Lots of airline companies offer rewards programs to their customers in the form of frequent flyer programs. Although I know I’ll never fly enough to earn free travel, it seems like a waste to not sign up for these programs. Just because I’ll never use those miles doesn’t mean someone else can’t use them; I can donate them to a charity to help offset their operating costs!
Below you will find a list of charities that accept frequent flyer miles. The charities are organized by type and note the miles programs accepted. Please click on the name of any charity for specifics about donating.
Health
American Cancer Society — Delta, United
Mercy Medical Airlift — Delta, United, US Airways
Orbis — Asia, United
Children
Make-A-Wish — Continental, Delta, United, US Airways
UNICEF — Delta
Emergency Relief
Americares — Continental, United, US Airways
Red Cross — Continental, Delta, United
Military
Operation Hero Miles (Fisher House) — AirTran, Alaska, American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Midwest, NorthWest, United, US Airways
Check back to this post regularly, as I plan to update the list with additional charities as they are brought to my attention. If you do not see a charity listed, please suggest it in the comments below and I will add to the list.
