Buy miles: Get up to 100% bonus when purchasing Alaska Mileage Plan miles (until July 5)

Alaska Mileage Plan – Bonus on the purchase of miles

The normal annual mileage purchase limit is 150,000 miles (before bonus) per account per calendar year. If you have a high status (MVP, MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K and MVP Gold 100K), there is no annual limit.

For example, a purchase of 40,000 miles will cost you US$1,100. You’ll get 24,000 bonus miles, for a total of 64,000 miles.

Here are the bonuses awarded at different purchase levels:

The points purchase transaction is in U.S. dollars. For residents of Quebec, GST and QST must be added.

We recommend that you use a credit card that does not charge foreign currency conversion fees, such as:

• Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Card
• Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Privilege Card
• Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card
• Scotiabank Platinum American Express^® Card

You’ll save 2.5% in fees with this points purchase!

Is it worth buying Alaska Mileage Plan miles?

The answer to that question is… yes.

In Canada, as of November 27, 2022, we no longer have the opportunity to have credit cards that directly earn Alaska Mileage Plan miles.

So buying Alaska Mileage Plan miles can be an interesting solution, but ONLY when you have a very specific goal in mind.

Personally, I value Alaska Mileage Plan miles at 1.8 US cents (or 2.4 Canadian cents). However, they can be used to much greater effect.

The only other indirect way to earn Alaska Mileage Plan miles is to transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan.

The rate is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points per 1 mile Alaska Mileage Plan. Plus, there’s a 5,000-mile bonus if the transfer is 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Alaska Mileage Plan program perks

Alaska Airlines joined the Oneworld alliance on March 31, 2021, giving it access to many new partners.

But since then, Alaska Airlines has changed its fare structure in December 2022. Miles to be redeemed for an airline ticket now depend on distance, departure area or change according to demand.

This fee schedule was then revised in March 2024 according to different geographical zones, and the limits on point redemption between certain geographical zones were removed, which is good news.

Free Stopover On One-Way Awards

The Alaska Mileage Plan program entitles its members to a free one-way stop on most award tickets.

For example, you can travel from Boston to Singapore with a few days stop in Tokyo for free.

Many partners

Over the years, Alaska Airlines has diversified its alliance partners to include Cathay Pacific, Fiji Airways, Qantas and Icelandair.

Here are the best known sweetspots for Alaska Mileage Plan, to be booked as soon as possible before the rewards redemption changes.

Don’t forget that you can get a free stop on a one-way trip:

• Cathay Pacific First Class from North America to Asia for 70,000 miles
• Japan Airlines First Class from North America to Asia for 70,000 miles
• Cathay Pacific Business Class from North America to Australia for 60,000 miles
• Fiji Airways Business Class from North America to Australia/New Zealand for 55,000 miles
• Icelandair Business Class from North America to Europe for 55,000 miles

For example, if you buy 70,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles, you could get a one-way first-class flight with Cathay Pacific or Japan Airlines to Asia. And you could add a free stopover along the way!

Compare this with the going rate for the same type of flight:

Bottom Line

Buying Alaska Mileage Plan miles can be interesting for some. It can be for a specific travel goal, or to top up a balance of Alaska Mileage Plan miles toward an award ticket.

Especially since there is no longer any other option for obtaining them in Canada, other than transferring Marriott Bonvoy points!