Kokua Line
By Gregg K. Kakesako
Wednesday, July 17, 1996
Hildegaard Verploegen is on vacation
Frequent flier wants his miles donated to charity
QUESTION: I am interested in donating my frequent-flier miles to charity. Can this be done and what are the procedures?
ANSWER: Frequent-flier miles can be donated, but such gifts are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. It would help if you had a charity in mind. That way, you can contact them directly and work with them. A partial list of some airlines and their programs follows:
- American has several different programs ranging from the National Children's Cancer Society to the Variety Club's International Lifeline and the Shriners Hospital and the Mayo Clinic. Write to American AAdvantage for Kids; MD 1396; P.O. Box 619688; DFW Airport, TX 75261-9688.
- Canadian supports Children's Wish Foundation, Mission Air Transportation Network, Ronald McDonald Children's Charities of Canada. Contact Community Relations Department at (905) 612-2344.
- Continental fliers can donate Brass Ring Society, AmeriCares or CAREFORCE. Write to: Give the Extra Mile, c/o OnePass Service Center; P.O. Box 4365; Houston, TX 77210-4365.
- Northwest teams up with a different charity each quarter. For information write to Community Relations; Department A1300; 5101 Northwest Drive; St. Paul, MN 55111-3034.
United Airlines has "Helping Miles" program. Write to Consumer Relations; P.O. Box 66100; Chicago, IL 60666.
Holiday Inn and Diners Club also allow members to donate points to charity. Holiday Inn's program helps to send terminally ill children and their family to Disney World. For more information, call Holiday Inn's service center at 800-272-9273.
More Kokua Line
in today's Star-Bulletin:
- Seeking Jeeps formerly used by postal service
- Ala Moana parking update
- Mahalo and Auwe
- Obon alert for the weekend
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686, fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802. Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com