You can transfer points between Hawaii and Alaska Airlines because both are part of the same loyalty ecosystem
Hawaii Airlines and Alaska Airlines merged in 2016, and their loyalty programs — HawaiianMiles and Mileage Plan — operate as one combined system. If you hold points in either program, you can move them to the other at a 1:1 ratio with no conversion fee. The transfer itself takes one to three business days to complete.
The main reason to transfer is access to different award availability. Alaska Airlines flies more routes across the continental United States and Canada, while Hawaiian Airlines focuses on Pacific routes. If you have miles sitting in one program but the flight you want is only bookable through the other, a transfer solves that problem. You can also combine balances from both accounts into one if you have accounts under different names or emails.
Transfers are permanent and one-way in the direction you choose. Once miles move from Hawaiian to Alaska (or vice versa), they cannot move back. Plan your transfer carefully and confirm the award you want is actually available before you move the points.
Key Takeaways
- Hawaii and Alaska Airlines share one loyalty program, so you can move points between them at a 1:1 ratio with no fee.
- Transfers take one to three business days and are permanent — you cannot move the miles back to the original program.
- Check award availability in the destination program before you transfer, because not all flights book the same way in each system.
- You can combine balances from multiple accounts into one by transferring, which is useful if you have miles under different email addresses.
- Both programs use the same earning and redemption rates, so the transfer itself does not change the value of your miles.
How to transfer miles through the online portal
Log into your account on the Alaska Airlines website (mileageplan.alaskaair.com) or the Hawaiian Airlines website (hawaiianairlines.com). Both sites have the same backend, so you can start from either one. Look for "Transfer Miles" or "Move Miles" in the account menu — this is usually under "Manage My Miles" or a similar heading.
Enter the recipient's name, email address, and frequent flyer number. The recipient must have an active account in the program you are transferring to. If you are combining your own accounts, use your own information. Confirm the number of miles you want to move and review the one-way transfer policy before you submit.
You will receive a confirmation email when ready. The miles will appear in the recipient's account within one to three business days. If the transfer does not show up after three days, contact Alaska Airlines customer service with your confirmation number.
Combining your own accounts before you transfer
If you have miles in both a Hawaiian Airlines account and an Alaska Airlines account under your name, you can consolidate them into one account before transferring. This is useful if you have earned miles through different credit cards or sign-up bonuses over time and want to pool them for a single redemption.
Log into the account with the smaller balance first. Transfer all miles to your other account using the same process described above. Once the transfer completes, you will have one account with the combined total. Keep the now-empty account open — closing it does not affect the miles you moved, but an open account is easier to manage if you earn more miles later.
If your two accounts are under slightly different names (for example, "John Smith" and "J. Smith"), contact Alaska Airlines customer service before you transfer. They can verify that both accounts belong to you and may be able to merge them directly without a transfer, which is faster.
Understanding award availability differences between the programs
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines use the same award chart and the same number of miles for most flights, but the actual seats available to book can differ. A flight might show as sold out in the Hawaiian Airlines system but have award seats open in Alaska Airlines, or vice versa. This happens because each airline controls its own inventory and releases seats to the loyalty program on different schedules.
Before you transfer miles, search for your desired flight in both programs. If it is available in only one, transfer to that program. If it is available in both, transfer to whichever program has the better seat selection or routing options. You can also call Alaska Airlines reservations (1-800-252-7522) to ask whether a specific flight has award availability before you commit to a transfer.
Once you transfer miles, you have 30 days to book an award before the miles are locked into that program's rules. If you do not find a flight you want within 30 days, you can transfer the miles back to the original program, but this counts as a new transfer and takes another one to three business days.
What to do if you transferred miles to the wrong account
If you made a mistake and transferred miles to the wrong frequent flyer number or the wrong person's account, contact Alaska Airlines customer service when ready. Transfers can sometimes be reversed within 24 hours if you catch the error quickly, but this is not may provide. The sooner you call, the better your chances.
Have your confirmation number ready and be prepared to explain what happened. Customer service may ask you to verify your identity and the recipient's identity before they reverse the transfer. If the reversal is approved, the miles will return to your original account within one to three business days.
If the reversal is denied or if more than 24 hours have passed, your only option is to ask the recipient to transfer the miles back to you voluntarily. This is why it is important to double-check the recipient's name and frequent flyer number before you submit any transfer.
Transferring miles as a gift to someone else
You can transfer miles to another person's Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines account as a gift. The recipient does not need to be a family member or have any relationship to you. You will need their full name, email address, and frequent flyer number. They must have an active account before you can transfer to them.
The recipient will receive a notification that miles have been added to their account. They can use the miles when ready to book awards. There are no taxes or fees on transferred miles, and the recipient does not have to report the transfer as income for tax purposes — the miles are considered a gift, not a payment or rebate.
If you want to transfer miles to someone who does not yet have an account, ask them to create one first. They can sign up for free on either the Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines website. Once their account is active and verified, you can transfer the miles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer miles to someone else's account and then have them transfer them back to me later?
Yes, but transfers are permanent in the direction they go. If you transfer miles to someone else, they own those miles. If they transfer them back to you, that counts as a separate transfer and takes another one to three business days. Only do this if you trust the person completely.
Do I lose any miles when I transfer between Hawaii and Alaska?
No. The transfer ratio is 1:1, meaning 10,000 miles in Hawaiian Airlines becomes exactly 10,000 miles in Alaska Airlines. There is no fee or percentage loss. The value of the miles does not change based on which program holds them.
How many times can I transfer miles in one month?
There is no stated limit on the number of transfers you can make. However, if you transfer the same miles back and forth repeatedly in a short time, Alaska Airlines may flag your account for review. Transfer miles only when you have a specific reason — booking an award or consolidating accounts.
What happens to my miles if I close my account?
If you close your account, any miles still in it will be lost. If you have transferred miles to another account before closing, those miles stay in the destination account. Always transfer miles out before you close an account, or make sure you do not need them anymore.
Can I transfer miles from a credit card sign-up bonus before the bonus posts?
No. The miles must already be in your account balance before you can transfer them. Wait for the sign-up bonus to post (usually one to three billing cycles after you meet the spending requirement), then transfer. You cannot move miles that are still pending.