Airline loyalty points can actually expire after a certain amount of time, depending on which airline you have used, meaning frequent flyers might lose their points without even realising if they don’t manage to make time for a holiday.
Airline loyalty programs – or frequent flyer programs – allow members to accumulate points or miles when flying with a participating airline. These points can then be redeemed for various rewards, including discounts on future flights, upgrades, baggage allowances, and even access to airport lounges. Many airlines offer free enrolment on these schemes, making it easy for passengers to start collecting miles and earning rewards.
The Mirror asked a number of airlines about their loyalty points schemes – and specifically about whether or how customers can lose their points without realising.
Several airlines including British Airways use the Avios reward scheme. The Avios site describes it as “a global reward currency you can spend on flights, hotels, car hire and more”.
BA explains its customers’ Avios points won’t expire as long as they “collect, spend, buy or share at least one Avios every 36 months”. The Airlines adds: “If you don’t collect or use your Avios at all for three years, your Avios will expire and be removed, so remember to take action before that time’s up.”
Aer Lingus also uses Avios through its AerClub scheme, and explained how points can expire in the same fashion as with BA. A spokesperson said: “Avios never expire as long as your AerClub account remains active.
“They will only expire after 36 months of inactivity (if no Avios are collected or spent during that time). Currently, AerClub has over 3 million members globally, and many are using their Avios to save on flights and enhance their travel experiences.”
Avios is used by a number of other airlines too including Loganair, Iberia, Vueling, Qatar Airways, and Finnair.
Some airlines don’t offer loyalty points schemes, such as Ryanair and Jet2. However, Jet2 explained it offers exclusive deals and benefits in other ways. A spokesperson told us: “Signing up for a myJet2 account gives customers exclusive benefits and deals on both flights and package holidays withJet2.com and Jet2holidays.
“For instance, myJet2 members currently exclusively receive up to £75pp off holidays and 15% on flights departing between now and the end of August 2025. Alongside exclusive discounts and sales, myJet2 members have access to receiving hot-off-the-press news and updates before anyone else.”
Ryanair offers its ‘Prime’ membership for £79 per year. The airline’s website states: “Prime members get free reserved seats, free travel insurance and access to 12 member only seat sales, one each month.” It claims Prime members can save more than £480 per year.
This comes as new British start-up airline Global Airlines has started selling tickets for its first flight, one month before the planned inaugural trip from Glasgow to New York City. The airline is hoping to eventually establish an entire transatlantic flight network.
The first Global Airlines Airbus A380 should set off from Glasgow on May 15 at 11am, landing at New York’s JFK Airport roughly seven hours later before returning to Scotland on May 19. The airline’s second flight will take off from Manchester on May 21, again heading to New York City for another four-day stay.
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