Donate miles and money to help Miles4Migrants get Ukrainians to safety during the Russian invasion
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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.
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How your airline miles can help Ukrainians
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.
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:
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue.
- Air Canada Aeroplan.
- Alaska Mileage Plan.
- Delta SkyMiles.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards.
- United MileagePlus.
- American Express Membership Rewards.
- Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- Capital One miles.
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.
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