How would I be able to purchace 5 to 10,000 additional miles from northwest airlines?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum35/HTML/001149.html

This probably isn't the correct forum to put this topic in (perhaps the NW board instead), the quickest way to get them is to buy them directly from the airline.

A cheaper route is to find a friend with a Diners Club account and have him transfer miles into your NW account.

If you don't have any DC-packing companions, you can contact me.

But NW will not sell miles to individuals.

Welcome!! I know your new, so FYI, this post should probably be in the Northwest section, you'll get more attention that way.

Too bad you are not from around here (Minneapolis), I don't that in a bad way. I happened to be channel surfing last night when the Northwest logo caught my eye on the TV station. It was our local public tv station. They are on their annual fundraising campaign. If you donated $100 you would get 1,000 miles plus a $100 tax deduction. They had offers all the way up to $1000 for 10,000 miles. I don't know if they offer it every night during their campaign, or during certain times. If I see it again I'll post the phone #.

You also might want to check out http://www.miles4sale.com/

travelnick: While I don't doubt that you saw what you say you saw, I question how the PBS station could claim that you would get 1000 miles and a $100 tax deduction for a contribution of $100 (unless they have a private letter ruling from the I.R.S.)

Normally, the letter that you get from recipients of tax-deductible contributions (the letter is required over $250) states that no goods or services were provided in exchange for the contribution. Even at a lower $ level, if we assume that the I.R.S. watches TV, it seems likely to me that they'll be looking for these deductions... and while FF miles are normally not taxed, they are clearly something of value and nobody should expect to get a $100 tax deduction AND miles for a $100 contribution, IMHO.

I think Diners Club miles are transferable, so maybe you could pay a friend the market rate of $.02/mile?

I would like to clarify something. The only offer that PBS made was the 1000 miles for $100. At not time during their sell did they mention a tax deduction. That was implied by me, and maybe misunderstood in the posting. In the past, I've donated to the local PBS station, but not on this offer. Each year at tax time they send me a charitable contributions statement, telling me how much I donated. This amount is what I can use and have used in my deductions in the past on my taxes. I should have posted that note that always accompanies stuff like this "Please consult with you tax attorney", or something like that.

Sorry for the confusion...

RIchG,

you are correct. They will most likely send a receipt with $75 or so on the amount, since the fair value must be subtracted. Northwest is credited with the other $25. If not, you could play some funny games on the IRS.

I am not a tax advisor, I just play one on FT.