How to Transfer Miles from Hawaiian to Alaska

Transferring miles from Hawaiian Airlines' HawaiianMiles program to Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan allows users to consolidate rewards for better redemption options, especially amid their growing partnership and pending acquisition. Direct transfers between the two programs are not available, but indirect methods through shared partners make it feasible. This matters for travelers aiming to book flights across their networks, redeem for Hawaii-Alaska routes, or maximize value during award travel peaks.

Understanding the Programs and Transfer Limitations

HawaiianMiles and Mileage Plan operate as separate loyalty programs. HawaiianMiles earns points on Hawaiian flights and partners, redeemable for flights, upgrades, and more. Alaska's Mileage Plan focuses on its West Coast hub and extensive partners like oneworld allies. As of 2024, no official direct transfer tool exists between them, unlike intra-alliance programs. This restriction prevents simple one-to-one swaps but opens doors to third-party intermediaries.

Key limitation: Airlines rarely allow outbound transfers to competitors without fees or blackouts. Instead, leverage hotel loyalty programs like Marriott Bonvoy, which partners with both airlines at fixed ratios.

Step-by-Step Guide: Transfer via Marriott Bonvoy

The most reliable method to effectivelytransfer miles from Hawaiian to Alaskauses Marriott Bonvoy points as a bridge. Both programs accept transfers from Marriott, though ratios favor the hotel side (3:1 typically, with bonuses).

1. Link Accounts:Create or log into a Marriott Bonvoy account at marriott.com. Link your HawaiianMiles (hawaiianairlines.com/miles) and Mileage Plan (alaskaair.com/mileageplan) accounts via their respective partner pages.
2. Earn or Move Points to Marriott:Transfer HawaiianMiles to Marriott at 3:1 (3 miles = 1 Bonvoy point; minimum 3,000 miles). Navigate to Hawaiian's partners page, select Marriott, and initiate. Processing takes 1-2 days.
3. Transfer from Marriott to Alaska:From Bonvoy account, go to "Transfer Points" under Rewards. Select Alaska Mileage Plan. Ratio is 3:1 (3 Bonvoy points = 1 mile), minimum 60,000 Bonvoy points (20,000 miles). Confirm details and submit. Expect 1-2 days.
4. Verify Balances:Check both airline accounts post-transfer. Note: Transfers are irreversible.

Example:With 60,000 HawaiianMiles, transfer 60,000 / 3 = 20,000 Bonvoy points to Marriott. Then transfer those 20,000 Bonvoy points / 3 ≈ 6,667 Alaska miles. Net loss due to ratios, but useful for topping off awards.

Other Indirect Options

• American Express Membership Rewards:Transfer to HawaiianMiles directly (1:1), but not to Alaska. Use for earning, not outbound.
• Chase Ultimate Rewards:Partners with neither directly for transfers, but valuable for partner airlines.
• Future Merger Benefits:Alaska's $1.9B acquisition of Hawaiian (pending regulatory approval) may integrate programs by 2025, potentially enabling easier matching or transfers.

Practical Applications and Tips

Use consolidated miles for partner redemptions: Book Hawaiian flights with Alaska miles (and vice versa via codeshares). Ideal for Pacific routes, where award space opens dynamically. Engineers or researchers traveling to Hawaii observatories or Alaska field sites benefit from pooled rewards.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Ignoring ratios: Expect 50-70% value loss round-trip via Marriott.
• Minimum thresholds: Always meet them to avoid wasted points.
• Taxes/fees: Transfers incur no fees, but awards do.
• Expiration: HawaiianMiles expire after 18 months inactivity; act promptly.

Track values using tools like AwardWallet for balances across programs.

Summary

While you cannot directly transfer miles from Hawaiian to Alaska, the Marriott Bonvoy bridge provides a practical workaround with clear steps. Monitor updates on their partnership for potential direct options post-merger. This approach helps optimize travel rewards efficiently.

For instant unit conversions, such as statute miles to nautical miles relevant to aviation planning, use the free tool at HowToConvertUnits.com.