You can transfer Hawaiian Airlines miles to Alaska Airlines, but only through their partner network

Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines are not direct partners, so you cannot move miles from one account to the other. However, both airlines participate in separate loyalty transfer networks that connect to some of the same partner airlines. The practical path is to transfer your Hawaiian miles to a shared partner airline — most commonly Cathay Pacific or Japan Airlines — and then use those miles with Alaska Airlines if that partner allows it.

This route works, but it involves extra steps and you may lose value in the process. Some transfers charge fees, and the mile-to-mile exchange rate is not always one-to-one. Before you start, check whether the partner airline you're considering actually lets you book Alaska Airlines flights, because not all of them do.

Key Takeaways

  • Hawaiian Airlines miles can move to Cathay Pacific or Japan Airlines through Hawaiian's transfer partners, but Alaska Airlines does not accept miles from either of those programs directly.
  • The transfer process takes several business days and may include a fee or an unfavorable exchange rate depending on which partner you choose.
  • You should confirm with the partner airline that they allow Alaska Airlines bookings before you transfer, because some transfer partners do not.
  • Transferring miles to a partner is usually only worth it if you have a specific Alaska Airlines flight in mind and cannot book it with Hawaiian miles alone.

How Hawaiian Airlines transfer partners work

Hawaiian Airlines' frequent flyer program, HawaiianMiles, lets you transfer miles to a list of partner airlines through their transfer program. The partners change periodically, but historically have included Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and a rotating set of other carriers. When you initiate a transfer, the miles leave your Hawaiian account and land in the partner airline's account within 3 to 5 business days.

Each partner has its own exchange rate. Some accept Hawaiian miles at a one-to-one ratio, while others may ask for more Hawaiian miles to equal the same number of partner miles. For example, transferring to one partner might cost you 1.2 Hawaiian miles for every 1 mile you receive. Check the current rates on Hawaiian's website before you commit, because they vary and change without notice.

Which partner airlines let you book Alaska Airlines flights

Not every Hawaiian transfer partner will let you book Alaska Airlines. Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines are the most common transfer options, but you need to verify that each one includes Alaska Airlines in their booking network before you transfer.

Cathay Pacific's AsiaMiles program does allow bookings on Alaska Airlines, though availability and pricing vary. Japan Airlines' Mileage Bank also partners with Alaska Airlines for some routes. However, these partnerships can change, and availability on specific flights is limited. Call the partner airline's customer service or check their website's airline list before moving any miles.

The transfer process step by step

Log into your HawaiianMiles account on Hawaiian Airlines' website. Navigate to the "Transfer Miles" or "Manage Miles" section — the exact name varies depending on when Hawaiian last updated their site. You'll see a list of current transfer partners and the exchange rates for each one.

Select the partner airline you want to transfer to. Enter the number of Hawaiian miles you want to move. Review the exchange rate one more time to confirm how many partner miles you'll receive. Confirm the transfer. Hawaiian will send you an email confirmation, and the miles will appear in your partner airline account within 3 to 5 business days.

Once the miles land in your partner account, log into that airline's website and search for Alaska Airlines flights. Book the flight using the partner airline's redemption system. The booking process and seat availability will depend entirely on that partner's rules, not Hawaiian's.

Fees and exchange rates you should know about

Most Hawaiian transfer partners do not charge a direct fee to move the miles. However, the exchange rate itself is the cost. If Hawaiian requires 1.2 of your miles to create 1 partner mile, you're paying a 20 percent premium upfront.

Some partners occasionally run promotions where they offer bonus miles on transfers — for example, "transfer 10,000 Hawaiian miles and receive 12,000 partner miles instead of 10,000." These promotions are temporary and Hawaiian advertises them on the transfer page. If you see one, it may be worth timing your transfer to take advantage of it.

When transferring miles makes sense

Transferring Hawaiian miles to a partner airline only makes sense in specific situations. If you have a particular Alaska Airlines flight you want to book and you don't have enough Hawaiian miles to cover it, and you do have enough Hawaiian miles to transfer to a partner and then book that same flight, then the transfer might be worth the fee and the extra steps.

In most other cases, you're better off saving your Hawaiian miles for Hawaiian Airlines flights or using them with Hawaiian's own partners. Transferring miles to an intermediary partner almost always costs you value compared to booking directly. The exception is if a partner is running a bonus promotion that makes the exchange rate favorable enough to offset the extra complexity.

Alternatives if transferring doesn't work

If no transfer partner lets you book the Alaska Airlines flight you want, consider these options instead. You could book the flight with Alaska Airlines miles if you have them, or you could search for the same route using Hawaiian Airlines miles directly — Hawaiian may have access to different Alaska Airlines flights than the partner airline does.

Another option is to wait. Partner airline availability changes constantly. The flight you want today might not be available through a transfer partner, but a similar flight on a different date might be. You could also contact Alaska Airlines directly to ask whether they have any partnership agreements with Hawaiian that would let you transfer miles directly; partnerships do change, and it's worth confirming the current status.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer Alaska Airlines miles to Hawaiian Airlines instead?

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines do not have a direct transfer partnership in either direction. Alaska does participate in some transfer networks, but Hawaiian is not one of them. You would face the same intermediary partner situation if you tried to move miles from Alaska to Hawaiian.

How long does a transfer take?

Hawaiian Airlines typically processes transfers within 3 to 5 business days. Once the miles appear in your partner airline account, you can book when ready. The entire process from initiating the transfer to completing your flight booking usually takes a week or less.

What happens if I transfer miles and then can't find an Alaska Airlines flight?

Once miles land in your partner airline account, they belong to that airline. You cannot transfer them back to Hawaiian. You would need to book a flight with that partner airline, or contact their customer service to explore other options. This is why confirming Alaska Airlines availability before you transfer is important.

Is there a limit to how many miles I can transfer?

Hawaiian Airlines sets minimum and maximum transfer amounts that vary by partner airline. Most partners require a minimum transfer of 5,000 to 10,000 miles and may cap transfers at 100,000 or more per transaction. Check the transfer page for the specific partner you're considering.

Do I pay taxes on transferred miles?

Miles themselves are not taxable income when you transfer them between airline accounts. However, if you receive a bonus as part of a promotional transfer offer, that bonus may have tax implications depending on your location and the airline's policies. Consult a tax professional if you're unsure.