Have you found that some of your "orphan" air miles are expiring and you have no ability (or want) to use them up on travel? Maybe you have numerous accounts at different airlines because you have a fear of commitment and theres like 3000 miles at each of them? Perhaps you have found a new favorite airline to fly with and you have no need for the other loyalty programs? Think your SOL? Think again!

For some time now airlines have been offering us the ability to use our unwanted miles torwards other things - like magazine subscriptions, movie tickets, discounts on other services... the list is pretty endless. I know you have been thinking about what to do with these miles for some time now - and now is the time to check out those offers and take advantage.

I recently did this myself and was pleasantly surprised at what my "useless" miles could get me. At Continental I got a year subscription (56 issues) of Time Magazine for 1,800 miles and a year (10 issues) of Details for 500. Over at United I got a Fingertip Towel for 2,200 miles - and I have no idea what it is used for but it was free!

There is a lot of ways you can use your miles - such as giving them to charity (which I did with my 6500 miles at Delta), sending them to a friend (for a fee), or if you are close to the amount you need for a ticket reward you can even purchase some miles to top off your account. The "legacy" airlines are really all about giving us options - and I for one am prepared to take them - so should you.

I recommend taking about an hour and checking all off the airlines for what you can do with those miles that are just sitting there waiting to expire. Those miles are yours - you earned them (sitting in those cramped cabins with screaming kids, strange smells, and bad snacks) - and you'll be glad you got something in return.