How many unused airline miles are there?

We estimate that more than 30 trillion frequent-flier miles are currently sitting unspent in accounts. That was enough to let almost every airline passenger in the world redeem miles for a free one-way flight in 2017—if miles could be redeemed for trips without restrictions.



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In some airline loyalty programs, only 8% of frequent flyer miles are redeemed. Here's why it might be getting harder to score a free ticket. Many travelers are a member of at least one airline frequent flyer program — and lots are members of multiple airline loyalty programs.

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Some airlines may allow miles to be transferred to a beneficiary, others might close the account upon death, and still, others might allow miles to be used for a period following the account holder's death. For instance, American Airlines does not allow miles to be willed or inherited.

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But for travel enthusiasts, it's not just your money that can lose value over time?it can also happen to your airline miles too. Because every rewards program is different in how the value of your miles is determined, there's no universal answer for how rewards are impacted by inflation.

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Air Miles themselves do not expire. But, if your account “expires” by being “dormant” (or inactive) for 24 consecutive months, then the points on it will disappear. An account is considered inactive if there are no points transactions within that period.

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How can I protect my Miles & More award miles from expiry? Award miles can be protected from expiry through status membership or a Miles & More Credit Card.

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Here's the catch. Air Miles themselves do not expire. But, if your account “expires” by being “dormant” (or inactive) for 24 consecutive months, then the points on it will disappear. An account is considered inactive if there are no points transactions within that period.

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  • Traveling with points and miles.
  • Use rewards for premium flights.
  • Book luxury hotels closer to home.
  • Consider low-category extended stays.
  • Find deals on peak travel.
  • Travel during off-peak seasons.
  • Look for sweet-spot redemptions.
  • Redeem for good-enough value.


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Focus on earning points that either partner can use Airline and hotel rewards credit cards can offer lucrative bonuses and cardholder perks. However, hotel points and airline miles generally can't be transferred to another member — at least without prohibitively expensive fees.

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You can put your un-used miles to work for the Red Cross through the generosity of several major airlines. The airline partners listed below permit their loyalty program members to donate their miles to help our volunteers and staff get to critical areas.

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50,000 American miles are worth about $850. How much are 80,000 American miles worth? 80,000 American miles are worth about $1,360.

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To figure out the number of cents per point or mile you'll get from a specific redemption, divide the cash price of the award by the number of points or miles needed. For example, if an award flight that requires 25,000 miles to book would cost $500 if you paid cash, $500 / 25,000 = 2 cents per mile.

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100,000 United miles are worth an average of $1,190, according to WalletHub data.

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