How to Transfer Miles from Hawaiian to Alaska Airlines

Transferring miles from Hawaiian Airlines' HawaiianMiles program to Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan helps consolidate rewards for award travel, especially on routes connecting Hawaii and the U.S. mainland. As of late 2024, following Alaska's acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, direct transfers from HawaiianMiles to Mileage Plan are not available. However, the airlines' deepened partnership enables reciprocal earning and redemption options that effectively bridge the programs without needing a direct transfer.

Understanding HawaiianMiles and Alaska Mileage Plan

HawaiianMiles is Hawaiian Airlines' loyalty program, where members earn miles based on flight distance and fare class. These miles redeem for flights on Hawaiian Airlines and select partners like JetBlue and Japan Airlines. Alaska Mileage Plan operates on a distance-based earning model, offering redemptions on Alaska Airlines flights, over 30 partners, and now Hawaiian Airlines through the partnership. Miles in both programs do not expire with activity.

The key distinction: While Alaska Mileage Plan members can transfer miles to HawaiianMiles (1:1 ratio, minimum 5,000 miles in 1,000-mile increments via the Alaska website), the reverse—from Hawaiian to Alaska—is not supported. This one-way transfer launched in September 2024 to aid integration.

Step-by-Step Guide to Maximize Miles Across Programs

Although you cannot directly transfer miles from Hawaiian to Alaska Airlines, follow these steps to use your HawaiianMiles effectively with Alaska-operated flights or consolidate value indirectly:

1. Link your accounts:Visit the Hawaiian Airlines or Alaska Airlines website, log in, and navigate to partner benefits. Enter your Mileage Plan or HawaiianMiles number when booking flights on either airline to earn miles in your preferred program.
2. Earn reciprocally:Credit Hawaiian Airlines flights to your Alaska Mileage Plan (or vice versa). For example, book a Hawaiian flight, add your Alaska number at check-in or online, and earn Mileage Plan miles at the applicable rate (typically 100% of distance flown).
3. Redeem strategically:Use HawaiianMiles to book Hawaiian Airlines award flights, which often connect seamlessly to Alaska routes. For Alaska flights, redeem Mileage Plan miles directly. Check award availability on either site for codeshare flights.
4. Leverage elite status matching:Request a status match through Alaska's or Hawaiian's forms. Matched status provides bonus miles and perks, enhancing overall value without transferring.
5. Monitor for updates:As programs integrate further (Hawaiian joining oneworld alliance in 2025), bidirectional transfers may become available. Check official sites periodically.

Practical Applications and Real-World Use Cases

This setup matters for frequent travelers on Pacific routes, such as Honolulu (HNL) to Seattle (SEA) or Portland (PDX). Engineers and researchers planning field trips might accumulate miles from business travel, then redeem for personal vacations. Students studying abroad can earn miles on short hops and consolidate for longer journeys.

Example: You have 30,000 HawaiianMiles. Instead of transferring (not possible), book a one-way economy award from HNL to LAX on Hawaiian (~15,000 miles), then connect on Alaska to SEA using accumulated Mileage Plan miles from prior credits. Total distance: about 2,600 statute miles—easily planned with distance tools.

Common mistakes to avoid:

• Assuming bidirectional transfers exist—always verify on airline sites.
• Ignoring credit rules—add loyalty numbers before flying.
• Forgetting fees—HawaiianMiles awards may include carrier surcharges.

Conclusion

Directly transferring miles from Hawaiian to Alaska Airlines requires waiting for future program changes, but the partnership's reciprocal earning and redemption options provide immediate workarounds. This keeps your rewards active and valuable. For trip planning, including accurate distance calculations between airports (e.g., statute miles to kilometers), use the free tool at HowToConvertUnits.com for instant, precise results tailored to aviation and engineering needs.