United Airlines passengers will be delighted to find out that their miles no longer have an expiration date.
On August 28, 2019 United Airlines announced that the MileagePlus loyalty program miles will never expire. Gone is the previous 18 months expiration deadline.
Airlines have been scratching their heads to make their loyalty programs more attractive to passengers in order to increase the quantity of recurring customers.
The move by United Airlines follows the decisions made by competitors Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways who have been offering similar benefits to their frequent flyers since 2011 and 2013 respectively.
“We want to demonstrate to our members that we are committing to them for the long-haul and giving customers a lifetime to use miles is an exceptionally meaningful benefit.”
United’s vice president of loyalty, Luc Bondar, said in an announcement
On top of removing the expiration date on miles, United Airlines is launching new ways to earn and spend these miles. For example, miles can be used to buy a TSA Precheck membership and Apple products or gift cards.
United Airlines and United Express fly to around 4900 flights per day to 356 airports on five continents. In 2018, the airlines operated more than 1.7 million flights, carrying more than 158 million passengers.
Which airline miles don’t expire?
In the US, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways offer frequent flyer programs with no expiration date. American Airlines mile sstill have a 18 months expiration date, while Southwest miles have a 24 months expiration date. United Airlines’ decision is likely to put pressure on American and Southwest to follow suit.
Also check:
The best airline loyalty programs
How to get upgraded on your flight
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John is a passionate traveler who has traveled to over 46 countries on more than 30 different airlines. He loves surfing, booking hotels and flights using his frequent flyers points, and exploring new cultures. John lives in London.
