You Can Exchange an Unwanted Gift Card for United Miles — Here's How

It's the White Elephant swap we didn't know we needed.

While the holiday season is officially over, travelers can participate in their own White Elephant of sorts by swapping their unwanted gift cards for airline miles.

Through United’s MileagePlus Gift Card Exchange program, there are more than 100 participating retailers, including Starbucks, Target, and even Southwest Airlines. The exchange is done entirely online, allowing frequent fliers to input their gift card information and preview the award miles they’ll be able to receive through this offer.

“There's no limit to the number of gift cards you can exchange,” United stated on its website.

Only available to U.S. residents at this time, United MileagePlus accounts must be active for at least 90 days before participating in the program. If you’ve got travel plans in the near future, it’s worth noting that the gift card exchange program won’t be instant, but it’s a great way to purge those unwanted gift cards that have been collecting dust.

After verifying the gift card and your frequent flier account, it could take up to five business days before you see those miles, according to United’s website. Gift cards must have a minimum balance of $15, and travelers will receive a rate of roughly 3.7 cents per mile with the exchange. In other words, this same $15 gift card would yield roughly 550 miles.

United removed its award charts in 2019, meaning the mileage rate will vary and depend on your travel dates. However, it’s easier than ever to look up award flights by checking the “Book with miles” button on United’s homepage, and miles never expire as long as you keep your account active.

Exchanging gift cards is just one of many ways travelers can accrue United miles as the carrier constantly adds new partners to its MileagePlus program. Besides flying on United (and its Star Alliance partner airlines), travelers can earn miles from spend on cobranded credit cards, MileagePlus shopping and dining portals, and hotel and car rental programs.

For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.