Donate Miles or Cash

In a small way, frequent flyers can help with disaster relief

Through their mileage programs, airlines and some hotel chains permit the donation of miles or cash or both to organizations involved in the relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina.

Miles can be used to provide travel support for both team members of the relief organizations and the victims of Katrina. From a practical standpoint, cash trumps miles, since aid agencies can use money to purchase any goods or services needed to assist relief efforts. But any donation is a good donation. (As a general rule, cash deductions to recognized charities are tax-deductible while mileage donations are not.)

Listed below are airlines and hotels which have established charitable initiatives specifically to benefit agencies helping victims of Hurricane Katrina. In addition to these special efforts, members of the programs of America West, Hawaiian Airlines, Midwest Airlines and Northwest may donate miles to the American Red Cross through the established charitable giving feature of those programs.

AIRLINES

American Airlines

Mileage Program: AAdvantage

Donation Opportunity #1: AAdvantage members who make a cash donation of $50 or more to the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Effort will receive a one-time 500-mile bonus through Sept. 30.

To receive the bonus miles, members must fax or mail a copy of their donation receipt to AAdvantage Customer Service at:

Hurricane Relief
American Airlines
AAdvantage Department
P.O. Box 619688
DFW Airport, TX 75261-9688
Fax: 817-963-7882

Web Link for More Information

Donation Opportunity #2: Through Dec. 31, AAdvantage members can donate a minimum of 1,000 miles to United Way by filling out a form on American's website and faxing it back to American. The miles will be earmarked specifically to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina with their travel needs. American has donated 1 million miles to this fund. (Those in need of travel assistance can call 1-888-675-1405 to see if they're eligible for the program.)

Web Link for More Information

America West

Mileage Program: FlightFund

Donation Opportunity: Through Oct. 31, FlightFund members will earn 500 bonus miles for every $50 donated to the Red Cross.

To receive mileage under the Hurricane relief initiative, FlightFund members must make their donation online here, then mail or fax the donation receipt, FlightFund account number, name, address, phone number and e-mail address to the FlightFund Service Center:

America West Airlines
FFD Hurricane Relief Offer
Attention FFSC
4000 E. Sky Harbor Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85034
Fax: 480-693-8024

Web Link for More Information

Continental

Mileage Program: OnePass

Donation Opportunity: Continental has deposited 1,000,000 OnePass miles into both its American Red Cross and AmeriCares donation accounts to support the relief effort in the areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

OnePass members may donate miles to these two charities, as well as others, on Continental's website.

Web Link for More Information

Delta

Mileage Program: SkyMiles

Donation Opportunity: SkyMiles members can donate miles to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army via e-mail links on Delta's website.

Web Link for More Information

Frontier

Mileage Program: EarlyReturns

Donation Opportunity: Frontier has donated 500,000 miles to the Red Cross and is permitting EarlyReturns members to donate their miles as well. Frontier frequent flyers can make donations by sending an email to RedCross_ER@flyfrontier.com, indicating their name, frequent flyer number and the number of miles to be donated.

Web Link for More Information

Hawaiian Airlines

Mileage Program: HawaiianMiles

Donation Opportunity: Miles can be donated to the Red Cross through the program's established charitable giving option.

Web Link for More Information

Midwest Airlines

Mileage Program: Midwest Miles

Donation Opportunity: Miles can be donated to the Red Cross through the program's established charitable giving option.

Web Link for More Information

Northwest

Mileage Program: WorldPerks

Donation Opportunity: Miles can be donated to the Red Cross through the program's established charitable giving option.

Web Link for More Information

Southwest

Mileage Program: Rapid Rewards

Donation Opportunity: Through Oct. 15, Rapid Rewards members may donate awards to a "flight bank" established to provide travel assistance to hurricane victims and relief organizations. To do so: "Log in to your account through MySouthwest and follow the simple instructions."

Web Link for More Information

United Airlines

Mileage Program: Mileage Plus Donation Opportunity: United is offering Mileage Plus members 500 bonus miles for donations of $50 or more made to American Red Cross, AmeriCares or Operation USA between Aug. 30, 2005 and Oct. 31.

To receive the miles, fax a copy of the donation receipt and your Mileage Plus number to United toll-free at 1-866-583-5943 before Oct. 31.

A maximum of 1,000,000 miles will be awarded to the first 2,000 respondents for this program and will be awarded on a first-come-first-served basis.

Web Link for More Information

HOTELS

Best Western

Guest Program: Gold Crown Club International

Donation Opportunity: For every 50 Gold Crown Club points donated, Best Western will donate $2 to the American Red Cross.

Web Link for More Information

Choice Hotels

Guest Program: Choice Privileges

Donation Opportunity: Points donated to the American Red Cross will be converted to cash donations as follows: 1,000 points = $5; 2,000 points = $10; 3,000 points = $15; 4,000 points = $20; and 5,000 points = $25.

Donations may be made at Choice's website or by calling the Choice service center at 1-888-770-6800.

Web Link for More Information

Hilton Hotels

Guest Program: HHonors

Donation Opportunity: HHonors members may donate points to the American Red Cross in increments of 10,000 points, which convert to a $25 donation.

To make a donation, members can either send an e-mail to americanredcrossHH@hilton.com (including the number of points, donor's name address, and HHonors account number) or call the nearest Hilton HHonors Customer Service Center and request Reward Code RDCRSU.

Web Link for More Information

InterContinental Hotels Group

Guest Program: Priority Club Rewards

Donation Opportunity: Points donated to the American Red Cross will be converted into cash by InterContinental Hotels Group and pledged to the Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund. IHG will match all contributions up to a maximum of $125,000.

Web Link for More Information

Starwood

Guest Program: Starwood Preferred Guest

Donation Opportunity: Through Oct. 31, Starwood is offering SPG members 500 bonus StarPoints for donations of $50 or more to the Red Cross.

To receive the bonus, member must fax a receipt from the American Red Cross showing a minimum donation of $50 with the member's name and Starwood Preferred Guest number printed on the receipt. Fax receipt to the following number in the US or Canada: 519-633-5865

Web Link for More Information