Frequent flyer loyalty programs are telling members to use ‘em or lose ‘em. In the past few months, three major US carriers have decreased their mileage-expiration period for inactive accounts: United and US Airways have gone from 36 to 18 months and Delta from 36 to 24 months. (36 months had been the industry standard.)
Before you panic, keep in mind that an inactive account is one in which miles have neither been earned nor redeemed. And you don’t have to fly to earn miles: You can buy something with an affinity credit card. Any activity turns the calendar back to day one. But a United or US Airways member who has no account activity between April 1, 2007, and Oct. 1, 2008, for instance, will lose all his accumulated miles on the latter date.
Why the change? United Airlines states that “the new expiration policy will benefit its most loyal customers by reducing competition for mileage tickets and upgrades from infrequent flyers.”
Here are 10 quick and easy (non-flight) airline partner activities that will keep your account active with minimal effort.
Enroll in an airline’s dining program All the major US airlines have one. Enroll through the airline website, register your credit card and then dine at a participating restaurant.
Give to charity American and United allow you to donate 1,000 miles or more to a partner charity or make a cash donation of as little as $1 to earn miles.
Shop online through an airline loyalty program portal Hundreds of stores partner with airlines’ website e-mall portals. Be sure to access the store website via the airline’s loyalty program website to receive miles for your purchases. Many stores offer free shipping with a minimum purchase. Music downloads are an inexpensive way to earn a few miles. Warning: Most gift card purchases will not earn miles, so read the fine print carefully if you are buying a store gift certificate.
Rent a car Most rental-car companies partner with one or more airline.
Stay at a hotel Most hotel chains are airline partners and will offer miles rather than hotel points if you so direct.
Subscribe to a magazine
Buy groceries American, Continental, and United offer 125 miles for $250 in accumulated spending with their grocery store partners. Just link your frequent flyer number to your store account.
Fill out a survey E-rewards is an Internet marketing company that offers miles as a reward for reading and responding to marketing messages. You can earn 250 US Airways miles simply by registering and filling out profile surveys.
Enroll in Netflix.com The bonus for signing up with this DVD rental company is 1,000 miles with Continental and United and 1,500 miles with American, Delta, and Northwest.
Register with Points.com This service, which exchanges loyalty miles from one program to another, allows you to register for free and earn 10 miles with US Airways and 100 miles with American or Delta.
Frequent flyer loyalty programs are telling members to use ‘em or lose ‘em. In the past few months, three major US carriers have decreased their mileage-expiration period for inactive accounts: United and US Airways have gone from 36 to 18 months and Delta from 36 to 24 months. (36 months had been the industry standard.)
Before you panic, keep in mind that an inactive account is one in which miles have neither been earned nor redeemed. And you don’t have to fly to earn miles: You can buy something with an affinity credit card. Any activity turns the calendar back to day one. But a United or US Airways member who has no account activity between April 1, 2007, and Oct. 1, 2008, for instance, will lose all his accumulated miles on the latter date.
Why the change? United Airlines states that “the new expiration policy will benefit its most loyal customers by reducing competition for mileage tickets and upgrades from infrequent flyers.”
Here are 10 quick and easy (non-flight) airline partner activities that will keep your account active with minimal effort.
Enroll in an airline’s dining program All the major US airlines have one. Enroll through the airline website,...