While earning miles through flights or credit card spending is more common, purchasing miles directly from airlines can sometimes be a smart move. In certain cases, it can save you hundreds of dollars—if not thousands—on flights. This guide will help you determine when buying miles is worth it, what to keep in mind when you do it, and a few examples on how I have saved big-time on flights by spending on miles.
Only buy miles during promotions
Airlines usually sell miles at a premium far above their actual worth, typically between 2.5 to 3.5 cents per mile. That means buying 100,000 miles could cost anywhere from $2,500 to $3,500—a hefty price for most travelers. It’s not a good idea, in general, to buy miles at full price. But promotions on miles can make the cost far more reasonable.
For example, in November 2024, Hawaiian Miles ran a deal offering a 100 percent bonus when purchasing between 3,000 and 100,000 miles. This brought the cost per mile down to an outstanding 1.27 cents—less than half the average cost when a promotion isn’t in play.
With the ongoing merger between Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines, miles are already interchangeable between the two programs, and because I frequently use Alaska miles, I jumped on the deal. I purchased 100,000 Hawaiian Miles and received a 100,000-mile bonus, giving me a total of 200,000 miles for $2,540 ($2,500 for the miles, plus a $40 tax recovery fee).
Although this promotion allowed the purchase of as few as 3,000 miles to receive the 100 percent bonus, the largest discounts usually require purchasing a significant number of miles. Always read the promotion details carefully to ensure you’re getting the best rate. And remember that miles from different programs aren’t equivalent. For example, 100,000 AAdvantage miles may hold more or less value than 100,000 Delta SkyMiles, depending on an airline’s pricing and redemption options. Think of airline miles like foreign currencies: They vary in value.
Do the math and only buy miles when it’s a good value
Airfare prices—both in cash and miles—have climbed in recent years, but deals still exist. This holds especially true for international business- or first-class flights on partner airlines and select flights on domestic airlines.
I flew business class in May 2024 between Miami and Cape Town, South Africa, on Qatar Airways for just 150,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles. I had purchased most of those miles during a November 2023 AAdvantage mileage sale, when miles were discounted by 50 percent, bringing the cost down to 1.88 cents per mile. (American ran the same promotion of 50 percent off again in June and November 2024.)
With miles, my ticket cost the equivalent of $2,820, plus $124 in taxes, totaling $2,944. At the time, the cash price for the same flight was more than $7,000, which made the purchased miles an incredible deal.
This strategy requires careful planning and lots of patience. It took me weeks of searching to find business-class saver tickets priced at 75,000 miles each way, and I came up empty-handed many times. Luckily, I have an elite subscription with Going.com, which alerts me the moment Qatar Airways business-class mileage seats are released. One day, I got that alert, and that same day, I booked my tickets.
International flights often offer great value for buying and redeeming miles; domestic routes are more complicated. Most North American airlines use dynamic pricing, so the cost in miles can exceed the cash price, even with promotional discounts. An exception to this is booking American Airlines flights through its partner Alaska Airlines. Strange as it may seem, Alaska’s Mileage Plan frequently offers discounted award seats on its oneworld Alliance partners.
A recent example: I booked a ticket from Tallahassee, Florida, to Nassau, Bahamas (via Miami), on American Airlines for 7,500 Alaska miles plus $6.60 in taxes. That same ticket would have cost over $300 in cash. Another plus to buying miles for domestic tickets is that most mileage tickets on North American carriers are refundable. Airlines—including Delta, United, and American—allow cancellations of mileage tickets without penalties, so you effectively get a refundable ticket by purchasing a mileage ticket. Refundable airline tickets can cost up to double the price of nonrefundable tickets when paying cash, so keep this in mind.
Use caution when stockpiling miles
It can be tempting to hoard miles during a big sale, but there are some factors to consider first. Airline miles lose value over time due to devaluations, higher redemption rates, and fewer award seats. Frequent flier programs regularly change their rules, often to the traveler’s disadvantage. Because of such changes, holding onto miles can lead to disappointment when those miles no longer buy what they once could. That said, if you are willing to be flexible and patient with your travel plans, buying larger sums could pay off. I always make miles work to my advantage, but this comes with years of practice and research.
Think twice about topping off your balance
If you’re just short of the miles needed for an award ticket, buying a small number of miles might seem like a good option. But it’s important to do the math.
If I want to book a 4 p.m. American Airlines flight from Miami to New York’s LaGuardia on Friday, June 6, 2025, it’s currently priced at 8,500 miles. I only have 7,000 miles, and since AA isn’t running any promotions, I’d need to buy at least 2,000 miles—the minimum allowed—for $75.25. I value my existing 7,000 miles at about 1.75 cents per mile, which equals $122.50.
Here’s where it doesn’t add up: The cash price for the same ticket is $119, while buying the extra miles and using my current balance would effectively cost me $197.75. In this case, paying cash is the clear winner.
A recap of what to remember
Buying airline miles can be a smart move in certain situations, but it’s not always a good deal. When airlines offer miles on sale, take the time to crunch the numbers and check for award availability. The best opportunities often reside in international business-class tickets, where miles can unlock premium experiences for a fraction of the cash cost.
On the flip side, avoid buying miles at full price, stockpiling them without a plan, or purchasing small amounts unless it’s necessary. With careful planning, you can make the most of airline promotions and turn purchased miles into major savings—and maybe even a lie-flat bed with a glass of champagne in hand.
This article was originally published on February 27, 2023, and was updated with new information on December 19, 2024.
