What Else Can You Do With Your Leftover Airline Miles?

This post, What Else Can You Do With Your Leftover Airline Miles, contains references to products from one or more of my advertising partners. When you click on a link to any of these products, I may be compensated. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please visit my Earnings Disclosure & Disclaimer page for more information. Thanks for your support! Please also note that any prices, offers, and terms listed are subject to change at the discretion of the companies mentioned.

 

Are your airline miles just sitting in your account, collecting dust? What if I told you there’s more to those miles than just booking flights? In this article, we’ll explore the world of airline miles and uncover the hidden opportunities and perks that come with them. From luxury hotel stays to exclusive experiences, get ready to unlock the full potential of your miles. So buckle up and get ready to discover what else you can do with those elusive airline miles. Whatever you decide to do with your miles, I recommend reading the airline’s terms and conditions so you know exactly what to expect.

Wait It Out

Depending on the airline you have your loyalty program with, your miles may not ever expire. So all you have to do is wait until you’re ready to resume your flight plans.

Here’s a look at the expiration policies for some of the major airlines. Note that you can still lose your miles if either you or the airlines closes your account. This usually happens when you violate their terms.

Delta SkyMiles miles do not expire unless the account is closed.

United MileagePlus miles do not expire unless the account is closed.

American Airlines AAdvantage miles expire if your account shows no activity within any 18-month period. For a fee, they do give you the option of reactivating your AAdvantage miles once the expiration date has passed.

Southwest Rapid Rewards miles do not expire unless the account is closed.

JetBlue TrueBlue miles do not expire unless the account is closed.

 

Share Your Airline Miles With Friends and Family

If your airline miles are set to expire or you don’t have plans to fly soon, an option is to gift them. Each airline’s gifting program runs a bit differently.

For example, with Delta, you can easily gift -or transfer- your miles to another SkyMiles member through your dashboard. If you want to divide your gift, you have the option of choosing up to four recipients at a time.

With the JetBlue gifting program, you can start a Points Pooling account, where you and up to six of your friends and family members can combine points, and thus earn awards more quickly.

 

Donate Your Airline Miles to Charity

Most major airlines have programs that let you donate your airline miles to specified charities. In some cases, you can even start your own campaign for a favorite charity. The charities use your donated miles to fly to destinations in accordance with their mission.

With United’s MileagePlus Miles on a Mission program, you can transfer your miles to charities like Guide Dogs of America, Special Olympics, and USO. They also give you the option of running your own campaign for the charity of your choice.

Delta’s SkyWish program focuses on military service members, veterans, volunteers building affordable housing across the globe, children with life-threatening medical conditions, and volunteers assisting with disaster relief and recovery during national emergencies. Their partner charities include Canine Assistants, Fisher House Foundation – Hero Miles, and Make-A-Wish America.

American works with a variety of partner charities including Miles for Heroes (which supports military members and their families), Miles for Our Planet, Miles for Global Health & Well-being, and Miles for Social Good.

 

 

 

Convert Your Airline Miles to Hotel Stays

If you still plan to travel, but by car or train, chances are you’ll need a hotel room. Some airlines let you convert your miles into hotel stays.

For example, United Airlines lets you use your miles on hotel stays via their United Hotels site. Simply plug in your preferred destination and dates of travel to see your  options. It’ll then display how many miles you’ll need to book that hotel. Be sure to click the Use MileagePlus miles box.

American Airlines offers a similar program, where you book your stay through their AAdvantage Hotel Rewards site, powered by Rocket Travel.

Using airline miles for hotel stays (or gift cards and merchandise) may or may not yield the best value. It varies. NerdWallet has handy charts that demonstrate whether paying for hotels with cash or airline miles will offer the better savings at a variety of Hilton and Hyatt locations.

 

Use Your Airline Miles to Go Shopping

United MileagePlus offers a comprehensive redemption program that includes gift cards from more than 270 vendors, including Starbucks, Kohls, Williams Sonoma, and Nordstrom Rack. You can also exchange your airline miles for Apple merchandise (iPhones, televisions, watches, and such); as well as event tickets (on hold as of this writing); and in their general shop, which includes categories like home goods, style & beauty, and sports & recreation.

 

If you don’t plan to fly in the foreseeable future or your airline miles will expire soon, these alternatives might be worth a look. Whether you decide to keep or exchange your airline miles really depends on your circumstances. I plan to wait it out, reassured in the fact that airline travel will eventually stabilize. That day can’t come soon enough.

 

This post contains references to products from one or more of my advertising partners. When you click on a link to any of these products, I may be compensated. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please visit my Earnings Disclosure & Disclaimer page for more information. Thanks for your support!