Can non-AARP members get these? Or should I bug me mother for 'em ?

Anyway, what you could do to go even further, is to use the HD gift card you got from AARP at a discount to actually use it to buy MORE HD gift cards via the NW or UA malls at HomeDepot.com!

Currently, one can get miles from those two malls when buying HD gift cards. Hardly any other gift card purchases made via the mall will count. AA's no longer allows this but NW and UA still does give mall miles for HD gift card purchases. The reason why this is valuable to guys like me is because I do shop there a lot so having a gift card is fine by me.

As well, many here may know of promos that require big spending in a short period of time to meet the requirements of said promo. So often times I am in need of a certain $ threshold for such a promo at NW, for example, and so I just go buy like $500 worth of HD gift cards at the site via the NW mall. That $500 spending may have triggered the promo (there was one last year--I think the valentine's day one, which awarded like 10,000 miles or something).

Well, now I am left with this massive HD gift card but that can be used any time, thereby not forcing you to go out and make a big purchase in some sort period of time usually dictated by some promo just to make their threshold/promo requirement timeframe. Now, with the $ HD gift card, I can use it any time I want in the store!

Obtaining these via the HD website incurs no shipping charges either.

I have not yet tried to use one to buy on their site but now you know I will!
MM

ps: as with anything involving miles--especially mall purchases, always DO keep detailed printouts and records on your transactions. More times than not I have had to fight with the airline to get my miles.