How to Transfer Hawaiian Miles to Alaska: A Complete Guide

Ever dreamed of island hopping through Hawaii or exploring the rugged beauty of Alaska? For savvy travelers, the secret to unlocking these adventures often lies in strategically managing airline miles. If you’ve accumulated HawaiianMiles but find Alaska Airlines flights more appealing for your next trip, you might wonder if you can combine your mileage power. While a direct transfer isn’t possible, understanding the nuances of partnerships and alternative redemption strategies can significantly expand your travel horizons and help you maximize the value of your HawaiianMiles.

Mastering the art of leveraging airline partnerships is essential for modern travel. Knowing how to strategically redeem miles across different programs can unlock routes, fare classes, and even travel experiences that would otherwise be out of reach. In the case of HawaiianMiles and Alaska Airlines, knowing the available options for redeeming miles, even indirectly, can significantly increase your travel flexibility and open doors to new adventures. Instead of letting those HawaiianMiles sit idle, learn how to put them to work and get you closer to your dream destination!

What alternative options exist to utilize my HawaiianMiles for travel on Alaska Airlines or related bookings?

Is it possible to directly transfer HawaiianMiles to Alaska Mileage Plan?

No, it is not possible to directly transfer HawaiianMiles to Alaska Mileage Plan. There is no official partnership or mechanism in place that allows for a direct transfer of miles between these two loyalty programs.

While a direct transfer isn’t an option, you might still be able to leverage your HawaiianMiles for travel. Consider exploring options for redeeming your HawaiianMiles for flights on Hawaiian Airlines or with their partner airlines. If you have a specific travel goal in mind with Alaska Mileage Plan, carefully evaluate if accumulating more Alaska miles through other avenues (credit card spending, Alaska Airlines flights, or partner programs) is more efficient than attempting to indirectly work around the lack of transferability with HawaiianMiles. The absence of a direct transfer program between HawaiianMiles and Alaska Mileage Plan highlights the importance of strategic planning when accumulating and redeeming miles and points. It’s essential to consider your travel goals and the best programs to achieve those goals before investing your time and money into earning miles within a specific loyalty program. Before committing to earning HawaiianMiles, assess if their redemption options align with your desired travel destinations and preferences.

Are there any partner airlines that allow indirect transfer between Hawaiian and Alaska miles?

No, there are currently no direct or indirect partner airline transfer options that allow you to move miles between Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan.

Both Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines have a variety of partnerships with other airlines, hotels, and rental car companies. These partnerships allow you to earn miles in either program when flying with partner airlines or using partner services. However, none of these partnerships create a bridge for transferring miles *between* the two programs. You earn miles separately in each program based on your activity with the respective partner.

While it’s always possible that future partnerships could change this, for now, you’ll need to accumulate miles separately in each program if you want to redeem them for travel on Hawaiian Airlines or Alaska Airlines, or their respective partners. Keep an eye on both airlines’ websites for any potential changes to their partnership programs, as these things can sometimes evolve over time.

What are the fees or conversion rates associated with transferring Hawaiian miles to Alaska?

Unfortunately, you cannot directly transfer Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles. There is no established partnership or mechanism that allows for direct point transfers between these two programs.

While direct transfers aren’t possible, there might be indirect ways to leverage both programs if you have a specific redemption goal. For example, you could use HawaiianMiles to book a flight on Hawaiian Airlines or a partner airline, and then use Alaska miles for a different flight or upgrade. Alternatively, you might explore transferring points to a shared partner if one exists, but neither Hawaiian Airlines nor Alaska Airlines have credit card partnerships with the same transfer partners. Ultimately, you’ll need to evaluate if the flight is worth the cost.

Given the lack of direct transfer options, it’s crucial to carefully plan your mileage accrual strategy. Consider focusing on earning miles within the program that best aligns with your travel patterns and redemption goals. Evaluate credit card spending bonuses, airline partnerships for earning miles on flights, and any limited-time promotions that could maximize your mileage earnings within either the HawaiianMiles or Mileage Plan programs.

Does Hawaiian Airlines allow pooling of miles with other members to facilitate a transfer to Alaska?

No, Hawaiian Airlines does not directly allow you to transfer HawaiianMiles to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles. Furthermore, while Hawaiian Airlines allows family members to transfer miles to each other (for a fee), this feature cannot be used to then transfer those miles to Alaska Airlines, as direct transfers between the two programs aren’t supported.

While a direct transfer isn’t possible, there are a few indirect methods you *might* consider, although their value and feasibility can vary greatly. One option involves using HawaiianMiles for a flight operated by Alaska Airlines, if available as a redemption partner. You would need to search for award availability on Hawaiian Airlines’ website or through their customer service to see if Alaska Airlines flights are offered. Redemption rates and availability can be less favorable than booking directly with Alaska Airlines, so compare options carefully. Another, much less practical, option *theoretically* exists if you have hotel points with a program that partners with both Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines. You could potentially transfer hotel points to HawaiianMiles, pay the fee to transfer those HawaiianMiles to another family member, and then transfer those same hotel points to Alaska Airlines. But this is a very convoluted and likely cost-prohibitive approach because you would have to pay transfer fees for Hawaiian Miles to another family member, and transfer ratios with hotel partners are often unfavorable, making this strategy rarely worthwhile. The better path is accumulating miles within the specific airline program you intend to use.

Are there any restrictions on who I can transfer Hawaiian miles to in order to then use Alaska miles?

Yes, HawaiianMiles has stringent restrictions on transferring miles, and you cannot directly transfer them to another person to then have them use Alaska miles. You can only use your HawaiianMiles to book flights for yourself or others. You cannot transfer or pool your HawaiianMiles with someone else.

Hawaiian Airlines does not offer a mechanism to directly transfer miles to another person’s HawaiianMiles account or to convert them to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles. The only way another person can benefit from your HawaiianMiles is if you use your miles to book an award flight for them. This could be a flight on Hawaiian Airlines itself or on one of its partner airlines (though Alaska Airlines is not a partner). When booking an award flight for someone else, you will need to provide their full name and date of birth as it appears on their government-issued ID. Essentially, the flexibility of using your HawaiianMiles depends on your ability to redeem them for flights. Given the limitations on direct transfers, strategizing your award bookings and being mindful of expiry policies are crucial for maximizing their value. Before accumulating a significant number of HawaiianMiles, it’s worth evaluating whether the available redemption options align with your travel plans.

What’s the best strategy to leverage Hawaiian miles for Alaska Airlines flights, if a direct transfer isn’t possible?

The most effective strategy is to use your HawaiianMiles to book flights on Hawaiian Airlines to destinations that Alaska Airlines also serves, and then connect to your final Alaska Airlines destination. This allows you to indirectly utilize your HawaiianMiles to reach locations served by Alaska, even though a direct transfer isn’t available.

While a direct transfer of HawaiianMiles to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan isn’t an option, carefully consider routes where both airlines operate. For example, Hawaiian Airlines flies to several West Coast cities also served by Alaska Airlines, such as Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco. Booking a flight with Hawaiian to one of these hubs allows you to then connect onward to your desired destination on Alaska Airlines, booked separately either with cash or Alaska miles. Be aware that this is essentially booking two separate one-way tickets, so you’ll need to factor in the potential for missed connections and re-check your baggage. It’s often best to allow ample layover time between flights. Another consideration is to evaluate the redemption value of your HawaiianMiles. If you can achieve a reasonable cents-per-mile valuation booking Hawaiian Airlines flights to the islands themselves (or other destinations Hawaiian serves directly), it may be a more lucrative option than trying to indirectly leverage them for Alaska flights. Always compare the cost of purchasing a Hawaiian Airlines flight with miles versus the cash price to determine the best redemption option for your situation. Focus on finding the lowest fares and maximizing the value you receive from your HawaiianMiles.

Can I use a credit card to indirectly convert HawaiianMiles into Alaska Airlines miles?

No, there is currently no direct or indirect method to transfer HawaiianMiles to Alaska Airlines miles using a credit card or any other means. These are separate loyalty programs with no formal partnership that allows for mileage transfers.

While you cannot directly transfer miles, you might explore alternative strategies depending on your specific travel goals. Consider whether redeeming HawaiianMiles for flights or other benefits within the Hawaiian Airlines ecosystem aligns with your travel needs. Evaluate the redemption values available for hotels, merchandise, or travel packages offered through HawaiianMiles. Sometimes, using HawaiianMiles within its own program, even if not your initial preference, can provide acceptable value.

Another factor is understanding that airline partnerships and transfer possibilities can change over time. It’s worthwhile to periodically check the official websites of both Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines for any announcements about new partnerships or transfer options. However, as of the current date, no such functionality exists.

Alright, you’re all set to share the aloha spirit (in the form of miles, anyway!) with friends and family. Hopefully, this guide made the transfer process smooth sailing. Thanks for reading, and we hope to see you back here soon for more travel tips and tricks!