For travelers who know how to maximize them, loyalty programs can be a goldmine, and the Atmos Rewards program from Alaska Airlines has long been one of the most versatile in the industry. From premium cabins on top-tier international airlines to competitive redemption rates on domestic partners, when used strategically, Alaska points can stretch surprisingly far. But with Alaska now offering up to a 100% bonus on purchased points through December 23, 2025, many travelers are wondering whether this limited-time sale is a smart opportunity   or something to skip.

Let's break down what this promotion really offers, how the numbers stack up, and when buying points makes financial sense.

Understanding the Promotion: How the Current Bonus Works

Alaska Airlines is currently running a tiered bonus sale where customers are rewarded with increasingly larger bonuses as they buy more points. The structure is simple:

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• 3,000–9,000 points → 80% bonus
• 10,000–19,000 points → 90% bonus
• 20,000+ points → 100% bonus

Anything below 3,000 purchased points does not have any bonus at all.

To get the full benefit, travelers would have to buy at least 20,000 points, which triggers the maximum 100% bonus. During this sale, a purchase of 100,000 points   the highest allowable amount for many members   would cost about $3,762.50 including taxes and ultimately yield 200,000 total points.

That puts each point at a cost of 1.88 cents. Whether that's a good deal depends entirely on how you plan to redeem those points.

‍Here are the most critical terms:

• This promotion ends on December 23, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

• Alaska points are sold through Points.com, which means the purchase will not count as airfare on your credit card.

• Purchased points are non-refundable.

• Alaska elites (MVP through MVP Gold 100K) can purchase unlimited points per year; non-elites are limited to 150,000 purchased points per year, excluding bonuses.

• Points purchased in this sale do not count toward elite status.

Given the cost per point, it only makes sense to buy Alaska points if you can redeem them at a value higher than 1.88 cents per point.

Worth It: When to Buy Alaska Points

There are many scenarios where buying airline points is wasteful - and a small number where it can deliver extraordinary value. Alaska Airlines falls into the latter category if used wisely.

1. You have a specific high-value redemption in mind

Not all redemptions are created equal. Some flights, especially in premium cabins flying internationally, offer outsized value when booked with Alaska Airlines points.

For example, a one-way business-class flight on Japan Airlines (JAL) from Tokyo-Narita to San Francisco typically costs from $3,000 to $4,000 in cash. However, you can book the same flight for:

• 75,000 Alaska points + minimal taxes

If you were to buy those 75,000 points during this promotion, your cost would be around $1,410   a savings of $1,600 to $2,600, depending on the cash fare.

That's a massive discount for one of the most respected business-class products in the world.

Alaska Airlines also cooperates with premium carriers like:

• Cathay Pacific
• Qantas
• Fiji Airways
• Korean Air - subject to availability

Each of these carriers has unique award options that often provide better value than traditional U.S. airline programs.

2. You Need a Small Top-Up to Complete an Award

Sometimes the best move is not to purchase a large batch of points but rather top off your account. If you're close to an award redemption and need only 5,000-10,000 points, the bonus structure makes topping up more cost-effective than usual.

This will spare you from having to:

• Pay for a redemption in cash
• Wait for months in order to gain the remaining points
• Miss out on scarce award availability

For infrequent travelers, that small top-off can be what turns an impossible redemption into one bookable.

3. You Frequently Redeem for Long-Haul Premium Cabins

Longhaul redemptions, especially in business class and first class, are where Alaska points deliver real value. You realize the savings when you compare the perpoint cost to a normal cash fare.

You might use Alaska points for:

• Business class to Southeast Asia by Cathay Pacific
• First class to Japan via JAL
• Lie-flat travel to Australia or Fiji

Deals like this one regularly deliver more than 2 cents of value per point, so a purchase price of 1.88 cents is worthwhile.

Examples of High-Value Redemptions Using Purchased Alaska Points

We'll go into potential redemption situations that regularly exceed the 1.88-cent threshold to understand why this sale can be worth your while.

Premium Cabin to Asia with JAL

• Cost: 75,000 points
• Cash value: $3,000-$4,000
• Effective value per point: ~2.5 to 3.3 cents

Cathay Pacific Business Class to Hong Kong

Historically, Cathay has been one of the best partners in Alaska's network.

• Typical redemption: 70,000–80,000 points
• Typical cash fare: $4,000–$5,000

Fiji Airways Business Class to the South Pacific

Flights to Fiji and beyond can be very pricey, so the Alaska points come in extremely useful.

It's these sweet spots that really make Atmos Rewards unique; not many U.S. airline programs offer equivalently valuable international partner redemptions.

Credit Card Strategy: How to Maximize Your Purchase

Because Alaska uses Points.com to process point purchases, the transaction does not code as travel or airfare on major credit cards. This means you won't receive bonus multipliers for airline spending.

Instead, use one of the following card categories:

• A card that offers high rewards on day-to-day expenditure.
• A card offering strong bonuses on online purchases
• A card offering increased base earnings, irrespective of category.

It's not going to completely change the value of the purchase, but using the right credit card helps you maximize rewards where possible.

Should You Buy Alaska Airlines Points? Final Verdict

Buying Alaska points during a 100% bonus sale can be an exceptional value   but only for the right traveler and redemption type. If you:

• Already have a premium cabin award in mind
• Can secure more than 1.88 cents per point in value
• Need to top off an account for an upcoming booking

Then this promotion may save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars compared to paying cash. 

However, if you don't have any firm travel plans, or tend to fly economy domestically, you're better off waiting until you really need the points. 

The key is simple: run the numbers before you buy. When used wisely, Alaska's Atmos Rewards points can unlock some of the most luxurious and valuable award redemptions in the world, and this limited-time bonus can make those experiences significantly more affordable.