Should you purchase points and miles?

Usually, you’d be better off redeeming points and miles that you already have, rather than purchasing more. That said, if your point balances are dwindling, and you have a redemption in mind where you know you’ll get more value than the cash price you pay for the points, then, yes, it can make a lot of sense to purchase the points. You might always find it worthwhile to purchase points if you just need a small amount to make a certain redemption or if you’re trying to keep miles from expiring.

How much does it cost to purchase points?

That depends on the program, but generally, it will cost anywhere from 1 to 3 cents per point. However, we recommend timing your point purchases alongside promotions that offer a discount or bonus when you buy — both of which bring down the per-point cost you’ll pay.

Are there limits to the number of points you can purchase?

Yes, most programs implement a maximum number of points you are allowed to purchase each calendar year, though the amount varies drastically by the program.

How often are there point purchase promotions?

This varies by program, but usually in any given month, there are multiple current purchase promotions. We update this page each month to help you stay up-to-date on all of the latest point promotions you can take advantage of.

Do purchased points count towards elite status?

Unfortunately, no airline or hotel programs count purchased points or miles towards elite status qualification.

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March 2025 Buy Points Promotions and Bonuses

Updated: March 24, 2025, 4:00pm CDT

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Table of Contents

Latest Buy Points Promotions
When Should You Purchase Points?
Final Thoughts

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There’s no shortage of ways to earn points and miles. From credit card welcome offers to bonus categories, from shopping portals to dining programs, the list goes on and on.

Given the numerous options, travelers are often conflicted about purchasing points for their trips. After all, why purchase points when you can amass points with your everyday purchases?

This is a fair point and a solution that works for many. However, there are some instances where purchasing points and miles can make sense. We will explore each of those options later in the post, but first, let’s dive into all of the current promotions that allow you to receive a discount or bonus on your points and miles purchases.

Latest Buy Points Promotions

Air Canada Aeroplan

Promotion:
- Purchase 2,000 to 9,000 points without a discount
- Purchase 10,000 to 19,000 points with a 15% discount
- Purchase 20,000 to 75,000 points with a 20% discount
- Purchase 80,000 to 95,000 points with a 25% discount
- Purchase 100,000 or more points with a 30% discount (1.7 cents apiece)
Deadline: May 14, 2025
Programs That Transfer to Aeroplan: American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy
Purchase Link

We value Aeroplan points at 1.5 cents each, so buying them at 1.7 cents only makes sense if you’re redeeming them for above-average value, such as flights in a premium cabin or other great uses of Aeroplan points. It also makes sense if you just need a few more points for an upcoming redemption.

American Airlines AAdvantage

Promotion:
- Purchase 6,000 to 24,000 miles and get a 10% discount
- Purchase 25,000 to 79,000 miles and get a 15% discount
- Purchase 80,000 to 104,000 miles and get a 20% discount
- Purchase 105,000 to 149,000 miles and get a 25% discount
- Purchase 150,000 miles and get a 35% discount (2.44 cents per mile)
Deadline: None specified
Programs That Transfer to American: Marriott Bonvoy
Purchase Link

American Airlines AAdvantage is a well-known program, offering numerous redemptions. This sale doesn’t have an end date at this time, and it won’t make sense for most people — unless you’re redeeming your miles at a value above the costly price of buying them. We value AA miles at 1.4 cents apiece, so buying at 2.44 cents is best avoided in most circumstances.

Avianca LifeMiles

Promotion:
- Buy at least 1,000 LifeMiles, get a 160% bonus (1.27 cents per mile)
Deadline: March 31, 2025
Programs That Transfer to LifeMiles: Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One miles, Citi ThankYou Points, Wells Fargo Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy
Purchase Link

We value LifeMiles at 1.4 cents each, so this sale lets you buy them for less than their average value. This is a fantastic opportunity to stock up on miles and then redeem LifeMiles at high value — especially considering the program’s low cash copay on award tickets.

Choice Privileges

Promotion:
- Buy 1,000 to 5,000 points without a bonus
- Buy 6,000+ points with a 50% bonus (0.69 cents each)
Deadline: April 8, 2025
Programs That Transfer to Choice: Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Wells Fargo Rewards
Purchase Link

We value Choice points at 0.6 cents apiece, so buying them at 0.69 cents isn’t ideal. However, if you’ve got a redemption coming up and can buy points for less than the cost of the room, that changes things. It also can make sense if you just need a few more points for an award stay.

Copa Airlines ConnectMiles

Promotion:
- Buy 1,000 to 4,000 miles with no bonus
- Buy 5,000 to 9,000 miles to get a 40% bonus
- Buy 10,000 to 15,000 miles to get a 50% bonus
- Buy 20,000 to 100,000 miles to get a 60% bonus (1.88 cents each)
Deadline: April 18, 2025
Programs That Transfer to Copa: Marriott Bonvoy
Purchase Link

This isn’t the best sale we’ve seen from Copa, nor is it as good as the last offer earlier this year. There are some valuable ways to redeem Copa ConnectMiles, and the program’s fixed award chart is a positive, but buying miles in this sale isn’t right for everyone.

Garuda Indonesia GarudaMiles

Promotion:
- Purchase 1,000 or more miles with a 50% discount (1.075¢ each)
Deadline: March 27, 2025
Programs That Transfer to GarudaMiles: None
Purchase Link

Earning GarudaMiles is very difficult in the U.S., but these miles are worth holding. They’re among the most difficult miles to earn, but having them opens access to Garuda Indonesia’s first class, which is one of the best first-class cabins in the world.

Hilton Honors

Promotion:
- Purchase 3,000+ points and get a 90% bonus (0.53 cents per point)
Deadline: N/A
Programs That Transfer to Hilton: Amex Membership Rewards and Bilt Rewards
Purchase Link

We value Hilton Honors points at 0.5 cents per point, so this could be a good opportunity to stock up on points if you’re planning to make a redemption that offers higher value than that. That’s because you can buy points at a price just above their average value.

IHG One Rewards

Promotion:
- Purchase 5,000+ points and get a 100% bonus (0.5 cents per point)
Deadline: March 29, 2025
Programs That Transfer to IHG: Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards
Purchase Link

We value IHG points at the same price as they can be purchased during this sale, though it’s certainly possible to redeem IHG points at more than 0.5 cents each. This sale can be a good time to stock up, top up your account for a redemption, or just buy points at a good price if you know you can spend less on points than you’d pay for your hotel stay.

JetBlue TrueBlue

Promotion:
- Purchase 1,000 to 2,000 points without a bonus
- Purchase 3,000+ points and get a 120% bonus (1.47 cents per point)
Deadline: April 20, 2025
Programs That Transfer to JetBlue: Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Rewards
Purchase Link

In our experience, you’ll receive somewhere between 1.3 cents to 1.5 cents in value on your JetBlue points. Thus, if you purchase JetBlue points at 1.47 cents per point, you’re buying points at the upper end of that range. That means you might get better value for your points than the price you paid for them, but there’s a good chance you won’t.

Leading Hotels of the World Leaders Club

Promotion:
- Buy 1,000 points without a bonus
- Buy 2,000 to 11,000 points with a 50% bonus
- Buy 12,000 to 29,000 points with a 75% bonus
- Buy 30,000 to 50,000 points with a 100% bonus (6 cents apiece)
Deadline: March 28, 2025
Programs That Transfer to Leaders Club: Citi ThankYou Rewards
Purchase Link

Redeeming Leaders Club points for 7 to 8 cents per point isn’t uncommon. That said, the prices are still expensive, and you should ensure points redemptions are available at your desired hotel on your preferred dates before pulling out your wallet.

Lufthansa Miles & More

Promotion:
- XS bundle: 4,500 miles for $100 (2.22 cents per mile)
- Small bundle: 15,000 miles for $260 (1.73 cents per mile)
- Medium bundle: 75,000 miles for $1,060 (1.41 cents per mile)
- Large bundle: 100,000 miles for $1,850 (1.85 cents per mile) — this bundle isn’t included in the bonus, unfortunately.
Deadline: March 31, 2025
Programs That Transfer to Lufthansa: N/A
Purchase Link

We value Miles & More miles at 1.3 cents apiece. If you purchase the Large bundle, you can buy miles for just above that number, so it might make sense.

However, this sale also makes sense if you view it as a discounted method of accessing premium redemptions through Miles & More. Booking Lufthansa first class with points and miles is an aspirational maneuver that isn’t as easy as it sounds.

Marriott Bonvoy

Promotion:
- Buy 2,000 to 9,000 points with a 35% bonus
- Buy 10,000 to 19,000 points with a 40% bonus
- Buy 20,000 to 150,000 points with a 45% bonus (0.86 cents per point)
Deadline: March 30, 2025
Programs That Transfer to Marriott: American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, and Chase Ultimate Rewards
Purchase Link

We value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents apiece. In general, purchasing Marriott points is rarely a good deal, and that’s especially true when you’re paying more than their average value. In rare situations, buying points could make sense, but do the math first.

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Promotion:
- Purchase 2,000 Avios without a bonus
- Buy 3,000 to 25,000 Avios and get a 20% bonus
- Buy 26,000 to 48,000 Avios and get a 40% bonus
- Buy 50,000 to 250,000 Avios and get a 60% bonus (1.44 cents per Avios)
Deadline: March 25, 2025
Programs That Transfer to Qatar: Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points, Marriott Bonvoy and transfers from other Avios programs (British Airways, Aer Lingus, Finnair, and Iberia) that open additional credit card transfer options
Purchase Link

Many people are only seeing a 50% bonus with this offer, so you may not have the 60% bonus or the 1.44 cents pricing. Since we value Avios at 1.25 cents apiece, you should only buy if you know you’re redeeming your Avios at a high value.

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards

Promotion:
- Purchase 2,000 points without a discount
- Purchase 3,000 to 9,000 points with a 40% discount
- Purchase 10,000 to 14,000 points with a 45% discount
- Purchase 15,000 to 60,000 points with a 50% discount (1.5 cents each)
Deadline: April 4, 2025
Programs That Transfer to Southwest: Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy
Purchase Link

We value Southwest points at 1.3 cents each, so buying them for 1.5 cents won’t make sense for most people. In general, buying Southwest points only makes sense to bridge the gap between the points you have right now and the remaining points you need for an award reservation.

United Airlines MileagePlus

Promotion:
- Buy 2,000 to 4,000 miles with no bonus
- Buy 5,000 to 19,000 miles, receive a 30% bonus
- Buy 20,000 to 49,000 miles, receive a 65% bonus
- Buy 50,000 to 100,000 miles, receive a 100% bonus (~1.88 cents per mile)
Deadline: March 29, 2025
Programs That Transfer to United: Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy
Purchase Link

There are many great uses of United miles, but that doesn’t mean buying miles is always a good option. We value United miles at 1.2 cents each, so buying them at 1.88 cents only makes sense if you’re redeeming them at a value higher than that.

World of Hyatt

Promotion:
- Receive a 25% discount when purchasing 3,000 or more points (1.95 cents each)
Deadline: April 14, 2025
Programs That Transfer to Hyatt: Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards
Purchase Link

This drops the price of purchasing Hyatt points to just 1.95 cents each. We value World of Hyatt points at 1.5 cents apiece, though it’s often possible to get more value than that.

Wyndham Rewards

Promotion:
- Buy at least 3,000 points to receive a mystery bonus of up to 80% (0.72 cents each)
Deadline: April 15, 2025
Programs That Transfer to Wyndham: Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Points
Purchase Link

This offer is part of Wyndham’s Member Month, and not everyone will have the 80% offer. The mystery bonus is affected by your Wyndham Rewards status, and only those with Platinum or Diamond status are eligible for the 80% bonus, but those who get it should take advantage of the ability to buy points at 0.72 cents each when these points are typically worth 0.9 cents apiece.

When Should You Purchase Points?

As promised, let’s examine some examples of when it might be wise to purchase points and miles.

American Airlines B737 8 MAX at SNA — Sometimes it can make sense to purchase airline miles. Image Credit: Ryan Smith

Topping Off Your Account

It can be frustrating to have a redemption you’d like to make, with available award space to boot, but you don’t have quite enough points or miles to make the booking. Of course, you could wait until you do, but if you’re looking to book a business- or first-class award ticket, award space can vanish quickly.

In cases like these, it can make sense to purchase a small number of points to acquire the number of points or miles needed to book the award.

Price Arbitrage

We frequently discuss the opportunity to take advantage of price arbitrage when talking about purchasing points or miles.

For instance, say you’d like to fly from the U.S. to Europe in business class. You pull up Google Flights, pop in your desired destination and travel date, and the results reveal that the best nonstop option is an American Airlines flight that costs a whopping $2,500 — yikes.

While the best award redemptions require locating award space at the saver level, assuming it is available on the date you’d like to travel, you could purchase the points needed for this ticket for far less. For example, you could purchase 58,000 American Airlines miles for just over $1,400 — more than $1,000 less than the retail price.

Bottom Line:

Simply put, purchasing points and miles can be a great way to get a substantial discount on flights you were planning to purchase anyway.

Preventing Points From Expiring

One of the annoyances of some loyalty programs is that their points or miles expire after a set period, usually 1 to 3 years. Depending on your travel habits, you may be at risk of your points expiring if you go long periods without earning or redeeming points within the program.

Fortunately, most programs count purchasing points as a qualifying earn activity, allowing you to extend the life of your miles simply by purchasing a small number of them.

Final Thoughts

In most cases, your primary points strategy should be earning them through new credit card welcome bonuses, everyday card spending, and other point-earning activities like shopping portals, as these activities shouldn’t require a significant expense beyond your everyday spending habits.

That said, there is a time and a place when it can make sense to purchase points and miles. In those cases, promotions that allow you to receive a discount or bonus miles on your purchase can offer you even more value.

Of course, you should always run the numbers when deciding which path makes the most sense for your next redemption, but it is always great to have options.