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7 Lesser-Known Ways to Use Your Loyalty Program Points or Miles

By U.S. News & World Report

Consider these underrated options when redeeming your rewards program earnings.

If you’re a member of airline and hotel rewards programs, odds are you’re familiar with the idea of racking up points or miles to use toward free flights and hotel stays. But many airlines and hotel brands also give loyalty program members the chance to trade in earnings for more unique offerings, such as cruise vacations, magazine subscriptions and even classic cars. That said, it can be difficult and time-consuming to find these redemption options listed on program websites. That’s where U.S. News can help. While evaluating each program for the annual 2017-18 Best Travel Rewards Programs rankings, U.S. News uncovered seven unconventional ways members can spend points or miles. Read on to learn more about each benefit.

Identity theft protection

American Airlines AAdvantage program members have the option to exchange points for identity theft protection. After earning 2,500 miles, program participants can cash in their miles for a six-month LifeLock membership. This standard protection membership, which costs about $60 to buy out of pocket, sends alerts when potential identity threats are detected and provides assistance with canceling and replacing stolen credit cards, among other benefits. Members can keep their identity theft protection beyond six months, but a monthly or yearly fee (10 percent less than standard rates) will apply.

Magazine subscriptions

When you accrue points or miles with rewards programs such as the Hawaiian Airlines-affiliated HawaiianMiles program, the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and La Quinta Returns, you can redeem your earnings for magazine subscriptions. Available titles include Sports Illustrated, Vogue magazine, Wine Spectator magazine and Time magazine, and each subscription comes with four to 54 issues. For one or two years of print or digital magazines, you will be charged 200 to 2,800 miles (or 500 to 8,000 points), depending on the program you’re redeeming through and your chosen subscription.

TSA Precheck

Whether you’re a frequent flyer or you loathe long airport security lines, chances are you’ve considered applying for TSA Precheck. The application costs $85, but if you’re a member of loyalty programs such as United MileagePlus, Hilton Honors, Marriott Rewards and Carlson Rezidor’s Club Carlson, you can use accrued points or miles to pay for the application fee. Although exact redemption requirements vary by rewards program, expect to exchange 10,000 miles (or 25,000 to 65,000 points) for a TSA Precheck authorization code. This code, which is entered online while scheduling a screening appointment at an enrollment center, will cover all application charges.

Cruises

Several loyalty programs have partnerships with CruisesOnly, an online cruise travel agency. Rewards program members can book vacations on a variety of lines, including Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. United MileagePlus members can purchase a cruise vacation after accruing at least 21,000 miles, while Choice Privileges and Hilton Honors members who trade in 85,000 to 480,000 points will receive a $250 to $1,000 credit to apply toward booking a cruise vacation. Marriott Rewards members, meanwhile, can directly apply points to cruise fees or exchange 63,000 to 1,250,000 points for certificates worth up to $5,000 that can be used to purchase a cruise vacation.

E-books

Members of the Hilton Honors loyalty program who enjoying reading can purchase e-books for their Amazon Kindles through the online Hilton Honors Shopping Mall. Additionally, Club Carlson members who have 7,000 Gold Points can use their points to buy an authorization code to download a digital copy of “The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-Free Living.” This e-book, written by Dr. Amit Sood of Mayo Clinic, focuses on the biological reasons for feeling stressed or anxious. The guide also features helpful tips for controlling stress and anxiety based on a stress management program offered at Mayo Clinic.

Charitable donations

Some loyalty programs, including Best Western Rewards, Hilton Honors and JetBlue TrueBlue, offer members the opportunity to donate their points or miles. Through membership portals or partner websites like PointWorthy.com, members can make charitable donations to participating charities such as the American Red Cross and Make-A-Wish America. The amount of points or miles needed to make a donation starts at 50 points or 1,000 miles, though some programs will let members donate all of their earnings if they cannot meet minimum donation requirements.

Classic cars

Members of the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts-affiliated IHG Rewards Club loyalty program can use points to purchase a restored classic car through Hyman Limited Classic Cars. Vehicles include a 1906 Cadillac Model K, a 1922 Ford Model T, a 1958 Chevrolet Corvette and a 2003 Ferrari 360, however, car options change based on availability. Each vehicle is worth approximately $24,500 to $895,000, but to buy a classic car with rewards points, members will need to spend at least 11,499,000 points.

More from U.S. News

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The Best Travel Rewards Programs for 2017-18

7 Lesser-Known Ways to Use Your Loyalty Program Points or Miles originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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