Travel

Keep Accounts Active To Keep Frequent Flier Miles

(WCCO) If you like to use frequent flier miles to get free airline tickets you may be in jeopardy of losing your miles if your account isn't active. For Northwest Airlines World Perks, miles can expire after three years with no activity in your account. Delta Airlines Sky Miles expire after two years if you're not using the account.

While it is tough to redeem those hard-earned miles for a ticket with blackout dates and limited seats are among the reasons people have frequent flier miles that get old and dusty.

It takes about 25,000 frequent flier miles to get a $300 ticket. For most carriers, you don't have to fly on the airline to keep your miles; you just have to show some kind of account activity such as using an airline credit card.

"I use my credit card for everything pretty much. So that's how I get most of my miles, through my credit card," said World Perks member Mary Richman.

If you don't have a credit card tied to a miles program it's best to get one with no annual fee. If you use it to buy anything, that counts as activity on your account. Another way to stay active is using any credit card and buying stuff via the airlines' Web sites. Delta is typical, offering plenty of car rental and hotel partners.

Delta and Northwest both have a long list of stores that they partner with. Buy a gadget from Brookstone via the airline Web site and your Northwest World Perks will stay fresh.

Savvy travelers know you don't have to spend any money to avoid expiring miles. You could even take a survey for Northwest and your miles are safe for another three years.

On Wednesday, Northwest announced new fees for cashing in your miles.

They'll also start charging travelers to check just one bag. Starting next month it'll cost you $15 for that first bag, $25 for the second and if you want to check a third that'll cost you an extra $100. Northwest said the fees are a direct result of high fuel costs.

 

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