Buy Alaska miles with a 50% bonus, if you're targeted for this offer. Other offers include a 35% or 40% bonus, but it's the 50% bonus that is especially attractive, since typically the highest bonus Alaska has offered when buying miles is 40%.
Here are the offer details:
- Buy Alaska miles with an up to 50% bonus through December 23, 2015
- Go to the Alaska Airlines Buy and Gift Miles page
- Click on the “Buy Miles” button and login with your Alaska Mileage Plan number to see your bonus offer
- Miles are not refundable and do not count towards elite status
- 7.5% federal excise tax and GST/HST for Canadian residents also applied
Buying Miles with the 50% Bonus
As usual, the buy miles bonus is tiered: you'll need to buy at least 40,000 miles to earn the 50% bonus. You can buy 60,000 miles at a time in a single transaction, and the cost including tax is $1773, which gives you 90,000 Alaska miles at a cost of 1.97 cents per mile. That may not seem all that cheap, but when you consider that those 90,000 miles could take you to the Maldives in Emirates First Class on the A380 via Dubai and that an equivalent paid ticket would be over $10,000 (or over $20,000 roundtrip) the potential value is more apparent.
FAQ
Can I Earn Airline or Travel Category Bonuses When Buying Alaska Miles with a 40% Bonus?
Unfortunately not, since these transactions are processed by Points.com, and not by Alaska. So it's best to use a credit card where you're working to meet high minimum spend for the signup bonus.
How Many Alaska Miles Do I Need for Emirates First Class on the A380?
You'll need 90,000 Alaska miles each way for Emirates A380 First Class between North America and the Middle East, India and the Maldives, and 100,000 Alaska miles each way for Emirates First Class between North America and Africa.
Am I Able to Redeem for Emirates Awards Between Non-North American Destinations?
No; when using Alaska miles, your award must depart from or return to North America. For awards that don't touch North America, you'll need to redeem other miles, such as Emirates Skywards or JAL Mileage Bank miles.
What Are Other Good Award Redemptions Using Alaska Miles?
In addition to Emirates First Class, I've redeemed Alaska miles for Award Booking clients on Cathay Pacific First Class and Cathay Pacific Business Class, Air France New Business Class, KLM Business Class (though note that KLM New Business Class awards are very scarce, especially for two people), Korean Business Class and Fiji Airways Business Class.
Are There Fees Charged to Change or Cancel an Alaska Mileage Plan Award?
A nice benefit of using Alaska miles is that changes and cancellations done online are free if over 60 days before departure. If within the 60 days, any change or cancellation incurs a $125 change/cancellation fee. But note that the $25 partner booking fee is non-refundable, as is the $15 call center fee if you make a booking by phone.
Also note that if you're adding a segment to an existing Emirates award and are trying to keep an existing segment (for example because you have Emirates First Class booked, and there's no longer first class award availability) this could be an issue because Emirates requires Alaska Mileage Plan to book Emirates awards as “married segments” such that all flights have to be booked together. See Change Emirates Awards Booked with Alaska Miles?
If I Book Emirates First Class as An Award Ticket, Do I Receive Complimentary Chauffeur Service?
Unfortunately, you no longer receive Emirates Chauffeur service on award tickets; see Emirates Devaluation: Retroactive No Chauffeur for Partners That said, many have been able to obtain a transfer to their hotel in Dubai by presenting their Emirates First Class boarding pass at the chauffeur desk after arriving at Dubai Airport. YMMV.
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