Use 'em or lose 'em: Air Miles sets expiry date

Fri Dec. 30 2011 12:39:36 PM The Canadian Press
TORONTO — One of Canada's most popular loyalty programs has a message for Air Miles collectors: use 'em or lose 'em.  As of Saturday, participants in the Air Miles reward program will be required to use their existing miles before they expire on Dec. 31, 2016.  In addition, reward miles earned after New Year's Eve will only be valid for five years after they're first posted. Air Miles collectors gather miles by making qualified purchases from the program's participating sponsors. Until now, the miles -- redeemable for eligible merchandise, including electronic goods, plane tickets and vacation packages -- never carried an expiration date.  The changes come on the heels of a new instant-redemption feature called Air Miles Cash.