American Samoa to take frequent flier miles from government staff and give to needy Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga says the territory will use the miles to help medical patients travel off-island when needed, or help students travel for educational programs. Mr Moliga said Hawaiian Airlines agreed to the plan that takes effect June 1. Hawaiian is the only carrier connecting the US territory to the rest of the country. He announced the policy this week in a memo to the government's various agencies. He acknowledges some may see the policy as unfair but says it is morally wrong for employees to get extra benefits from travelling for the territory. "We have a moral responsibility to help out those of our people who, not by any fault of theirs, find themselves in situations where outside assistance is needed," he said. The added benefit provided by the frequent flier mileage award should be shared with those of our community who are truly impoverished and destitute. American Samoa, made up of two small islands in the south Pacific slightly larger in area than Washington, DC, budgeted nearly $6 million for government travel in fiscal 2013. American Samoa budgeted nearly $6 million for government travel in fiscal 2013. Tim Winship, editor and publisher of FrequentFlier.com, a website dedicated to the use of airline miles, said corporations and governments have sometimes considered keeping miles from employees. But he hasn't heard of any taking the idea as far as American Samoa has with its new policy.