Alaska Airlines Buy Miles 90% Bonus: Should You Jump on This Deal?

Alaska Airlines just launched their first buy miles “Mystery Bonus” sale of 2026, and some accounts are seeing up to a 90% bonus on purchased miles. The offer runs through February 18, 2026.

But before you rush to buy, let’s break down whether this deal actually makes sense for you.

The Deal Details

Bonus: Up to 90% (targeted, most accounts see 40-60%)
Expires: February 18, 2026
Where: Buy Alaska Miles
Cost: Base price is 2.77¢ per mile before bonus

With a 90% bonus, you’re effectively paying 1.46¢ per mile. With a 60% bonus, that’s 1.73¢ per mile.

Is It Worth It?

Alaska Mileage Plan miles are worth approximately 1.8¢ each according to most valuations. So:

Bonus	Cost Per Mile	Verdict
90%	1.46¢	✅ Good deal
60%	1.73¢	⚠️ Marginal
40%	1.98¢	❌ Skip it

Bottom line: Only buy if you’re getting 60%+ bonus AND have a specific redemption in mind.

Best Uses for Alaska Miles

Alaska’s sweet spots make buying miles worthwhile for certain routes:

Partner Awards (Best Value)

Cathay Pacific First Class: 70,000 miles one-way to Hong Kong
Japan Airlines Business: 60,000 miles one-way to Tokyo
Emirates First Class: 100,000 miles one-way (fuel surcharges apply)
Qantas Business to Australia: 55,000 miles one-way

Alaska Metal

West Coast to Hawaii: 15,000-30,000 miles round trip
Domestic First Class: Often 20,000-40,000 miles

When Buying Makes Sense

✅ Buy if:

You’re getting 60%+ bonus
You have a specific award booked or holding space
You need a small top-up (under 30,000 miles)
The award you want has fuel surcharges that make cash expensive

❌ Don’t buy if:

You’re speculating without a specific trip
You’re getting less than 50% bonus
You could earn the miles through credit card spend instead
The award is available with Chase/Amex transfer partners

The Math: Real Example

Let’s say you want Cathay Pacific First Class to Hong Kong (70,000 miles one-way).

Cash price: ~$12,000 one-way

Buying miles at 90% bonus:

70,000 miles ÷ 1.9 (bonus) = 36,842 miles to purchase
Cost: 36,842 × 2.77¢ = $1,021

That’s a 91% discount off the cash price. Now THAT’S a deal.

How to Check Your Bonus

Log into your Alaska Mileage Plan account
Go to “Buy Miles”
Your personalized bonus will be shown at checkout
Don’t buy until you see the actual percentage

Pro Tips

Buy in small batches — Sometimes buying twice gets you the bonus twice
Use a card with travel protection — The purchase counts as travel on some cards
Check partner availability first — Don’t buy miles for an award that doesn’t exist
Miles never expire — As long as you have account activity every 24 months

Alternative: Earn Miles Instead

Before buying, consider these earning options:

Alaska Airlines Visa: 40,000 miles sign-up bonus
Marriott transfers: 60,000 Marriott = 25,000 Alaska + 5,000 bonus
Shopping portal: Alaska’s shopping portal often has 5-15x bonuses

The Verdict

The 90% bonus is genuinely good — one of the best buy miles offers we see from Alaska. But the targeted nature means your bonus might be lower.

My recommendation:

90% bonus + specific award = Buy
60-75% bonus + specific award = Consider it
Under 60% or no specific plan = Skip

This offer expires February 18, 2026. Check your account to see your personalized bonus.

Have you bought Alaska miles before? What did you redeem them for? Drop a comment below!