Extending your air miles’ expiry date

I have been dealing with a few airlines lately in the matters of protecting or using frequent-flyer miles.

It goes without saying, but it’s worth saying again: book as early as possible and be as flexible as possible, as the number of seats open for miles redemption is steadily decreasing.

Check the expiration date of miles frequently. Don’t get caught unawares and lose your hard-earned miles.

As to protecting them as the expiration date moves closer, don’t panic. Although not widely known, with most airlines all you need is an “activity” to extend expiration — and you needn’t take a flight.

First, ask them if a miles donation counts as an activity and whether it will indeed extend the expiration date. If so, donate the minimum and you’re all set for 18 months or so, depending on the carrier’s rules.

I recently donated to a charity through US Air the minimum 1,000 miles (a value of $67.25, if I had bought the miles from United Airlines to reach a trip mileage minimum) and now I have two years more to use my ticket. Some minimum donations are as low as 500 miles.

Some airlines have magazine subscription programs that also count as an “activity.” Ask about that, too.

Regarding frequent-flyer programs, Continental Airlines is the most flyer friendly, in my opinion, as their miles do not expire.

The least flyer-friendly airline I have found is Air France. I say that because in January I had 17,500 miles and asked if I could buy 2,500 miles to give me a round trip within Europe. “Mais non, absolutement!”

As it was, I had to use 10,000 miles for the one-way trip from London to Zürich on Air France — very high. (I took British Air back to London for only 4,500 air miles.)

And, unlike with other airlines, taking a flight using miles does not count as an activity with Air France. Thus, on my next statement, instead of seeing a balance of 7,500 miles I saw zip, zero. I wrote and called and was told, “These are the rules.”

Kind of strange, their taking away miles, as I would have taken another Air France flight at some point just to build on the 7,500 in the bank. Alas, the bank was broken and I will never again choose to fly with Air France.

Bear in mind that the airlines can and do change mileage requirements for flights or change expiration dates anytime they please. Be sure to read all letters from airlines, as they do send out notices, which most people ignore. Caveat emptor!

JACK CARROLL

New York, NY