AA Miles

[Got2Cruise]

Is there any other uses for AA miles? We don't travel often, only one vacation a year, and it seems our AA miles always expire before we have enough to cash in. At one time there was a link to donate to the military and another time I think I received a magazine subscription. I would rather donate than have my miles expire, any ideas?

[6rugrats]

There is no need for your miles to ever expire. You merely need some sort of activity in your account. Lots of info on AA's webpage:

 

http://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/programDetails/purchasingMiles/purchasingMiles.jsp?from=Nav

 

https://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/programDetails/mileageCredit/nonAirMileageCredit.jsp

[parody]

The AA website lists a pretty broad range of ways to use miles other than for travel. A simple magazine subscription will keep your miles alive for another year and one-half. See the list here.

[PennyAgain]

Yes, you can donate your AA miles, but do keep them 'alive' by having some sort of small transaction. If you sign up for AA eshopping, doing so is very easy.

 

One iTunes transaction is enough.

[greatam]

AA Citibank credit/debit card-not only do you accumulate miles with each purchase (and there are very often bonus miles offers for dining, flowers, shopping), but each time you make a purchase and add even a couple of miles, the expiration date extends.

[Keith1010]

You can donate your miles to charity though AA.

 

You can also book a flight before they expire for something that is many months out.

 

You can also use the miles for Hotels booked through AA Vacations.

 

Keith

[TrqoisWtrs]

We don't travel often, only one vacation a year

 

Same here. But we haven't paid for airfare for our last 6 or 7 trips - next up, Fiji. Use our AA cc for everything - including auto pay each month on some utilities. Miles will never expire... :) In fact, I just got an email from them a few weeks back with a new toolbar you can download. Will automatically pop up a window if you visit a website where you can earn miles.

[Fattony]

Check the program's Web pages for a full list of what you can use the miles for, ranging from rental cars, to restaurants to hotels. If in doubt, call the program. And the idea of donating some (if not all) to charity is a nice idea. There are several programs, including some to fly children and families to hospitals for medical care, to programs to soldiers and their families. Not sure about tax deduction for this.