MilePoint.com

Web site aims at converting frequent-flier miles to money

(CNN) -- Traveling by air has its rewards. If you do it enough, the airlines begin to treat you like royalty. But for those who aren't air warriors, the frequent-flier miles often just sit and accumulate.

That may change, thanks to MilePoint.com, a Web site that rolls out next month.

"What we are doing is allowing frequent fliers to turn their miles into money and use those miles for the partial purchase of goods and services at participating MilePoint merchants," says Mark Lacek, president and CEO of the Web site.

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Under the plan, each mile converts to 2 cents of MilePoint money. That money can be used to get a discount of up to 25 percent on purchases. Among the businesses that accept MilePoint money are Hilton Hotels, Amazon.com and Skymall, which has The Sharper Image, Hammacher-Schlemmer and more than other 100 retailers.

The carriers currently booked with MilePoint include America West, Continental, Delta, Northwest, TWA and US Airways.

The program is a "win-win situation," says Martin Deutsch of Travel Agent Magazine.

"I think it gives the consumer, of which there are 45 million with mileage points, ... a chance to convert and use their orphaned miles," he says. "Their miles may be too low to get an airline ticket or two, so they can use these miles to convert them into gift certificates and get discounts in effect."

Over the next year, MilePoint.com plans to make deals with local merchants, so consumers can shop in their own neighborhoods.

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Milepoint.com

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