Buying Miles Worth It Here

Points from American Express or Chase can be moved to dozens of different airlines instantly, giving you more flexibility than being locked into one carrier.

We’ve all seen the flashy emails from airlines: "Limited Time: Get a 100% Bonus When You Buy Miles!" It sounds like a dream deal—a shortcut to that first-class seat you’ve been eyeing. But before you enter your credit card info, you need to know that . However, "usually" isn't "always." The Golden Rule: Only Buy What You Need buying miles worth it

Treat buying miles like a surgical strike. Get in, buy exactly what you need for a specific flight, and get out. Anything else is just giving the airline a free loan. Points from American Express or Chase can be

Value per Mile=Cash Price of TicketTotal Miles NeededValue per Mile equals the fraction with numerator Cash Price of Ticket and denominator Total Miles Needed end-fraction However, "usually" isn't "always

Sometimes, buying miles during a 100% bonus sale is cheaper than paying the cash price for a business or first-class ticket. For example, if a business class seat to Asia costs $6,000, but you can buy enough miles to book it for $3,000, you’ve just saved 50%.

Earn extra miles for every dollar you spend at stores you already shop at.

If the price you are paying to buy the miles is higher than this number, you are losing money. Better Alternatives If you're short on miles, consider these methods instead: