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American Express Ending Hawaiian Airlines Transfers on June 30th: Act Now to Maximize Your Miles
December 12, 2024
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It’s official: American Express Membership Rewards will end transfers to Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles on June 30, 2025. This news, confirmed today by banners appearing on the American Express website and mobile app, effectively closes an indirect yet valuable pathway for transferring Amex points to the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan.
Since Alaska Airlines acquired Hawaiian Airlines last year, Amex cardholders have been able to transfer Membership Rewards points to HawaiianMiles, and then convert them to Alaska Mileage Plan miles on a 1:1 basis. This two-step process has provided unprecedented access to one of the most valuable airline loyalty programs available.
With just six weeks remaining until this transfer option disappears, Amex cardholders need to act quickly. In this update, we’ll explore why this matters, what redemptions you should consider making now, and how credit cards can continue to help you maximize your travel rewards strategy going forward.
Why This Change Matters
The ability to transfer Amex points to Alaska Airlines (via Hawaiian) has been a game-changer for points and miles enthusiasts for several reasons:
- Alaska Mileage Plan's exceptional value: Alaska offers some of the most competitive award rates in the industry
- Outstanding partner redemptions: Alaska has partnerships with numerous airlines, including Oneworld alliance members and non-alliance partners
- Flexible routing options: Alaska’s generous stopover policy on international award tickets
With the transfer option ending on June 30th, Amex cardholders will lose this valuable redemption opportunity unless they transfer points before the deadline.
Top Redemptions to Consider Before June 30th
If you’re sitting on a stash of Amex Membership Rewards points, here are some high-value Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan redemptions to consider booking (or transferring points for) before the June 30th deadline:
1. Short-Haul Domestic Flights
Alaska offers exceptional value on short domestic flights, particularly on American Airlines:
- Economy flights under 700 miles: Just 4,500 Alaska miles one-way on American Airlines
- Compared to other programs: This same flight might cost 7,500-12,500 miles through other loyalty programs!
2. Transatlantic Business Class
Alaska offers some of the best rates for business class travel to Europe:
- Business class between 1,501 and 3,500 miles: Starting at just 45,000 miles on partner airlines like Aer Lingus
- East Coast to Europe: Significantly lower than competing Oneworld loyalty programs
3. Premium Cabin Travel to Asia
Alaska’s partnerships with carriers like Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific offer tremendous value:
- Business class to Asia: Often starting around 60,000-70,000 miles one-way
- First class to Asia: Available from 70,000 miles one-way on select partners
4. Flights to Hawaii
Given the Alaska-Hawaiian merger, consider using miles for:
- Mainland to Hawaii: Competitive rates on both Alaska and Hawaiian metal
- Inter-island flights: Great use of Alaska miles for island-hopping
How to Transfer Points Before the Deadline
To transfer your Amex Membership Rewards points to Alaska Mileage Plan before June 30th:
- Transfer to Hawaiian: Visit your American Express account’s “Rewards & Benefits” page and transfer points to HawaiianMiles
- Be aware of the excise tax: You'll pay a 0.06 cents per mile fee (up to $99 per transfer)
- Transfer from Hawaiian to Alaska: Use Hawaiian’s points transfer tool to move your HawaiianMiles to your Alaska Mileage Plan account (transfers are typically instant)
You can transfer up to 999,000 Membership Rewards points to Hawaiian per day, giving you plenty of capacity for large transfers if needed.
Should You Transfer Speculatively?
While we generally don’t recommend transferring flexible points without specific redemptions in mind, this situation may warrant an exception. Consider these factors:
- Alaska miles’ strong value: Alaska Mileage Plan miles are among the most valuable in the points and miles space
- Upcoming travel plans: If you anticipate flying Alaska or its partners in the next 12-18 months, securing miles now makes sense
- Risk of devaluation: All airline miles carry some risk of future devaluation
If you decide to transfer speculatively, consider transferring enough for your anticipated near-term needs rather than your entire Membership Rewards balance.
Credit Card Strategies Going Forward
With the loss of this transfer option, you'll need to adjust your credit card strategy to continue earning Alaska miles:
1. Alaska Airlines Visa Cards
Bank of America will continue to be Alaska's credit card partner:
- Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card: Earn miles directly, plus enjoy a free checked bag and annual Companion Fare
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "48", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Alaska Airlines Enthusiasts", "headerHint": "Alaska Airlines Enthusiasts"} ]]
- Alaska Airlines Premium Card: A new premium card is expected to launch soon with enhanced benefits
2. Bilt Rewards
Bilt Rewards will remain an Alaska Airlines transfer partner:
- Bilt Mastercard®: Earn points on rent payments (with no fee) and everyday spending
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "2990", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Interesting Earning Structure", "headerHint": "Interesting Earning Structure"} ]]
- Transfer to Alaska: Maintain the ability to transfer points to Alaska Mileage Plan at a 1:1 ratio
3. Diversify Your Points Portfolio
Consider these additional strategies:
- Leverage other transferable currencies: Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Points offer valuable airline transfer partners
- Focus on flexible points: Continue earning Amex points for their flexibility with other transfer partners
- Consider hotel points: Programs like Marriott Bonvoy offer transfers to numerous airlines
Bottom Line
The end of American Express transfers to Hawaiian Airlines (and by extension, Alaska Airlines) represents a significant change in the points and miles landscape. With the June 30th deadline approaching quickly, Amex cardholders should evaluate their points strategy and consider making transfers soon.
Alaska Airlines has indicated that they plan to merge HawaiianMiles into Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan eventually, with a combined loyalty program expected to launch in summer 2025 (with recent reports suggesting August). While the future of the combined program remains to be seen, securing Alaska miles at current rates through this Amex transfer pathway while it’s still available could be a smart move.
Remember that even after this transfer option disappears, you’ll still have opportunities to earn and redeem valuable travel rewards through other credit cards and loyalty programs. The key is staying informed and adapting your strategy as the rewards landscape continues to evolve.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
