Another way to use frequent flier miles: Volunteering

Atlanta: Melinda Irwin already travels plenty, so using the frequent flier miles piling up in her Delta Air Lines Inc. SkyMiles account for more airplane tickets didn't really appeal to her.
That's why the Oklahoma City travel agency owner instead bid her miles in an online auction last month for a chance to build homes for Habitat for Humanity.
Irwin bid 118,500 SkyMiles to win one of three "voluntourism" trip packages between Nov. 9 to Nov. 18. The package includes travel for two between New York and Mumbai, India, seven nights of lodging and a chance to build homes with 40 Delta employees in Maharashtra, India.
The Atlanta-based airline will donate the miles from the winning bidders to the nonprofit organization.
The Atlanta-based airline introduced auctions earlier this year as a way to use SkyMiles, focusing on hard-to-come by events such as front row concert tickets with backstage access or an Atlanta Braves baseball game that includes a meeting with players.
Delta joined a growing number of airlines and hotels that also have frequent traveler points auctions. Houston-based Continental Airlines Inc., for one, has been offering since 2002 items such as autographed NFL jerseys, Carnegie Hall performances or private cooking classes on its auction site.
10/11/07 Daniel Yee/The Associated Press/al.com, US

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Categories: Foreign Nov 2007