You cannot transfer Hawaiian Airlines miles directly to Alaska Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines do not have a transfer partnership. If you hold Hawaiian miles (called HawaiianMiles), you cannot move them into Alaska's Mileage Plan account, and vice versa. The two programs operate separate loyalty systems with no bridge between them.

Your options are to spend Hawaiian miles on Hawaiian Airlines flights and partners, or to convert them into something else entirely — but direct transfer to Alaska is not possible. If you have miles in both programs, you will need to use each account separately.

Key Takeaways

  • Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines do not allow mile transfers between their programs.
  • You can use Hawaiian miles to book Hawaiian Airlines flights, partner airline tickets, or hotel and car rental rewards through their shopping portal.
  • If you want to move value between programs, you would need to cash out Hawaiian miles (if that option is available) and purchase Alaska miles, but this is expensive and not recommended.
  • The fastest way to accumulate Alaska miles is to sign up for their credit card or fly Alaska Airlines directly.
  • Check both programs' partner lists to see if either airline flies the route you need before deciding how to use your miles.

What you can do with Hawaiian Airlines miles instead

Hawaiian Airlines miles can be redeemed for flights on Hawaiian Airlines itself, which operates routes throughout Hawaii and to the US mainland, Japan, and South Korea. You can also book partner airline flights through their redemption system — partners include American Airlines, Japan Airlines, and others, though the partner list is smaller than Alaska's.

Outside of flights, HawaiianMiles can be converted into hotel stays, car rentals, and gift cards through their rewards mall. Some redemptions offer better value than others; a flight redemption typically gives you more cents-per-mile than a hotel booking would.

If you have a specific route in mind, check Hawaiian's award chart and partner list on their website before assuming your miles are stuck. You may find a partner flight that works for you.

Why these programs do not connect

Loyalty programs are owned and operated by individual airlines. Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines are separate companies with different route networks, different partner agreements, and different business models. There is no technical or financial reason for them to allow transfers between programs — doing so would mean one airline giving away value that the other airline earned.

Transfer partnerships exist only when two programs have negotiated an agreement. American Airlines and US Airways merged and combined their programs. Some hotel chains allow transfers to airline partners. But Hawaiian and Alaska have never made such a deal, and there is no indication they plan to.

Converting Hawaiian miles to Alaska miles (and why it costs too much)

There is no direct conversion, but theoretically you could cash out Hawaiian miles for a statement credit, then use that credit to purchase Alaska miles. This is almost always a bad deal financially.

Hawaiian Airlines typically values miles at 0.5 to 1 cent per mile when you redeem them for cash or statement credits. Alaska Airlines miles cost roughly 1 to 1.5 cents per mile when purchased directly. So you would lose 30 to 50 percent of your value in the conversion. If you have 50,000 Hawaiian miles, cashing them out and buying Alaska miles would cost you $250 to $500 in lost value.

This route only makes sense if you have Hawaiian miles expiring soon and no way to use them, and you have a specific Alaska flight you need to book. Even then, check whether a paid ticket might be cheaper.

Building Alaska miles if you need them

If you want to accumulate Alaska Mileage Plan miles, the fastest methods are the Alaska Airlines credit card (which gives you a sign-up bonus of 40,000 to 75,000 miles depending on the current offer), flying Alaska Airlines flights, and shopping through their mall. You can also earn miles by staying at partner hotels or renting cars through their program.

Alaska's partner network is larger than Hawaiian's and includes airlines like American, Delta, United, and JetBlue, plus hotel chains like Marriott and Hilton. This gives you more redemption options overall, which is why some travelers prefer to build Alaska miles even if they live in Hawaii.

If you are based in Hawaii and fly Hawaiian Airlines regularly, keeping your miles in HawaiianMiles makes sense. If you travel to the mainland frequently or want more flexibility, building Alaska miles through their credit card or flights may be worth the effort.

Partner airlines you can book with Hawaiian miles

Hawaiian Airlines' partner list includes American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Fiji Airways, and a handful of smaller carriers. The availability of partner award flights varies by route and season. Some popular mainland routes may have limited partner availability, meaning you might not find a seat even if you have enough miles.

Before you assume you need to convert your miles, log into your Hawaiian account and search for your desired route on both Hawaiian and partner airlines. You may find an award seat that works. If not, then you know your miles cannot help you on that specific trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer Hawaiian miles to my spouse or family member?

Hawaiian Airlines does not allow mile transfers between accounts, even for family members. Miles are tied to the account holder and cannot be moved. Some programs allow transfers for a fee, but Hawaiian does not offer this option at all.

What happens to Hawaiian miles if I stop flying?

HawaiianMiles expire after 24 months of no account activity. Activity includes earning or redeeming miles, so even a small purchase or credit card spend can reset the clock. If your miles are about to expire, you can redeem them for a gift card or merchandise to preserve the value.

Is there a way to combine miles from two different airline programs?

No airline allows you to merge balances from two separate programs into one account. You must keep them separate and use each program's miles independently. Some credit cards earn miles in multiple programs, but that is different from transferring existing miles.

Should I close my Hawaiian account if I am moving to the mainland?

Not necessarily. Keep the account open if you have miles in it, because closing it may cause your miles to expire faster. If you have a Hawaiian credit card, you can keep it open to earn miles on everyday spending, or close it if you prefer to focus on Alaska miles instead.

Can I use Hawaiian miles to book Alaska Airlines flights?

No. Hawaiian miles can only be used for Hawaiian Airlines flights and their partner airlines. Alaska Airlines is not a Hawaiian partner, so you cannot book Alaska flights with Hawaiian miles under any circumstance.