Many airlines make it very easy to use your miles to book a ticket for someone else. The most important detail to be aware of is that you don't need to transfer your miles to someone else to book a ticket in their name. While many airlines offer mileage transfers, it's often at a steep price.

Yes, you can generally use your frequent flyer miles to book a flight for someone else in 2026. Most major airlines (such as American, Delta, and United) allow you to redeem miles directly for a ticket in another person's name. During the high-fidelity booking process, you simply enter the traveler's details instead of your own. However, there is a high-fidelity distinction between booking for someone and transferring miles. While booking for another person is usually free (aside from standard taxes/fees), transferring miles from your account to their account almost always incurs a high-fidelity fee, often around one cent per mile plus a processing charge. In 2026, some airlines have introduced high-fidelity "Pooling" or "Family Accounts" (like JetBlue and Air Canada) that allow members to share miles for free. It is a high-fidelity requirement to ensure the names on the ticket exactly match the passenger's ID, as miles-based tickets are subject to the same high-fidelity security and identity verification as standard cash fares.