Buy bonus points and miles with these promotions

Loyalty programs are a huge moneymaker for airlines and hotel companies because they support many revenue streams. One of these revenue streams is selling airline miles and hotel points directly to travelers.

Programs can get an immediate cash injection by selling points and miles as travelers prepay for future travel. However, as a traveler, keep in mind that it generally only makes sense to purchase points and miles when a discount or bonus offer is available.

This roundup of points and miles sales walks you through some of the best current offers on airline miles and hotel points, including some that may be targeted. But first, let's discuss when it makes sense to buy points and miles.

Should you buy points and miles?

Buy bonus points and miles with these promotions - The Points Guy (1)

There are a couple of things to consider before taking advantage of points and miles sales.

First, buying points and miles only makes sense for certain travelers and at certain times. It's generally a much better deal to earn points and miles for "free" through welcome bonuses tied to travel rewards credit cards.

However, buying points and miles during good promotions can make sense for those who have tapped out their credit card options and can get high value from their rewards. It can also make sense when you need more points to lock in a specific award.

Promotions for buying airline miles

Buy bonus points and miles with these promotions - The Points Guy (3)

American Airlines AAdvantage

Current promotion: 10% to 35% discount
Purchase rate: As low as 2.45 cents per mile
TPG valuation: 1.7 cents per mile
End date: Unknown
Buy AAdvantage miles

American Airlines AAdvantage is offering up to a 35% discount on miles, depending on how many you buy. You must purchase at least 6,000 miles to get the 10% discount, and the discount increases as the number of miles increases. You'll get the highest discount of 35% when you buy 150,000 miles, dropping the price to 2.45 cents per mile. This is significantly higher than TPG's valuation of American miles, but buying American miles for specific high-end awards could still make sense.

Air Canada Aeroplan

Current promotion: Up to 85% bonus points
Purchase rate: As low as 1.37 cents per point
TPG valuation: 1.5 cents per point
End date: June 21
Buy Air Canada Aeroplan points

Air Canada Aeroplan is currently offering 50%, 60% or 85% bonus points depending on the number of points you purchase. You must buy at least 4,000 points to get the 50% bonus. If you buy 45,000 or more, you'll get the maximum 85% bonus, which brings the cost down to 1.37 cents per point — lower than TPG's valuation of 1.5 cents.

If you're looking to book a getaway in 2024, this is a great promotion to top off your Aeroplan account. Booking a business-class ticket, a stopover for 5,000 points or a round-trip economy ticket within North America are just a few ways to maximize your Aeroplan points.

JetBlue TrueBlue

Current promotion: 70% bonus points
Purchase rate: As low as 1.38 cents per point
TPG valuation: 1.35 cents per point
End date: June 28
Buy JetBlue TrueBlue points

JetBlue is offering TrueBlue members 70% bonus points when they purchase a minimum of 3,000 points. You'll get a purchase rate of 1.69 cents per point when purchasing the minimum number, or 1.38 cents each when purchasing the maximum 150,000 points. TPG values TrueBlue points at 1.35 cents per point, so we don't recommend buying TrueBlue points unless you have a specific redemption in mind and need to top off your account. However, since JetBlue allows members to do Cash + Points redemptions, you don't necessarily need the full number of points to snag a redemption.

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards

Current promotion: Save 50%
Purchase rate: As low as 1.5 cents per point
TPG valuation: 1.3 cents per point
End date: July 21
Buy Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards points

Southwest Rapid Rewards members can currently purchase points — with a minimum of 3,000 points and a maximum of 60,000 — and save 50%. This deal brings the cost down to 1.5 cents per point. While this is still higher than TPG's valuation of 1.3 cents per point, it could be worth purchasing Southwest points if you have a specific redemption in mind and need to top off your account. Plus, Southwest now offers a Cash + Points redemption, which means you can book part of your flight with Rapid Rewards points and part with cash.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Current promotion: 70% bonus miles
Purchase rate: As low as 1.8 cents per mile
TPG valuation: 1.2 cents per mile
End date: June 16
Buy Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles

Flying Blue, the loyalty program of Air France, KLM and a handful of other carriers, is offering a 70% miles bonus to members who purchase anywhere between 2,000 and 100,000 Flying Blue miles. You'll pay between 1.8 and 1.86 cents per mile, depending on how many you buy. This isn't a great value considering TPG pegs Flying Blue miles at 1.2 cents apiece, but it's a nice option to have if you're short on miles for an upcoming redemption.

Promotions for buying hotel points

Buy bonus points and miles with these promotions - The Points Guy (4)

Hilton Honors

Current promotion: 80% bonus
Purchase rate: As low as 0.55 cents per point
TPG valuation: 0.6 cents per point
End date: July 23
Buy Hilton Honors points

Hilton is currently offering an 80% bonus when you purchase at least 5,000 Hilton Honors points. While Hilton points normally cost 1 cent each, this bonus brings that down to 0.55 cents per point — a great deal considering TPG values Hilton points at 0.6 cents apiece. If you want to stock up on Hilton points or have a dreamy tropical Hilton destination in mind, now is the time to buy.

World of Hyatt

Current promotion: 20% bonus
Purchase rate: As low as 2 cents per point
TPG valuation: 1.7 cents per point
End date: July 3
Buy World of Hyatt points

Hyatt is currently offering a 20% bonus when you purchase at least 3,000 World of Hyatt points. This brings the cost down to 2 cents per point, which is still higher than TPG's valuation of 1.7 cents per point. As a result, this isn't a great deal, but it's an option if you're short a few Hyatt points for a specific redemption.

Marriott Bonvoy

Current promotion: Up to 45% bonus (targeted)
Purchase rate: As low as 0.86 cents per point
TPG valuation: 0.85 cents per point
End date: July 24
Buy Mariott Bonvoy points

Marriott Bonvoy is offering various promotions targeted to individual members. For example, one TPG employee can get a 15% points bonus when buying 2,000-9,000 points, or a 25% bonus when buying 10,000 or more. Others have seen a 35% bonus on 2,000-9,000 points and 45% on 10,000-plus. It seems most offers expire July 24. If you have access to the 45% bonus, you'll pay as little as 0.86 cents per Bonvoy point — close to TPG's valuation of 0.85 cents per point.

Which credit card should you use to buy points and miles?

Most of these promotions are processed through Points.com rather than directly by the hotel or airline, so you won't earn bonus rewards with most travel rewards cards. You'll want to use an everyday spending card that offers a solid return on nonbonus spending.

The main exception to this rule is American Airlines. This airline reportedly codes mileage purchases as airfare, so you may want to use a credit card that earns bonus miles on airfare for the highest return when buying AAdvantage miles.

Or, if you're working toward a minimum spending requirement to earn a welcome bonus, using that card may be the way to go.

Remember that you may incur foreign transaction fees on some cards when buying points or miles from a program abroad, so you may want to use one of the following cards:

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases and no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases and no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)

Bottom line

Buying points and miles isn't always a good idea, but it can make sense in some situations — especially if you can take advantage of a current promotion. In most cases, it's best to have a redemption in mind before you consider paying for points and miles.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Buy bonus points and miles with these promotions - The Points Guy (2024)