What to do with unused USAir miles?

[dkrause716]

Does anyone know what I could do with 6,944 US air miles? We rarely use this airline anymore and I'd love to get something out of them! Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[ducklite]

Log on to your account at US Airways and click on "Donate Miles". US Air accepts donations of miles and splits them evenly between Make a Wish and Save the Children, two fine charities.

That should give you a tax deduction based on 10 cents a mile.

Or you could order a bunch of magazines.

Anne

 

[rgf207]

definately donate them. They go to many good causes including make a wish and I believe they go to armed forces members who are stationed overseas

 

[dkrause716]

OK, thanks! Didn't realize you could do that.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Thanks for the info because my family has about 6000 each which will equate to 24000 miles. Do you know if US Air automatically sends you a tax donation letter or if you have to specifically request it?

 

[safetymom]

You also can get magazines for the miles.

 

[dcandmc]

Anne-
Are you sure about the value of $.10 per mile for tax deduction purposes in the case of donated miles? That seems awfully high. Do you have a reference or source for this figure?

 

[dcandmc]

Did a Google search on "Frequent flyer miles donation tax deduction" and found the following:

Readers: Miles on their Minds

Question from Robert F.

Can I get a tax deduction for donating my frequent flyer miles to a charity?

Answer

In a word: No.

As a policy matter, for tax purposes, frequent flyer miles have never attained the status of "property." And as a practical matter, the valuation of miles remains a notoriously inexact science. So the IRS simply ruled them non-deductible.

Don't let that dissuade you from exercising your charitable instincts.

All major airline programs have miles-for-charity features. And a newly launched website, MileDonor.com (http://www.miledonor.com/), pulls together charitable-giving specifics from the airlines' programs.

Would-be donors can search MileDonor for information on their programs' own designated charities. Or they can search by charitable organization, to determine which programs support a specific charity.

 

[scottsod]

we have had 2 trips from nj to st louis on mircle flights for surgery for my son and mircle flights or other such places could realy use your extra miles

thanks
scott