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Giving Back – How To Donate Unused Rewards Miles & Points

Are your miles about to expire? Don’t rush out and spend them on something you don’t need. Donate them to charity instead. “These miles are making a difference,” says Tish Stropes, vice president of the Maryland-based Fisher House Foundation, which manages Hero Miles, among other charitable organizations. Hero Miles uses donated miles to fly family members to visit wounded members of the military.  Most major airlines and several hotel chains have charity programs that benefit from miles donations. All of these programs partner with a long list of organizations benefiting everything from cancer research to cultural pursuits. For some airlines, you can do some good by donating as few as 500 miles.

How it works

Even though you can’t claim a tax deduction for donating rewards, it’s a nice option when you find yourself with less discretionary income and, if you travel a lot for business, a pile of unused and about-to-expire miles.

Most major airlines offer a few ways for members of their frequent flyer programs to donate miles. The best place to start is the airline’s website where phone and mail options are listed, or you can donate online after checking out the airline’s charities. Many times donating is as simple as plugging in your membership number and choosing how many miles you want to give. You usually have to donate at least a minimum amount, and that number can vary widely – from 1,000 points or fewer, up to 10,000 points and beyond – depending on the charity. You also can donate miles over the phone by calling the airline’s customer service number and requesting its frequent flyer program. Delta also offers an email option, a mailing address and fax number for miles donations. Some large charities, such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of seriously ill children, will also take miles donations directly.

The airlines have been terrific, but if it wasn’t for the American people donating their miles, this would not be possible.

–Tish Stropes, Hero Miles

Mak-A-Wish is supported by several major U.S.-based airlines, including Delta, United, American Airlines, Southwest and JetBlue, underscoring the popularity of programs that help children in need. Kids’ fantasies have become more ambitious since the first wish was granted in 1980 to a child who wanted to become a policeman. In 2016, fulfilling a typical wish cost about $10,000. More than 77 percent of all wishes have a travel component. Granting every wish that comes over the transom would require 50,000 round-trip tickets each year. “More than 168 million airline miles were donated to Make-A-Wish,” says Josh deBerge, director of communications for Make-A-Wish America. “To put this into context, Make-A-Wish would need more than 2.8 billion airline miles to cover all air-related costs for wish kids and their families.”

According to American Airlines, 60,390 AAdvantage members donated more 144,759,621 miles in 2016 to the airline’s Kids In Need program, providing transportation to more than 300 children (and their families) in need of medical, educational and social services attention.

Hero Miles is another option you’re likely to find on your airline’s list of charities, even though Hero Miles has been around only since 2008. Five airlines offer Hero Miles donation options and it’s grown rapidly, with 63,000 tickets booked so far. “By adding a family’s love to the healing process, these service members are able to heal faster and get out of the hospital,” Stropes says. Airlines work cooperatively with Hero Miles, waiving booking fees and rescheduling emergency flights as needed, without charging extra. “The airlines have been terrific, but if it wasn’t for the American people donating their miles, this would not be possible,” Stropes says.

Charities where you can donate your miles

Organizations to donate miles to by category

If you’re looking to donate to a specific cause or category of causes, you can look through organizations that popular U.S. airlines support through mile donation programs.

Helping those with disabilities 

  • Disabled Sports USA – Airline: United

Their mission is to provide leadership and opportunities for those with disabilities to develop independence, confidence and fitness habits through community sports, recreation and educational programs.

  • Guide Dogs of America – Airline: United

They are dedicated to providing guide dogs and instruction free of charge to blind and visually impaired men and women from the U.S. and Canada.

  • Special Olympics – Airline: United

They provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

  • Canine Assistants – Airline: Delta

They use donated miles to transport service dogs to help adults and children with disabilities.

  • Special Olympics Hawaii – Airline: Hawaiian Airlines

Special Olympics Hawaii provides year-round sports training for those with intellectual disabilities who live in the Hawaiian Islands.

Helping youth programs

  • Miles for Kids in Need – Airline: American Airlines

The American Airlines Kids in Need program provides medical, educational, and social services to help give children a better future.

  • Children’s Miracle Network – Airline: Delta

They use donated miles to transport kids across the country for necessary pediatric treatment.

  • Unicef – Airline: Delta

They use donated miles to deliver safe water, healthcare, educational materials and more to children all over the world.

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii – Airline: Hawaiian Airlines

 They are a preventative, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children ages 6 to 16 grow by matching them with volunteer mentors.

  • HUGS (Help, Understanding, and Group Support) – Airline: Hawaiian Airlines

HUGS is a private, nonprofit charity in Hawaii that provides a variety of support services to families whose child has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness or a medically fragile condition.

  • Shriners Hospital for Children – Airline: Jetblue, United

Shriners is a pediatric hospital with multiple locations dedicated to providing healthcare to children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate.

  • Make-A-Wish® – Airline: American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United

Make-A-Wish® grants thousands of wishes for children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions each year throughout the U.S. and its territories.

  • The JetBlue Foundation – Airline: JetBlue

The JetBlue Foundation promotes interest in STEM fields by working hand-in-hand with local and national organizations and schools to help develop educational programs and support aviation-related initiatives.

  • DoSomething.Org – Airline: JetBlue

DoSomething.org is one of the largest organizations for young people and social change, with 2.9 million members who tackle campaigns that impact a wide variety of causes worldwide.

  • City Year – Airline: Jet Blue

City Year is an education-focused, nonprofit organization that partners with public schools and teachers to help keep students in school and on track to succeed through providing young AmeriCorps volunteers to support students who need extra care and attention.

  • First Book – Airline: JetBlue

First Book is a nonprofit social enterprise that has distributed more than 120 million brand-new books and educational resources to the largest and fastest growing network of schools and programs serving children from low-income families throughout the U.S. and Canada.

  • PENCIL – Airline: JetBlue

PENCIL creates innovative and impactful models of ongoing collaboration between businesses and New York City Public Schools.

  • Cradle of Aviation – Airline: JetBlue

Cradle of Aviation serves as an educational center in Long Island that promotes contribution to aerospace, science, and technology.

  • Alaska Pride – Airline: United

Alaska Pride emphasizes the importance of education and success after high school through meaningful afterschool programs.

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