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This Alaska buy miles promotion has ended. However, you can still buy Alaska miles here.
Alaska Airlines just launched a new sale on Mileage Plan miles, offering up to a 60% bonus through May 21, 2025. With this promotion, you can buy miles for as little as 1.85¢ each — one of the better rates Alaska has offered recently.
While buying miles isn’t always a good deal, Alaska Mileage Plan is known for high-value redemptions on premium cabin flights with partners like Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Fiji Airways. This means strategic buyers can come out ahead — especially if you’re looking for business or first-class award seats.
But should you take advantage of this sale? Here’s when buying Alaska miles makes sense — and when you should pass.
Page Contents
Buy Alaska Miles Promotion Overview
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is one of our favorite frequent flyer programs for several reasons. It partners with amazing airlines like Cathay Pacific, Qantas, and Singapore Airlines and offers some of the most lucrative mileage redemptions around. This was made even better when Alaska joined the Oneworld alliance in 2021.
Still, generally speaking, buying miles is not a good idea for most travelers. This is because the average redemption rate is less than the cost of buying miles — even after factoring in a discount or bonus.
With that said, you can find some cases where it can make sense to buy miles. First, buying miles can still make sense to top off your balance to complete a specific redemption. Second, you should consider buying miles if the cost is cheaper than paying for the flight you want outright. Both exceptions are magnified when there's a buy miles sale — like there is right now.
Buy Alaska Miles Offer Details
Promotions to buy Alaska miles are often targeted — and this promotion is likely no different. Members of the AwardWallet team are seeing up to a 60% bonus this time around, but that's not to say you won't see something different.
The general terms we see are the following:
- This promotion allows Mileage Plan members to buy Alaska miles with up to a 60% bonus.
- This comes to an end on May 21, 2025.
- Offer requires you to buy at least 40,000 Mileage Plan miles to receive the maximum 60% bonus (thresholds may vary by member).
- Miles are non-refundable and do not count toward elite status.
- Maximum of 100,000 miles per transaction (before the bonus).
- Mileage Plan members without elite status may be credited up to a maximum of 150,000 miles acquired through Points.com in a calendar year, whether purchased by you or gifted to you (bonus miles do not count toward the maximum total of 150,000 miles).
- Members with Alaska elite status (MVP, MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold 100K) have no limit on the number of miles that can be acquired through Points.com.
Wondering how long it takes to receive your miles? Data points from AwardWallet users show that Alaska miles purchases are processed in an average of 16 hours. Need miles ASAP? Track your purchase using AwardWallet's Balance Watch Tool to get alerted as soon as the miles hit your account.
Alaska buy miles bonus tiers
From what the AwardWallet team sees, Alaska Mileage Plan members can buy miles at the following rates during this tiered promotion:
- 1,000–2,000 miles: No bonus (2.96¢ each)
- 3,000–19,000 miles: 30% bonus (2.11¢ each)
- 20,000–39,000 miles: 40% bonus (1.97¢ each)
- 40,000–100,000 miles: 50% bonus (1.85¢ each)
If you maximize this offer, you will receive 160,000 Alaska miles (100,000 base miles + 60,000 bonus miles) for $2,956.25 — 1.85¢ per mile. This purchase rate is cheaper than the average value AwardWallet users tend to get from Alaska miles. Depending on the redemption, you might be able to squeeze some value out of this promotion.
As you price out miles, beware that the first price you see looks better than the price you'll actually pay. That's because a 7.5% tax recovery fee is added when moving to checkout.
The value of Alaska Mileage Plan miles
Alaska Mileage Plan miles are some of the most valuable miles around. Based on recent AwardWallet user redemptions, the value of Alaska Mileage Plan miles is 2.11¢ per mile, on average.
The catch: Alaska miles are only really valuable for certain redemptions — which is apparent when you break down the redemption rates by flight type:
- Short-haul economy/premium economy: 1.3¢
- Long-haul economy/premium economy: 1.75¢
- Short-haul business/first class: 3.42¢
- Long-haul business/first class: 4.19¢
Therefore, you may struggle to get enough value from Alaska Mileage Plan miles for economy and premium economy awards to justify buying miles at 1.85¢ each. However, first- and business-class awards can be an incredible use of Alaska miles. We will highlight some of these opportunities below.
Related: Do Alaska Miles Expire?
Buying Miles for Alaska Partner Redemptions
In our post detailing Mileage Plan sweet spots, we list several of the top-value redemptions possible with Alaska miles. Let's take a look at a few of these sweet spots and compare the typical cash price with the cost to purchase the necessary miles under this promotion.
Note that Alaska launched a new partner award chart in March 2024. The prices below reflect the airline's updated award costs.
Los Angeles – Auckland in Fiji Airways business class (with a stopover in Nadi)
One of the best uses of Alaska miles is for business class flights on Fiji Airways for just 75,000 miles each way. Even better, you can get a free stopover when using Alaska miles, letting you also visit Fiji along the way!
New Zealand is a dream destination for many. And if you're a Lord of the Rings fanatic like I am, you'll see an even more fantastical appeal in the island nation. The Fiji Airways flight from Los Angeles to Fiji is exactly 11 hours long — just the right amount of time to slip your shoes off and put your feet up while you enjoy the wonderful food and amenities on offer in Fiji's business class. Then, it's just a three-hour hop from Fiji to Auckland!
- Mileage rate: 75,000 miles + $71 each way
- Typical cash price: $7,902 round trip
- Redemption rate: 5.17¢ per mile (based on round-trip pricing)
- Cost to purchase 75,200 miles (after a 60% bonus): $1,390 each way
- Cost to purchase exactly 75,000 miles at 1.85¢ per mile: $1,388 each way
Boston – London in American Airlines or British Airways business class
- Mileage rate: 45,000 miles + $19 each way (on American)
- Typical cash price: $4,568 round trip
- Redemption rate: 5.03¢ per mile (on American, based on round-trip pricing)
- Cost to purchase 45,000 miles (after a 50% bonus): $887 each way
- Cost to purchase exactly 45,000 miles at 1.85¢ per mile: $887 each way
Note that the fees on this award will cost $19 if you book the AA option; booking the BA option will tack on nearly $1,000 in taxes and fees!
New York – Frankfurt in Condor business class
- Mileage rate: 55,000 miles + $49 each way
- Typical cash price: $3,800 round trip
- Redemption rate: 3.37¢ per mile (based on round-trip pricing)
- Cost to purchase 55,500 miles (after a 50% bonus): $1,094 each way
- Cost to purchase exactly 55,000 miles at 1.85¢ per mile: $1,018 each way
Dallas – Tokyo in Japan Airlines first class
- Mileage rate: 110,000 miles each way
- Typical cash price: $24,609 round trip
- Redemption rate: 11.2¢ per mile
- Cost to purchase 112,000 miles (after a 60% bonus): $2,069 each way
- Cost to purchase exactly 110,000 miles at 1.85¢ per mile: $2,035 each way
New York – Hong Kong in Cathay Pacific business class
Quite the haul, this flight from New York to Hong Kong will take you an entire day of travel, which could be exhausting if spent in economy. Thankfully, you can grab a ticket in Cathay Pacific business class for 85,000 miles.
Cathay Pacific is known to have one of the best premium cabin experiences around, fitted with the best Cantonese dishes and top-notch service. If you're looking to transport yourself to that end of the world, buying 85,000 miles for only 1.85¢ apiece through this promotion lets you visit Hong Kong and Singapore for just $1,675 in purchased miles (plus taxes and fees).
The catch? For now, this award is a bit of a hypothetical due to how little award availability Cathay Pacific releases to its partners.
- Mileage rate: 85,000 miles each way
- Typical cash price: $9,943 round trip
- Redemption rate: 5.85¢ per mile
- Cost to purchase 86,400 miles (after a 60% bonus): $1,596 each way
- Cost to purchase exactly 85,000 miles at 1.85¢ per mile: $1,573 each way
Alaska Buy Miles History
We have compiled a list of former Alaska Airlines promotions for buying miles. As you can see, this 1.85¢ per-mile rate is pretty standard from Alaska — it's not the best we've seen, but certainly not the worst. And it comes around pretty often.
Several promotions in 2020 offered a 60% bonus and lacked the Federal Excise Tax, resulting in the best rate we've seen at 1.72¢ per mile:
| Promotion Ended | Max Bonus | Min Cents per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-21 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2025-03-23 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2025-02-21 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2024-12-23 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2024-10-31 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2024-09-24 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2024-09-18 | 60% | 1.85 |
| N/A | 20% | 2.46 |
| 2024-08-15 | 60% | 1.85 |
| N/A | 20% | 2.46 |
| 2024-06-26 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2024-05-23 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2024-03-20 | 70% | 1.74 |
| 2024-02-24 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2023-12-23 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2023-10-30 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2023-09-23 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2023-09-17 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2023-08-20 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2023-06-26 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2023-05-21 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2023-03-19 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2023-02-20 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2022-12-23 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2022-11-02 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2022-09-22 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2022-09-15 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2022-08-21 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2022-06-25 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2022-05-23 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2022-03-20 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2022-02-20 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2021-12-23 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2021-10-30 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2021-09-21 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2021-09-15 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2021-08-23 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2021-06-25 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2021-05-22 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2021-03-18 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2021-02-14 | 60% | 1.85 |
| 2020-12-23 | 50% | 1.83 |
| 2020-10-31 | 60% | 1.72 |
| 2020-09-20 | 50% | 1.83 |
| 2020-08-26 | 50% | 1.83 |
| 2020-06-30 | 60% | 1.72 |
| 2020-05-30 | 60% | 1.72 |
| 2020-02-16 | 40% | 2.15 |
| 2019-02-22 | 40% | 2.11 |
| 2018-12-21 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2018-10-04 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2018-07-13 | 40% | 2.11 |
| 2018-07-03 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2017-10-31 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2017-07-01 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2017-04-06 | 40% | 2.11 |
| 2016-09-29 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2016-06-13 | 50% | 1.97 |
| 2016-03-31 | 40% | 2.11 |
Keep in mind that you can now transfer Hawaiian points to Alaska at a 1:1 ratio. That means you may be able to buy HawaiianMiles at a cheaper rate during a promotion.
How To Maximize Your Alaska Miles Purchase
Like many airlines, Alaska sells miles via Points.com. That means your purchase won't code as a flight purchase or trigger the travel category on most credit cards. Consider using one of these payment methods:
- A credit card where you're currently working on a sign-up bonus. These are the best welcome offers available now.
- A credit card offering benefits you can unlock from spending, such as hotel free night awards, hotel elite status, or airline elite status.
- Your best credit card for everyday spending, such as the Citi Double Cash® Card or Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Related: Which Credit Card Should You Use To Buy Points and Miles?
Other Ways To Earn Alaska Miles
When it comes to buying miles, our advice is to consider whether transferring points from a transferrable points currency would offer better value. Unfortunately, the options are quite limited for Alaska miles. You can transfer Bilt Points or transfer Marriott points to Alaska Mileage Plan. There are some additional transfer options as well, though these provide less value:
If you don't have an immediate redemption planned, earning Alaska miles through the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card is likely your best option.
- LIMITED TIME ONLINE OFFER-60,000 Bonus Miles + a 30% Flight Discount Code!
- Receive a 30% flight discount code for a qualifying future flight after opening your new account. Additionally, earn 60,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after making $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening your account.
- Get Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year. Valid on all Alaska Airlines flights booked on alaskaair.com.
- Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases. Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases. And earn unlimited 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. And, your miles don't expire on active accounts.
- Earn a 10% rewards bonus on all miles earned from card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America® account.
- Free checked bag and enjoy priority boarding for you and up to 6 guests on the same reservation, when you pay for your flight with your card - Also available for authorized users when they book a reservation too!
- With oneworld® Alliance member airlines and Alaska's Global Partners, Alaska has expanded their global reach to over 1,000 destinations worldwide bringing more airline partners and more ways to earn and redeem miles.
- Plus, no foreign transaction fees and a low $95 annual fee.
- This online only offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
- Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases
- Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging stations, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases
- Earn unlimited 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
Final Thoughts
While buying miles isn’t for everyone, this Alaska Mileage Plan promotion could be the right move if you’re planning a high-value redemption — especially in business or first class on partner airlines. At 1.85¢ per mile, you’re not getting a steal, but you can come out ahead with the right award.
Just make sure you have a specific use in mind before you buy — and always compare the cost of buying miles to paying cash for the same flight. If you’ve got a dream trip on the horizon, this could be your chance to book it for less.
Would you buy Alaska Mileage Plan miles for 1.85¢ each?
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