How to Trade Airline Miles for Gifts
Passengers aboard most airlines today have the ability to earn miles or points for their travels. After accruing a set number of traveled miles, passengers are then able to redeem those miles for more travel. But not everyone who flies wants to redeem these miles for extra time in the air. It is in the airlines' best interest to reward passengers with these travel-related perks rather than with merchandise. As a result, the airlines do not always make exchanges for merchandise easy or obvious. However, there are ways to purchase non-airfare goods if you look around.
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Instructions
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Most airlines will have an option to redeem miles on their website. Start by looking under the menu labeled with the carrier's frequent flier program (Skymiles for Delta, AAdvantage for American Airlines, Dividend Miles for US Airways, etc.).
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Depending on the airline with whom you have miles to spend, it may have shopping opportunities on its website (US Airways has a direct link to its Shopping Mall). If the airline does not, it will have links to other websites such as points.com or Magazines for Miles. These sites will allow you to "shop" with your miles or convert them into other points or miles with another carrier.
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When you are redirected to a different site, you will need to sign up for its program, which requires you to share your log-in for your airline program. Sites like points.com will then allow you to do any number of things with your miles. You may merge them with other airline accounts, purchase additional miles, trade miles with other people or simply buy merchandise.
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Tips & Warnings
Since airlines would prefer that you use your miles to fly with them again, be persistent in your search if you really do not want to buy another flight. There is almost always another option for spending your miles.
If you think you may be flying again before your miles expire, it may be wise to continue to collect your miles and redeem them for a flight. The items purchased with miles are not always a good deal compared with the money you could save on a future flight.
Miles do expire. Keep track of when your miles expire, or you may lose all of them
Be aware that when transferring or sharing miles, there tends to be a bit of an exchange rate, and you will not always come out ahead. It is wise, when possible, to use your miles for yourself.
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