Skip to content

Donate miles and money to help Miles4Migrants get Ukrainians to safety during the Russian invasion

April 27, 2022
3 min read
Polish Border Towns Receive Mass Influx Of Ukrainians Fleeing Russian Armed Invasion
Donate miles and money to help Miles4Migrants get Ukrainians to safety during the Russian invasion
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

It's been two months since Russia's unjust and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The images coming out of the country are horrifying, and millions of Ukrainians have already fled to nearby countries for safety.

To assist Ukrainians in finding safety abroad, The Points Guy and our sister company Lonely Planet have teamed up with Miles4Migrants to provide assistance to those needing transportation out of Ukraine. Miles4Migrants is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that uses donated airline miles and cash to provide airfare to refugees to get them to safety.

Miles4Migrants and TPG have a long-standing partnership. And with the nonprofit expecting a surge in booking requests over the coming months, it's time for us to lend them a hand again.

The Points Guy and Lonely Planet are both matching donations up to $5,000 to aid Miles4Migrants' Ukraine relief — and we're asking for your help too.

How your airline miles can help Ukrainians

(Photo by Taylor Weidman/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

In the case of Ukrainian refugees, Miles4Migrants is actively booking flights to get Ukrainians from temporary housing in bordering countries like Poland and Slovakia to longer-term homes in other locations worldwide. The nonprofit works with its network of partner organizations to identify Ukrainians needing flight assistance and verify that the person has legal permission to travel.

Over the years, Miles4Migrants has redeemed over 370 million miles to help more than 30,000 people travel. This amounts to over $8 million worth of flights, all of which have helped people from 90-plus countries of origin get to safety or reunite with family.

Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

Donate here to help us raise miles and money for refugees in Ukraine and around the world.

On the miles side, the nonprofit accepts all points and miles donations, but it has the biggest need for the following currencies:

You can also donate cash or flight vouchers to assist in paying award taxes and fees or cash tickets when it makes sense. Regardless, your donation goes right to booking flights to help refugee families in need of a safe place to stay. Cash donations are tax deductible, but donations of miles, points and vouchers are not.

When you donate miles, Miles4Migrants will match you with an individual or family needing assistance. Then, the organization will send you instructions on booking an award ticket for your match. This is largely because most airline programs do not let you transfer miles between accounts for free, so it's more cost-effective to simply book a ticket right from your account.

Regardless of how much money or how many miles you donate, you can make a real difference in the life of a refugee. It could mean the difference between being reunited with family quickly, or continuing to wait in a temporary housing situation. So if you have miles to spare, please consider donating them to Miles4Migrants so they can help refugees find safety.

Related: Standing with Ukraine: How you can join us in supporting the country now

Feature photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images.

Featured image by Getty Images
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.