I too used to bank miles for re-unions etc., but given bankruptcies, the airlines saying they can change the rules at any time and the fact that you can lose them anytime, I have started to use them as soon as I need them. This year I burned 100,000 OP miles for our vacation (me, the little woman and a couple of kid's). I also have burned 180,000 for the NW flights ORF to Osaka in July, 1st class for me and my son. I did spend 10,000 miles so my Mom could fly first class LAX to EWR.

I think the botttom line is use them or lose them. Has anyone donated miles? I did that with mile NW miles since I was using OP instead.