You Can Use Your Frequent Flier Miles to Purchase More Than Just Plane Tickets

I have often used my frequent flier miles for airline tickets. I belong to several airline mileage programs so that no matter which airline I fly with I'm collecting miles which I accumulate until I can use them. I have also transferred miles to another person's account and bought a frequent flier ticket for someone else.

I know that some people may see no sense in belonging to a mileage program because they don't fly that much. They don't see how they would receive enough points to buy a ticket with them. Or perhaps they really don't want to use those miles for a plane ticket. I researched some of my favorite airline websites to see what the different companies have to offer beside frequent flier tickets.

Some of the sites offer just a few options. Some of them are like a huge one-stop opportunity to have a shopping spree on just about anything you might want.

Please understand I am only listing four airlines because they are the ones I use the most. I am including them to give you an idea of what is out there and what you can reasonably expect for your miles from the airlines that you may fly on or use to buy merchandise through.

I am citing Continental's, Delta's, USAirways's and Southwest's websites because they are the airlines which I am the most familiar with.

One solution for using your miles is covered by all the airlines, except Southwest. You can give your miles to someone else who needs the credit for a ticket. They do need to have an account with the same airline which you are transferring the miles through. Or you could use the miles to purchase the ticket for them yourself. I've
done that several times as well as transferred the miles from one account to another.

Continental, Delta and USAirways all give you the opportunity to donate your miles to a worthy list of charities. Continental and Delta also offer on-line auctions where you can bid on the specialty items that are being currently offered. Often these auctions are also for a special cause or theme.

Three of the airlines, not including Southwest, offer subscriptions to magazines. Delta and USAirways also include national newspaper subscriptions.

USAirways doesn't offer anything else in its program.

Southwest offers international flights on other airlines since they don't fly outside this country. They also offer more than 70,000 hotel stays throughout the world from big chains to small independent establishments. You can also rent a car, take a special tour or cruise. You can also purchase a gift card for your favorite store like Home Depot, Amazon or Best Buy among a huge list.

Delta provides car rentals, stays at hotels. They also offer Broadway tickets or an opportunity to purchase a Sky Club membership. This you can use while you wait in the airport when you do fly, enjoying a drink, privacy and other amenities instead of waiting in the gate area.

Both Delta and Continental offer a marketplace shopping opportunity for using your miles. They have a wide range of items as full as what you might find at a warehouse store. You can find items as varied as sporting gear, small appliances, children's items as well as jewelry among other things.

Continental does charge for their merchandise differently. All of the airlines except for Continental charge totally in frequent flier miles and the cost can be from a few thousand miles to several ten thousand miles. Some items can cost as much or more than a frequent flier ticket.

Continental charges you one hundred miles per purchase plus half the price of what the item would cost in a retail store plus the cost of shipping your order.

If you are planning to add to your frequent flier miles account you can acquire the needed miles either by flying or by availing yourself of the different opportunities offered on your airline's website. You can purchase something, fulfill some kind of activity or acquire a credit card that awards your purchases with miles or points. Some banks also offer special debit cards which reward purchases with points or miles for an annual fee.

I buy items through my favorite airline websites to accumulate more frequent flier miles to my accounts without the expense of a plane ticket. I have bought the miles that I needed or used cash with the miles that I already have. I've also done different activities offered by the websites which have definitely added to my frequent flier mileage accounts.

Sources:

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/onepass/rewards/other/merchandise.aspx

http://www.delta.com/skymiles/use_miles/index.jsp

http://www.usairways.com/en-US/dividendmiles/usemiles.html

https://www.southwest.com/rapidrewards/redeem-more-rewards