rewards miles do not expire under their current program rules. Account status still matters, and Alaska may flag an inactive account without forfeiting its miles.
- Delta SkyMiles never expire while the account remains open and in good standing (Delta program rules).
- United MileagePlus miles have not expired since 2019 (NerdWallet).
- Alaska Atmos Rewards miles have had no expiration since April 2023. Accounts inactive for 24 months or longer may be flagged, but the miles are not forfeited (AwardWallet, 2026).
What are the airline miles expiry rules by program in 2026?
The 2026 airline miles expiration policy ranges from no expiry to a fixed per-batch deadline. The table states each program's rule and the exact activity that can preserve a balance.
| Program | Do miles expire? | The 2026 rule | What resets the clock |
|---|---|---|---|
| American AAdvantage | Yes, after inactivity | Miles expire after 24 months without qualifying activity. AAdvantage credit-card holders and members under 21 are exempt (AwardWallet, 2026). | Earning, redeeming, or purchasing miles resets the 24-month clock (AwardWallet, 2026). |
| Delta SkyMiles | No | Miles never expire while the account is open and in good standing (Delta program rules). | No reset is needed. |
| United MileagePlus | No | Miles have not expired since 2019 (NerdWallet). | No reset is needed. |
| Alaska Atmos Rewards | No | Miles have had no expiration since April 2023. Accounts inactive for at least 24 months may be flagged, but miles are not forfeited (AwardWallet, 2026). | No reset is needed. |
| British Airways Avios | Yes, after inactivity | Avios expire after 36 consecutive months with none collected, spent, purchased, or transferred (Head for Points, February 2026). | Collecting, spending, purchasing, or transferring Avios resets the 36-month clock (Head for Points, February 2026). |
| Emirates Skywards | Yes, with an activity reset | Miles expire 36 months after earning, at the end of the member's birth month. Miles due to expire from March 31 through May 31, 2026, were extended to June 30, 2026 (LoyaltyLobby, March 2026). | Qualifying activity resets the clock (LoyaltyLobby, March 2026). |
| Singapore KrisFlyer | Yes, on a hard clock | Each mileage batch expires 36 months from the month earned. PPS Club members are exempt (AwardWallet, 2026). | Nothing resets the per-batch expiry; further earning and redeeming do not help (AwardWallet, 2026). |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Paused, then inactivity-based | Expiry is paused through November 30, 2026. After the pause, the standard rule is expiry following 18 months of inactivity (CTV News). | After the pause, earning, redeeming, or transferring resets the 18-month clock (CTV News). |
| Avianca LifeMiles | Yes, after no accrual | Miles expire after 12 months without accrual activity. Elite members and co-brand cardholders receive 24-month reset periods (AwardWallet, 2026). | Only earning resets the clock; redemptions do not. A miles purchase is an accrual (AwardWallet, 2026). |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | Yes, with exemptions | Since May 4, 2026, a unified 24-month rule applies. Elite members, Extra subscribers, and co-brand cardholders are exempt (One Mile at a Time, 2026). | Any earning activity revalidates the entire balance for 24 months (One Mile at a Time, 2026). |
What are the three expiry risk tiers?
Our three-tier expiry framework sorts programs by the action a member can take before miles disappear. The framework is designed for purchase decisions: the harder the deadline, the less sense it makes to build a speculative balance.
| Risk tier | Programs | How the tier works | Rule of thumb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1: Never-expire | Delta, United, Alaska | The miles do not expire under current rules. Alaska may flag an account after at least 24 months of inactivity without forfeiting its miles (AwardWallet, 2026). | Buying ahead carries no expiration deadline, but an actual redemption plan still prevents an idle balance. |
| Tier 2: Activity-reset | American, British Airways, Emirates, Flying Blue, Aeroplan, LifeMiles | A qualifying action preserves the balance. The standard windows are American 24 months (AwardWallet, 2026), British Airways 36 months (Head for Points, February 2026), Emirates 36 months from earning with an activity reset (LoyaltyLobby, March 2026), Flying Blue 24 months (One Mile at a Time, effective May 4, 2026), Aeroplan 18 months after its pause through November 30, 2026 (CTV News), and LifeMiles 12 months with accrual only (AwardWallet, 2026). | Track the qualifying action for the exact program and reset the clock before the deadline. |
| Tier 3: Hard-expiry | Singapore KrisFlyer | Each batch expires 36 months from the month earned, and nothing resets that batch. PPS Club members are exempt (AwardWallet, 2026). | Never stockpile. Buy only against a confirmed booking. |
Our purchase rule for hard-expiry miles
For Tier 3 programs, our team treats visible award space as a prerequisite for adding miles. A low purchase price does not compensate for a balance that expires before a suitable award appears.
Does buying miles reset the expiration clock?
Buying miles resets the expiration clock in some activity-based programs, but not in every program. Confirm that a purchase is a qualifying action before using a top-up to preserve a balance. Our guide to how to top up for an award explains how to size a purchase around a specific redemption.
- American AAdvantage treats purchasing miles as qualifying activity, which resets its 24-month clock (AwardWallet, 2026).
- British Airways treats purchased Avios as activity, which resets its 36-month clock (Head for Points, February 2026).
- Avianca LifeMiles resets only after accrual activity. A purchase is an accrual, but a redemption does not reset its 12-month clock (AwardWallet, 2026).
- Singapore KrisFlyer resets nothing. Each mileage batch still expires 36 months from the month earned, regardless of later earning or redeeming (AwardWallet, 2026).
What should you do if your miles are about to expire?
Miles nearing an activity-based deadline can often be preserved with one small qualifying transaction. Check the program definition first, then choose the least costly action that posts before the deadline.
- Earn through an eligible shopping or dining portal when the program treats that transaction as qualifying activity.
- Purchase a small top-up when buying miles resets the applicable clock.
- Transfer miles into the account only when the receiving program counts the transfer as qualifying activity.
- Redeem a small amount when redemptions qualify. A redemption does not reset the LifeMiles 12-month accrual clock (AwardWallet, 2026).
- Consider paid reinstatement where available. Emirates Skywards permits reinstatement at $20 per 1,000 expired miles (LoyaltyLobby, March 2026).
- If the balance cannot be saved, compare the reinstatement charge with the cost of replacing only the miles needed for a real award. How much 100,000 miles costs provides a useful comparison point, while below-airline marketplace prices show whether replacement costs less than the program's fee.
What is the safest way to manage mileage expiration?
The safest way to manage mileage expiration is to record each program's deadline, make a qualifying transaction well before an activity-based clock runs out, and avoid speculative purchases in hard-expiry programs. Price matters only after the miles can be used for an available award.
For a purchase tied to a real redemption, compare the cheapest airline miles to buy with the cost of protecting or replacing the balance. The takeaway: preserve activity-reset miles with the smallest qualifying action, buy hard-expiry miles only for a booking in sight, and see today's miles prices.
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Frequently asked questions
Do airline miles expire if you have the airline's credit card?
It depends on the program. American AAdvantage cardholders are exempt. Flying Blue co-brand cardholders and Extra subscribers are exempt. LifeMiles co-brand cardholders receive a 24-month reset period instead of the standard 12-month accrual window (AwardWallet and One Mile at a Time, 2026).
Which airline miles never expire?
Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus miles, and Alaska Atmos Rewards miles do not expire under current rules. Delta requires an open account in good standing. Alaska may flag an account after at least 24 months of inactivity without forfeiting the miles (Delta program rules and AwardWallet, 2026).
Does buying miles stop them from expiring?
Buying miles resets the clock for American AAdvantage and British Airways Avios. A LifeMiles purchase counts as the accrual needed to reset its clock. Buying KrisFlyer miles does not extend older batches, because each batch keeps its own hard expiry date.
Do KrisFlyer miles really expire even with activity?
Yes. Each KrisFlyer mileage batch expires 36 months from the month earned, and later earning or redeeming does not reset that deadline. PPS Club members are exempt (AwardWallet, 2026).
Can expired airline miles be reinstated?
Some programs offer paid reinstatement. Emirates Skywards, for example, charges $20 per 1,000 expired miles (LoyaltyLobby, March 2026). Reinstatement policies vary, so compare the program's current charge with the cost of replacing only the miles needed for an award.
How do I check when my miles expire?
Sign in to the airline account and look for the mileage activity or balance page. Record the stated expiry date and the last qualifying transaction. If the date is unclear, ask the program which activities reset it before making a purchase, transfer, or redemption.