Should You Gift or Transfer Miles

If you’ve ever found yourself with extra airline miles—or needing to help someone else book a flight—you’ve probably wondered: Should you gift or transfer miles? The answer isn’t as simple as you might think. In this post, we’ll break down the costs, processes, and alternatives so you can decide what works best for your situation.

Is It Worth It to Gift or Transfer Miles?

Gifting and transferring miles both allow you to share your hard-earned rewards with others. However, they come with costs that can quickly add up. In most cases, it’s better to avoid these options unless absolutely necessary. Airlines often charge hefty fees to gift or transfer miles, making it a less appealing option than using your miles directly to book a flight for someone else.

The only time it's probably worth considering gifting or transferring miles is to top up an account to be able to book high-value award flights like Starlux Airlines business class.

It's worth transferring or gifting miles to top up an account to book an incredible flight like Starlux Airlines business class.

How to Transfer Your Miles to Someone Else

American Airlines is one of many airlines that allows you to transfer miles to another account, but the process and costs vary by airline. Here’s how it works:

1. Log in to your airline’s frequent flyer account.
2. Find the “Transfer Miles” option. This is typically under your rewards or account settings.
3. Enter the recipient’s account information. You’ll need their frequent flyer number.
4. Pay the transfer fees. Fees depend on the number of miles and the airline’s policies.
5. Confirm the transaction. Transfers usually take a few hours to a day to process.

While transferring miles is simple, it’s often costly, making it less attractive unless you’re in a pinch.

Many airlines will have a webpage that guides you on how to transfer miles to someone else.

How Much Does It Cost to Transfer Airline Miles?

Unfortunately, transferring miles isn't cheap.

Costs by Airline:

• American Airlines: $35 processing fee; ~$50 for 10,000 miles.
• Delta Airlines: $10 per 1,000 miles, plus a $30 fee. Transferring 10,000 miles costs $100.
• United Airlines: $15 per 1,000 miles, plus a $30 processing fee. Transferring 10,000 United miles would cost ~$180.
• Alaska Airlines: $10 per 1,000 miles + $25 transaction fee. Transferring 10,000 miles costs $125 + fees.
• Southwest Airlines: $10 per 10,000 miles.
• JetBlue and British Airways: Free points pooling for family members.

United has MileagePlus miles pooling that lets you pool points but with restrictions. You can only redeem pooled points for United flights and not partner flights, which greatly reduces the utility of the pooled points.

Transferring miles can still be expensive and in most cases is not worth it.

How Much Does It Cost to Gift Airline Miles?

Gifting miles involves purchasing miles to give to someone else, and the costs can be surprisingly high. Here are some examples:

Costs by Airline:

• American Airlines: $35 processing fee; ~$300 for 10,000 miles.
• Delta Airlines: $3.50 per 1,000 miles, plus a $30 fee. Gifting 10,000 miles costs $350.
• United Airlines: $35 per 1,000 miles. Alternative: buy a flight gift card instead.
• Alaska Airlines: $27.50 per 1,000 miles + tax recovery fee. Gifting 10,000 miles costs ~$300.
• Southwest Airlines: $30 per 10,000 points.
• JetBlue and British Airways: Free points pooling for family members.

Even with promotions, gifting miles remains expensive. Always compare the cost of gifting miles with the cash value of the ticket you’re trying to help someone book.

Gifting airline miles is still very expensive even with promotions.

Alternatives to Gifting Airline Miles

Instead of gifting or transferring miles, consider these cost-effective alternatives:

1. Book Their Ticket Yourself

Use your miles to book an award flight for someone else directly from your account. Most airlines allow you to do this without any additional fees.

2. Use a Companion Pass

If you have a companion pass (e.g., Southwest Companion Pass), you can add a travel buddy for just the taxes and fees.

3. Pool Points

Some airlines, like JetBlue and United, allow you to pool points for free with family or friends. This is a great way to combine miles without paying transfer fees.

Pooling points is a great way of combining airline points without having to pay a lot of money.

4. Transfer Credit Card Points

Many credit card rewards programs let you transfer points to another cardholder for free, especially within the same household.

5. Buy Airline Gift Cards

If the recipient is not interested in points or miles, gift cards can be a good solution since they're often cheaper than gifting miles.

Is It Better to Gift or Transfer Miles?

Between the two, transferring miles is usually the better choice if you’re just shy of the amount needed to book a specific award flight. However, gifting miles can make sense during promotions where buying miles is discounted—but only if the value of the ticket far exceeds the cost of the miles.

In most cases, it’s better to avoid both and use one of the alternatives listed above.

FAQs About Gifting or Transferring Miles

Can you gift airline miles for free?

No, most airlines charge fees to gift or transfer miles. However, some programs like JetBlue and United offer free pooling for family members.

What’s the cheapest way to help someone book a flight?

The best option is to use your miles to book the flight directly for them, avoiding gifting or transfer fees altogether.

Do gifted miles expire?

Yes, gifted miles follow the same expiration rules as regular miles. Be sure to check the airline’s policy to avoid losing them.

Are there any taxes on gifting or transferring miles?

Some airlines include taxes (like Delta’s 7.5% excise tax) in their fees for gifting or transferring miles.

Can you gift miles to anyone?

Most airlines allow you to gift or transfer miles to anyone, but some programs, like pooling options, are limited to family members or specific groups.

Final Thoughts

While gifting or transferring miles can help in specific situations, the high fees often outweigh the benefits. Before choosing these options, explore alternatives like booking the ticket yourself, pooling miles, or transferring credit card points. With a little planning, you can save money and still help your friends or family fly for free!