What About My Miles?

Ok, so maybe gas prices are leveling off. But, airlines are still charging an arm and a leg. Because we've been so focused on the tiny little fees they've been imposing, most of us have failed to notice the diminishing value of our frequent flier miles. MSNBC.com posted a video of a report on how frequent flier programs are being hit hard among the airlines' fee increases. The issue is simple: the frequent flier programs are remaining the same while it costs more and more to travel. The same amount that used to take a U.S. citizen to Hawaii now gets them to Arizona; a vacation few find appealing.

So how can we possibly get the most use of our miles?

With no end in sight to the nickel and diming the airlines seem to be doing, they've added a few extra benefits to their programs. Of course, not all programs are the same so you'll have to check with your specific airline, but here are a few tips for getting more from your frequent flier program:

• Upgrades. Some airlines are charging more for upgrades now so you'll have to determine whether it's worth it for you. But, sitting in a roomier seat can really make the difference on a long flight.
• Fly your family. Since you can't get to Hawaii, how about flying your sister down from Nebraska? You can't transfer miles to someone else, but you can purchase a ticket for them. It's a great way to keep in touch when you can't get where you really want to go.
• Hotels. Maybe your romantic vacation to Spain has been postponed but you can definitely have a nice weekend retreat to a nearby 5 star hotel. Get yourself a massage, order room service and a nice bottle of champagne. As long as you charge it to your room, you can use your miles to pay for it.
• Lounge it up. If you're like me, you've gazed into the airport lounges as you walk through the terminal to your gate thinking, "Man, that looks cool." Now's your chance to live it up. Use your miles to purchase a lounge membership. Use it for that long layover you have in Atlanta or just to unwind after an intense day of meetings.
• Rental car. So you're tired of cruising around town in your beat up Chevy pickup. Give the poor thing some rest and use your miles on a brand new Benz. Ok, so it won't be yours forever, but hitting the open road in that bad boy for the day or even the weekend could be lots of fun.

There's no doubt that airlines have pretty much put the kibosh on using your frequent flier program for...well, flying. But, that doesn't mean your miles should go to waste. Do a little research about your program and see what you can do with yours. You've spent several thousands of dollars to get those miles and they should do what they were intended to do - reward you.

Have you put your miles to clever use? Tell us about it. Whose frequent flier program do you subscribe to? What kinds of perks do you enjoy?