Frequently Asked Questions

I do not have enough miles for an award ticket. Can I still donate them?
Yes. American Airlines, Continental Airlines and Northwest Airlines allow mileage earned through their respective programs to be donated in any amount. Frontier Airlines, Midwest Airlines and United Airlines allow donations of a minimum 1,000 miles; Air Canada requires a 2,500-mile minimum and Delta Air Lines and US Airways allow donations of at least 5,000 miles.

My favorite charity is not partnered with any loyalty program. How can I donate miles to it?
Check with the charity. They may have a program alliance of which you are not aware, or they may have a process by which you can either donate an award ticket or pledge your miles toward an award ticket. Check the Donation Requests area for more information. If your charity of choice is unfamiliar with frequent flyer donations, direct them to the "How can charities solicit miles?" area for more information.

Are my donated miles tax-deductible?
Probably not. If you didn't pay for them, they have no monetary value, at least to the IRS. If you did pay for them, have sufficient documentation, and are willing to risk an audit with such an unusual deduction, you may. For more information, see the Income Tax Deduction on Awards.

I am in need of free travel for my own use. Where do I go?
If you are in need of travel for charitable purposes, you can contact various charities directly. If your circumstances are unique, you may register to solicit miles in our Donation Requests area. Donating visitors to this web site can peruse the listings there, and if interested, can contact you directly.

My miles are about to expire. Won't they expire before the charity gets a chance to use them?
No, not if you go through the airline programs themselves. Once miles have been transferred to a participating organization, they never expire. Not so with award tickets, however. If you are donating an award ticket, be sure that it will remain valid for a reasonable period of time.

I can't decide on a particular charity. What are my options?
Consider donating to an umbrella organization like the United Way. Alternatively, Midwest Airlines allocates donations on an as-needed basis; Alaska Airlines has a Charity Miles Pool where the accumulated miles are distributed at year-end to the airline's supported charities.

If I pledge or give an award ticket to a charity, either for their own use or auction purposes, won't I be violating the rules of my frequent flyer agreement?
Probably not. Most programs allow you to give an award to anyone you designate by name. That's why it's best to simply pledge the miles required for the award. Once a recipient has been named (for example, the auction winner), you can book the award for them.

Are there any fees involved in donating miles?
No.

How can I remove a request once it's been added to the site?
Send us an email from the address you used to submit the request and we'll remove your entry from the system.

How do I donate my miles/points to a particular charity?
Use the link over on the right, titled "to charities sponsored by frequent traveler programs" to start the process. If you have particluar program miles/points and want to know which charities that program sponsors, choose the program from the drop down list. You'll be presented with a list of charities as well as instructions on how to donate those miles/points.

If you still have questions, feel free to use our contact form and thank you for your interest in our site and services.