Using frequent flier miles to volunteer
Daniel Yee, AP, Yahoo, 11/15/2007 (excerpted)
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.
[Delta] 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. Since 2002, Houston-based Continental Airlines Inc., for one, has been offering items such as autographed NFL jerseys, Carnegie Hall performances or private cooking classes on its auction site.
"This is just another opportunity for customers to use their miles, just a little different way than travel. It's been extremely popular with customers," said Continental spokeswoman Mary Clark.
Delta dreamed up the volunteer trip after officials decided it would be a good way to combine the auction with the airline employees' volunteer program, Delta Force for Global Good, which has a goal of building 100 homes in India.
Officials from the Americus, Ga.-based nonprofit said they hoped the trips will build awareness of the housing needs of people around the world.
"It helps open people's eyes to what poverty housing means outside the United States," said Habitat spokesman Chris Clarke. "About 22 percent of the world's poor is in India and we think it's a good place to demonstrate to Delta and their customers what their support can do in changing a community."
Airline officials said they have been impressed by the response to the volunteer package, as 51 people placed bids. Other volunteer trips may be put up for auction in the future, although specific trips have not yet been determined, said spokesman Andy McDill.