You can put your un-used miles to work for the Red Cross through the generosity of several major airlines. The airline partners listed below permit their loyalty program members to donate their miles to help our volunteers and staff get to critical areas.

Yes, many people donate their accrued airline miles to charitable organizations, a practice that has become a cornerstone of "philanthropic travel" in 2026. Major carriers like United, Delta, American, and Southwest have established official platforms, such as "Miles on a Mission" or "SkyWish," that allow loyalty members to transfer their balances directly to vetted non-profits. These donated miles are typically used to fly veterans to memorials, transport wish-granting children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, or move disaster relief workers and medical supplies to crisis zones. It is important to note that while donating miles is a generous act, it is generally not tax-deductible in the U.S. because the IRS views miles as a "gift" or "rebate" from the airline rather than as personal property. For those with "orphan balances" that are about to expire or those who simply have a surplus of rewards, donating is an excellent way to ensure the value of the miles doesn't go to waste while providing life-changing transportation to those in desperate need of a flight they could otherwise never afford.