We've seen a couple threads here over the years where people have got caught at the check in counter ("look at the great deal I got"), so there is some risk when you sell miles (although I recognize you haven't had any problems). If someone using your miles made that statement to the check in agent, how are you going to respond when the airline calls? Do you get some type of background packet on the person that will ultimately be using the miles, so you can cover for each other?

Why not just a cash rebate credit card to work around all this?

Welcome to FT!

The airlines forbid anything like an arm's-length business transaction. They allow anything that's a personal arrangement between people with a prior connection. That's a bit of an oversimplification, the fine print varies from one airline to the next, but it's the basic idea.

Since airlines are not legislatures, they can't make this illegal. All they can do is make it a violation of program rules. The punishment is limited to what they can do with their programs: confiscate miles, invalidate awards, close accounts. For many of us here, that's severe enough.

(Reportedly, under California law at least, it's against state law to use a ticket for carriage in violation of its terms and conditions. If that's correct, it is actually illegal to sell miles there, though I'm not aware of anyone being hauled into court for it.)

AcnNWAPlatinum,

Most airlines allow us to give an award ticket as a gift, but not to sell or barter. In practice, if you use your miles for a ticket for your cousin & his workmate or sports teammate, the airline has no way of knowing what they did (not) give U in return. All that airlines can do and are doing is to crack down on Ebay & brokers advertising in newspapers & on Websites.

So UR fine & safe here! Just make sure that your giftees know something about U so that they sound like legitimate friends or relatives if ??ed.

Also, airlines find cash sales more offensive than barter for other awards, which I believe is the reason for the rules on our Coupon Connection--to fly under the radar of the airline employees who police this stuff.

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I wonder if this is a matter CA can regulate, especially where the travel is interstate and might involve other than residents of CA. It seems to be there might be tricky Constitutional (US) law questions in that. But if there have been no attempts to enforce such a provision of CA law or no judicial reviews of the law, then we wouldn't know with any confidence. (I expect The Terminator has too much on his plate these days to worry about the sale of frequent flyer miles/awards.)

thats right.. have been stuck with one of those once....

Not long ago, I bought a pair of those speakers and recently one of them broke. But I forgot to ask the guy what alley I can find him in, in the event I ever needed warranty service!

OT, but...

I don't know about anyone else but I always hide my boarding pass once I know my seat number. My name and FF# are no one else's business but mine. You'd be amazed at how much info people reveal in casual conversation or leaving scraps of paper about.

i bought a pair more than 20 years ago
mine are still going strong
warranty perios is long ober!!

i sat once next to a mileage broker... and he wanted to share only his contact info... would not tell me any number in miles or dollars as to what he could do... said that would require contacting him once i have firm dates and travel plans... i guess he dint want anyone to know all the tricks of trade...

I would refrain from making stereotypical allegations on Insurance brokers (or anyone else for that matter as Im sure you have your fair share if judged). Clearly shows the level of arrogance (or ignorance?...probably both) portrayed by your post. And, seems to me Mr. Nice might be more interested in hourly rental males...
Good Luck Nice, how does your medicine taste?

This forum has gotten WAY off topic.... lets all grow up here people.

Jim

�Ditto for insurance salesmen, the hourly rental girls and persons who want to change my religion etc.� �Couldn�t the same be said for attorneys?�

RIGHT ON!

It probably used to be easier to do. I remember before ID was required at the airport I used to buy tickets out of the classifieds with other peoples names for half price or less when I needed to go somewhere. It was never allowed though. You could never do that now, that's for sure, at best you would be lectured, at worst you would be arrested or go on the no fly list.

OK...hope this is on topic. My friend, someone I have known for 20 years (we were college classmates) is willing to redeem some of his miles for me to fly to Asia this summer. I obviously want to reimburse him for some value of the miles. What is a good rule of thumb for figuring out how much the free ticket is worth (this is a business class ticket on CX going to SIN) so I can offer a fair and reasonable amount for his trouble. 1.5 cents/mile would yield a price of about 1600. I could buy my own ticket and use my own miles to upgrade for that price. Would 800 be reasonable? I have never done this before, so I have no idea what is fair. I certainly don't want to short change him, and he won't sell the miles through a broker.

LOL. I guess I'm not that worried about it.

Do you also shred all your incoming mail rather than toss it in the trash when you are done?

I'll take my chances on what could happen and save the time and stress by not caring.