The Only Time You Should Buy Airline Miles

Readers often ask, “Should I buy airline miles?” Buying miles can be tempting especially when there are offers like up to 50% bonus on purchased United Airlines miles, up to 50% bonus on American Airlines miles, and a 40% bonus when you buy Southwest points. The only time you should buy airline miles is when it makes sense for you.

The Only Time You Should Buy Airline Miles

Generally, it doesn’t make financial sense to buy miles. Because often you’re paying more than the miles are worth.

But there are three times when you should buy frequent flyer miles:

1. If you’re short on miles for an award ticket.
2. To book an expensive International First Class or Business Class flight.
3. To keep your miles from expiring.

If You’re Short on Miles for an Award Ticket

You should buy airlines miles if you don’t have enough for an award ticket.

But I’m not talking tens of thousands of miles, more like a few thousand miles.

Let’s say you want to fly to Hawaii. You can get MileSAAver off-peak award for 20,000 American Airlines miles each way.

You have 38,000 American Airlines frequent flyer miles.

Do you skip going on your dream trip to Hawaii because someone said you should never buy miles? No way! You pony up and buy the 2,000 miles for $59.

So for $59 bucks, you get to lay on the beach drinking mai tais and snorkel with turtles.

To Book an Expensive International First Class or Business Class Flight

It’s worth buying miles to book an international First Class or Business Class flight on an award ticket. Because you can save thousands of dollars.

A round-trip First Class ticket on Cathay Pacific can cost $25,008.84.

You book an award ticket using Alaska Airlines miles to fly round-trip First Class on Cathay Pacific for 140,000 miles.

Buying 140,000 miles costs $4,138.75.

If you bought miles and booked an award ticket, you save $20,870.09.

To Keep Your Miles From Expiring

Another reason to buy airline miles is to keep your miles from expiring.

Frequent flyer miles expire after 18 months if there’s no mileage earning activity. If you haven’t flown on that airline or earned any miles from dining, shopping, renting cars, or staying at hotels within 18 months you will lose all the miles in your airline account.

One way to keep those miles from expiring is to buy airline miles. If you’re in a time crunch, this is your best option. Because some airlines like American Airlines, miles post to your account within 8 hours.

If you do buy miles, be sure to look for buy miles promotions. Frequently the airlines will offer bonuses when you purchase miles.

Where to Buy Airline Miles

You can buy airline miles using these links:

• Air France KLM
• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• British Airways Avios
• Delta Airlines
• JetBlue
• Saudi Airlines
• Spirit Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• United Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic

Pro-tip: Most airline mile purchases are handled by Points.com. So you won’t earn a travel bonus for purchasing miles.

Related posts on earning airline miles:

• 7 Easy Ways to Earn Frequent Flyer Miles Without Flying
• Extreme Miles and Point Collecting

Conclusion

Should you buy airlines miles? Normally you shouldn’t buy frequent flyer miles.

But there are 3 times when you should buy airline miles:

1. If you’re short on miles for an award ticket.
2. To book an expensive International First Class or Business Class flight.
3. To keep your miles from expiring.

If you’re going to buy miles check for special bonus offers like up to 50% bonus on purchased United Airlines miles, 40% bonus when you buy Southwest points, and up to 50% bonus on American Airlines miles.

Short on hotel points? Read the only time you should buy hotel points.

Pin this to your travel tips, vacation, or travel board:

Have you bought airline miles?

Comment and share this post.

Get the best credit card signup bonuses.

Got a question? Or want help, suggestions, travel tips, learn how to travel for free, find out about travel deals, and maximize your miles and points?

Use the subscription box below to sign-up and get post updates by email.

Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube

Traveling Well For Less has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Traveling Well For Less and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

---

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best card to get started in the world of miles and points. It is the first card you should get to start traveling for free because the welcome offer is 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 5X points on travel when booked through the Chase portal (2X if direct purchase), 3X points on dining, $50 yearly credit on hotels booked through the Chase portal, no foreign transaction fees, and transferring points to 13 airline and hotel partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest.

 

Learn more about this card and how to apply

---

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is one of my favorite cards for earning cash back card and travel rewards. It offers a welcome offer of 3% cash back = an extra 1.5% cash back on up to $20,000 in purchases your first year.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 6.5% cash back on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal, 4.5% cash back at drugstores and restaurants, unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and no annual fee. When paired with cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card, you can use your points to travel for free.

 

Learn more about this card and how to apply