How to save (if you can) loyalty program points from expiring
We wrote it recently at the end of the year all loyalty programs will cease, all mitigation activities due to covid. The [...]
We wrote it recently at the end of the year all loyalty programs will cease, all mitigation activities due to covid. Next Dec. 31 will be the Caporetto of statuses with millions of frequent flyers worldwide who will lose status and privileges gained or retained through extensions due to the pandemic.
In this article:
The parachute, however, has been given in recent years not only to status, but also and especially to the Expiration of points from various loyalty programs And even this aid has come to an end.
What points will not be able to be "saved"
According to the rules of each individual loyalty program, there are cards that give a fixed life to the points accumulated by flying and beyond, in which case there is no other possible way but to use the points since having reached the expiration period, as with milk, they are thrown away.
This applies, for example, to Emirates points that are valid for 36 months from the date they were accumulated. The same applies to Singapore Airlines, however, which has decided to extend them for another 12 months.
The most generous in this respect is Korean Air which for members of its loyalty program guarantees 10 years of life for points once accumulated.
How to save Flying Blue points
On the Air France and KLM loyalty program, we have. dedicated an ad hoc in-depth study. If you have the status the points do not expire, and this is really a great thing. For everyone else from the end of the year the natural life of the points begins again, which is 24 months of inactivity. To renew them, however, the only valid activity is to make a qualifying flight with AF, KLM or other program partner carriers.
How to save British Airways Avios points
From the end of the year, the countdown to Avios, or the currency of British Airways, Iberia and other carriers, also starts again. Speaking of BA the life of the points is 36months, then without any activity they are lost forever. One of the advantages, however, is that for the Executive Club program all it takes is any activity so even buy points, transfer Membership Rewards points or other programs, even transferring points to/from an account (but paying an absurd fee) allows you to renew points for another 36 months.
How to save Millemiglia points
In recent days we have also published how to save, for those who still have points from the old Alitalia program, Millemiglia points. The program is still active, although lacking a partner airline with which to take advantage of the benefits, but the points may still have a small value, so it is interesting to know how to save them.
Again, an activity is required to generate the MyMile account movement, such as transferring Payback points to the Millemiglia account.
ITA Airways' Flying Points Expiration Date
Currently, members of Volare, the Italian airline's frequent flyer program do not have to worry about points expiring. The important date is October 15, 2024, on that date the program will expire as per the regulations. Unfortunately, Italian regulations on prize competitions prohibit a longer duration. At the moment it is also virtually impossible to use them so it is a non-problem in a bigger problem That is, the lack of substance of Volare.
Bonvoy and Honors programs
Points from hotel chain loyalty programs also have an expiration date, fortunately both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors have an activity-related deadline, so One night stay every 3 years will suffice To renew the validity of points for as long.
What points never expire
There are also programs that guarantee lifetime validity of points. For example, American's frequent flyers have this benefit. Not only those of Delta, United and American, but also Southwest, Jetblue and others allow members to forget the stress of losing points. The same goes for the Flying Club of Virgin Atlantic soon to join Skyteam.
