How to Donate Airline Frequent Flier Miles
If you have some frequent flier miles accumulated that perhaps you don't need, there are many charities out there that transport people and could use those miles. Most of the major carriers are partnered with several charities to allow you to donate unused frequent flier miles to help them with travel needs. With a few minutes' worth of effort, you can put those miles to good use.
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Things You'll Need
- Computer with Internet connection
- Frequent flier account with a mileage balance
Instructions
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Determine where you want the donation to go. Most airlines maintain a list of charities where frequent flier miles can be donated; this list can usually be found at the carrier's website. In some cases, the airlines will offer incentives for donations made to certain preferred charities. If you have a particular charity in mind, you can also visit that charity's website or call them to find out whether they can accept mileage donations from your carrier. MileDonor.com is a good connection point to locate charities and individuals in need of miles, and the programs that partner with them. (See Resources 1)
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Determine your airline's procedure for donating miles. This will generally be found in the frequent flier section of the airline's website. Some airlines allow you to donate in certain mileage increments; some of the major carriers let you donate in any amount. In some cases, you may be able to designate miles online; in other cases, you may need to email or call. If you have a specific individual in mind to whom you want to donate miles, the process might be as simple as redeeming a ticket in their name or transferring miles to an account in their name. Check with your carrier to decide on the best procedure for this.
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Contact your carrier and follow their instructions for making the donation.
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Tips & Warnings
If you don't have enough miles accumulated to donate or don't have the exact increments your airline allows, most carriers will allow you to purchase extra miles to donate. Contact your airline to learn how to do this.
According to MileDonor.com, in most cases donations of frequent flier miles are not tax-deductible because they are essentially travel rewards you have not purchased. (See Reference 1) Even the purchase of extra miles might or might not qualify for a tax credit. It is not advisable to attempt to claim mile donations as tax deductions without the advice of a tax attorney. Safer yet, just enjoy giving to a good cause and don't worry about the tax break.
