Alaska Airlines isn’t a part of any major airline alliance, but it’s having a very friendly sale on miles.
And here’s the great wrinkle in this opportunity: You don’t even have to fly Alaska Airlines to use the miles.
We’re not saying, “Don’t fly Alaska,” we’re just saying, “Thank you, Alaska!” We would also add this: Take a look at Alaska’s Transcon, formally Virgin America, because Business Class often starts at $1,800.
The big picture is that you can cash in those purchased miles on Alaska’s numerous partners: American, Air France, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, LAN, Qantas, and 11 other carriers—for up to 76% off normal fares.
Who Is This For?
This is for Americans or Canadians who either don’t have any miles in their kitty, or don’t have a credit card that allows them to buy points.
One Caveat
Alaska Airlines’ sales are only open to Mileage Plan members residing in North America, and who’ve been in the program for at least ten days. This particular sale ends on April 9, so you won’t be able to take advantage of it now if you’re new to the program. But if you have followed previous advice—or the early warning alert we sent on March 16—then you’re set to cash in. Otherwise, become a member now and be ready for the next sale.
SALE Details
Alaska is offering a bonus of up to 40% on miles purchased. The maximum purchase per transaction is 60,000 miles, but there’s no limit on the number of transactions. That said, no more than four transactions are permitted on the same credit card in any 30-day period. If you need more miles, just use a second credit card. The promo cost comes out to 2.1¢ per mile, including taxes. This is good buying even though we occasionally see sales up to 50% off, the last was eight months ago.
How Does THIS Play in the Air the World OVER
with Savings of up to 76%?
Save 76% on Emirates A380 in First Class
From the U.S. to Dubai costs 300,000 miles round-trip. (Yes, it’s a lot, but if you are faced with having no points, and paying cash, this can be a good deal if award space is available.) The lowest published fare from New York to Dubai is $26,760 round-trip. Booking a partner award through Alaska, when you can buy miles at this sale price, reduces the cost to $6,496 round-trip (includes taxes and about $81 in award tax), a savings of $20,264 (76%). For more details on how to save 76% on Emirates with cash—or 65% off with miles, see FCF’s Sweet Redeems alerts here and here.
If you’re not an Amex Rewards member, then the Alaska buy deal is a great way to go, but if you are a member you could also buy Amex Reward points (217,5000, at 2.5¢ each), and then transfer them directly to Emirates. The price is a bit less, $6,367 including taxes.
Alaskaair.com
Save 72% to Asia in First Class
Cathay Pacific First Class from the U.S. to Asia, using Alaska miles is 140,000 miles round-trip, and can save you 70%+. The lowest published fare from Chicago to Hong Kong is $10,960 round-trip. Booking a partner award, during this sale on miles, through Alaska reduces the price to $3,023 (includes taxes and about $67 in award tax), a savings of $7,937 (72%). For more details on how to save up to 70% with cash or 65% off with miles on Cathay Pacific First Class to Asia, see FCF’s Sweet Redeems alert here.
Save 67% to Australia in First Class
Qantas First Class from the U.S. to Australia is 140,000 miles round-trip using Alaska miles, a savings of up to 67% on First Class. The lowest published fare from Los Angeles to Melbourne is $12,080 round-trip. Booking a partner award through Alaska, during this sale on miles, reduces the price to $3,956 (includes taxes and about $1,000 in award tax), a savings of $8,124 (67%).
Save 55% to Asia in Business Class
Japan Airlines Business Class from the U.S. to Asia is 120,000 miles round-trip, a 55% discount using Alaska miles. The lowest published New York-Tokyo fare is $5,903 round-trip. Booking a partner award through Alaska, during this sale on miles, reduces the price to $2,673 round-trip (includes taxes and about $71 in award tax), a savings of $3,230 (55%). For more details on Japan Airlines Business Class award space, see FCF’s Sweet Redeems alert here.
Alaskaair.com
Save 49% to South America in Business Class
LAN Business Class from the U.S. to South America costs 90,000 miles round-trip with Alaska. The lowest published fare from New York to Santiago is $3,824 round-trip. Booking a partner award through Alaska, during this sale on miles, reduces the price to $1,951 (includes taxes and about $61 in award tax), a savings of $1,873 (49%). For more details on how to save 49% on LAN’s Business Class to Argentina, Brazil, and Chile with cash or 70% off with miles, see FCF’s Sweet Redeems alert here.
Save 34% to Europe in First Class
British Airways First Class from the U.S. to Europe is 140,000 miles round-trip: The lowest published fare from Los Angeles to London is $6,504 round-trip. Booking a partner award through Alaska, during this sale on miles, reduces the price to $4,281 round-trip (includes taxes and about $1,325 in award tax), a savings of $2,223 (34%). For more details on British Airways First Class award space, see FCF’s Sweet Redeems alert here.
Keep in mind: To Europe, the Alaska buying miles strategy is generally worthwhile when fares are high ($6,000+), which often is the case on short-notice fares or on West Coast routes.
Alaskaair.com
Save 31% to Africa in First Class and a Free Second City
British Airways First Class from the U.S. to Africa is 160,000 miles round-trip using Alaska miles, a 31% savings. The lowest published fare from New York to Johannesburg is $7,858 round-trip. Booking a partner award through Alaska, during this sale on miles, reduces the price to $5,419 round-trip (includes taxes and about $2,015 in award tax), a savings of $2,439 (31%).
Free Stopovers = Bucket List Bonanza
Plus, if you take advantage of Alaska’s generous stop-over rule on partner awards, allowing a free stop-over in the partner’s hub city, in this case London, you are getting a second city, London, for free and easily worth $4,700, giving you a total savings of $7,139 (57%).
With Alaska’s other partners, many stop-over possibilities exist.
Alaskaair.com
Four More Reasons Why Alaska is the Bomb
SAVE $ ON TAXES: On some international routes, Alaska charges lower award taxes than the operating airline itself charges. For example, Air France’s Business Class award taxes on the Washington, D.C.-Paris route are $618 round-trip, while that ticket booked through Alaska’s mileage program incurs only $164 in taxes, a savings of $454 (73%). Booked with Delta SkyMiles, the cost is 45,000 more miles (170,000) than with Alaska miles, and taxes are about equal to Alaska’s.
EASY SEARCH: Some airlines, including Air France and British Airways, require you to sign up for their mileage program to check award space online. With Alaska you don’t have to – you can see what’s offered by its partners, even before you join. Note this: To find availability on Cathay Pacific or LAN, you have to call Alaska at (800) 252-7522, all others are booked online.
MIX AND MATCH: Alaska’s awards allow you to use a different partner in each direction, or to book a one-way award. All of its partners are priced on a one-way basis, so a round-trip is simply double that amount.
FREE STOP-OVERS: As we’ve touched on, Alaska boasts a generous stop-over rule on partner awards, allowing a free stop-over in the partner’s hub city. (Many other carriers allow no stop-overs at all when traveling on a mileage award.) You get one stop-over for a one-way ticket, and two stop-overs on a round-trip! For example, flying Cathay Pacific in Business Class from Los Angeles to Singapore gets you a free stop-over in Hong Kong. For details go here.
When Should I Buy Miles?
Our general rule of thumb is to consider buying miles when published premium fares are high, say $1,800+ for domestic tickets; $4,000+ for Business and $6,000+ for First Class international tickets. Published international First and Business Class fares are often highest when booked on short notice—the perfect time to use miles.
MORE:
We love buying and using miles at FCF, and these two special reports are very much part of our dinner conversation last month: