Alaska truly has a strong fan following, and for good reason: good service, fair redemptions, and a Mileage Plan that has real worth. However, whether you are a frequent flyer or one who earned miles from the one glorious trip to Hawaii three years back, one question we must ask ourselves is: how do I keep Alaska miles from expiring?
Spoiler alert: the miles themselves never expire.
But your account? That’s another story.
If your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account goes dormant for long periods, Alaska will not come looking to your door—they will deactivate your account quietly. That’s their subtle way of saying, “Use it or lose it.” Don’t worry; we’re going to review several ways that you can keep your account off eternal life: keeping those miles intact and active.
Wait—Do Alaska Miles Expire?
Technically? No.
Practically? Kinda.
Your Alaska miles don’t expire, but your account can be frozen after 24 months of inactivity. And if you don’t take action within 12 months of that freeze (i.e., 3 years total inactivity), your account can be closed—and the miles you once lovingly earned will vanish like your New Year’s resolutions.
Now, don’t panic. There’s no need to book a last-minute flight to Fairbanks just to keep your account alive. Alaska Airlines makes it surprisingly easy to stay active.
So, How to Keep Alaska Miles From Expiring?
It’s not about constantly flying—it’s about staying active. Any activity that earns or redeems miles resets the clock. And Alaska’s Mileage Plan offers plenty of low-effort ways to do that.
Let’s explore some.
1. Dine Your Way to Mile Protection
If you like food—and if you don’t, are you okay? — you can earn Alaska miles just by eating out.
Alaska’s Mileage Plan Dining program allows you to link a credit card and earn miles at participating restaurants. Dine, pay as you normally would, and miles magically appear in your account. You don’t even need to remember it’s happening—it’s the gym membership of loyalty programs but with actual benefits.
2. Shop Online Like You Already Do (But Smarter)
You can also keep your account active by using the Mileage Plan Shopping Portal. All you have to do is:
- Visit Alaska’s shopping portal.
- Click through to your favourite store (think Macy’s, Home Depot, Sephora—you get the idea).
- Complete your purchase.
Boom—miles earned, clock reset, and you got to call it “travel hacking” instead of “impulse buying.”
3. Book a Hotel or Rent a Car with Alaska Partners
Staying at hotels and renting cars with Alaska partners also counts as an activity. You don’t even need to be flying to earn miles.
Just make sure your Mileage Plan number is attached to the booking. Whether it’s Marriott, IHG, Budget, or Hertz, there’s a long list of participating partners ready to reward you.
4. Use or Redeem a Few Miles
Even if you’re short on miles, you can still redeem a small portion toward a flight using Alaska’s “Money & Miles” feature. This lets you pay part of your fare with miles (up to 50% of most fares, excluding Saver fares). It’s a smart way to trigger activity without blowing your whole balance.
Feeling fancy? You can also redeem miles for a first-class upgrade starting at 15,000 miles. Not only do you arrive in style, but you reset your mileage clock in the process.
Now that’s a win-win.
5. Get the Alaska Airlines Credit Card
If you’re the set-it-and-forget-it type, this one’s for you. With the Alaska Airlines Visa® Signature Card, your miles never expire as long as your card account is open. That’s right—spend on the card and enjoy worry-free miles for as long as you keep it.
Bonus: You’ll also get perks like:
- One free checked bag (for you and your friends—yes, up to six of them),
- Priority boarding,
- 20% back on inflight purchases (snack responsibly).
In short, the credit card is the laziest way to keep your miles alive—and we love laziness when it works.
6. Buy or Share Miles (Even a Tiny Amount)
Need to reset the clock in a pinch? You can buy or gift a few miles to another Mileage Plan member. Just a small transaction can count as an activity and keep everything active.
Buying miles isn’t always a great deal (they’re a bit pricey), but for the sake of account activity, it might be worth the small investment.
7. Set a Reminder (Future You Will Thank You)
Sometimes the easiest solution is just a reminder on your calendar. Add an event every 18 months that says, “Do something with Alaska Miles.” Even if it’s just ordering a pizza through a partner app or transferring a few points—it counts.
Don’t let 50,000 miles disappear just because you forgot. Trust us—missing miles hurt worse than losing Wi-Fi mid-Netflix.
But What If Your Account Gets Deactivated?
Let’s say life got busy, and it’s been a hot minute (like 24+ months). If your Alaska Mileage Plan account was deactivated, you can call customer service and get it unlocked—assuming it’s within a year of being frozen. All your miles will still be there, like a loyal dog waiting at the door.
But if you wait past that three-year mark with no activity? Those miles are history.
So don’t ghost your account—check in occasionally. A little attention goes a long way.
Alaska Miles Don’t Expire, But Your Account Might
In summary, if you’re wondering how to keep Alaska miles from expiring, the answer is simple: stay active at least once every two years. Whether it’s flying, shopping, eating, buying, or just using the right credit card, Alaska Airlines makes it easy.
You don’t have to be a full-time jet setter to protect your miles—just a slightly proactive human being (or a well-organized procrastinator).
Got Alaska Miles You’re Not Using?
If you’re sitting on a pile of miles and no trip in sight, why not turn those miles into cash?
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