The Alaska Mileage Plan is running yet another promotion, now offering up to 50% bonus miles this time round; if purchased by 22nd September 11:59 PST, you may be able to purchase each mile at 2.11 US cents.
The Alaska Mileage Plan is one of my most favourite frequent flyer programmes, where you can score really good Business/First Class flights when you redeem your tickets with them. In this post, I will be focusing on this promotion. Click on the link here to find out why you too should love the Alaska Mileage Plan.
A Quick Summary For This Promotion
- Purchase limit: up to 150k miles including bonus miles within a year.
- Your account needs to have been opened in the Alaska Mileage Plan for at least 10 days before you can buy Alaska Miles.
| Buy 10,000 – 19,000 miles | Get a 20% bonus (2.46 US cents) |
| Buy 20,000 – 39,000 miles | Get a 30% bonus (2.27 US cents) |
| Buy 40,000 – 60,000 miles | Get a 40% bonus (2.11 US cents) |
Click here to buy Alaska Miles for up to a 40% bonus. Offer ends by 22nd September.
Historical Price Offered in the Past Promotions (1 Year Time Frame)
For regular followers, you will probably have noticed that the Alaska Mileage Plan runs regular promotions. The table below shows the price (US cent per mile) over the past year.
| Past promotions | US cents per mile | Evaluation |
| Early September – 50% Bonus | 1.97 cents | Lowest |
| July to August 2019 – 50% Bonus | 1.97 cents | Lowest |
| July 2019 – 15% Bonus | 2.57 cents | Highest |
| June 2019 – 30% discount | 2.07 cents | Mid – Range |
| April to May 2019 – 50% bonus | 1.97 cents | Lowest |
| March 2019 – 40% bonus | 2.11 cents | Mid – Range |
| Jan to Feb 2019 – 40% bonus | 2.11 cents | Mid – Range |
| Nov to Dec 2018 – 50% bonus | 1.97 cents | Lowest |
| Oct 2018 – 40% bonus sales | 2.11 cents | Mid – Range |
| Aug to Oct 2018 – 50% bonus | 1.97 cents | Lowest |
| May to July 2018 – 40% bonus | 1.97 cents | Lowest |
This promotion isn’t the best promotion ever (50% at 1.97 US cents vs 40% at 2.11 US cents). If you look closely at my table above, you may observe a trend – Alaska has been offering a 50% bonus promotion every 2 to 3 months this year. If the trend follows, we may only see a 50% bonus promotion in December 2019 or January 2020. Hence, while the rate is still on the low side, you may consider buying some urgent miles for travel this year before the price increases again.
Click here to buy Alaska Miles for up to a 40% bonus. Offer ends 22nd September.
Why The Alaska Mileage Plan is my Favourite Frequent Flyer Program
- Free stopovers for one-way or return tickets
- Redemption on unique airlines. Examples:
- Aer Lingus, Fiji Airways, Icelander Air
- Great redemption rates on First and Business Class. Examples:
- Cathay Pacific First Class from US to Asia for 70k miles one way ($1,477 @ 2.11US cent per mile)
- Hainan/Cathay Pacific Business Class from US to Asia for 50k miles one way ($1,055 @ 2.11US cent per mile)
- Qantas Business Class from US to Australia for 55 k miles one way ($1,160.50 @ 2.11US cent per mile)
Sweet Spot on Alaska Mileage Plan
Conclusion
Although this might not be the best time to buy and stock up Alaska miles, the price is still on the low side. If the trend follows, the next 50% bonus promotion may only surface again in December 2019/Janurary 2020. Hence, it may be worthwhile to buy some urgent miles from this deal before the price increases again. Click on this link here to learn how to use your Alaska Mileage Plan. Also, share with us your favourite Alaska miles redemption in the comment section below.