Should I Transfer My Hawaiian Miles To Alaska Airlines?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You have a high‑value Alaska Airlines award seat (e.g., a premium cabin flight to Asia) that is not available through Hawaiian’s own award inventory, and the transfer ratio preserves enough value to make the ticket worthwhile.
• Good fit: You are consolidating multiple loyalty balances into a single program in order to reach elite status or a redemption threshold with Alaska, and you have excess Hawaiian miles that would otherwise go unused.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: The conversion ratio significantly reduces the monetary value of your miles (e.g., 1 Hawaiian mile = 0.75 Alaska mile), and you could achieve a similar itinerary using Hawaiian miles directly.
• Warning sign: You rely on flexible cancellation or change policies that differ between the two programs, and the transfer could lock you into stricter rules or higher fees.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Access to Alaska’s broader route network, especially to U.S. mainland destinations that Hawaiian does not serve directly.
• Potential to combine Alaska miles with other partners (e.g., American Airlines, British Airways) for multi‑carrier itineraries that would be impossible using only Hawaiian miles.

Cons

• Transfer ratios are often less than 1:1, meaning you lose mileage value in the process.
• Once transferred, the miles are generally non‑reversible, and you may forfeit any remaining Hawaiian elite benefits tied to your mileage balance.

Decision Checklist

• Do I have a specific Alaska award flight that offers better value than any Hawaiian award option?
• Is the transfer ratio and any associated fee acceptable compared to the anticipated redemption value?
• Will the transfer impact my current Hawaiian elite status or future mileage accrual plans?

Alternatives to Consider

Instead of transferring, you might (a) book a Hawaiian award ticket and use a separate cash purchase for the Alaska segment, (b) keep the Hawaiian miles for future upgrades or flights on Hawaiian’s partner airlines, or (c) explore other transfer partners that offer a more favorable conversion rate, such as moving miles to a flexible points program (e.g., Chase Ultimate Rewards) that can be redirected to multiple airlines.

Final Recommendation

If you have a clear, high‑value Alaska Airlines award opportunity that outweighs the loss from the transfer ratio, moving a modest amount of Hawaiian miles can be justified. Otherwise, treat the transfer as a last resort; keep your Hawaiian miles for their native redemption options or explore alternative points‑to‑miles pathways. For any high‑stakes travel plans—especially those involving international premium cabins—consult a travel‑industry specialist or frequent‑flyer advisor before finalizing the move.