What to do with Airline Miles - Accumulated while working :)

[ShokWaveRider]

When I was working I travelled a lot. I accumulated over $1m with one carrier and $700k with another.

We flew to Australia FC recently and used up a bunch going other places over the years.

Currently I have $380k left with one that expire in 2015 and 200k with another that do not expire.

I looked on the sites and to use one of the carriers miles costs more now in points and CASH that it ever did. AND the cash they want, in my example $300+ per ticket cost more than a discount carrier to the same location.

SO I am thinking of using the miles to buy merchandise. I know this is an inefficient way of using them, but I can get a New Ipad air TOL., buy the DW some new Kitchen appliances and other things I would not normally buy.

Is that a good use of them? We drive most places now and if we go abroad I like the package deals or even Cruises, better purchased on the open market.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

Consider a charitable donation. The major airlines have programs, and a Google search turns up many charities that accept miles.


[Love the tag line in your post. We used to say that about nuclear QC inspectors. I'm an engineer, so I find it especially funny because it's true!]

 

[Chuckanut]

My favorite airline will, next week, devalue my miles by about 10%.
Aren't I lucky?

So I plan on using them ASAP, assuming I can find a seat on a flight I want to take. The last time I tried to do this, no seats where available except at the highest redemption rates.

I am done with miles. Just give me the money.

 

[Meadbh]

Airline points are not the perk they used to be. Fees are getting exorbitant. That said, apparently flights are the most efficient way to use them. I recently booked a trip that had fees of over $600. But a friend de iced to join me. Without points, she spent $1800 on flights.

A couple of years ago I wanted to use up 300,000 points, some if which were about to expire. A nice 10 day Caribbean cruise solved that problem!

Of course it is only a benefit if you wanted to do it anyway. If you can't find rewards that you want, you might be able to gift the points to a person who might use them, or could donate them to charity.

 

[Mulligan]

My favorite airline will, next week, devalue my miles by about 10%. Aren't I lucky? So I plan on using them ASAP, assuming I can find a seat on a flight I want to take. The last time I tried to do this, no seats where available except at the highest redemption rates. I am done with miles. Just give me the money.

Even SW Air is devaluing their points by about 15% in the next month or so. I would traditionally use the card enough along with booking my double points vacations through them to snag a free flight once a year on a good sale day. But I think I will just start using my cash back one all the time. Plus when I travel and book a free flight it is very difficult for me to snag a hotel of my choice at a price where significant savings occurs because I lose the package discount.

 

[KingB]

Get some magazine subscriptions.

 

[powerplay]

Get some magazine subscriptions.

Or maybe lots of magazine subscriptions! Surprise all your friends.