How long does it take for AA to reinstate miles?

*Please allow up to 72 hours to process your reinstatement. Your AAdvantage® account balance will be updated as soon as the reinstatement is processed.



When you request to reinstate expired American Airlines (AA) AAdvantage miles in 2026, the process is typically very fast, but the timeframe depends on the method used. If you pay the reinstatement fee online via the AAdvantage "Reactivate Miles" portal, the miles are usually credited back to your account instantly or within 24 hours. If the reinstatement is part of a manual review or requested via a customer service representative over the phone, it may take between 3 to 5 business days for the balance to reflect accurately in your digital wallet. It is important to note that American Airlines has strict rules regarding which miles are eligible; usually, you can only reinstate miles that expired within the last 24 months. In 2026, the cost to reinstate miles is tiered based on the quantity, and once the transaction is complete, the miles carry a new 24-month expiration window, which is refreshed every time you have new qualifying activity. Always check your "Account Activity" tab in the AA app to confirm the transaction was successful before attempting to book an award flight.

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The price to reactivate miles is $50 for every 5,000 miles, plus a $30 processing fee per transaction, per account. (For example, you can reactivate 24,500 miles from one account for a cost of $280. That's a $250 mileage reactivation fee and a $30 transaction fee.

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Instead of leaving them behind, log in to aa.com/aadvantage and select “Request Mileage Credit.” It's the easiest way to get credit for past mileage transactions. Miles should post automatically to your account within 15 days of flight activity, so be sure you've allowed enough time before you request credit.

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Reactivated miles are credited to your account as a mileage bonus and don't count toward AAdvantage® status qualification or Million Miler™ status. Reactivated miles will not expire as long as your account has mileage earning or redeeming activity once every 24 months.

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American Airlines AAdvantage miles are valid for 24 months. Any type of qualifying activity will extend the life of your miles. Customers under the age of 21 are not subject to mileage expiration. However, the 24-month policy will apply as soon as they reach 21 years old, even if the miles were earned as a child.

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If you cancel your trip on aa.com, your miles will be reinstated and your refund will be requested automatically in most cases.

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But if you forgot, it's OK. Most airlines, Keyes said, allow travelers to request miles three to 14 days after booking and within 12 months of travel.

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What is the value of American Airlines miles? The value of American Airlines miles is 1.18 cents per mile, on average. That means 10,000 American Airlines miles have a value of roughly $118.

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Miles and points earned on co-branded hotel and airline travel rewards credit cards usually expire if you aren't actively using your account. Many will expire after 12 to 24 months from the date of your most recent activity. Fortunately, there are many ways in which you can keep your points and miles from expiring.

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Yes, American Airlines AAdvantage® miles expire if you have no earning or redemption activity on your account in a 24-month period. Per the AAdvantage® FAQs page: “Just earn or redeem miles on American or with an AAdvantage® partner at least once every 24 months.

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An AA mile's value typically varies from 1.5 to 1.7 cents when redeemed for a flight. You usually get the best value for your AA miles if you use them for business-class seats, and you may even get upward of 10 cents per mile in some cases.

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50,000 American Airlines miles are worth about $645, which is the equivalent of at least one round-trip flight between New York and Los Angeles on American Airlines.

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There are several online miles brokers who buy AAdvantage miles. MilesBuyer not only offers the best rate but a secure and easy process of selling your American Airlines points and miles. All you need to do is fill up and submit our contact form (at the top of this page) and we will reach out to you about the price.

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