Alaska Airlines again is offering a 40% bonus when buying Alaska Mileage Plan miles. Alaska recently was offering a 40% bonus, and I'm still hoping for a return of a 50% bonus, similar to the targeted bonus last year. Still, since we don't know if the 50% bonus offer will return, if you think you'll need to redeem Alaska miles in the next 6 months, it's a good opportunity to buy. It can also be good for Canadians who don't have access to U.S. credit card bonuses, since Alaska miles provide access to awards with additional airline partners at often better award rates than AMEX Canada Membership Rewards, which currently only transfers 1:1 to Aeroplan and British Airways Executive Club.
Here are the offer details:
- Buy Alaska miles with an up to 50% bonus (targeted) through 8:59pm PT on April 6, 2017
- 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 applies for U.S. purchases; GST/HST apply for Canadian residents
- Purchase is procesed by Points.com, so there is no category bonus for airlines or travel
20,000 – 39,000 miles = 35% Bonus
40,000 – 60,000 miles = 50% Bonus
Because of the tiered nature of the bonus, I'd only buy if you'll be buying at least 40,000 miles.
Equates to Buying Miles at 2.1 Cents per Mile
With the 40% bonus and taking into account taxes, you'd be buying Alaska miles at the cost of 2.11 cents per mile.
Other Ways to Earn Alaska Miles
The main other way to earn Alaska miles, apart from crediting Alaska Airlines or Mileage Plan airline partners‘ flights (such as British Airways, AA, Cathay Pacific, Delta, Emirates, etc.) to Alaska, is with the Alaska Visa. Currently there's only a 30,000 miles signup bonus, however, and there is a $75 annual fee that's not waived the first year.
Alternatively, you can top up your Alaska Mileage Plan account with Starpoints transfers from Starwood Preferred Guest. SPG points transfer 1:1 to Alaska and for each 20K SPG points you transfer, you receive 25,000 Alaska miles.
Goodbye Emirates First Class, Hello JAL First Class
With the Alaska Mileage Plan – Emirates Award Chart Devaluation last year, Emirates First Class awards to the Middle East, India and the Maldives increased to 150,000 miles each way, a 67% increase, while First Class awards to Africa via Dubai increased to 200,000 miles each way.
Instead, I recommend looking at JAL First Class or Cathay Pacific First Class to Asia, which is just 70,000 miles each way. Or if flying to Africa, try to redeem for Cathay Pacific Business Class to Africa via Hong Kong. This is 62,500 Alaska miles vs. 140K AAdvantage miles (70K + 70K, since this counts as 2 separate AAdvantage awards when flying via the Pacific).
Do you plan to buy Alaska miles with a 40% bonus?
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