Hawaiian Airlines points transfer to Alaska Airlines through a partnership that lets you move your HawaiianMiles to Alaska's Mileage Plan at a fixed rate.

Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines maintain a transfer partnership that allows cardholders and frequent flyer members to convert HawaiianMiles into Alaska Mileage Plan miles. The transfer happens at a 1:1 ratio — one HawaiianMile becomes one Alaska mile — and the transaction is permanent once completed. This route matters because Alaska Airlines serves different destinations than Hawaiian, and Alaska miles sometimes redeem for better value on certain routes or partner airlines.

The transfer process itself is straightforward: you log into your HawaiianMiles account, navigate to the transfer section, select Alaska Airlines as the recipient program, enter the number of miles you want to move, and confirm. The miles typically arrive in your Alaska Mileage Plan account within 24 to 48 hours. You will need an active Alaska Mileage Plan account before you start — if you do not have one, you can open it for free on Alaska Airlines' website.

Key Takeaways

  • Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines transfer miles at a 1:1 ratio, meaning 10,000 HawaiianMiles becomes 10,000 Alaska miles with no bonus or penalty.
  • Transfers complete within 24 to 48 hours, and the transaction cannot be reversed once you confirm it in your account.
  • You must have an active Alaska Mileage Plan account before initiating a transfer; opening one is free and takes a few minutes online.
  • Alaska Airlines miles may redeem for better value on certain routes, partner airlines, or cabin classes than HawaiianMiles on the same flights.

When a transfer makes sense for your redemption

Transferring HawaiianMiles to Alaska makes sense when you want to book a flight that costs fewer Alaska miles than HawaiianMiles, or when Alaska's partner network includes a destination Hawaiian does not serve. For example, if you are looking at a domestic round trip and Alaska's price is 25,000 miles while Hawaiian's is 30,000, the transfer saves you 5,000 miles even after accounting for the time to move them.

Alaska Airlines partners with airlines including American, Delta, United, and Air France-KLM, plus several smaller carriers. If you want to book a partner airline flight — say, a connection through a partner to reach a specific destination — Alaska miles may be your only option if Hawaiian does not have a partnership with that airline. Check both programs' award charts before you transfer, because the transfer is permanent and you cannot move miles back to Hawaiian.

The transfer also makes sense if you have a small balance of HawaiianMiles that is not enough for a Hawaiian redemption but would cover an Alaska flight. Rather than let the miles sit unused, moving them to Alaska gives you a chance to use them before they expire (HawaiianMiles expire after three years of no account activity).

How to set up your Alaska Mileage Plan account

If you do not already have an Alaska Mileage Plan account, visit alaskaair.com and select "Join Mileage Plan" from the frequent flyer section. You will provide your name, email address, date of birth, and mailing address. Alaska will assign you a Mileage Plan number when ready, and your account is active right away — you do not need to wait for approval or a card in the mail.

Once your account is open, write down your Alaska Mileage Plan number. You will need it when you log into your HawaiianMiles account to specify where the transferred miles should land. If you already have an Alaska account from a previous card or flight, use that account number; do not open a second account, because miles in separate accounts cannot be combined without a phone call to Alaska customer service.

Steps to transfer your HawaiianMiles

Log into your HawaiianMiles account at hawaiianairlines.com. Navigate to "Manage My Account" and look for an option labeled "Transfer Miles" or "Give Miles" — the exact wording varies, but it will be in the account management section. Select Alaska Airlines as the recipient program from the dropdown menu.

Enter the number of HawaiianMiles you want to transfer. Hawaiian may impose a minimum transfer amount (typically 1,000 miles) and a maximum per transaction, though you can make multiple transfers if you need to move a large balance. Review the transfer details, including your Alaska Mileage Plan number and the number of miles being sent, then confirm the transaction.

You will receive a confirmation email from Hawaiian Airlines showing the transfer details and a reference number. Alaska Airlines will send a separate email to your Alaska account email address once the miles arrive, usually within 24 to 48 hours. Log into your Alaska Mileage Plan account to verify the miles have posted before you book a flight.

What happens after the transfer completes

Once the miles land in your Alaska account, they are yours to use for award flights, seat upgrades, or other Alaska Mileage Plan redemptions. Alaska's award chart differs from Hawaiian's, so the same number of miles may buy a different cabin class or route. For example, a domestic round trip might cost 25,000 Alaska miles in economy but 50,000 in business class, whereas Hawaiian's pricing structure is different.

Alaska miles do not expire as long as you have account activity at least once every 24 months. Activity includes earning miles, redeeming miles, or even just logging into your account. If your account goes inactive for 24 months, Alaska will close it and any remaining miles will be forfeited, so set a calendar reminder if you transfer miles but do not plan to use them when ready.

Comparing Hawaiian and Alaska redemption rates

Before you transfer, check both programs' award charts to see which offers better value for the flight you want. Hawaiian Airlines publishes its award chart on hawaiianairlines.com under the "Redeem" section. Alaska's chart is at alaskaair.com under "Mileage Plan" and "Award Travel."

Look up your specific route on both charts. If Hawaiian charges 30,000 miles and Alaska charges 25,000 for the same flight, the transfer saves you 5,000 miles. If the prices are the same, there is no redemption advantage, though you might still transfer if Alaska's partner network includes a flight Hawaiian does not offer. Keep in mind that award availability varies by airline and date — a route might be cheaper in miles on one program but have no seats available, while the other program has open inventory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer Alaska miles back to Hawaiian Airlines?

No. Hawaiian and Alaska have a one-way transfer partnership. Once you move HawaiianMiles to Alaska, you cannot reverse the transaction or move Alaska miles back to Hawaiian. This is why checking both award charts before you transfer is important — the transfer is permanent.

Is there a fee to transfer miles between the programs?

Hawaiian Airlines does not charge a fee to transfer HawaiianMiles to Alaska. The transfer is free, and the miles convert at a 1:1 ratio with no bonus or discount applied.

How long does it take for transferred miles to show up in my Alaska account?

Most transfers complete within 24 to 48 hours. You will receive confirmation emails from both Hawaiian and Alaska. If your miles do not appear after 48 hours, contact Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan customer service with your transfer reference number from Hawaiian.

What if I do not have an Alaska Mileage Plan account yet?

Open one for free at alaskaair.com before you initiate the transfer. It takes a few minutes and you will receive your Mileage Plan number when ready. You need the account number to complete the transfer from Hawaiian.

Do transferred miles count toward elite status in Alaska's Mileage Plan?

No. Only miles earned through Alaska Airlines flights, credit card spending, or partner activities count toward elite status qualification. Transferred miles from Hawaiian add to your balance and can be redeemed, but they do not advance you toward elite tier benefits.