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While credit card rewards generally don't expire so long as your account is open, the points and miles you earn with co-branded airline and hotel credit cards often expire after a certain period if there's no activity on your account.
Many airline credit card miles expire within one to three years, but some airlines have points that never expire. Below, CNBC Select breaks down every major U.S. airline's credit card point expiration policy, and we share our top picks to add to your wallet.
Miles and points expiration terms by airline
| Airline | Do points expire? |
|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | No, but account can be locked after 24 months without activity |
| American Airlines | Yes, after 24 months without qualifying activity |
| Delta | No |
| Frontier Airlines | Yes, after 12 months with no accrual activity |
| Hawaiian Airlines | No |
| JetBlue | No |
| Southwest | No |
| Spirit Airlines | Yes, after 12 months with no activity |
| United | No |
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Best airline credit cards with points that don't expire
As you can tell from the list above, you have plenty of options if you're looking for a flexible airline credit card with miles that don't expire.
Most major airlines offer co-branded credit cards, including personal and business travel credit cards. Beyond the miles you earn, airline credit cards can save you money through perks like free checked bags and airport lounge access. Here are some of our top picks:
- Best for United Airlines: United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees)
- Best for Delta: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Best for Southwest Airlines: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees)
- Best for JetBlue: JetBlue Plus Card
United lovers can benefit from the United℠ Explorer Card, which offers a variety of benefits, including two one-time United Club℠ passes per year when primary cardmember or authorized user is traveling, 25% back as a statement credit on various onboard purchases and Club premium drinks and your first checked bags free when you pay for the flight with your United Explorer card (terms apply).
Plus, new cardmembers can earn up to 60,000 bonus miles: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after you add an authorized user to your account in the first 3 months your account is open.
The United℠ Explorer Card is worth it even if you only fly with United Airlines once or twice a year because you can take advantage of two United Club℠ passes per year when the primary cardmember or authorized user is traveling and you can receive free checked bags.
- No annual fee for the first year
- Unlocks upgrades for elite members on award flights
- Two free United Club airport lounge passes every year
- Valuable United Airlines perks, such as in-flight purchase discounts and the ability to earn elite status credit through credit card spending
- First checked bag free benefit requires you to pay for the flight with the card
- United Airlines has a dynamic award chart which can limit the value and flexibility of your miles
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn up to 60,000 bonus miles
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
- NEW! 9x total miles on eligible United flights and 3x miles on all other eligible United® purchases
- 2x miles on dining and hotel stays when booked with the hotel. 1x mile on all other purchases.
- Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $200 per roundtrip. Terms Apply. Plus, priority boarding on United® flights.
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year - over a $100 value
- Over $500 in partner credits each year
- NEW! Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles. Premier members save even more.
- Member FDIC
While the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card comes with a higher annual fee of $350 (see rates and fees), it is a good choice for Delta loyalists who understand the ins and outs of the airline's frequent flier rewards program. In addition to common perks like free checked bags, the card offers nearly $400 in various annual statement credits, can help you fast-track elite status, unlocks 15% off Delta award flights* and provides an Annual Companion Certificate** after you renew your card. You also may be eligible for as high as 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
* Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
**Baggage charges and other restrictions apply
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is a good fit for anyone who wants Delta elite status and isn't interested in airport lounge access.
- Up to $390 in statement credits annually (Enrollment required)
- Receive a Companion Certificate on a Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- 15% Delta award flight discount (Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.)
- High annual fee
- Delta dynamically prices award flights, which makes it more difficult to redeem miles for higher values
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Receive a Companion Certificate on a Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Resy Credit: Get up to $10 in statement credits each month after you pay with your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: earn up to $10 in statement credits each month after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights and save up to $70 per person on a round-trip Delta flight.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee every 4 years, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $350 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
If you frequently fly Southwest, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is worth considering for the 7,500 bonus points you earn each account anniversary. The points you earn with your card count toward qualifying for the Southwest Companion Pass and you'll get a 10,000-point boost each year.
Plus, earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is a perfect fit for serious Southwest fans who can easily maximize its benefits like upgraded boardings and an annual travel credit.
- Valuable welcome bonus
- 7,500 bonus points every card member anniversary
- $75 annual Southwest travel credit
- Limited value when you're not traveling with Southwest
- High annual fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 7,500 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 4 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases, including flights, inflight, and Southwest gift cards.
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and restaurants
- First checked bag free for Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation.
- Select a Preferred seat at booking, at no additional charge, when available.
- Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The JetBlue Plus Card stands out for offering one of the highest rewards rates on airline purchases: Earn 6X points for every $1 spent on eligible JetBlue purchases. You also get a 5,000-point bonus every year after your card anniversary and a 10% rebate on the TrueBlue points you redeem. So if you redeem 20,000 TrueBlue points for a qualifying flight, you'll get 2,000 points back.
JetBlue Plus Card
Rewards
6X points on eligible JetBlue purchases; 2X points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores; 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 70,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on the card and pay the annual fee in the first 90 days.
Annual fee
$99
Intro APR
0% APR on eligible balance transfers that post to account within 45 days of account opening, for the first 12 billing cycles; 19.49% to 29.49% variable thereafter depending on creditworthiness
Regular APR
19.49% to 29.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5%, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fees
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Terms apply.
Pros
- 5,000 bonus points on your account anniversary
- 10% rebate on JetBlue award flight redemptions
- First checked bag free for you and up to three companions
- 50% off in-flight purchases
Cons
- $99 annual fee
- Limited bonus spending categories
FAQs
Which airlines offer miles that don't expire?
A handful of airlines offer miles that don't expire, including Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest and United.
How can I keep my airline miles from expiring?
You can typically keep airline miles from expiring by having activity in your account, such as using a co-branded credit card or redeeming some miles.
What can I do if my airline miles expired?
Some airlines allow you to reactivate expired rewards within a certain window for a fee. For example, American Airlines gives you 24 months after your miles expire to reinstate them.
Is it best to book a flight with a credit card?
You should book flights with a travel credit card to earn rewards and potentially get extra protections, such as free travel insurance.
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At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card, click here
*Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. If you're approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score. Terms apply.
