The world might be smaller than it once was, but that means families are often more spread out and in times of emergencies, that can prove a major difficulty; enter The Extra Mile. It is a nonprofit initiative that encourages people to donate unused frequent flier points to those trying to visit their terminally ill loved ones.
Founded by Matt Dimmer, a creative director at Fear Not, The Extra Mile is still trying to get off of the ground, yet as he tells Fast Co. Exist, "There’s a need for this, and I’m going to make it happen." Motivated by the memory of his late father, he finally completed The Extra Mile's first flight, which was documented on 'Today Show.'
Charitable Frequent Fliers
The Extra Mile Donates Flights To People Visiting Dying Loved Ones
Trend Themes
1. Charitable Frequent Fliers - The rise of non-profit initiatives like The Extra Mile that enable people to donate unused frequent flier points to those trying to visit their terminally ill loved ones.
2. Spread-out Families - The trend toward extended families living farther apart creates challenges for those trying to support ailing loved ones.
3. Donating Air Travel - The trend towards people donating unused frequent flyer miles to charities and non-profit organizations that assist the less fortunate.
Industry Implications
1. Airline Industry - Airlines can explore ways to partner with non-profit initiatives like The Extra Mile to lend support to customers and communities facing health crises.
2. Charity Industry - Charities can focus on creating new models of donation such as the unused frequent flier points donations program started by The Extra Mile.
3. Travel and Tourism Industry - Travel and Tourism companies can focus on assisting customers to plan visits to sick and dying relatives who live far away by partnering with airlines and non-profit charities who support health crises.