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.

Reactivating miles is the process of restoring airline miles that have expired due to a lack of account activity over a specific period (usually 18 to 36 months). Many airlines in 2026, such as American Airlines and Philippine Airlines, allow members to "buy back" their lost miles for a fee, provided the request is made within a certain window (often within one year of expiration). These reactivated miles are typically credited back to the account as a bonus and do not count toward elite status or Million Miler qualification. The cost can be steep, sometimes making it more expensive than the actual value of the miles, so it is usually only "worth it" if you are just a few thousand miles short of a major award redemption. For 2026 travelers, the best way to avoid this fee is to maintain "earning or redeeming" activity once every 24 months through dining programs, shopping portals, or co-branded credit cards.