Use your frequent-flier miles for more than plane tickets  5:01
PM, Feb 6, 2010   |    comments   • Share   • Print   • - A A A
+  ATLANTA - Airlines have been tinkering with their frequent
flier programs to spur loyalty. Increasingly they're giving
customers the option to buy more than plane tickets with their
rewards, and that may offer more bang for your buck.  AirTran,
Delta and United are among carriers that allow their frequent
fliers to use their credits or miles to pay for hotel rooms,
rental cars, meals at restaurants or electronics. Delta's
SkyMiles program alone has more than 70 million members.  The
expanding programs are generally a win-win situation. By giving
away fewer free tickets, airlines have a larger supply for
paying customers, but perhaps more importantly giving customers
more variety drives more loyalty to the airlines. And frequent
fliers get to buy something that may offer more value than a
plane ticket when you consider how long it took you, and how
much you had to spend to earn the