I think the phenomenon described above is something common to US contemporary culture. Family members, friends, coworkers, etc, outside the US have never asked me for money, free tickets, etc. However, US friends and co-workers have on occasion asked for spot loans, miles to top-up their own award requests, etc, and I don't mind donating occasionally, but it depends on my mood. Overall, I do see this as being indicative that there is a comfort level with the culture of begging in the US, and I view the Halloween tradition of sending children to stranger's houses to beg for sweets in the same light.

If they had the temerity to ask, I would explain exactly what these miles cost me. Actual costs of mileage runs and forgoing cash back credit cards options can be expressed in very real hard numbers. They are not free.

Fortunately I have never been asked for "free" tickets by friends or family. However, I have given away almost a million miles to others to take mission trips or once in a lifetime trips. YMMV.

My miles spent on others have included miles supporting my retired parents' travel - they would never ask for my miles and the initiation is mine. Recently, I knew that a young twenty-something who sometimes watches my dog was off to the west coast, and I made arrangements for him.

The only outright request I have ever gotten was just last week - a buddy had a sudden funeral to go to and my miles provided excellent itinieraries which would othersied have set him back $1500. I am certain that in some way shape or form that favor will be returned - in all fairness, I may have already owed it to him.

I don't think many people go around advertising the balances of their FF accts or bank accts. Its pretty easy to piece together when you miss out on alot of events because you're traveling to NY, Chicago, London, Hong Kong, Singapore etc.

Alot of comments I just ignore or don't respond to. But I have a cousin who likes to bring up travel every family event. She graduated college and doesn't have a job because she wants to see the world before settling down (why don't you do the opposite and get a job first and then see the world on your own dime).

Uncle silver-tls, you've already been around the world so you don't need your miles, care to sponsor a poor college graduate on the trip of a lifetime?

My response: Sure - as soon as you get a job and earn enough vacation time. Your parents gave up alot of their time and money to put you through school so you can get a job and earn everything. And when I travel, its not vacation. I fly 14 hours, get off a plane and if I'm lucky, I will get a shower before plugging through meetings all day. Barely get 2-3 hours of sleep before another day of meetings and then I fly back home.

I'll rarely ever redeem an award for myself so its either for the wife and kids or parents. Thats where the world has gone...healthy and educated - expecting handouts.

It happens to me every so often. I remember a friend of mine offered me $20 to fly him PHX-DFW-PHX figuring that because the flight was 868 miles each way, I'd only need to spend 1,736 miles on him and I had thousands.

never really had a 'request' for miles but several times i have traded $ for miles. i will book first class reward trip for a buddy in exchange for $500. then i will purchase a revenue tix for myself. we both get to ride upfront for half price. same with hotels. win/win

Many people believe these deals are "too good to be true" and there has to be a catch.

I've stopped telling people about deals because no one takes advantage. My girlfriend thinks im crazy yet loves the free gift cards!

Just don't let the airlines hear you talk about selling award seats like this.

i feel your pain!

I told my parents this year that the thing I want most for Christmas is 20k miles. They have a TON of miles and are as passionate about traveling as I am, and this would be my Christmas gift from them, not a random handout. I actually have plenty for what I want to do, but would like to purchase my son's ticket using those miles.

I know many people who are in awe of the traveling I do (not much compared to YOU guys, but at least one international trip a year plus a few domestic trips), and especially at the fact that my international tickets cost me the $48 fee to redeem my miles. However, I work very hard to keep up with promotions and earn miles in every way possible, and this is WITHOUT using a credit card. The people I know just don't want to take the time.

Same with coupons - I get a TON of stuff for free. I have enough razors, toothpaste, pasta, etc. to last me years and I didn't pay a penny for it. (Just yesterday I bought a Hungry Hungry Hippos game, laundry detergent, sea salt, and yummy noodles and with tax, the total came to $0.35) Everyone is amazed, but feels it's too time-consuming for them to try it themselves.

Slickdeals guy, huh?

I get people asking me (mostly jokingly, because they know that its asking a lot) but I simply say "you can do it too, just take advantage of some of the offers I keep telling you about."

90% of the responses, "too much time."

What about offering money for them?

I had that happen once - a friend and his wife needed to go to California at the last minute. Airfares were almost $800 each, but there were FF tickets available. He asked if he could buy two tix off me for $750, and I agreed. He paid the taxes and fees ($165 total, almost all the late booking fee), but he got his tickets for a hefty discount and I pocketed some easy money.

I wouldn't offer to sell tickets, but if someone asks a fair price, I wouldn't mind doing it every now and then (don't want to get flagged, so wouldn't do it too often).

I had that recently happen to me. A friend asked if he could buy some of my miles. I just sort of shrugged off the comment, but was later annoyed by the request and started thinking...

I generally redeem for international trips giving me 6-7% return per mile, however I recently redeemed 150K BA miles (with a companion cert) for two First class tickets worth $24K. I will get 30K redeposited back into my account due to a Chase promo, so my net is 120,000 BA miles. After I deduct the fuel and tax charges, I'm getting $22,808 in airfare for 120K miles. If someone wants to buy my miles, my new price is 19 cents per mile.

+1 to you. This is exactly how I feel about my miles. If someone's that close to me and is in a situation like that, I'd be more than happy to help.