Changes are rapidly unfolding as Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines continue their integration, and time appears to be running out to maximize one of the best travel hacks available for Hawaii flights. A little-known opportunity we reported on previously to combine American Express points with HawaiianMiles and Alaska Mileage Plan is likely to disappear soon. If you are sitting on unused points, this is your final boarding call to pool them before it is too late.
The Hawaii connection you need to know.
We first reported last fall how HawaiianMiles could act as a bridge to transfer American Express points into Alaska Airlines’ highly valuable Mileage Plan program. The process was simple but brilliant: transfer Amex points to HawaiianMiles, then move them over to Alaska Mileage Plan at a 1:1 rate. This unlocked significant rewards for Hawaii travelers, allowing them to fly to and from the islands using Alaska’s flexible partner network.
Since then, everything has been moving toward a complete integration of the loyalty program. Hawaiian is ending multiple partner airline redemptions this summer, and all signs point to the Amex-to-Hawaiian-to-Alaska workaround disappearing soon as well. Once the new Alaska-Hawaiian program is fully launched, it will likely no longer allow these indirect transfers.
Why this hack works (for now).
American Express Membership Rewards do not transfer directly to Alaska Mileage Plan. But they do transfer to HawaiianMiles. Thanks to the temporary 1:1 Hawaiian to Alaska transfer option introduced after the merger, travelers have been able to move points that would otherwise be stranded.
This created an enormous value boost. Alaska miles stretch farther than most other U.S. airline currencies, making it possible to book transpacific, mainland, and even international flights for fewer miles than competitors charge…