How Axel worksThe best airline miles programs: where your miles keep their value
Updated October 26, 2026 · Data: Axel, Airline websites, thepointsguy.com, thepointsparty.com · How this guide was made
The short answer
Delta's program scores best among U.S. airlines for keeping your miles' value, then Alaska (incl. Hawaiian) and United, on Axel's checks of expiry, devaluations and award pricing 1. Among alliance airlines based abroad, Aeromexico and Qatar Airways lead. Axel does not estimate what a mile is worth in cents.
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How these picks work
Miles are only worth something if they keep their value: they shouldn't expire while you save, the program shouldn't keep raising award prices, and award charts should be predictable. These picks weight those three checks from Axel's airline ratings (45%), then how far the alliance partners reach (20%), lounges (15%), member Wi-Fi (10%) and reliability (10%). Airlines based abroad must belong to a global alliance to be picked, because partner reach is the point for collectors. Axel does not estimate what a mile is worth in cents. Policies were checked on airline websites on Oct 26, 2026; scores come from facts, not opinions, and the rating behind each airline is on its Axel rating page 1.
Best U.S. airlines for points and miles
Top U.S. airlines
- 1
Delta
Score 8.5/10. Strongest on alliance partners and wi-fi for members. 2
- Loyalty program:
- Miles earned per US dollar of base fare plus carrier surcharges: 5/dollar on Classic fares, 7 on Extra, 2 on...
- Alliance partners:
- SkyTeam
- Lounges:
- Delta One tickets (international or domestic coast-to-coast) include Sky Club...
- Wi-Fi for members:
- Free with a free loyalty account
- 2
Alaska (incl. Hawaiian)
Score 7.4/10. Strongest on alliance partners and reliability; weakest on wi-fi for members. 3
- Loyalty program:
- Points currently follow miles flown, scaled by fare class; Saver fares stopped earning Aug 1, 2026. From Jan...
- Alliance partners:
- oneworld
- Lounges:
- First Class/Suites tickets on flights of 2,000+ miles (coast-to-coast, Hawaii...
- Wi-Fi for members:
- Varies by aircraft
- 3
United
Score 7.0/10. Strongest on alliance partners and wi-fi for members; weakest on loyalty program. 4
- Loyalty program:
- Miles earned per dollar spent. From tickets bought Apr 2, 2026, cardholders earn far more (general member...
- Alliance partners:
- Star Alliance
- Lounges:
- Polaris tickets (long-haul, transcon, longer Hawaii) include United Club entry...
- Wi-Fi for members:
- Free with a free loyalty account
- 4
JetBlue
Score 6.8/10. Strongest on wi-fi for members and loyalty program; weakest on reliability. 5
- Loyalty program:
- Points are earned per dollar of base fare: 3 base points on most fares (1 on Blue Basic/Base fares) plus a...
- Alliance partners:
- none
- Lounges:
- Mint and Mint Flex fares (domestic and transatlantic) include BlueHouse entry...
- Wi-Fi for members:
- Free for everyone
- 5
American
Score 6.4/10. Strongest on alliance partners and wi-fi for members; weakest on loyalty program. 6
- Loyalty program:
- Miles expire after 24 months without qualifying activity (members under 21 exempt). Earning basis not...
- Alliance partners:
- oneworld
- Lounges:
- Flagship Business/First tickets (long-haul and premium transcon) include...
- Wi-Fi for members:
- Free with a free loyalty account
Best foreign airlines for points and miles
Top airlines based outside the U.S., for trips abroad
- 1
Aeromexico
Score 9.6/10. Strongest on loyalty program and alliance partners. 7
- Loyalty program:
- Earning basis on Aeromexico flights not confirmed: Aeromexico and Aeromexico Rewards sites returned errors or...
- Alliance partners:
- SkyTeam
- Lounges:
- Business-class passengers on Aeromexico and other SkyTeam airlines may use...
- Wi-Fi for members:
- Free messaging, paid browsing
- 2
Qatar Airways
Score 9.0/10. Strongest on alliance partners and lounges. 8
- Loyalty program:
- Avios are based on flight distance times a booking-class multiplier, from 25% on Economy Lite to 300% in...
- Alliance partners:
- oneworld
- Lounges:
- Business tickets include lounge access except the cheapest Business Lite fare...
- Wi-Fi for members:
- Free with a free loyalty account
- 3
Copa Airlines
Score 8.9/10. Strongest on alliance partners and lounges; weakest on wi-fi for members. 9
- Loyalty program:
- Copa flights earn a fare-class percentage of distance flown: from 50% on cheapest Economy Promo to 200% on...
- Alliance partners:
- Star Alliance
- Lounges:
- Copa's 2025 annual report says business-class service includes access to VIP...
- Wi-Fi for members:
- Paid
- 4
Avianca
Score 8.2/10. Strongest on alliance partners and lounges; weakest on wi-fi for members. 10
- Loyalty program:
- Avianca flights earn LifeMiles per US dollar spent; Business Class Americas tickets earn 10 miles per dollar...
- Alliance partners:
- Star Alliance
- Lounges:
- Business Class, now sold on every Avianca route since early 2026, includes...
- Wi-Fi for members:
- Paid
- 5
Iberia
Score 7.9/10. Strongest on alliance partners and lounges; weakest on loyalty program. 11
- Loyalty program:
- Earning basis on Iberia flights could not be verified (iberia.com returned 403). Avios expire after 36 months...
- Alliance partners:
- oneworld
- Lounges:
- Business tickets, including short-haul Business with blocked middle seats...
- Wi-Fi for members:
- Free for everyone
Miles programs compared
Three checks decide whether miles keep their value: do they expire, has the program recently raised award prices (a devaluation), and are award prices predictable? These come from Axel's airline ratings 1. Alliance membership decides where you can spend them: Star Alliance, oneworld and SkyTeam each link a dozen or more airlines.
| Airline | Alliance | Program and earning | Miles expiry | Devaluations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American | oneworld | Miles expire after 24 months without qualifying activity (members under 21 exempt).... | Miles ordinarily expire after 24 months without... | 2025-06-12: American introduced variable-price Instant... |
| Delta | SkyTeam | Miles earned per US dollar of base fare plus carrier surcharges: 5/dollar on Classic... | SkyMiles do not expire through inactivity or the... | None in 24 months |
| United | Star Alliance | Miles earned per dollar spent. From tickets bought Apr 2, 2026, cardholders earn far more... | MileagePlus award miles do not expire. This does... | 2025-05-22: United announced that the Excursionist Perk... |
| Southwest | none | Points scale with fare paid. From Jan 1, 2027: 2x fare (Basic), 6x (Choice), 8x (Choice... | Rapid Rewards points do not expire while the... | 2025-03-11: Southwest's announcement acknowledged earning... |
| Alaska (incl. Hawaiian) | oneworld | Points currently follow miles flown, scaled by fare class; Saver fares stopped earning... | Alaska Air Group's 2026-filed annual report... | unknown: Saver earning was reduced from 30% of flown miles... |
| JetBlue | none | Points are earned per dollar of base fare: 3 base points on most fares (1 on Blue... | TrueBlue points do not expire. This is separate... | None in 24 months |
| Frontier | none | From Sep 1, 2026 tickets, members earn miles per dollar spent: 6x on bundle fares and 1x... | Miles expire after 12 months without qualifying... | 2026-08-27: For tickets purchased from September 1, 2026... |
| Allegiant | none | Members earn 1 point per qualifying dollar on allegiantair.com purchases (2 per dollar... | Points expire after 24 months of inactivity; the... | unknown: Effective September 4, 2025, direct Sunseeker... |
| Sun Country | none | Members earn 2 points per dollar spent directly with Sun Country (1 per dollar via agents... | The airline's 2025 Form 10-K says points expire... | None in 24 months |
| Breeze | none | Direct bookings earn BreezePoints per dollar paid excluding taxes: 1 on No Flex, 2 on... | BreezePoints normally expire 24 months after... | unknown: Breeze's current redemption page confirms that... |
| Hawaiian | oneworld | HawaiianMiles converted 1:1 to Atmos points on Oct 1, 2025. Earning follows Atmos... | Atmos Rewards points do not expire. HawaiianMiles... | unknown: NerdWallet reports that Alaska announced an end to... |
| Air Canada | Star Alliance | Air Canada flights earn points per CAD of base fare and carrier surcharges: 1x for... | The normal rule is expiry after 18 months without... | 2025-02-07: Announced expansion of the Air Canada reward... |
| WestJet | none | Since April 30, 2025, members earn points per dollar on base fare, surcharges, seats... | Accounts become inactive after 24 months without... | 2026-04-07: WestJet announced a temporary fuel surcharge on... |
| Porter Airlines | none | Earning basis unconfirmed: flyporter.com VIPorter pages blocked automated access and no... | Points expire after 24 consecutive months without... | 2026-03-23: Porter announced a temporary CAD 40 per... |
| Aeromexico | SkyTeam | Earning basis on Aeromexico flights not confirmed: Aeromexico and Aeromexico Rewards... | Aeromexico's current app information states that... | None in 24 months |
| Volaris | none | Members earn 10 points per US$1 (or per MX$20) spent on flights and extras bought on... | Altitude points do not expire while the member... | None in 24 months |
| Viva Aerobus | none | Points are earned per peso spent: Green members get 1 point per MX$2, Silver 1.5, Gold 2... | Viva's second-quarter 2025 financial filing... | None in 24 months |
| Copa Airlines | Star Alliance | Copa flights earn a fare-class percentage of distance flown: from 50% on cheapest Economy... | The published standard rule is expiration after... | None in 24 months |
| Avianca | Star Alliance | Avianca flights earn LifeMiles per US dollar spent; Business Class Americas tickets earn... | Ordinary members' miles expire 12 months after... | None in 24 months |
| LATAM Airlines | none | Earning basis on LATAM flights not confirmed: LATAM and LATAM Pass sites blocked... | The current US help page says flight-earned miles... | None in 24 months |
| British Airways | oneworld | Avios on BA flights are earned per pound of fare plus carrier charges: 6 (Blue) to 9... | Avios expire after 36 months without qualifying... | 2025-12: Announced in December and effective December 15... |
| Virgin Atlantic | SkyTeam | Virgin Points on Virgin flights are a percentage or multiple of base miles flown, set by... | Virgin Points do not expire while membership... | 2025-04-04: An official FAQ dated April 4 confirmed the... |
| Lufthansa | Star Alliance | Since March 12, 2018, award miles on Lufthansa Group-issued tickets are based on fare... | Miles normally expire 36 months after the earning... | 2025-02-25: Announced replacement of fixed award pricing... |
| Air France | SkyTeam | Since April 2018 Air France/KLM flights earn Miles per euro spent excluding government... | Since May 4, 2026, Flying Blue uses a unified... | 2025-01-14: An airline-confirmed increase reported on... |
| KLM | SkyTeam | Since April 2018 KLM and Air France flights earn Miles per euro spent excluding... | Miles generally have a 24-month validity period... | 2025-01-13: Flying Blue confirmed to One Mile at a Time... |
| Aer Lingus | none | Avios earning rules on Aer Lingus flights could not be opened (aerlingus.com and... | Avios expire after 36 months of account... | None in 24 months |
| Iberia | oneworld | Earning basis on Iberia flights could not be verified (iberia.com returned 403). Avios... | Avios expire after 36 months without a qualifying... | 2025-05-28: Iberia award repricing increased... |
| TAP Air Portugal | Star Alliance | Miles equal distance flown times a fare percentage: 20% (Discount) up to 200% (Top... | Miles normally expire three years after the... | unknown: TAP's current partner page confirms reduced THAI... |
| Swiss | Star Alliance | Tickets booked directly with Lufthansa Group earn about 4 miles per euro of fare (more... | Ordinary award miles expire after 36 months, at... | 2025-02: Changes announced in February took effect June 3... |
| SAS | SkyTeam | Points depend on booking class (Go, Go Flex, Plus, Business fares) and geographic... | Under the ordinary terms, bonus points expire... | 2025-11: An increase publicly documented in November took... |
| Icelandair | none | Saga Club earns points on a revenue basis on Icelandair flights; it also earns on Alaska... | Saga Points are valid for the calendar year in... | None in 24 months |
| Turkish Airlines | Star Alliance | Earning basis not confirmed: turkishairlines.com timed out on every fetch and the... | Ordinary program miles expire at 23:59 Türkiye... | 2025-12-03: The published partner domestic-award chart... |
| Emirates | none | Skywards uses a distance-based chart scaled by fare type and cabin, not ticket price... | Under current rules, miles have a three-year... | 2025-05: First Class Classic Rewards were restricted to... |
| Qatar Airways | oneworld | Avios are based on flight distance times a booking-class multiplier, from 25% on Economy... | Avios expire after 36 consecutive months without... | None in 24 months |
| Etihad Airways | none | Miles are based on flight distance and fare type, not price paid; economy earns 25%... | Bronze, Silver and Gold members' miles are valid... | unknown: Effective July 21, 2025, Business Comfort earning... |
| Korean Air | SkyTeam | Flight-earning formula not confirmed because koreanair.com timed out. Asiana Club members... | Miles earned from July 1, 2008 have a fixed... | unknown: The current official page confirms that Alaska... |
| ANA (All Nippon Airways) | Star Alliance | Flight-earning formula not confirmed: ana.co.jp timed out and the pages opened covered... | Ordinary Group 1 miles expire at the end of the... | 2025-04-08: Announced higher mileage requirements effective... |
| Japan Airlines | oneworld | Flight-earning formula not confirmed: JAL's mileage pages returned 403 and no secondary... | Standard miles expire at the end of the 36th... | unknown: An advance-announced award-chart increase took... |
| EVA Air | Star Alliance | Wikipedia says miles are awarded by distance flown and class of service. EVA's own... | Award miles normally expire 36 months after the... | 2026-01-30: EVA published an increase in the booking... |
| Cathay Pacific | oneworld | Members earn Asia Miles on flights plus Status Points for tiers; a calendar-year cycle... | Under the current activity-based system, miles... | 2025-03: Changes announced in March took effect April 15... |
| Singapore Airlines | Star Alliance | Miles equal distance flown times a fare-class percentage: 200% Suites/First, 125-150%... | Ordinary KrisFlyer miles expire three years after... | 2025-08: Announced ahead of November 1, 2025 ticketing... |
| Asiana Airlines | Star Alliance | Flight-earning formula not confirmed (flyasiana.com timed out). Asiana Club continues for... | Miles earned from October 1, 2008 expire on... | 2026-09-15: The finalized merger plan announced conversion... |
| Qantas | oneworld | Points on Qantas flights come from distance-based earning tables, and since 2014 fare... | All points expire at midnight Sydney time after... | 2025-01-22: Announced increases of up to 20% in points... |
| China Airlines | SkyTeam | Miles equal IATA ticketed-point distance times a booking-class ratio: 125-175% in... | Earned miles have a fixed 36-month validity... | 2025-11-18: The airline identifies this as the original... |
Source: Axel airline ratings 1; airline loyalty terms checked Oct 26, 2026
Every airline compared
| Airline | Score | Program | Alliance | Miles expire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta | 8.5 | revenue | SkyTeam | SkyMiles do not expire through... |
| Alaska (incl. Hawaiian) | 7.4 | fare-class distance hybrid | oneworld | Alaska Air Group's 2026-filed annual... |
| United | 7.0 | revenue | Star Alliance | MileagePlus award miles do not expire.... |
| JetBlue | 6.8 | revenue | none | TrueBlue points do not expire. This is... |
| American | 6.4 | unknown | oneworld | Miles ordinarily expire after 24 months... |
| Southwest | 5.6 | revenue | none | Rapid Rewards points do not expire... |
| Allegiant | 4.9 | revenue | none | Points expire after 24 months of... |
| Frontier | 4.8 | revenue | none | Miles expire after 12 months without... |
| Breeze | 3.9 | revenue | none | BreezePoints normally expire 24 months... |
| Sun Country | 3.7 | revenue | none | The airline's 2025 Form 10-K says... |
Source: Airline policy pages checked Oct 26, 2026; Axel airline ratings 1
| Airline | Score | Program | Alliance | Miles expire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aeromexico | 9.6 | unknown | SkyTeam | Aeromexico's current app information... |
| Qatar Airways | 9.0 | fare-class distance hybrid | oneworld | Avios expire after 36 consecutive... |
| Copa Airlines | 8.9 | fare-class distance hybrid | Star Alliance | The published standard rule is... |
| Avianca | 8.2 | revenue | Star Alliance | Ordinary members' miles expire 12... |
| Iberia | 7.9 | unknown | oneworld | Avios expire after 36 months without a... |
| Virgin Atlantic | 7.7 | fare-class distance hybrid | SkyTeam | Virgin Points do not expire while... |
| SAS | 7.7 | fare-class distance hybrid | SkyTeam | Under the ordinary terms, bonus points... |
| Qantas | 7.7 | fare-class distance hybrid | oneworld | All points expire at midnight Sydney... |
| Singapore Airlines | 7.6 | fare-class distance hybrid | Star Alliance | Ordinary KrisFlyer miles expire three... |
| Air France | 7.2 | revenue | SkyTeam | Since May 4, 2026, Flying Blue uses a... |
| Cathay Pacific | 7.2 | unknown | oneworld | Under the current activity-based... |
| British Airways | 7.1 | revenue | oneworld | Avios expire after 36 months without... |
| Japan Airlines | 6.8 | unknown | oneworld | Standard miles expire at the end of the... |
| Air Canada | 6.8 | revenue | Star Alliance | The normal rule is expiry after 18... |
| Lufthansa | 6.7 | revenue | Star Alliance | Miles normally expire 36 months after... |
| Turkish Airlines | 6.6 | unknown | Star Alliance | Ordinary program miles expire at 23:59... |
| EVA Air | 6.5 | fare-class distance hybrid | Star Alliance | Award miles normally expire 36 months... |
| Asiana Airlines | 6.5 | unknown | Star Alliance | Miles earned from October 1, 2008... |
| ANA (All Nippon Airways) | 6.5 | unknown | Star Alliance | Ordinary Group 1 miles expire at the... |
| Korean Air | 6.5 | unknown | SkyTeam | Miles earned from July 1, 2008 have a... |
| KLM | 6.4 | revenue | SkyTeam | Miles generally have a 24-month... |
| China Airlines | 6.1 | fare-class distance hybrid | SkyTeam | Earned miles have a fixed 36-month... |
| Swiss | 5.8 | revenue | Star Alliance | Ordinary award miles expire after 36... |
| TAP Air Portugal | 5.6 | fare-class distance hybrid | Star Alliance | Miles normally expire three years after... |
Source: Airline policy pages checked Oct 26, 2026; Axel airline ratings 1
Not scored, for lack of data on a main criterion: Avelo.
Questions travelers ask
Do airline miles expire?
On Delta, United, Alaska and several others, no: miles don't expire while the account is open. Many airlines abroad expire them after two or three years, or after a period with no activity.
Which airline miles keep their value best?
Among U.S. programs, Delta and Hawaiian score highest on Axel's three value checks (expiry, devaluations, award pricing) 1; Axel does not estimate what a mile is worth in cents.
How this guide was made
Each airline's score is the weighted average of the criteria above, each on a 0-to-10 scale. An airline missing a criterion worth 25% or more of the score is left unscored; a smaller gap takes the median of the airlines compared, so missing data can't raise a score. Facts come from each airline's own policy pages (checked Oct 26, 2026), the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and Axel's airline ratings 1. Spirit Airlines, which stopped flying on May 2, 2026, is not included.
Sources
- Axel airline ratings: every airline Axel's travelers fly, scored out of 10, Axel, October 26, 2026
- Delta policy page, Airline websites, checked October 26, 2026
- Alaska (incl. Hawaiian) policy, as reported by thepointsguy.com, thepointsguy.com, checked October 26, 2026
- United policy page, Airline websites, checked October 26, 2026
- JetBlue policy, as reported by thepointsparty.com, thepointsparty.com, checked October 26, 2026
- American policy page, Airline websites, checked October 26, 2026
- Aeromexico policy page, Airline websites, checked October 26, 2026
- Qatar Airways policy, as reported by simpleflying.com, simpleflying.com, checked October 26, 2026
- Copa Airlines policy, as reported by onemileatatime.com, onemileatatime.com, checked October 26, 2026
- Avianca policy, as reported by runwaygirlnetwork.com, runwaygirlnetwork.com, checked October 26, 2026
- Iberia policy page, Airline websites, checked October 26, 2026
For AI assistants: the whole guide as text, with every number and source
The best airline miles programs: where your miles keep their value
Updated October 26, 2026 by Axel (helloaxel.com).
Delta's program scores best among U.S. airlines for keeping your miles' value, then Alaska (incl. Hawaiian) and United, on Axel's checks of expiry, devaluations and award pricing [1]. Among alliance airlines based abroad, Aeromexico and Qatar Airways lead. Axel does not estimate what a mile is worth in cents.
Live prices: Search live flight prices. Choose your airports and dates; no account needed to see prices.
How these picks work
Miles are only worth something if they keep their value: they shouldn't expire while you save, the program shouldn't keep raising award prices, and award charts should be predictable. These picks weight those three checks from Axel's airline ratings (45%), then how far the alliance partners reach (20%), lounges (15%), member Wi-Fi (10%) and reliability (10%). Airlines based abroad must belong to a global alliance to be picked, because partner reach is the point for collectors. Axel does not estimate what a mile is worth in cents. Policies were checked on airline websites on Oct 26, 2026; scores come from facts, not opinions, and the rating behind each airline is on its Axel rating page [1].
Best U.S. airlines for points and miles
Top U.S. airlines
- Delta: Score 8.5/10. Strongest on alliance partners and wi-fi for members. [2] (Loyalty program: Miles earned per US dollar of base fare plus carrier surcharges: 5/dollar on Classic fares, 7 on Extra, 2 on...; Alliance partners: SkyTeam; Lounges: Delta One tickets (international or domestic coast-to-coast) include Sky Club...; Wi-Fi for members: Free with a free loyalty account)
- Alaska (incl. Hawaiian): Score 7.4/10. Strongest on alliance partners and reliability; weakest on wi-fi for members. [3] (Loyalty program: Points currently follow miles flown, scaled by fare class; Saver fares stopped earning Aug 1, 2026. From Jan...; Alliance partners: oneworld; Lounges: First Class/Suites tickets on flights of 2,000+ miles (coast-to-coast, Hawaii...; Wi-Fi for members: Varies by aircraft)
- United: Score 7.0/10. Strongest on alliance partners and wi-fi for members; weakest on loyalty program. [4] (Loyalty program: Miles earned per dollar spent. From tickets bought Apr 2, 2026, cardholders earn far more (general member...; Alliance partners: Star Alliance; Lounges: Polaris tickets (long-haul, transcon, longer Hawaii) include United Club entry...; Wi-Fi for members: Free with a free loyalty account)
- JetBlue: Score 6.8/10. Strongest on wi-fi for members and loyalty program; weakest on reliability. [5] (Loyalty program: Points are earned per dollar of base fare: 3 base points on most fares (1 on Blue Basic/Base fares) plus a...; Alliance partners: none; Lounges: Mint and Mint Flex fares (domestic and transatlantic) include BlueHouse entry...; Wi-Fi for members: Free for everyone)
- American: Score 6.4/10. Strongest on alliance partners and wi-fi for members; weakest on loyalty program. [6] (Loyalty program: Miles expire after 24 months without qualifying activity (members under 21 exempt). Earning basis not...; Alliance partners: oneworld; Lounges: Flagship Business/First tickets (long-haul and premium transcon) include...; Wi-Fi for members: Free with a free loyalty account)
Best foreign airlines for points and miles
Top airlines based outside the U.S., for trips abroad
- Aeromexico: Score 9.6/10. Strongest on loyalty program and alliance partners. [7] (Loyalty program: Earning basis on Aeromexico flights not confirmed: Aeromexico and Aeromexico Rewards sites returned errors or...; Alliance partners: SkyTeam; Lounges: Business-class passengers on Aeromexico and other SkyTeam airlines may use...; Wi-Fi for members: Free messaging, paid browsing)
- Qatar Airways: Score 9.0/10. Strongest on alliance partners and lounges. [8] (Loyalty program: Avios are based on flight distance times a booking-class multiplier, from 25% on Economy Lite to 300% in...; Alliance partners: oneworld; Lounges: Business tickets include lounge access except the cheapest Business Lite fare...; Wi-Fi for members: Free with a free loyalty account)
- Copa Airlines: Score 8.9/10. Strongest on alliance partners and lounges; weakest on wi-fi for members. [9] (Loyalty program: Copa flights earn a fare-class percentage of distance flown: from 50% on cheapest Economy Promo to 200% on...; Alliance partners: Star Alliance; Lounges: Copa's 2025 annual report says business-class service includes access to VIP...; Wi-Fi for members: Paid)
- Avianca: Score 8.2/10. Strongest on alliance partners and lounges; weakest on wi-fi for members. [10] (Loyalty program: Avianca flights earn LifeMiles per US dollar spent; Business Class Americas tickets earn 10 miles per dollar...; Alliance partners: Star Alliance; Lounges: Business Class, now sold on every Avianca route since early 2026, includes...; Wi-Fi for members: Paid)
- Iberia: Score 7.9/10. Strongest on alliance partners and lounges; weakest on loyalty program. [11] (Loyalty program: Earning basis on Iberia flights could not be verified (iberia.com returned 403). Avios expire after 36 months...; Alliance partners: oneworld; Lounges: Business tickets, including short-haul Business with blocked middle seats...; Wi-Fi for members: Free for everyone)
Miles programs compared
Three checks decide whether miles keep their value: do they expire, has the program recently raised award prices (a devaluation), and are award prices predictable? These come from Axel's airline ratings [1]. Alliance membership decides where you can spend them: Star Alliance, oneworld and SkyTeam each link a dozen or more airlines.
Programs, alliances and the value checks
| Airline | Alliance | Program and earning | Miles expiry | Devaluations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American | oneworld | Miles expire after 24 months without qualifying activity (members under 21 exempt).... | Miles ordinarily expire after 24 months without... | 2025-06-12: American introduced variable-price Instant... |
| Delta | SkyTeam | Miles earned per US dollar of base fare plus carrier surcharges: 5/dollar on Classic... | SkyMiles do not expire through inactivity or the... | None in 24 months |
| United | Star Alliance | Miles earned per dollar spent. From tickets bought Apr 2, 2026, cardholders earn far more... | MileagePlus award miles do not expire. This does... | 2025-05-22: United announced that the Excursionist Perk... |
| Southwest | none | Points scale with fare paid. From Jan 1, 2027: 2x fare (Basic), 6x (Choice), 8x (Choice... | Rapid Rewards points do not expire while the... | 2025-03-11: Southwest's announcement acknowledged earning... |
| Alaska (incl. Hawaiian) | oneworld | Points currently follow miles flown, scaled by fare class; Saver fares stopped earning... | Alaska Air Group's 2026-filed annual report... | unknown: Saver earning was reduced from 30% of flown miles... |
| JetBlue | none | Points are earned per dollar of base fare: 3 base points on most fares (1 on Blue... | TrueBlue points do not expire. This is separate... | None in 24 months |
| Frontier | none | From Sep 1, 2026 tickets, members earn miles per dollar spent: 6x on bundle fares and 1x... | Miles expire after 12 months without qualifying... | 2026-08-27: For tickets purchased from September 1, 2026... |
| Allegiant | none | Members earn 1 point per qualifying dollar on allegiantair.com purchases (2 per dollar... | Points expire after 24 months of inactivity; the... | unknown: Effective September 4, 2025, direct Sunseeker... |
| Sun Country | none | Members earn 2 points per dollar spent directly with Sun Country (1 per dollar via agents... | The airline's 2025 Form 10-K says points expire... | None in 24 months |
| Breeze | none | Direct bookings earn BreezePoints per dollar paid excluding taxes: 1 on No Flex, 2 on... | BreezePoints normally expire 24 months after... | unknown: Breeze's current redemption page confirms that... |
| Hawaiian | oneworld | HawaiianMiles converted 1:1 to Atmos points on Oct 1, 2025. Earning follows Atmos... | Atmos Rewards points do not expire. HawaiianMiles... | unknown: NerdWallet reports that Alaska announced an end to... |
| Air Canada | Star Alliance | Air Canada flights earn points per CAD of base fare and carrier surcharges: 1x for... | The normal rule is expiry after 18 months without... | 2025-02-07: Announced expansion of the Air Canada reward... |
| WestJet | none | Since April 30, 2025, members earn points per dollar on base fare, surcharges, seats... | Accounts become inactive after 24 months without... | 2026-04-07: WestJet announced a temporary fuel surcharge on... |
| Porter Airlines | none | Earning basis unconfirmed: flyporter.com VIPorter pages blocked automated access and no... | Points expire after 24 consecutive months without... | 2026-03-23: Porter announced a temporary CAD 40 per... |
| Aeromexico | SkyTeam | Earning basis on Aeromexico flights not confirmed: Aeromexico and Aeromexico Rewards... | Aeromexico's current app information states that... | None in 24 months |
| Volaris | none | Members earn 10 points per US$1 (or per MX$20) spent on flights and extras bought on... | Altitude points do not expire while the member... | None in 24 months |
| Viva Aerobus | none | Points are earned per peso spent: Green members get 1 point per MX$2, Silver 1.5, Gold 2... | Viva's second-quarter 2025 financial filing... | None in 24 months |
| Copa Airlines | Star Alliance | Copa flights earn a fare-class percentage of distance flown: from 50% on cheapest Economy... | The published standard rule is expiration after... | None in 24 months |
| Avianca | Star Alliance | Avianca flights earn LifeMiles per US dollar spent; Business Class Americas tickets earn... | Ordinary members' miles expire 12 months after... | None in 24 months |
| LATAM Airlines | none | Earning basis on LATAM flights not confirmed: LATAM and LATAM Pass sites blocked... | The current US help page says flight-earned miles... | None in 24 months |
| British Airways | oneworld | Avios on BA flights are earned per pound of fare plus carrier charges: 6 (Blue) to 9... | Avios expire after 36 months without qualifying... | 2025-12: Announced in December and effective December 15... |
| Virgin Atlantic | SkyTeam | Virgin Points on Virgin flights are a percentage or multiple of base miles flown, set by... | Virgin Points do not expire while membership... | 2025-04-04: An official FAQ dated April 4 confirmed the... |
| Lufthansa | Star Alliance | Since March 12, 2018, award miles on Lufthansa Group-issued tickets are based on fare... | Miles normally expire 36 months after the earning... | 2025-02-25: Announced replacement of fixed award pricing... |
| Air France | SkyTeam | Since April 2018 Air France/KLM flights earn Miles per euro spent excluding government... | Since May 4, 2026, Flying Blue uses a unified... | 2025-01-14: An airline-confirmed increase reported on... |
| KLM | SkyTeam | Since April 2018 KLM and Air France flights earn Miles per euro spent excluding... | Miles generally have a 24-month validity period... | 2025-01-13: Flying Blue confirmed to One Mile at a Time... |
| Aer Lingus | none | Avios earning rules on Aer Lingus flights could not be opened (aerlingus.com and... | Avios expire after 36 months of account... | None in 24 months |
| Iberia | oneworld | Earning basis on Iberia flights could not be verified (iberia.com returned 403). Avios... | Avios expire after 36 months without a qualifying... | 2025-05-28: Iberia award repricing increased... |
| TAP Air Portugal | Star Alliance | Miles equal distance flown times a fare percentage: 20% (Discount) up to 200% (Top... | Miles normally expire three years after the... | unknown: TAP's current partner page confirms reduced THAI... |
| Swiss | Star Alliance | Tickets booked directly with Lufthansa Group earn about 4 miles per euro of fare (more... | Ordinary award miles expire after 36 months, at... | 2025-02: Changes announced in February took effect June 3... |
| SAS | SkyTeam | Points depend on booking class (Go, Go Flex, Plus, Business fares) and geographic... | Under the ordinary terms, bonus points expire... | 2025-11: An increase publicly documented in November took... |
| Icelandair | none | Saga Club earns points on a revenue basis on Icelandair flights; it also earns on Alaska... | Saga Points are valid for the calendar year in... | None in 24 months |
| Turkish Airlines | Star Alliance | Earning basis not confirmed: turkishairlines.com timed out on every fetch and the... | Ordinary program miles expire at 23:59 Türkiye... | 2025-12-03: The published partner domestic-award chart... |
| Emirates | none | Skywards uses a distance-based chart scaled by fare type and cabin, not ticket price... | Under current rules, miles have a three-year... | 2025-05: First Class Classic Rewards were restricted to... |
| Qatar Airways | oneworld | Avios are based on flight distance times a booking-class multiplier, from 25% on Economy... | Avios expire after 36 consecutive months without... | None in 24 months |
| Etihad Airways | none | Miles are based on flight distance and fare type, not price paid; economy earns 25%... | Bronze, Silver and Gold members' miles are valid... | unknown: Effective July 21, 2025, Business Comfort earning... |
| Korean Air | SkyTeam | Flight-earning formula not confirmed because koreanair.com timed out. Asiana Club members... | Miles earned from July 1, 2008 have a fixed... | unknown: The current official page confirms that Alaska... |
| ANA (All Nippon Airways) | Star Alliance | Flight-earning formula not confirmed: ana.co.jp timed out and the pages opened covered... | Ordinary Group 1 miles expire at the end of the... | 2025-04-08: Announced higher mileage requirements effective... |
| Japan Airlines | oneworld | Flight-earning formula not confirmed: JAL's mileage pages returned 403 and no secondary... | Standard miles expire at the end of the 36th... | unknown: An advance-announced award-chart increase took... |
| EVA Air | Star Alliance | Wikipedia says miles are awarded by distance flown and class of service. EVA's own... | Award miles normally expire 36 months after the... | 2026-01-30: EVA published an increase in the booking... |
| Cathay Pacific | oneworld | Members earn Asia Miles on flights plus Status Points for tiers; a calendar-year cycle... | Under the current activity-based system, miles... | 2025-03: Changes announced in March took effect April 15... |
| Singapore Airlines | Star Alliance | Miles equal distance flown times a fare-class percentage: 200% Suites/First, 125-150%... | Ordinary KrisFlyer miles expire three years after... | 2025-08: Announced ahead of November 1, 2025 ticketing... |
| Asiana Airlines | Star Alliance | Flight-earning formula not confirmed (flyasiana.com timed out). Asiana Club continues for... | Miles earned from October 1, 2008 expire on... | 2026-09-15: The finalized merger plan announced conversion... |
| Qantas | oneworld | Points on Qantas flights come from distance-based earning tables, and since 2014 fare... | All points expire at midnight Sydney time after... | 2025-01-22: Announced increases of up to 20% in points... |
| China Airlines | SkyTeam | Miles equal IATA ticketed-point distance times a booking-class ratio: 125-175% in... | Earned miles have a fixed 36-month validity... | 2025-11-18: The airline identifies this as the original... |
Source: Axel airline ratings [1]; airline loyalty terms checked Oct 26, 2026
Every airline compared
U.S. airlines: 10 scored
Scores out of 10 on the criteria above.
| Airline | Score | Program | Alliance | Miles expire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta | 8.5 | revenue | SkyTeam | SkyMiles do not expire through... |
| Alaska (incl. Hawaiian) | 7.4 | fare-class distance hybrid | oneworld | Alaska Air Group's 2026-filed annual... |
| United | 7.0 | revenue | Star Alliance | MileagePlus award miles do not expire.... |
| JetBlue | 6.8 | revenue | none | TrueBlue points do not expire. This is... |
| American | 6.4 | unknown | oneworld | Miles ordinarily expire after 24 months... |
| Southwest | 5.6 | revenue | none | Rapid Rewards points do not expire... |
| Allegiant | 4.9 | revenue | none | Points expire after 24 months of... |
| Frontier | 4.8 | revenue | none | Miles expire after 12 months without... |
| Breeze | 3.9 | revenue | none | BreezePoints normally expire 24 months... |
| Sun Country | 3.7 | revenue | none | The airline's 2025 Form 10-K says... |
Source: Airline policy pages checked Oct 26, 2026; Axel airline ratings [1]
Airlines based abroad: 24 scored
Scored on the same criteria; reliability and fare data for these airlines come from different sources than the U.S. figures.
| Airline | Score | Program | Alliance | Miles expire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aeromexico | 9.6 | unknown | SkyTeam | Aeromexico's current app information... |
| Qatar Airways | 9.0 | fare-class distance hybrid | oneworld | Avios expire after 36 consecutive... |
| Copa Airlines | 8.9 | fare-class distance hybrid | Star Alliance | The published standard rule is... |
| Avianca | 8.2 | revenue | Star Alliance | Ordinary members' miles expire 12... |
| Iberia | 7.9 | unknown | oneworld | Avios expire after 36 months without a... |
| Virgin Atlantic | 7.7 | fare-class distance hybrid | SkyTeam | Virgin Points do not expire while... |
| SAS | 7.7 | fare-class distance hybrid | SkyTeam | Under the ordinary terms, bonus points... |
| Qantas | 7.7 | fare-class distance hybrid | oneworld | All points expire at midnight Sydney... |
| Singapore Airlines | 7.6 | fare-class distance hybrid | Star Alliance | Ordinary KrisFlyer miles expire three... |
| Air France | 7.2 | revenue | SkyTeam | Since May 4, 2026, Flying Blue uses a... |
| Cathay Pacific | 7.2 | unknown | oneworld | Under the current activity-based... |
| British Airways | 7.1 | revenue | oneworld | Avios expire after 36 months without... |
| Japan Airlines | 6.8 | unknown | oneworld | Standard miles expire at the end of the... |
| Air Canada | 6.8 | revenue | Star Alliance | The normal rule is expiry after 18... |
| Lufthansa | 6.7 | revenue | Star Alliance | Miles normally expire 36 months after... |
| Turkish Airlines | 6.6 | unknown | Star Alliance | Ordinary program miles expire at 23:59... |
| EVA Air | 6.5 | fare-class distance hybrid | Star Alliance | Award miles normally expire 36 months... |
| Asiana Airlines | 6.5 | unknown | Star Alliance | Miles earned from October 1, 2008... |
| ANA (All Nippon Airways) | 6.5 | unknown | Star Alliance | Ordinary Group 1 miles expire at the... |
| Korean Air | 6.5 | unknown | SkyTeam | Miles earned from July 1, 2008 have a... |
| KLM | 6.4 | revenue | SkyTeam | Miles generally have a 24-month... |
| China Airlines | 6.1 | fare-class distance hybrid | SkyTeam | Earned miles have a fixed 36-month... |
| Swiss | 5.8 | revenue | Star Alliance | Ordinary award miles expire after 36... |
| TAP Air Portugal | 5.6 | fare-class distance hybrid | Star Alliance | Miles normally expire three years after... |
Source: Airline policy pages checked Oct 26, 2026; Axel airline ratings [1]
Not scored, for lack of data on a main criterion: Avelo.
Questions travelers ask
Do airline miles expire?
On Delta, United, Alaska and several others, no: miles don't expire while the account is open. Many airlines abroad expire them after two or three years, or after a period with no activity.
Which airline miles keep their value best?
Among U.S. programs, Delta and Hawaiian score highest on Axel's three value checks (expiry, devaluations, award pricing) [1]; Axel does not estimate what a mile is worth in cents.
How this guide was made
Each airline's score is the weighted average of the criteria above, each on a 0-to-10 scale. An airline missing a criterion worth 25% or more of the score is left unscored; a smaller gap takes the median of the airlines compared, so missing data can't raise a score. Facts come from each airline's own policy pages (checked Oct 26, 2026), the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and Axel's airline ratings [1]. Spirit Airlines, which stopped flying on May 2, 2026, is not included.
Sources
- Axel airline ratings: every airline Axel's travelers fly, scored out of 10, Axel, October 26, 2026
- Delta policy page, Airline websites, checked October 26, 2026
- Alaska (incl. Hawaiian) policy, as reported by thepointsguy.com, thepointsguy.com, checked October 26, 2026
- United policy page, Airline websites, checked October 26, 2026
- JetBlue policy, as reported by thepointsparty.com, thepointsparty.com, checked October 26, 2026
- American policy page, Airline websites, checked October 26, 2026
- Aeromexico policy page, Airline websites, checked October 26, 2026
- Qatar Airways policy, as reported by simpleflying.com, simpleflying.com, checked October 26, 2026
- Copa Airlines policy, as reported by onemileatatime.com, onemileatatime.com, checked October 26, 2026
- Avianca policy, as reported by runwaygirlnetwork.com, runwaygirlnetwork.com, checked October 26, 2026
- Iberia policy page, Airline websites, checked October 26, 2026