Why I am planning to switch Amex factors to Hawaiian, after which Alaska, quickly
I am within the midst of a little bit of a factors predicament. I am attempting to resolve what number of of my American Categorical Membership Rewards factors I’ll switch to Hawaiian Airways’ HawaiianMiles program — and, by extension, Alaska Airways’ Mileage Plan program — earlier than it is too late.
Here is the state of affairs: Final fall, when the 2 airways formally merged, one thing of a factors and miles loophole opened up that allowed Amex members to successfully convert Membership Rewards factors into Alaska miles — probably the most priceless loyalty currencies of any U.S. airline.
It’s kind of of an end-around course of. Hawaiian is a longtime Amex switch companion. And, as a part of the merger final yr, the 2 airways (run by one guardian firm) launched a short lived option to transfer your miles between the HawaiianMiles and Mileage Plan packages at a 1:1 ratio.
At the moment, you may switch your Amex factors to Hawaiian, then transfer your Hawaiian miles to Alaska. It is a pretty engaging choice, since Alaska miles go a good distance.
Nonetheless, Amex members might quickly lose this Amex-to-Hawaiian-to-Alaska work-around. Here is what to know.
Alaska Airways and Hawaiian Airways are shifting to 1 loyalty program
Alaska is at present engaged on firming up the small print of a single loyalty program that will function the connective tissue between the Alaska and Hawaiian airline manufacturers, very similar to Flying Blue is the joint loyalty program for sister airways Air France and KLM.
In an interview with TPG, a spokesperson from Alaska Mileage Plan made it clear that they do not love the thought of the continuation of Amex transfers — or, actually, any versatile rewards forex transfers. (Word that Bilt Rewards is a direct switch companion of Alaska.)
“For us, making a market alternative that wasn’t meant by means of, say, a 3rd celebration, that is not our goal. And when given the chance to form of shut that door, we are going to,” Alaska’s loyalty chief, Brett Catlin, advised me in October 2024.
So, does that imply the Amex work-around is probably going on the outs?
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“Precisely,” Catlin mentioned, including, “Our intent is to not have a transferable forex the place friends can earn throughout competitor playing cards, to be completely trustworthy.”
As a reminder, Alaska has hinted {that a} new premium bank card might probably accompany the rollout of its new loyalty program. And a part of the airline’s purpose is to drive its frequent flyers to its personal suite of playing cards.
Formally, the airline has not but introduced any agency plans to finish the HawaiianMiles partnership with Amex. Nonetheless, different Hawaiian partnerships are winding down within the coming months.
A number of HawaiianMiles partnerships are ending in summer season 2025
After June 30, HawaiianMiles members will now not be capable of redeem their miles for award flights with the next companions:
- JetBlue
- Japan Airways
- Virgin Atlantic
- Virgin Australia
- Korean Air
- China Airways
Moreover, journey have to be booked no later than Feb. 28, 2026.
Since HawaiianMiles members can already hyperlink their accounts to Alaska Mileage Plan — to ebook flights utilizing Alaska miles and to faucet into reciprocal frequent flyer and elite standing (to not point out status-matching) perks — Alaska’s partnership with a number of of the identical carriers inherently means that you can nonetheless be capable of use your Hawaiian miles for these redemptions, so long as you switch your miles to your Mileage Plan account.
Whereas an finish date hasn’t been confirmed or disclosed for the Amex and Hawaiian partnership, we would not be shocked if the cardboard program instantly ends level transfers that very same day.
Alaska Airways and Hawaiian Airways modifications are coming
This wind-down of these (and different) HawaiianMiles partnerships comes as the corporate makes a further flurry of postmerger strikes to affix the airways below one operation. Simply this week, TPG reported the carriers would shift terminals at some main hubs to place the airways nearer collectively. Hawaiian is planning to affix Alaska within the Oneworld alliance by 2026.
Subsequent month, Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA) will launch as a brand new worldwide gateway for the airline manufacturers, with an inaugural Hawaiian-operated flight from SEA to Tokyo’s Narita Worldwide Airport (NRT) on Might 12.
What do I do with my Amex factors?
This brings me again to my very own Amex factors. I’ve about 170,000 factors, because of earnings from each The Platinum Card® from American Categorical and the American Categorical® Gold Card.
I do not need to utterly deplete my stash with an enormous switch to anyone companion. In any case, you may get vital mileage out of your factors from different companions, reminiscent of Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership and Air Canada Aeroplan. Heck, JetBlue’s new TrueBlue take care of Japan Airways opened up some probably engaging candy spots.
However I do know I am going to use — and certain get first rate worth out of — Alaska miles.
Why Alaska miles are priceless
Alaska maintains a distance-based chart for its companions, which implies its award pricing is not topic to the identical “dynamic” forces that may result in eye-popping redemption charges on high-demand flights with different carriers.
For instance, you may ebook a transatlantic flight from the U.S. East Coast to Europe for 22,500 miles, or a lie-flat business-class seat for as few as 45,000 miles, one-way.
I’ve additionally gotten vital worth on quick home flights with a hefty money worth. As an illustration, I not too long ago redeemed 4,500 miles on what would have been an costly flight in January from North Carolina to Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport (DCA).
So, transferring an honest chunk of my Membership Rewards factors to the Seattle-based provider looks like a prudent transfer earlier than this short-lived work-around (maybe) involves an finish.
The most important lingering query I am wrestling with: Simply what number of factors do I switch?
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