I know it has probably been covered in this forum before, but I browsed through the last 20 pages of threads and the closest to something similar I saw was this: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=370215 . I'm sure a lot of folks out there have the same questions that I do about this, so please post your input (and/or direct me to a thread where it has been covered in depth).

I have stranded 13,076 miles in DM and here is what I'm looking at as my options. Any ideas on other/better ways to use these miles would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

1. Transfer the miles to a family member that could use them. As far as I know, this is impossible, so it is out as an option unless someone on here can enlighten me.

2. Get the US DM Visa for 15K extra and fly a domestic RT award. I'd love it if I could work this out. I'm sure I'd be approved for the card, but worry that by the time the 15K posts and I actually find award availability from WAS to IAH/HOU (where I fly domestically - fiancee in Houston), I could be SOL with US facing Chapter 7, scant awards, and be out the annual fee. If I were to apply today, how long would it take for the 15K to post to my DM account? What happens to the DM Visa card if US gets liquidated?

3. Exchange them at Points.com for either 760 AA miles, or a $29 Starbucks gift card, or about $50 worth of eBay pseudo currency. Seems like a pretty crummy value for 13K miles, but better than nothing.

4. Donate them. To where / to whom? Is this somehow tax deductible as a donation? Good ideas on good causes? I'd rather give them away so they can do some good rather than see them fizzle if the program tanks. Suggestions involving making sick kids happy are the best in my book.

5. Trade them on Coupon Connection. No idea if/how this could work and I'm guessing that it would face the same roadblocks as trying to give them to a family member, but we've got some really creative people on FT, so lets hear your ideas.

6. Use them to get some crackerjack prize from a catalog. Is it possible to use Dividend Miles on magazine subscriptions or on getting some overvalued catalog item? I didn't see anything on this on the US website. Maybe there is a third party that would accept these?

Thanks in advance for the info!!!

peace,
~Ben~

That number of miles in your account is as good as showing a 16 to a dealer's 10. :)

-JC

That number of miles in your account is as good as showing a 16 to a dealer's 10. :)

-JC

It wasn't always this way.. Once upon a time I and the other happy citizens in the magical land of Solvency held many treasured miles deep in the safe keep of Castle Dividend. Then the evil ogres Competitirog, Mismanagementor, and Unionorth began pounding at the castle gates and I ran with all the miles I could carry to the tranquil land of Rewardia. What was left behind may perish forever.

So how about a suggestion on taking a hit and pulling a 5 from the deck? Any ideas?

peace,
~Ben~

That number of miles in your account is as good as showing a 16 to a dealer's 10. :)

-JC

Then the stats say to surrender if that's an option, and if not, hit.

I'd go for getting the miles required for a 20K off-peak award (7K via credit card application or something else similar) and then you can redeem that. If you want a flight after 1 March, then you'll need 25K.

Then the stats say to surrender if that's an option, and if not, hit.

I'd go for getting the miles required for a 20K off-peak award (7K via credit card application or something else similar) and then you can redeem that. If you want a flight after 1 March, then you'll need 25K.

Always a tough hit to make even with the stats saying its your best bet (other than surrender).

But agreed, perhaps find a way to get the extra mileage into your account and get an offpeak award. It's the best value for using your remaining miles.

-JC

I'd go for getting the miles required for a 20K off-peak award (7K via credit card application or something else similar) and then you can redeem that. If you want a flight after 1 March, then you'll need 25K.If one needs to "top off," the Diners Club card is always a good instrument for doing so, if one already has an account with points accrued. (I have my sponsor code in my profile if anyone needs a referral, but that won't help for near-term travel unless you'll be spending a lot soon.)

When searching for US rewards in September, I found it hard to find awards if staying less than a week or two, from about a dozen cities on both coasts to ATL.

As of last year US Air miles could be used to purchase magazine subscriptions - it won't burn that many miles, but it would eat up a few. I got Golf and Food & Wine.

Thanks for this information.

If one needs to "top off," the Diners Club card is always a good instrument for doing so.Between 1 November 2004 and 31 January 2005, Diners Club is offering a 30% bonus on all transfers of DC points to US miles. One must register first.

http://www.usairways.com/dm/2857


:)

See also What to do with 17,400 USAir miles? (31 Dec 04)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=384733

Yet another thread on this topic.

Suggestion for using 9,550 miles? (10 Jan 05)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=388203

For every 2000 miles, get 26 issues of The Economist.