For many a semi-frequent flyer in the Virgin Islander, New Year's Eve has been a time for gnashing of teeth as well as sipping of champagne.
That's because American Airlines, the carrier with the largest presence in the territory, has had a policy of zapping at the end of each year any AAdvantage frequent flyer program miles that had lain around unused for, in most cases, three years.
In contrast, the next-biggest carrier serving the islands, Delta Air Lines, for the last three years has allowed its Delta Skymiles to accumulate indefinitely provided that customers continued to fly with the company.
Now, there's good news for American customers: The Texas-based airline has announced that miles accumulated through the AAdvantage program will last indefinitely too, as long as passengers "use their accounts" at least once every three years — by accruing or cashing in miles.
US Airways, the only other carrier providing daily scheduled service between the territory and the mainland, has been allowing customers' Dividend Miles to accumulate with no requirements for account activity. However, beginning with the year 2000, US Airways patrons will also have to fly the airline at least once every three years to keep their award miles intact until they choose to redeem them, a spokesperson said.
Among the other major U.S. carriers, Northwest Airlines made a similar move to eliminate expiration dates last January. American's action leaves United Air Lines as the only major carrier that now allows accumulated miles to disappear if they aren't redeemed by specified dates.
