United follows Delta in allowing lifetime frequent flyer miles

United Airlines is changing its frequent flyer plan so that miles accrued don’t expire in a member’s lifetime. Wednesday’s change to MileagePlus aligns United’s program with those of Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways. Delta changed its mileage expiration policy in early 2011. American Airlines requires members to earn or redeem miles at least once every 18 months, as had United. Southwest Airlines and Alaska Air Group require account activity at least once every 2 years. The more generous policies reflect efforts to make airlines’ co-branded credit cards -- and the miles attached to spending on them -- more attractive to travellers. “We want to demonstrate to our members that we are committing to them for the long haul,,” Luc Bondar, United’s VP of loyalty, said. <br/>