United Slashes Time For Frequent Flyers To Use Miles To 18 Months

"By shortening the amount of time a Mileage Plus account can remain inactive," reads the press communique I just received from United Airlines, "United's most loyal customers will compete with fewer people for award seats, making it easier for them to redeem their miles."

And, said senior VP Dennis Cary, the change "brings our program in line with major competitors."

Well, not necessarily. 

American Airlines doesn't take anyone's miles away until an account has been inactive for 36 months.   Delta doesn't take any action unless an account has remained dormant for 24 months.

Now, I'll be the first to admit it's not difficult to keep an account "active."  After all, you don't have to fly on an airline to keep your miles current.  You can start that 18-month clock ticking all over again if you do just about anything related to your United account, including using miles to acquire merchandise or designating your United Mileage Plus account the recipient of miles when you patronize any partner vendor, such as a hotel chain or rental car company.  In short, any activity that budges your miles up or down counts toward proving your account isn't "inactive."

But there may be some passengers who have accumulated lots of United miles but because of circumstances, haven't had occassion to fly the airline recently.  When I lived in Washington, DC, I flew United often; since I've moved to Saint Paul, where Northwest dominates the local market, I rarely have reason to fly United.  Yet I have almost 500,000 miles on United.  This new 18-month rule behooves me to pay attention and make sure I generate some kind of activity in my account lest I begin to lose those half-a-million miles I've piled up.  I know, I know--I should be using those miles before they get devalued when United raises award levels.  I will, just as soon as I find the time to make an optional trip using United.  Presuming, of course, United has an award seat available when I want to fly.