You cannot transfer miles directly between Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines (HawaiianMiles) and Alaska Airlines (Mileage Plan) do not have a partnership that allows you to move miles from one account to the other. The two programs are separate, and neither airline lets you convert your balance or send miles across accounts.

If you have miles in both programs, you manage them as two distinct balances. You redeem Hawaiian miles through Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska miles through Alaska Airlines. There is no middle step or workaround that combines them.

Key Takeaways

  • Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines do not allow direct mile transfers between their programs.
  • You can use miles from each program to book flights on partner airlines, but the miles stay in their original account.
  • Both airlines let you transfer miles to hotel and car rental partners, though the conversion rates and partners differ.
  • If you want to consolidate rewards, moving miles to a hotel or car program is the only option, and you cannot move them back to an airline.

What you can do with Hawaiian miles outside Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines lets you transfer HawaiianMiles to hotel and car rental partners at a set conversion rate. The partners include Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, Hyatt, Avis, and Hertz. The conversion rate is typically 1 HawaiianMile = 1 point or mile in the partner program, though some transfers offer bonus conversions during promotional periods.

Once miles land in a hotel or car program, they are locked there. You cannot move them back to Hawaiian Airlines or over to Alaska Airlines. This is a one-way transaction, so only transfer miles you plan to use with that specific partner.

What you can do with Alaska miles outside Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan lets you transfer miles to partners including Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, Choice Hotels, Hertz, and Avis. Like Hawaiian, the standard conversion is usually 1 Alaska mile = 1 point in the partner program. Alaska also runs occasional transfer bonuses where you get extra points for moving a certain amount.

Alaska miles transferred to a partner program cannot be moved back to Alaska Airlines or sent to Hawaiian Airlines. The transfer is permanent, so confirm the partner program and your redemption plan before you initiate the move.

Using miles to book partner airline flights

Both Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines are members of airline alliances and have partnerships with other carriers, but these partnerships work differently than mile transfers. When you book a flight on a partner airline using your miles, the miles come out of your original account — they do not move to the partner airline.

Hawaiian Airlines has limited airline partnerships for award bookings. Alaska Airlines has a broader network through its oneworld alliance membership, which includes American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and others. You can redeem Alaska miles for flights on these carriers without moving your miles anywhere.

Why airlines do not allow mile transfers between programs

Airline miles are tied to revenue and loyalty within a single program. Allowing transfers between programs would let customers move miles away from an airline that earned them, reducing the incentive to fly that airline or use its credit card. It would also create accounting and tax complications for both carriers.

The restriction protects each airline's ability to forecast mile redemptions and manage the value of their loyalty currency. It also prevents arbitrage, where customers could exploit differences in mile value between programs.

Alternatives if you want to consolidate rewards

If you hold miles in both Hawaiian and Alaska and want to use them toward a single goal, your options are limited. You can transfer miles from either program to a hotel partner and use hotel points for a stay. You can also book separate flights with each program — for example, using Hawaiian miles for an outbound flight and Alaska miles for the return.

Some travelers choose to focus on one program going forward and let the other balance sit unused. If you have a small balance in one program and a larger one in another, you might redeem the smaller balance for a low-value reward (like a gift card or merchandise) and concentrate future activity on the program with more miles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I combine Hawaiian and Alaska miles into one account?

No. The two programs do not merge accounts or allow mile transfers between them. You maintain separate balances and redeem from each account independently. You can hold both accounts simultaneously, but the miles never combine.

What if I transfer Hawaiian miles to Marriott — can I then use those points with Alaska?

No. Once you transfer Hawaiian miles to Marriott Bonvoy, those points belong to Marriott. They cannot be moved to Alaska Airlines or any other program. The transfer is permanent and one-way.

Do Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines fly the same routes where I could use either program?

Hawaiian and Alaska serve different networks. Hawaiian focuses on Hawaii and some West Coast routes. Alaska serves a broader domestic network and has international partnerships through oneworld. Check both airlines' route maps to see if they serve your destination, then decide which miles to use based on availability and award pricing.

Is there a credit card that earns miles in both programs?

No major credit card earns miles in both Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines simultaneously. You would need separate cards — one that earns HawaiianMiles and one that earns Alaska Mileage Plan miles — if you want to build balances in both programs through credit card spending.