How to Redeem Airline Miles for Something Besides an Airline Ticket

When the airlines reduced their routes and frequency of flights, the outcome was high-occupancy on flights. This change has resulted in travelers finding it difficult to use their frequent flier miles to find a free mileage seat on overcrowded planes. Stories abound among travelers of calling months in advance and being unable to find a single seat to their desired destination. In addition, airlines have tightened the rules for nonactivity of frequent flyer accounts and issued more aggressive deadlines for mileage expiration. If you cannot find a mileage seat for your next vacation, or your miles are due to expire soon, how else can you use them?

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Redeem miles for magazine or newspaper subscriptions. For example, United lets you use miles toward a subscription for the "Wall Street Journal." If you have Northwest Airlines miles, you can redeem those miles toward a subscription of a favorite magazine such as "Food & Wine" or "Golf World."
2. If you hold Elite status on United Airlines, use your miles to buy merchandise ranging from LCD TVs to cameras and printers.
3. Use Delta miles for their SkyMiles Online Auction, which allows mileage holders to bid on unique experiences and access to VIP events.
4. Redeem American Airlines miles through their redeemAAMiles program for car rental and hotel stays.
5. Donate your miles. Some airlines partner with charitable organizations, and your miles will be used to support these programs.
6. Register with Points.com. This service lets you earn, buy or swap your miles and points among reward programs and can be redeemed for gift certificates.

Tips & Warnings

• Airline rules are continually changing. Visit the websites of the carriers you fly to keep abreast of current rules for frequent flyer programs.