How do I donate my unused miles?
Are your miles about to expire? Don't rush out and spend them on something you don't need just to get rid of them. Donate them to charity instead.
"These miles are making a difference," says Tish Stropes, who manages Hero Miles. Run by the Maryland-based Fisher House Foundation, 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. The average donation is 25,000 miles -- half the amount a charity typically needs to purchase a round-trip domestic fare. However, for most airlines, you can do some good by donating as little as 1,000 miles.