Miles expiring? Consider donating them to charity
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With the end of the year nearly upon us, many of us are looking to make charitable contributions. Don’t forget to consider donating miles.
Many of us have small balances in some frequent flyer accounts. Miles that aren’t going anywhere — or taking us anywhere — fast. Instead of letting them expire worthless, donate some of those miles to a charity.
Sure, you could exchange them (at a loss) via Points.com. Or you might cash them in for a magazine subscription.
But as reader Jennifer at Daily Mitzvah reminded me, most U.S. airlines offer a charitable donation feature. Here’s a list.
If you can’t use your miles, let someone else benefit. Any airlines missing? Add them in comments!
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December 21st, 2007 at 1:45 pm |
This Web site might help many of your readers with additional information:
miledonor.com
the whole Web site lists how to donate via airline charities as well as how to donate to charities of your own wish that are not supported by airlines and hotels. As well, this page:
http://miledonor.com/requests/donate.php
has a registry of people with medical and other type needs seeking travelers with miles/awards to donate.
Hope this helps.
December 23rd, 2007 at 2:08 am |
Thanks for the hat tip — a mention in my favorite blog! I was also delighted to learn about the site Randy Peterson mentioned. Such heady company — and an activity to occupy my time while we wait out this travel-canceling storm here in the upper Midwest
December 23rd, 2007 at 3:33 am |
Airtran - all points expire 12 months after earning, with days to go I saw on their site that you can donate to the Childrens Wish Foundation.
December 23rd, 2007 at 1:30 pm |
Does the expiration date of miles I donate appply to the charity as well? In other words, do I need to donate them several months before expiration so that the charity can use them before they expire?
December 24th, 2007 at 11:17 am |
to a lot of people, the system is not setup to incentivize them to donate miles. Airlines consider unredeemed points as assets on their balance sheets, and we even have websites that can calculate the “dollar worth” of each airline’s points, and yet we dont get a tax deduction out of donating miles. The IRS considers cash and gift as “assets”…but not the miles! So some people will feel that they might as well claim a couple magazines than donating them. Even a partial deduction (say $1 deduction per 150 miles) will still be very much welcomed. Either that, or the airlines can possibly find an alternative to “reward our goodwill”…
January 10th, 2008 at 11:14 am |
For Delta, the minimum donation is 5,000 miles.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:52 pm |
Our organization’s mission is to provide outdoor adventures for combat-injured, disabled US Veterans, at no cost to themselves. We transport these veterans from their residence to the adventure & return.
I would like the contact information for airline departments that make charity decisions.
Thank you,
Laura E McGlasson