Loyalty programs · By Points Frog Editorial ·
Avios' terms describe a 36-month inactivity rule based on qualifying collection or use. That makes the activity record the useful starting point for an expiry review. Logging in or receiving a marketing email is not the same as collecting or using Avios.
Review the correct balance
Check the account holding the Avios you intend to preserve. Avios can be used across several participating programs, but their accounts and conditions should not be treated as one interchangeable dashboard. Read the terms applying to the account and activity in question.
If you plan to earn through a partner, check when the credit is expected to post. A transaction made close to the deadline can be less reliable than one completed with time to resolve a missing credit. Keep the receipt and verify the actual account entry.
Avoid buying activity without a useful goal
Imagine a small balance approaching its inactivity deadline. Before spending money to protect it, search a reward you would realistically use. A hypothetical 4,000 Avios saving $30 on a trip you already plan has a different practical value from a balance that would require an extra holiday to spend.
A purchase made only to preserve points should be compared with that realistic value. If the product is something you need anyway, its own value belongs in the comparison. If it is unnecessary, the whole cost is part of preserving the balance.
Record the qualifying transaction date and the revised validity shown after it posts. Do not assume that a transfer between accounts or any movement of points necessarily has the same effect as qualifying earning or spending. Use the official terms for the exact action.
A yearly account review can help before the deadline becomes urgent. Check balances, upcoming travel and secure access together. The goal is to keep useful rewards available without turning expiry into a reason to overspend or make a booking that does not fit your plans.
A practical way to decide
An expiry review works best as a small calendar task. Record the date shown in the account, the action required to extend or use the balance, and the time it may take to post. Set your reminder early enough to deal with a missing credit. A receipt proves you made a purchase; it may not prove the program has credited the points.
Do not spend more than the balance is useful to save. First identify a reward you would use, then compare the cost of preserving the account with that reward's practical value. Small balances can still be handy, but a new trip or an unnecessary purchase can cost more than the points it protects.
Keep planning
Read our related guide, British Airways Household Accounts: shared Avios do not mean shared status, for the next part of the decision. For a different angle, see British Airways Avios and cash: compare the payment combinations. You can also explore Points Frog’s other rewards guides.
Sources and date checked
Rules checked October 13, 2026. Examples in this guide are hypothetical, not live offers. The current booking quote and the issued award’s terms govern your trip. Avios terms.