---
title: "What is Mileage expiry? | Benefit Systems"
description: "Mileage expiry is the loss of a balance when an account shows no activity for a defined period, or when a fixed deadline runs out."
source: "aus dem gebauten HTML abgeleitet"
---
# What is Mileage expiry?

Mileage expiry is the loss of a balance when an account shows no activity for a defined period, or when a fixed deadline runs out.

Also called: Points expiration, Expiry policy.

## How it works #

Most programmes do not use a hard deadline but an activity clock: any credit or debit resets it, however small. A purchase through a partner portal or a single card transaction is usually enough. Someone who knows their own programme’s rule effectively never loses miles, and someone who does not tends to lose the entire balance without a reminder.

## Not to be confused with #

Mileage expiry is not to be confused with a devaluation: expiry removes the balance, a devaluation keeps it and only reduces what it buys.

## In German #

The German term is Meilenverfall. [German version of this term](/de/glossar/meilenverfall)

## Related terms #

- [Devaluation](/en/glossary/devaluation): A devaluation is a worsening of a programme’s redemption terms: the same award costs more miles afterwards, or it stops being bookable at all.
- [Mile](/en/glossary/mile): A mile is the currency unit of a frequent flyer programme: a credit in an airline account that can be exchanged for flights and other awards.
- [Points pooling](/en/glossary/points-pooling): Points pooling is the combining of balances from several accounts so that an award can be paid for which no single account holds enough.

## Articles that use this term #

- [Do miles expire, and how do you stop it?](/en/knowledge/miles-expiry)
- [What happens to your miles if the airline fails?](/en/knowledge/miles-if-airline-fails)
- [What happens to my points during a devaluation?](/en/knowledge/devaluations)