How Much Does It Cost To Buy Air Miles May 2026

: If you have 55,000 miles and need 60,000 for a flight, paying ~$175 for the remaining 5,000 miles is often cheaper than paying the full cash price for the ticket.

: If your miles are about to expire, buying the minimum amount (usually 1,000–2,000 miles) can keep your entire balance active. Critical Cautions how much does it cost to buy air miles

While usually a "bad deal," experts from NerdWallet and The Points Guy suggest three specific scenarios where buying miles makes sense: : If you have 55,000 miles and need

Standard pricing often requires purchasing in increments of 1,000 miles. Below are typical costs for a 50,000-mile block as of early 2026: : ~$1,750 (3.5 cents per mile). American Airlines AAdvantage : ~$1,505 (3.0 cents per mile). Alaska Airlines : ~$1,880 (2.7 cents per mile). United MileagePlus : ~$1,222 (2.4 cents per mile). Frontier/Hawaiian : ~$1,250–$1,270 (2.5 cents per mile). Review: When It's Actually Worth It Below are typical costs for a 50,000-mile block

: Airlines can change the "price" of award seats at any time without notice, making your purchased miles less valuable overnight.

: Many airlines add a 7.5% federal excise tax on top of the mileage price.

Buying airline miles generally costs between . Because most airlines value these same miles at only 1.2 to 1.5 cents each when redeemed for standard flights, buying them outright is typically a poor financial decision. Estimated Costs by Airline (Per 50,000 Miles)