We joined IDINE.com a program that gives you miles/points for an airline or hotel chain. I used to get AA miles. Now I've changed to Hilton Points.

I turned my AA miles into gift cards for Lowes, Home Depot, restaurants. Remodeled a room in the house and didn't cook. I still have two one hundred dollar Home Depot cards and one Appleby's left.

I too found it almost impossible to utilize the points on flights.