American Airlines today said AAdvantage members must redeem or accrue miles once every 18 months to keep accounts active, joining several of its legacy carrier peers in changing the policy.
"Effective December 15, 2007, mileage balances will expire from AAdvantage accounts that have not had miles either earned or redeemed within the previous eighteen-month period," American noted in a dispatch to AAdvantage members this weekend.
Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and US Airways in the past year also have shortened the amount of time frequent flyer accounts can remain inactive
(BTN, Feb. 5). Delta shortened the inactivity threshold from three years to two years, while United and US Airways changed their policies from three years to 18 months.
American said AAdvantage members at the earliest could see their accounts expire Dec. 15, 2007, but noted account holders need not fly to stay active, since any account activity, including accrual through affinity credit card programs, will keep participation live.