Airmiles is one of the longest running loyalty programmes in the United Kingdom offering reward points for individuals with their credit cards. In an announcement this week it was determined that over 1.7 million customers received notice that they may lose their airmiles.

It is possible to use the credit cards to accrue miles by shopping online, purchasing plane tickets, and much more. However, for numerous customers who have a balance of 500 miles or less, and have not added to this balance in the last two years, they could lose what they have already obtained.

The letter sent out to the consumers stated that if in the next six months these consumers do not earn at least one mile they will lose everything they have worked for. The company’s actions have upset many of their consumers.

They do not feel the company has any right to take away the miles they have earned nor to close their accounts because of no activity. One spokesperson regarding this issue stated it would be like telling a consumer if they have not deposited any money into their bank account in the last few years that they will close it down and keep the money.

About 6 million consumers in the UK have Airmiles credit cards. They can earn rewards by making purchases, with online shopping, buying petrol, or even on mortgage options. These miles are then used to get a flight. For the last several years there has been no expiration date on these miles. Now there is an expiry date and it is six months hence.

Part of the letter was to get consumers to spend with the credit card again. It has worked, since thousands of consumers have been using the card to collect miles so that they do not lose what they have.