Extract some extra mileage from few frequent-flier points

Oct. 1, 2011— -- Frequent flier Tim Pigsley might be called a gift-card junkie.

He cashes in airline frequent-flier miles for gift cards for Home Depot, Harry & David and other retailers. Last year, he cashed in miles for gift cards worth $2,500, including many for holiday gifts.

"It's actually gotten cheaper to pay cash for plane tickets and use miles for other purchases instead of free flights," says Pigsley, a hotel owner in Bradenton, Fla.

Unlike Pigsley, many fliers don't take advantage of frequent-flier programs' low-mileage awards. Yet, there are plenty of valuable items — such as gift cards and newspaper and magazine subscriptions — that can be claimed for 5,000 or fewer frequent-flier miles.

"Low-mileage goodies don't get you the best value per mile, so frequent fliers are generally pretty derisive about them," says Sascha Segan, a Frommers.com writer who researched low-mileage awards. "But leaving a few thousand miles sitting in an airline account for years doesn't help anyone — especially if those miles expire."

There are other reasons why travelers don't claim low-mileage awards.

They are the bottom of the barrel for many frequent fliers who want to accumulate higher mileage totals for more lucrative awards, such as free flights, seating-class upgrades and special airport privileges. And many veteran business travelers, just like less-savvy infrequent fliers, aren't aware low-mileage awards exist.

Trading in miles

For fliers looking to redeem small amounts of frequent-flier program miles or points, Frommer's Travel Guides provides these insights:

•Southwest Airlines is "the most generous" for redeeming a small amount of points, says Jason Clampet, senior online editor of Frommers.com.

A single cross-country flight for $450 can earn 4,500 points, enough for a $75 flight credit. Such a credit can buy a one-way ticket on many routes — including New York-Baltimore, Chicago-Nashville and Denver-Salt Lake City — that are part of the airline's $59 fall sale.

Fliers with a credit card affiliated with Southwest's frequent-flier program can also browse through the airline's numerous Web pages that offer gift cards for several car-rental companies, American Eagle, Wal-Mart, Cabela's, Best Buy and many other retailers.

•Nine airlines — AirTran, Alaska, American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, United and US Airways— contract with Magazines for Miles, a company that lets fliers turn small amounts of miles into magazine subscriptions. The magazines offered by each airline and the miles needed for a subscription vary.

For American Airlines' fliers, 12 issues of Essence cost 500 miles, while 12 issues of Sports Illustrated Kids cost double that amount. For Hawaiian Airlines fliers, 12 issues of Essence cost 600 miles.

•United has a wide range of awards. A mixed-rose bouquet from FTD.com, a $30 value, costs 4,600 miles, and four $25 Restaurant.com gift certificates cost 2,000 miles. Other items for 5,000 miles or less include Godiva chocolates, fruit baskets and Starbucks coffee.

•Hawaiian Airlines offers some unique items for 5,000 miles: $25 off auto insurance premiums at Farmers Insurance Hawaii, one round of golf at Coral Creek Golf Resort on Oahu and 10,000 Hilton HHonors points.