We’ve all been there—you’re just 5,000 miles shy of that dream business class upgrade or last-minute trip. You’re staring at your account balance, refreshing as it’ll magically grow. And then it hits you: maybe you could just buy the miles you need.
Yes, you can. But should you?
In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to buy miles, when it makes sense, what to avoid, and what options you have if you’ve already got more miles than plan to use them. And don’t worry, we’ll keep it jargon-free—with a bit of professional humour to keep you company on this first-class journey.
Why Buy Miles in the First Place?
Buying airline miles might seem a bit like buying sand at the beach—why pay for something you can earn for free? But when used strategically, buying miles can be the ticket (literally) to travel experiences that are otherwise out of reach.
Let’s say you’re 3,000 miles short of an award ticket that would otherwise cost you $1,200. Buying a few thousand miles for $90 might be a no-brainer. This is where it pays (pun intended) to know how to buy miles wisely.
How to Buy Miles from Airlines
Airlines make it easy to buy miles—too easy, some might say. Here’s the usual process:
Step 1: Log in to Your Airline Loyalty Program
Whether it’s Delta SkyMiles, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, or American AAdvantage, every major airline has a member portal.
Step 2: Find the “Buy Miles” Section
This is usually listed under “Manage My Miles,” “Boost My Balance,” or even “Accelerate My Rewards.”
Step 3: Choose the Number of Miles
Most airlines allow you to buy in increments of 1,000, with an annual cap ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 miles depending on your membership level.
Step 4: Review the Price
Here’s where your eyebrows might lift. For example, Emirates charges $30 USD per 1,000 Skywards Miles. That’s 3 cents per mile, which is… not cheap.
Step 5: Pay and Wait (Usually Briefly)
You’ll enter your credit card details, complete the transaction, and usually see the miles post within 24 hours.
That’s it—you’ve officially learned how to buy miles. Easy, right? But now let’s talk value.
Is Buying Airline Miles Worth It?
The truth? Buying miles isn’t always the bargain it seems. The average price ranges between 2.5 and 3.5 cents per mile, while the actual redemption value (especially for economy flights) can hover as low as 1.2 cents per mile.
Let’s do some quick math:
If you have just bought 50,000 miles at the rate of $0.03 a mile, you have just leisurely paid $1,500. Such waste goes by again as if nothing happened in those cases when the $900 ticket is purchased.
However, there are exceptions where buying miles is smart:
- You’ve already found award availability for a high-value redemption.
- You only need a small top-up (less than 10,000 miles).
- There’s a promotion or bonus (e.g., 50% more miles on purchase).
- You’re redeeming for international business or first-class.
Don’t buy miles just to hoard them like a dragon with frequent flyer gold. Buy with intent, not out of FOMO.
Airline-Specific Examples
Let’s peek into two popular programs:
Emirates Skywards:
- Cost: $30 per 1,000 miles
- Purchase limit: 100,000–200,000 miles/year based on tier
- Redemption sweet spot: Business class flights to Europe or Asia
Etihad Guest:
- BuyMiles and MilesBooster programs available
- Up to 150,000 miles/year for Platinum members
- Often runs promos like “Buy 20,000, get 10,000 free”
Keep in mind: these miles often come with expiration dates and can’t always be used for partner flights. Always read the fine print (or at least skim it like you mean it).
The Smarter Alternative: Earn or Transfer Instead
Before you swipe your card to buy miles, consider other options that might be cheaper—or even free:
- Sign-up bonuses: Many cards offer 50,000+ miles for spending in the first 3 months.
- Partner programs: You can earn miles on hotel stays, car rentals, dining, or shopping portals.
- Amex Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers: Often better value and more flexible as well.
For instance, you might be able to transfer Amex points to Emirates or Etihad at a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio—getting more bang for fewer bucks.
One More Route: Buying Miles from Brokers
A less talked about but very real option is buying miles from mileage brokers—third-party companies that specialize in buying and reselling airline miles. While this route isn’t endorsed by airlines (so read the terms carefully), it can be more cost-effective than purchasing directly from the loyalty program.
Plus, you’ll often get access to miles from a wider range of airlines—not just the one you’re a member of.
But Wait… Got Miles You’re Not Using?
While some travelers are trying to figure out how to buy miles, others are wondering what to do with the ones they already have.
Enter: Cash For My Miles.
At Cash for My Miles, we are enthusiastic about helping individuals convert unused airline miles into cash. When you have a stash of Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus, Amex Membership Rewards, or any other well-known loyalty points, and are sure you won’t be flying anytime soon, we offer you a competitive price for selling your miles securely and quickly.
We would never presume to burden you with redundant paperwork or torture you with endlessly wobbling through one hoop after another, like some overworked and slightly hollow-eyed circus seal. We believe the process should be straightforward, 100 percent safe, and ridiculously faster convenient on-the-go-for you, an efficient traveller.
Should You Buy or Sell?
Learning how to buy miles is useful—especially if you travel often or have a specific redemption goal in mind. But just because you can buy them doesn’t mean you always should. Like any travel hack, timing and value are everything.
And if you’re holding miles, you’re unlikely to use—or would rather trade in for actual cash—there’s an even better option waiting for you.
Want to Turn Miles into Money?
At Cash for My Miles, we help individuals and businesses sell their airline miles safely and securely. With fast payouts, competitive rates, and a seamless process, we’ve helped over 47,000 satisfied clients cash out over 7.8 billion miles to date.
Ready to stop worrying about expiring miles and start getting value today? Visit Sell American Airlines miles for a free quote and see how much your points are worth—in cash.
