A common misconception among rewards program members is that selling airline miles is legitimate. Most airlines prohibit the exchange of airline miles for cash in an effort to maintain sole control over ticket prices. Nevertheless, there are methods to sell airline miles that navigate around credit card company and airline regulations.
Transfer your airline miles to friends and family with a token amount of money received. This approach is advisable if you are approaching expiration dates and want to get something for your miles without gouging people close to you.
Consult the restrictions set by airlines and credit card companies before you sell your airline miles. The restrictions and penalty set forth by Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards and other programs make selling your miles a dicey proposition (see Resources below).
Exchange your airline miles with another account holder who has reward points of greater value. These unconverted reward points can be used for daily cups of coffee, office supplies and sponsor items that are more valuable to you than extra miles.
Register for an account with an online broker to sell your airline miles quickly. You can use services like Jet Set Travel to sell your rewards in a hurry if you don't mind getting reduced return on true value (see Resources below).
Plan the sale of your airline miles well ahead of expiration to avoid losing out on your rewards. You should block out airline miles used for business trips and sell off the surplus quickly to get the best value.
Hold off on selling your airline miles until you reach a level that is attractive to business travelers. You can move your miles in rapid fashion if the buyer can travel to international destinations without accumulating additional miles.
Donate miles that cannot be sold to benefit charity and earn a tax deduction. Nonprofit organizations like Operation Hero Miles use airline miles to help struggling individuals travel, and the value can be written off on your income tax return (see Resources below).
