Czech Airlines OK Plus is making some changes to the program, effective May 1, 2012. From that date, all miles will have a date stamp of 24 months. If you don’t use your miles within two years, they will automatically expire. Additionally, you must take a paid flight (award tickets don’t count) on Czech Airlines at least every 24 months to keep your OK Plus account active, regardless of when the miles were earned.

The program also made a few changes to the elite program on March 25, 2012. Elite Silver, Gold and Platinum members who are upgraded to business class will be charged 100 percent of the basic miles earned on the flight. To qualify for elite status, members must complete a minimum of two flights on Czech Airlines in a calendar year, in addition to satisfying existing elite status qualification requirements. OK Plus Platinum members will no longer receive lounge vouchers to give to friends and all current unused vouchers will expire on June 30, 2012.

Business travelers who earn points in an OK Plus Corporate account for company travel will no longer also earn miles or segments in their personal OK Plus account.

Also changing is the minimum mileage amount for members flying internationally. Members will earn a minimum of 750 miles on international Czech Airlines flights, formerly it was a 1,000-mile minimum. Domestic Czech Airlines flights will continue to earn 500 minimum miles.

And be sure your email address is updated. The airline will no longer be mailing paper account statements to members. To view all of the changes, visit http://insideflyerus.wpengine.com/link/?6317

Bottom line: Members are understandably upset by these changes. Not only do miles have to be used within two years, members must fly on Czech Airlines every two years to keep their account active. Partner activity and flights on SkyTeam airlines won’t count.