Whereas incomes miles by flights or bank card spending is extra frequent, buying miles instantly from airways can typically be a wise transfer. In sure instances, it might probably prevent a whole lot of {dollars}—if not hundreds—on flights. This information will make it easier to decide when shopping for miles is price it, what to remember once you do it, and some examples on how I’ve saved big-time on flights by spending on miles.
Solely purchase miles throughout promotions
Airways often promote miles at a premium far above their precise price, usually between 2.5 to three.5 cents per mile. Meaning shopping for 100,000 miles may value anyplace from $2,500 to $3,500—a hefty worth for many vacationers. It’s not a good suggestion, usually, to purchase miles at full worth. However promotions on miles could make the fee way more affordable.
For instance, in November 2024, Hawaiian Miles ran a deal providing a one hundred pc bonus when buying between 3,000 and 100,000 miles. This introduced the fee per mile right down to an impressive 1.27 cents—lower than half the common value when a promotion isn’t in play.
With the continued merger between Hawaiian Airways and Alaska Airways, miles are already interchangeable between the 2 applications, and since I ceaselessly use Alaska miles, I jumped on the deal. I bought 100,000 Hawaiian Miles and obtained a 100,000-mile bonus, giving me a complete of 200,000 miles for $2,540 ($2,500 for the miles, plus a $40 tax restoration price).
Though this promotion allowed the acquisition of as few as 3,000 miles to obtain the one hundred pc bonus, the most important reductions often require buying a major variety of miles. All the time learn the promotion particulars fastidiously to make sure you’re getting the very best price. And do not forget that miles from totally different applications aren’t equal. For instance, 100,000 AAdvantage miles could maintain kind of worth than 100,000 Delta SkyMiles, relying on an airline’s pricing and redemption choices. Consider airline miles like foreign exchange: They fluctuate in worth.
Do the maths and solely purchase miles when it’s a superb worth
Airfare costs—each in money and miles—have climbed in recent times, however offers nonetheless exist. This holds very true for worldwide business- or first-class flights on companion airways and choose flights on home airways.
I flew enterprise class in Could 2024 between Miami and Cape City, South Africa, on Qatar Airways for simply 150,000 American Airways AAdvantage miles. I had bought most of these miles throughout a November 2023 AAdvantage mileage sale, when miles have been discounted by 50 %, bringing the fee right down to 1.88 cents per mile. (American ran the identical promotion of fifty % off once more in June and November 2024.)
With miles, my ticket value the equal of $2,820, plus $124 in taxes, totaling $2,944. On the time, the money worth for a similar flight was greater than $7,000, which made the bought miles an unimaginable deal.
This technique requires cautious planning and plenty of persistence. It took me weeks of looking out to search out business-class saver tickets priced at 75,000 miles every manner, and I got here up empty-handed many occasions. Fortunately, I’ve an elite subscription with Going.com, which alerts me the second Qatar Airways business-class mileage seats are launched. At some point, I bought that alert, and that very same day, I booked my tickets.
Worldwide flights usually supply nice worth for purchasing and redeeming miles; home routes are extra sophisticated. Most North American airways use dynamic pricing, so the fee in miles can exceed the money worth, even with promotional reductions. An exception to that is reserving American Airways flights by its companion Alaska Airways. Unusual as it might appear, Alaska’s Mileage Plan ceaselessly affords discounted award seats on its oneworld Alliance companions.
A current instance: I booked a ticket from Tallahassee, Florida, to Nassau, Bahamas (by way of Miami), on American Airways for 7,500 Alaska miles plus $6.60 in taxes. That very same ticket would have value over $300 in money. One other plus to purchasing miles for home tickets is that the majority mileage tickets on North American carriers are refundable. Airways—together with Delta, United, and American—enable cancellations of mileage tickets with out penalties, so that you successfully get a refundable ticket by buying a mileage ticket. Refundable airline tickets can value as much as double the worth of nonrefundable tickets when paying money, so preserve this in thoughts.
Use warning when stockpiling miles
It may be tempting to hoard miles throughout a giant sale, however there are some components to contemplate first. Airline miles lose worth over time as a result of devaluations, larger redemption charges, and fewer award seats. Frequent flier applications recurrently change their guidelines, usually to the traveler’s drawback. Due to such adjustments, holding onto miles can result in disappointment when these miles now not purchase what they as soon as may. That stated, in case you are keen to be versatile and affected person together with your journey plans, shopping for bigger sums may repay. I all the time make miles work to my benefit, however this comes with years of follow and analysis.
Suppose twice about topping off your stability
In case you’re simply in need of the miles wanted for an award ticket, shopping for a small variety of miles would possibly seem to be a superb possibility. However it’s vital to do the maths.
If I need to guide a 4 p.m. American Airways flight from Miami to New York’s LaGuardia on Friday, June 6, 2025, it’s presently priced at 8,500 miles. I solely have 7,000 miles, and since AA isn’t working any promotions, I’d want to purchase no less than 2,000 miles—the minimal allowed—for $75.25. I worth my current 7,000 miles at about 1.75 cents per mile, which equals $122.50.
Right here’s the place it doesn’t add up: The money worth for a similar ticket is $119, whereas shopping for the additional miles and utilizing my present stability would successfully value me $197.75. On this case, paying money is the clear winner.
A recap of what to recollect
Shopping for airline miles could be a sensible transfer in sure conditions, however it’s not all the time a superb deal. When airways supply miles on sale, take the time to crunch the numbers and examine for award availability. The very best alternatives usually reside in worldwide business-class tickets, the place miles can unlock premium experiences for a fraction of the money value.
On the flip aspect, keep away from shopping for miles at full worth, stockpiling them with no plan, or buying small quantities except it’s vital. With cautious planning, you possibly can profit from airline promotions and switch bought miles into main financial savings—and perhaps even a lie-flat mattress with a glass of champagne in hand.
This text was initially printed on February 27, 2023, and was up to date with new data on December 19, 2024.
