Buy-miles promotions
The latest offer (official link), running through June 26, adds a 70% bonus when you buy 35,000 or more Alaska miles:
- Each AS mile works out to 1.74 cpp USD.
Searching the blog’s airline promotions roundup shows that 50% and 60% bonuses are fairly common. A 70% bonus is a strong sale. If the AS award examples on this site appeal to you, this is a reasonable time to buy a modest stash.
Is it worth it?
A common question is whether buying miles to redeem an award ticket is worthwhile. There is no absolute answer. People value long-haul transoceanic business class differently, and their acceptable cost ranges differ. If we only follow exaggerated community headlines such as “free business class,” we may click through and discover that the recommendation was actually to apply for a credit card and use its welcome bonus. That can affect our ability to judge rationally and create unrealistic expectations. Such sensational wording should not be the standard for deciding whether a mileage redemption is worthwhile.
My personal view is that a lie-flat transoceanic business-class award costing less than C$2,000 one way is worth considering.
Let’s take a few recent AS redemptions from this blog, work out the cost, and see whether buying miles to book them makes sense.
Award examples
🌰 1. Japan Airlines business class
Using Alaska miles for JAL business class is one of the sweet spots.
- YVR – NRT
One-way YVR – NRT costs 60,000 AS miles, or about US$1,090.
- ORD – HND – PVG
Friends in eastern Canada can add their own flight to Chicago.
ORD – HND – PVG does not require an airport change, so it is low-stress if you do not want to stay in Japan. Alaska also allows one stopover on a one-way award, so you can spend a few days in Tokyo.
It costs 85,000 miles in JAL business the whole way, or about US$1,530.
🌰 2. Korean Air business class
- YVR, YYZ – ICN
One-way YYZ or YVR to Seoul Incheon in Korean Air business class costs 75k Alaska miles, or about US$1,436.
You can also add a segment to Beijing or Shanghai, and a stopover in Korea is allowed.
Toronto – stop in Incheon – Shanghai, Korean Air business the whole way, costs 95k AS miles, or about US$1,735.
🌰 3. Alaska / Hawaiian business class
After merging with Hawaiian, Alaska also has its own East Asia route: SEA–NRT.
From Vancouver, you can add YVR–SEA–Tokyo for 95k miles the whole way, or about US$1,730.
🌰 4. Condor business class
【Award space released in bulk】Condor business class to Asia
For a Europe trip, Condor is a good option for Canadian travellers. Here is an Asia routing via Europe: Toronto – Frankfurt – Bangkok, 85k miles, or about US$1,610.
Further reading
【Award space released in bulk】Cathay Pacific business class home to Asia
【Award space released in bulk】Qatar Airways business class home to Asia
Flight review ✈️: Japan Airlines business class Tokyo–Vancouver, NRT–YVR
