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The U.S. Alcohol Ban Is Now Live: Who's Exempt, Who's Shut Out, and What It Means for Your Wallet

  At 12:01 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 29, the United States stopped letting most packaged Canadian beer, wine, cider and spirits through the border. Not taxed. Blocked. It's the sharpest step yet in the alcohol front of the trade war, and it lands on a very uneven set of shoulders. Two weeks ago we walked through what was coming. Now that it's live, here's what the ban actually covers, who slips through, and what it does (and doesn't) mean for your own budget. What took effect The White House announced the measures on Sept. 8, after Canada's own retaliation tariffs kicked in. The U.S. framed them as a response to Canada's treatment of American dairy, autos and alcohol, and to provinces pulling U.S. liquor from their shelves. The ban covers packaged Canadian beer (including non-alcoholic), wine, cider and spirits, plus whey products, molasses and motorcycles over 800cc. Many of the alcohol products were already facing a 50% U.S. tariff imposed in August; the ban ...
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Do Airline Miles Expire? How to Keep Your Rewards Alive

 

Whether you’re a frequent flyer or an occasional traveler, accumulating airline miles is a savvy way to earn rewards for your journeys. These miles, also known as points or Avios, can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other travel perks. But here’s the catch: many loyalty programs have strict rules regarding mileage expiration. Once they expire, those hard-earned rewards vanish into thin air (unless you’re willing to pay a fee to reinstate them).

Programs with No Mileage Expiration

Thankfully, several U.S.-based airline loyalty programs offer miles that last forever. Here are the top six programs that won’t leave your rewards high and dry:

  1. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: While miles don’t expire, keep your account active by using it within 24 months. If your account becomes inactive, Alaska Airlines can reinstate it at no cost.

  2. Delta SkyMiles: SkyMiles never expire, giving you peace of mind.

  3. Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles: Your Hawaiian miles remain valid indefinitely.

  4. JetBlue TrueBlue: TrueBlue miles are here to stay.

  5. Southwest Rapid Rewards: Rapid Rewards points won’t vanish into the travel abyss.

  6. United MileagePlus: MileagePlus miles endure without an expiration date.

Programs with Expiration Policies

While most U.S. airline programs don’t impose mileage expiration, a few exceptions exist:

  1. American Airlines AAdvantage: Miles expire after 24 months of inactivity. However, primary AAdvantage credit cardholders won’t face this policy.

  2. Frontier Airlines Frontier Miles: These miles expire within 12 months of no earning activity.

  3. Spirit Airlines Free Spirit: Spirit miles also have a 12-month expiration window.

Tips to Keep Your Miles Active

To prevent your rewards from slipping away, consider these strategies:

  1. Open a Credit Card: Some cobranded travel credit cards waive mileage expiration. Check if your card offers this benefit.

  2. Join the Dining Rewards Network: Many airlines and hotels have dining rewards programs. Dining out can keep your account active.

  3. Shop Through the Program’s Portal: Make purchases via the program’s shopping portal to maintain activity.

  4. Transfer Points: Move points from a credit card or hotel program to reset the expiration clock.

  5. Donate to Charity: Some programs allow you to donate miles, which counts as activity.

  6. Take a Flight or Complete a Stay: Flying or staying at partner hotels ensures your miles stay alive.

Remember, understanding each program’s rules is crucial. So, whether you’re redeeming, transferring, or engaging in any program activity, keeping your account active is usually straightforward. Happy travels! 


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