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Right now, with travel at a standstill and essential workers toiling around the clock to keep us safe, it’s important we find ways to contribute whatever we can. If you’re looking to donate to worthy causes, there’s another way you can pitch in: by giving away the miles and points you’ve accrued through airlines and hotels.

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Loyalty programs that allow donations

Not every airline is eligible for donating points and miles, but here are the domestic and international carriers that are:

Airlines aren’t the only avenues through which travelers generate points . These hotels also grant loyalty program members the option to donate their points to charitable organizations:

How donating points and miles works

The loyalty programs that you have grant you access to your points through their online platforms; as simple as it is to get to your account, it’s as easy to donate.

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Head to your loyalty program’s donation page (link available above)

Log into your account

Select the charity you would like to place your donation with

Place the exact number of miles and/or points you would like to donate to that respective organization

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Which charities participate?

Airlines and hotels have partnered with numerous reputable charities. Here are a few we recommend:

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Your airline or hotel will have their own lists of charitable organizations that they have partnered with . For example, Best Western offers discounts to free rooms for first responders through their Best Western For a Better World program. Delta SkyMiles has over 15 charities to choose from.

How points/miles translates to charity

Some charities will use your points/miles for their intended purposes of booking flights or rooms—depending on what they are in need of at the time. These flights and rooms would go to service members, nurses, doctors, and in some cases, people in need of quarantine.

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Each charity will have a minimum donation amount for points and/or miles—typically 1,000. All programs vary in how the miles and points translate into your charitable donation. Some will convert immediately into a cash donation (25,000 miles = $100) and are readily deducted from your loyalty program. However, it’s always best to know your specific loyalty program’ s donation qualifications.

Are these donations tax-deductible?

Unfortunately, no, according to the IRS. As a United spokesperson told Smarter Travel, “Frequent flyer miles are a reward for loyalty. They do not constitute property. And the IRS does not grant deductions for something you don’t pay for.”

Source: Lifehacker.com

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