While earning points and miles through credit card sign-up bonuses, transfer partners, and everyday spending typically offer the best value, there are situations when buying points directly makes strategic sense. Whether you need to top off an account for a specific redemption or you’ve found an opportunity where purchased points provide better value than cash rates, knowing the current promotions can help you maximize your travel budget.
This comprehensive guide tracks all current airline and hotel point purchase promotions, helping you identify opportunities to buy points at discounted rates. We’ll also cover when buying points makes sense, how long purchases typically take to process, and which credit cards to use for these transactions.
Here are the current promotions for buying airline miles, sorted alphabetically by program. Click on the promotion bonus for more detailed information about each promotion:
Here are the current promotions for buying hotel points, sorted alphabetically by program. Click on the program name for more detailed information about each promotion:
Purchasing points and miles isn’t always the best strategy, as loyalty programs typically sell them at prices higher than their average redemption value. However, there are several scenarios where buying points can be a smart move:
If you’re just short of the points needed for a valuable redemption, buying the remaining points can be one of the fastest ways to reach your goal. For example, if you need 50,000 points for a business class flight but only have 45,000, purchasing the additional 5,000 points may be worthwhile—especially if award availability is limited and might disappear.
During generous promotions, the cost of buying points for a redemption can be significantly less than paying the cash rate for the same travel experience. This is particularly true for:
For example, with Hilton’s current 100% bonus promotion, you can purchase points at 0.5¢ each. The Waldorf Astoria Maldives costs 150,000 points per night during standard periods, meaning you could buy enough points for a night for $750—when cash rates often exceed $2,000 per night.
If you’re working toward a minimum spending requirement for a credit card welcome bonus, buying points can be a way to meet that threshold while banking travel currency for future use. This strategy makes the most sense when there’s a good promotion running and you have specific redemptions in mind.
While there are often cheaper ways to keep points from expiring (like small purchases through shopping portals), buying a small number of points can be a quick solution if you’re short on time and want to preserve a valuable balance.
We generally don’t recommend buying points in these situations:
The processing time for purchased points varies by program. While some post instantly, others can take several days to appear in your account. This timing is crucial if you’re buying points for an immediate redemption, as award availability may disappear.
Based on aggregated data from thousands of transactions, here are the typical posting times for major programs:
If you’re planning to make an immediate redemption with purchased points, consider these timing factors:
Most point purchase transactions are processed through Points.com rather than directly by the airline or hotel. This means these purchases typically don’t qualify for travel category bonuses on credit cards. With this in mind, here are the best cards to use when buying points:
A few programs process point purchases directly, allowing you to earn category bonuses:
For these programs, consider using cards like:
If purchasing points from an international program, use a card with no foreign transaction fees to avoid additional charges.
To get the most value when buying points, consider these strategic approaches:
Before purchasing points, calculate the exact value for your intended redemption:
Only proceed if there’s a significant discount (at least 20-30%) when using purchased points versus paying cash.
Certain redemptions offer outsized value compared to cash prices. These “sweet spots” are where buying points makes the most sense. Examples include:
If you have elite status, your purchased points can go even further. Status benefits like:
These benefits can significantly enhance the value of your point redemptions, making the purchase even more worthwhile.
While there are generally better ways to acquire points and miles than buying them outright, strategic purchases during promotional periods can unlock significant value—particularly for premium travel experiences. The key is to have a specific redemption in mind, calculate the value proposition carefully, and act only when the numbers make sense.
The current promotions listed above represent opportunities to acquire points at discounted rates, potentially enabling redemptions that would be prohibitively expensive if paying cash. By understanding when buying points makes sense and using the right credit card for your purchase, you can add another valuable tool to your travel rewards strategy.
Remember to consider the processing time for your purchased points, especially if you’re eyeing a specific redemption with limited availability. And as always, focus on earning points through more economical methods like credit card bonuses and everyday spending for your long-term points strategy.
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