CONGRATS! How exciting.
I am airmiles crazy. I can not begin to tell you the number of flights and merchandise I have received from my airmiles over the years. (although the program itself has declined over the years)
Here's a tip: the value of each airmile is approximately 20 cents. So if you are looking at the merchandise, see if it is a good deal.
For example the water jug set they have on special is 50 airmiles which works out to a 'price' of $10. (50 x .20). A decent deal.
The Sony Playstation is 3000 airmiles which works out to $600! Yikes!
The Grand-prix go carts are 110 miles for 24 coupons, which works out to $22. If you purchase 24 coupons at the gate, they cost $22, so it's on par.
The Famous Players 2 for 1 movie passes are 25 miles ($5). Which is a great deal on admission for Silver City theatres (which can run $12 per).
Every year (except 2002) NWA has had companion flight specials where you 'purchase' one flight with your airmiles and your companion can fly for $149. You pay the taxes on both flights, but this is an amazing deal if you live in an area where flight 'deals' aren't deals in the least.
If you're in no hurry to book a flight, you can keep checking the site to see if there are any good specials on. My daughter and I just came back from Tampa. We flew Winnipeg-Tampa for 4480 airmiles (20% off special). I had to pay the taxes of $224.12. (the flight itself was on par - approx $448 each - for a 'special' in our area).
Have fun spending them!
PS - How did you win them?
Last year, I had the opposite problem ... no seats available on Airmiles but lots of seats on Aeroplan. Go figure! 
