Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is one of the best frequent flyer programs for securing premium award seats on high-value airlines like Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Fiji Airways.
The only problem is that Alaska doesn’t have a lot of transfer partners, making it difficult to earn miles quickly. Currently, the only transfer partner is Marriott Bonvoy.
Whenever Alaska launches a promotion, it’s always a good idea to check it out, as bonuses usually range at a steady 50% to 70% range.
Current Promotion on Purchased Miles
Through August 16, 2025, you can purchase Alaska MileagePlan Miles for a cost as low as 1.85 cents per mile, which equals a bonus of 60% over the normal rate of 2.75 cents per mile + taxes.
Specifically, the bonus is tiered with the best rates when you purchase a higher number of miles:
- Buy 3,000-19,000 miles, get a 40% bonus.
- Buy 20,000-39,000 miles, get a 50% bonus.
- Buy 40,000-100,000 miles, get a 60% bonus.
There is also a tax recovery fee of 7.5% on any miles purchased.
Deal History of Purchased Alaska MileagePlan Miles
For context of the current deal, here’s the previous deal history of purchased MileagePlan miles:
- 60% bonus from July 9, 2025 to August 16, 2025
- 60% bonus from April 9, 2025 to May 21, 2025
- 60% bonus from January 14, 2025 to February 21, 2025
- 60% bonus from November 18, 2024 to December 23, 2024
- 60% bonus from October 4, 2024 to October 31, 2024
- 60% bonus from September 13, 2024 to September 18, 2024
- 60% bonus from July 10, 2024 to August 15, 2024
How Many Miles Can You Buy?
Alaska MileagePlan elite members – MVP, MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold 100K – can buy an unlimited number of miles per year.
Meanwhile, non-members can only buy up to 150,000 miles per calendar year, before factoring in the bonuses. If you’re a new member, you can only purchase miles after 10 days of signing up.
What Credit Card Should You Use to Buy Miles?
Buying points from Alaska MileagePlan goes through a third-party merchant called Points.com, which means the points you buy won’t be categorized as travel or flight purchases.
Use a card that earns flat-rate rewards on everyday spending to maximize your miles purchases. Here are great options for you to choose from:
When Do Alaska MileagePlan Miles Expire?
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles never expire as long as your account is active, but Alaska Airlines may lock your account if you haven’t earned or redeemed a mile in the past 24 months.
Redeeming Alaska Airlines Miles
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan offers outstanding value for travelers from North America through its partnerships with premier carriers like American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines. These alliances open up a world of possibilities for both domestic and international travel. For flights within North America, Mileage Plan’s distance-based pricing is particularly attractive. Short-haul economy flights under 700 miles can be booked for just 4,500 miles, while flights between 701 and 1,400 miles cost only 7,500 miles. This makes Mileage Plan an excellent choice for domestic travel, especially on routes operated by Alaska or American Airlines. International travelers from North America can take advantage of some impressive sweet spots. Flying from the Northeast US to London in business class costs just 45,000 miles. For those looking to explore Asia, you can book a business class flight from the US with a stopover for 85,000 miles. This generous stopover policy allows you to effectively visit two destinations for the price of one. Flights to South America also offer good value. Business class awards from North America to destinations like Lima or São Paulo can be booked for 35,000 to 50,000 miles, depending on the distance. To maximize value when redeeming from North America, focus on shorter domestic flights, leverage stopovers on long-haul international itineraries, and look for premium cabin awards on Alaska’s great partners.
