Airlines Reward Customers Who Donate to Hurricane Sandy Relief & Give Frequent Flyer Miles to Red Cross Members

Airlines may have lost out on a lot of revenue due to cancelled flights during Hurricane Sandy, but they're still doing their part to help those who were affected by the storm. Several airlines are giving bonuses to those who donate to the Hurricane Sandy relief effort and some are even allowing people to donate their frequent flyer miles to the Red Cross to help volunteers and staff get to areas that were destroyed by Sandy.

American Airlines may have declared bankruptcy, but they are doing their part to help the cause. They are offering customers 250 AAdvantage bonus miles for a $50 donation and 500 miles for a donation of $100 or more to the Red Cross.

United Airlines lost out on $90 million due to Sandy, but they are also offering bonuses to customers who help out Sandy victims. United customers can get bonuses by donating to the Red Cross, AmeriCares, or Feeding America. Donations of $50 to $99 will earn 250 bonus miles. Donations of $100 or more will earn 500 bonus miles. Mileage Plus members can also donate their miles to the American Red Cross through United Airline's Mileage Plus charity program. The minimum mileage requirement for a donation is 1,000 miles. Visit the Mileage Plus Service Center or by call 1-800-421-4655 to donate flyer miles.

"United has deep roots in the affected areas, and we're committed to supporting the communities where our co-workers and customers live and work," Sonya Y. Jackson, president of the United Airlines Foundation, says on the online page.

JetBlue canceled over 1,400 flights due to Sandy, but they are giving customers six TrueBlue loyalty program points for every $1 donation to its Red Cross page. The airlines will also match donations up to $100,000 and they are donating $250,000 to a nonprofit group that was set up to help its staff members who were affected by the storm.

Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines and US Airways are also allowing customers to donate their frequent flyer miles to the Red Cross. For more information on how to donate your miles, check out the Red Cross donation page, here.

Airlines aren't the only ones in the travel industry who are helping out. Hotels are also offering donations and discounts on stays for Hurricane Sandy Victims. Choice Hotels, Drury Hotels, Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International and Starwood Hotels& Resorts have all teamed up with the Red Cross to make donations. For more information, check out the Red Cross Hotels Reward page, here.