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Earn up to 60% bonus when you purchase Alaska Mileage Plan miles

To the point You can buy Alaska Mileage Plan miles with a bonus for a limited time: a great way to save money on some flights.

Until May 23, 2024, you can earn up to 60% bonus miles when you purchase Alaska Mileage Plan miles.

This is a recurring offer; up to 60% bonus was offered in October 2023.

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The normal annual purchase limit is 150,000 miles (before bonus) per account per calendar year. The maximum is 100,000 miles per transaction.

For example, a purchase of 45,000 miles will cost you US$1,330.31. You’ll get 27,000 bonus miles, for a total of 72,000 miles.

Here are the bonuses awarded at different purchase levels:

Number of miles purchased Bonus
3,000 and more 40 %
20,000 and over 50 %
40,000 and over 60 %

Purchases are made via Points.com, a site external to Alaska Mileage Plan. Therefore, this will not count as an eligible travel 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 a great solution. But this is ONLY when you have a very specific goal in mind.

Personally, I value Alaska Mileage Plan miles at 1.8 US cents (2.4 Canadian cents). But they can be used at a much higher value.

The only other indirect way in Canada 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. In addition, there is a 5,000 mile bonus if the transfer of every chunk of 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Alaska Mileage Plan program perks

Alaska Airlines has joined the Oneworld alliance on March 31, 2021, which gives 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 demand. This fare structure 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.

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Free Stopover On One-Way Awards

The Alaska Mileage Plan allows members to make a free stopover on one-way on most one-way awards.

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

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Many partners

Over the years, Alaska Airlines has diversified its partners, who may or may not be part of different airline alliances: Cathay Pacific, Fiji Airways, Qantas or Icelandair.

With the addition of Oneworld, there are over 20 airline partners with whom you will be able to use Alaska Mileage Plan miles.

Qantas Famille.jpg.

Bottom Line

Buying Alaska Mileage Plan miles can be interesting for some. It can be for a specific travel goal or to top up an Alaska Mileage Plan mileage balance for airfare.

Especially since there is no other option to get them in Canada, except transferring Marriott Bonvoy points!

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Jean-Maximilien
Jean-Maximilien is an expert in Canada and France about Loyalty programs, Credit cards and Travel. He is the Founding President of Milesopedia.

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