# Travel >> Travel Preparation >> Travel Planning

How to Redeem Less Than 25,000 Frequent Flier Miles

Some 17 trillion frequent flier miles sit in accounts, some earned by people that never stepped on a plane. The value of these miles is estimated at $500 billion; some call them America's second currency. But many of these miles will go unredeemed. Program participants often fail to earn the 25,000 or more miles required for a ticket and are unaware of ways to redeem miles in lesser quantities.

500 or more frequent flier miles

Instructions

You Don't Need 25,000 Miles to Redeem
- 1
  Check the airline's website. Many programs have redemption opportunities for magazine or newspaper subscriptions starting at just 500 miles. Miles can sometimes be used for upgrades, a pass into the airline's lounge or hotel vouchers.
- 2
  Points.com allows you to swap miles from a number of airline programs. You can convert them to miles in other programs or merchandise at Amazon, Starbucks and other stores.
- 3
  Hilton's HHonors program will convert your miles from a variety of airlines into points in its program. These can be applied toward hotel vouchers, other programs' miles, even dining or spa visits.
- 4
  Milehighswap.com allows you to trade miles for an unusual variety of products or services. Offerings change often as they're posted by users.
- 5
  Convert miles and consolidate into one program (see link in Resources below) to attain a ticket or other desired reward. If a mileage program offers miles as an enrollment bonus, sign up, then convert those, too.
- 6
  Buy miles from your airline if you are close to 25,000 miles (or whatever the minimum mileage is to redeem for a ticket). Check the airline's website for details.