By Jennifer Heldt Powell
Tuesday, January 4, 2005

If you've been saving your frequent-flier miles for a big vacation or emergency trip, you might want to use them before you lose them, air travel experts say.

With five airlines in bankruptcy, one or more might liquidate, leaving you with useless miles. ``In the past, the issue of airline miles hasn't been huge because airlines have absorbed one another,'' said Kathy Sudeikis, owner of All About Travel and president of the American Society of Travel Agents.

``We don't expect that to be the case in the future.''

She said her advice previously was to take advantage of ticket sales and save the miles for an emergency when the fares might not be so cheap. Now she says to use them.

United, US Airways, ATA Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Aloha Airlines have all filed for bankruptcy to reorganize.

Trouble at airlines imperils flier miles, continued