You can buy Alaska miles directly from the airline, but the price per mile changes and the deal is rarely worth it for most people

Alaska Airlines sells miles through their website year-round. You pick how many you want to buy — usually in increments of 1,000 miles — and pay whatever their current rate is. The price per mile typically ranges from 1 cent to 1.5 cents, though Alaska runs promotions where you might pay less. You get the miles in your account within 24 hours, and you can use them to book flights, seat upgrades, or other travel rewards right away.

The catch is that buying miles is almost never the cheapest way to get a flight. A ticket that costs $300 might require 25,000 miles. If Alaska is charging 1.5 cents per mile, you would pay $375 to buy those miles — more than the cash price. Even at 1 cent per mile, you are paying $250 for a $300 ticket. You are better off using a credit card to earn miles, or straightforward paying cash.

There are narrow situations where buying makes sense: you are 2,000 miles short of a free flight that books in the next week, or you have a specific trip in mind and Alaska's mile price is genuinely lower than the cash fare. But these moments are rare, and you should do the math before you spend money.

Key Takeaways

  • Alaska Airlines sells miles on their website at a price that changes weekly, usually between 1 and 1.5 cents per mile.
  • Buying miles is almost always more expensive than paying cash or earning miles through a credit card.
  • You should compare the total cost of buying miles against the lowest available cash fare before you purchase.
  • Alaska occasionally runs promotions where the price per mile drops, but you still need to do the math to confirm it is cheaper than flying for cash.

How to buy miles on Alaska's website

Log into your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account at alaskaair.com. Click on "Buy Miles" in the account menu — it is usually under "Mileage Plan" or "Rewards". You will see a form where you enter how many miles you want to buy, in increments of 1,000. Alaska will show you the current price per mile and the total cost before you confirm.

You pay with a credit card or debit card. Alaska processes the purchase when ready and deposits the miles into your account within 24 hours, usually much faster. Once the miles are there, you can use them to book a flight on Alaska or any of their partner airlines, or to buy seat upgrades, baggage fees, or other add-ons.

Alaska does not let you buy miles as a gift for someone else through their website. If you want to give miles to another Mileage Plan member, you have to call Alaska customer service at 1-800-252-7522 and ask about their mile transfer options, which may have fees.

When Alaska runs promotions on mile purchases

Alaska occasionally offers bonus miles when you buy. For example, they might say "buy 10,000 miles and get 2,000 free" or "buy miles at 0.9 cents each instead of 1.2 cents." These promotions usually run for a few weeks and are announced on their website and in email to Mileage Plan members.

Even with a bonus, you should still compare the total cost to the cash price of the flight you want. A promotion that sounds good — "get 50% bonus miles" — can still cost more than paying for the ticket outright. Use a calculator: if you need 30,000 miles and Alaska is offering 50% bonus on a purchase of 20,000 miles at 1 cent each, you pay $200 for 30,000 miles. If the flight costs $180 in cash, you have lost money.

The math: when buying miles makes sense

Buying miles only makes financial sense in specific situations. The most common is when you are close to a free flight and do not want to wait. If you have 23,000 miles and need 25,000 for a flight leaving in five days, buying 2,000 miles at 1 cent each costs $20. If that flight costs $250 in cash, you have saved money by buying the last few miles.

Another scenario is when Alaska's mile price is genuinely lower than the cash fare and you have no other way to get the miles. This is rare. You would need to find a flight where the cash price is high — say, $400 — and Alaska is selling miles at 1 cent each, so 40,000 miles cost $400. Even then, you are not saving anything; you are just converting cash to miles at a 1:1 ratio.

The real value of miles comes from earning them through a credit card or flying Alaska. A card that earns 3 miles per dollar spent on purchases gives you miles at an effective cost of about 0.33 cents per mile (if you spend $100 and get 300 miles). That is three times cheaper than buying at 1 cent per mile.

Why credit cards are usually a better source of miles

Alaska Airlines co-branded credit cards earn miles on every purchase you make. The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card, for example, earns 3 miles per dollar on Alaska purchases and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. If you spend $5,000 a year on the card, you earn 8,000 to 15,000 miles depending on your mix of purchases — without paying anything extra.

You also earn miles by flying Alaska. A round-trip flight from Seattle to Los Angeles might earn 5,000 to 10,000 miles depending on the fare class and your membership tier. Over a year, if you take a few trips, you accumulate miles without buying them.

The combination of card spending and flying usually gets you enough miles for a free flight or two per year. Buying miles on top of that is paying twice for the same trip.

Partner airlines and transfer options

Alaska miles can be used on flights operated by Alaska Airlines or by their partner airlines, which include American, Delta, United, and several international carriers. The number of miles required varies by partner and route. A flight on American might cost 25,000 miles while the same route on Alaska costs 20,000.

You cannot transfer Alaska miles to another airline's program. You can transfer miles to another Alaska Mileage Plan member, but Alaska charges a fee — typically $1 per 100 miles transferred, with a minimum fee. If you want to give someone 10,000 miles, you pay at least $100. This makes buying miles to transfer to someone else even less attractive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Alaska miles expire?

Alaska miles do not expire as long as you have account activity at least once every 24 months. Activity includes earning miles, spending miles, or even just logging into your account. If your account goes inactive for 24 months, Alaska closes it and you lose the miles. If you are not a frequent flyer, set a calendar reminder to log in once a year.

Can I use Alaska miles to book flights on other airlines?

Yes, but the number of miles required is usually higher than Alaska flights. You can book on American, Delta, United, British Airways, and others through Alaska's website. Check the partner airline's availability before you buy miles — some routes have limited partner award space, and you might find a better cash price.

What is the best way to use Alaska miles?

Use them on Alaska flights during peak travel times, when the cash price is highest. A flight that costs $400 in cash might require 25,000 miles — a good value. Off-peak flights that cost $150 in cash might also require 25,000 miles, which is a poor value. Always compare the cash price to the mile cost before you book.

Can I buy miles for someone else?

Not directly through the website. You can call Alaska at 1-800-252-7522 and ask about transferring miles to another Mileage Plan member, but Alaska charges a fee of roughly $1 per 100 miles. For most people, it is cheaper to give the person a gift card or cash to buy their own ticket.

What happens if I buy miles and then find a cheaper flight?

Alaska does not refund miles once they are in your account. You can use them for a different flight, or let them sit until you find a good use for them. This is another reason to avoid buying miles on impulse — once you spend the money, you cannot get it back if you change your mind or find a better option.