If you’ve ever tried earning Alaska Airlines miles, you know it hasn’t been the easiest.
While Alaska Mileage Plan is one of the best airline programs out there (and getting better), the biggest drawback has always been how hard it is to rack up miles—especially compared to other airlines.
Well, that just changed, friends!
Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines have officially launched their reciprocal mile transfers, which means you can freely move miles between the two programs at a 1:1 ratio.
And if you know how to take advantage of each program’s sweet spots, this is a massive win.
Let’s break it all down—how it works, why it’s valuable, and how you can start transferring miles right now.
How to Transfer Miles Between Alaska and Hawaiian
This is a suuuper simple process. Here’s how you can move your miles between Alaska Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles in just a few clicks:
1️⃣ Log into your account—Visit either Alaska Airlines’ website or Hawaiian Airlines’ website and log in to your respective loyalty account.
2️⃣ Find the transfer page—Look for the new "Transfer Miles" section (this will be in your loyalty program’s dashboard).
3️⃣ Enter your transfer details—Input the number of miles you want to move and confirm your linked account details.
4️⃣ Confirm the transfer—Click submit, and your miles should transfer instantly (or at least within a few hours).
Pro Tip: Transfers happen at a 1:1 ratio, meaning 100,000 HawaiianMiles = 100,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles (no loss of value!).
Why This Is a HUGE Deal
Y’all — this is a massive opportunity for anyone who loves redeeming miles for premium flights. Here’s why:
Alaska Airlines miles are insanely valuable—Alaska Mileage Plan has some of the best redemption options for international flights, especially in business and first class on partners like Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and Qantas.
HawaiianMiles are easier to earn—Unlike Alaska miles, Hawaiian Airlines partners with American Express Membership Rewards, meaning you can now effectively transfer Membership Rewards points to Alaska (huge!).
OneWorld redemptions open up for Hawaiian loyalists—If you’ve been sitting on a stack of HawaiianMiles, you’ll soon be able to redeem them across OneWorld airlines.
Essentially, Alaska miles just became easier to earn, and Hawaiian miles just became more valuable.
What Else You Need to Know
In addition to the ability to transfer miles, Alaska and Hawaiian are rolling out even more perks in the coming months:
💳 Earn miles across both programs—If you fly on Hawaiian, you can now earn Alaska miles (and vice versa).
🏆 Elite benefits are reciprocal—Alaska MVP Elites will get benefits on Hawaiian flights, and Hawaiian Pualani Elites will get perks on Alaska.
🌏 More booking options—You’ll soon be able to book flights on both airlines through either website, making it easier to combine routes for international travel.
The long-term expectation is that these programs will fully merge into a single loyalty program, but for now, this is one of the best short-term wins we’ve seen in airline loyalty in a long time.
Final Thoughts
This update just unlocked a ton of value for both Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines flyers. Whether you’re sitting on a stash of HawaiianMiles or struggling to earn Alaska miles, this new transfer system makes earning and redeeming miles way easier.
So, if you’re thinking about transferring your miles, now is the time to start playing around with the best redemptions. ✈️
