How to Transfer Alaska Miles to Hawaiian Airlines

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles operate under a strong partnership, allowing members to earn and redeem miles across both airlines' flights. Direct mile transfers from Alaska to Hawaiian are not supported, as loyalty points remain in their respective programs. However, you can effectively use Alaska miles for Hawaiian Airlines flights, providing similar flexibility to a transfer. This is useful for travelers targeting Hawaii routes or inter-island flights without losing mile value.

Understanding the Programs and Partnership

Alaska Miles refer to points earned in the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, redeemable for flights on Alaska and 20+ partners, including Hawaiian Airlines. HawaiianMiles are the loyalty currency for Hawaiian Airlines, focused on Pacific routes. The partnership, strengthened since 2020 and expanded in 2024, lets Mileage Plan members book Hawaiian-operated flights with Alaska miles starting at 4,500 miles one-way for inter-island Hawaii hops.

Key benefits include:

• Earn HawaiianMiles on Alaska flights by crediting to your Hawaiian account.
• Redeem Alaska miles on Hawaiian flights via Alaska's website.
• No fuel surcharges on partner redemptions, keeping costs low.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using Alaska Miles for Hawaiian Airlines Flights

Follow these steps to "transfer" value from Alaska miles to Hawaiian Airlines travel:

1. Enroll in both programs:Create or log into your free Alaska Mileage Plan account at alaskaair.com and HawaiianMiles account at hawaiianairlines.com. Link your profiles if prompted during booking.
2. Check award availability:Visit the Alaska Airlines website or app. Search for flights using the "Award (miles)" option. Filter for Hawaiian Airlines (*HA flight numbers) on desired routes, such as Honolulu (HNL) to Lihue (LIH).
3. Select your flight:Choose saver or advantage awards. Example: A one-way economy flight from Seattle (SEA) to Honolulu (HNL) might cost 15,000–20,000 Alaska miles plus $5.60 in taxes.
4. Book and pay:Enter your Mileage Plan number. Pay any taxes/fees with a credit card. Miles deduct instantly from your balance.
5. Track your trip:Receive confirmation emails from both airlines. Present your boarding pass and ID at the gate.

Example calculation: For a round-trip SEA-HNL, expect 30,000–45,000 Alaska miles total. Always verify real-time pricing, as dynamic award charts apply.

Practical Applications and Tips

This method suits frequent West Coast-to-Hawaii travelers, business users flying Alaska routes, or families planning vacations. Engineers or researchers attending conferences in Honolulu can offset costs without cash fares averaging $400+ one-way.

Common mistakes to avoid:

• Assuming direct transfers exist—contacting support won't enable it.
• Ignoring partner booking rules—Hawaiian flights must be booked through Alaska's system.
• Missing elite status benefits—top-tier Mileage Plan members get bonus miles or upgrades on Hawaiian.
• Forgetting mile expiration—Alaska miles don't expire with activity; HawaiianMiles expire after 18 months of inactivity.

For precise trip planning, calculate route distances. Aviation often uses nautical miles (1 NM = 1.1508 statute miles), while road trips might need statute-to-kilometer conversions.

Alternatives if Needed

If redemption doesn't fit, consider transferable bank points:

• American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer to both programs (typically 1:1).
• Transfer hotel points like Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 to either airline).

This indirectly moves value but incurs ratios and minimums (e.g., 3,000 points).

In summary, while you cannot directly transfer Alaska miles to Hawaiian Airlines, redeeming them for Hawaiian flights offers a seamless equivalent. This partnership maximizes your rewards for Pacific travel. For instant distance or unit conversions to refine flight planning—such as nautical miles to kilometers—use the free tool at HowToConvertUnits.com.