Buzz
If you've accumulated airline miles or points, you may be holding on to them for a future flight. But if a trip isn't on the horizon, it might be worth exploring alternative ways to redeem those miles.
Why? Because, as we’ve mentioned before, the value of your points or miles isn’t fixed. Airlines frequently adjust their reward programs, and using your miles sooner rather than later is often the best strategy to get the most out of them.
Moreover, you could convert your airline rewards into something useful right now. As The Points Guy points out, it’s still possible to redeem travel rewards for non-travel goods—although some loyalty programs have temporarily suspended certain redemption options, such as gift cards. The Points Guy also warns that some airlines may face bankruptcy due to the pandemic, which serves as an additional reason to redeem your miles while they remain valid.
Here's what I discovered after quickly reviewing the major airlines. I’m not including flight, hotel, or vacation package redemption options, which are still widely accessible; instead, I’m focusing on ways to redeem your miles without stepping foot outside.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Mileage Plan miles can be redeemed for magazine subscriptions and charitable donations.
American Airlines
American AAdvantage miles can be redeemed for newspaper subscriptions, LifeLock identity theft protection, and charitable donations.
Delta Air Lines
Delta SkyMiles can be redeemed for merchandise, magazine subscriptions, and charitable donations.
JetBlue
JetBlue TrueBlue points can be redeemed for charitable donations.
Southwest Airlines
Although Southwest's More Rewards page is still active, attempting to redeem Southwest Rapid Rewards for a non-travel reward results in the following message:
Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, we have temporarily paused the ability to redeem points through More Rewards. We apologize for the inconvenience and anticipate returning to normal operations soon. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this period.
United Airlines
United MileagePlus miles can be redeemed for merchandise, gift cards, online shopping, and charitable donations.
If you hold a non-airline-specific travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you likely have access to even more reward redemption options. While I understand that redeeming travel and airline rewards for non-travel items might lower their value, the decision is yours: whether to use your rewards now, at a reduced value, or save them for an uncertain future.
You might also consider switching to a cash-back rewards card—since if you're going to be spending more time at home, it's a good opportunity to earn some extra cash.
