There’s been a serious improvement within the merger of Hawaiian Airways and Alaska Airways, as the 2 carriers simply launched the power to switch miles between their respective loyalty packages. Whereas post-merger plans name for a single, mixed loyalty program, this is a vital first step — and opens up a profitable new avenue for these with American Categorical Membership Rewards factors.
That is as a result of Amex factors switch to Hawaiian miles at a 1:1 ratio (although they’re topic to a federal excise tax offset payment of 120 factors or 60 cents per 1,000 factors transferred). Thus, now you can switch Amex factors to Hawaiian after which switch them to Alaska miles, one of the worthwhile airline currencies on the market.
Associated: American Categorical Membership Rewards switch companions: Maximize your factors
Even higher? These transfers course of immediately, regardless that the FAQs point out they may take as much as 72 hours.
This is what it’s essential find out about this new possibility.
Methods to switch miles between Alaska and Hawaiian
For those who’re sitting on a steadiness of Hawaiian miles (or not too long ago transferred Amex factors to the airline) and wish to convert them to Alaska miles, begin by visiting this Factors.com web page. Begin by deciding on this system to which you wish to switch miles, which in my case was Alaska Airways Mileage Plan.
From there, observe the prompts to register to each your Alaska and Hawaiian accounts.
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You may then be taken to a display screen to verify the variety of miles you wish to switch. There is a useful slider to make use of, although be aware that transfers have to be in increments of fifty miles.
I opted to switch my total steadiness of 1,200 Hawaiian miles, and after I clicked Proceed, I used to be requested to verify the switch quantity.
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You may then see a affirmation web page, indicating that the switch was profitable.
As famous above, these transfers course of immediately, as I used to be capable of instantly see the 1,200 miles in my Alaska Mileage Plan account.
Simply be aware that your profile data in your two accounts should match, so double examine that in case you run into any points.
That is an thrilling new improvement for members, and it comes on the heels of the U.S. Division of Transportation codifying vital client protections as a situation of the merger. Alaska Mileage Plan has a ton of terrific candy spots, and previous to this, the one transferable foreign money that supplied transfers to Alaska Airways was Bilt Rewards. Now, holders of choose American Categorical playing cards have the power to successfully earn Alaska miles by first transferring to Hawaiian Airways after which shifting them to Mileage Plan.
This additionally makes Hawaiian’s cobranded playing cards much more interesting, because the welcome provides on these playing cards are actually successfully Alaska miles. As well as, cardmembers can switch (and obtain) Hawaiian miles from some other member of this system, with no limits and no charges. This provides worthwhile flexibility in sharing miles amongst family and friends members.
Learn extra: Of venture on Alaska miles — why I utilized for two Hawaiian Airways playing cards on the identical day
Backside line
Now you can switch miles between Alaska Airways and Hawaiian Airways, which successfully means you possibly can convert American Categorical Membership Rewards factors into Alaska Mileage Plan miles. As a full member of the Oneworld alliance, Alaska provides some implausible redemptions at enticing costs — particularly in mild of latest modifications to British Airways award charges (a long-timer Amex switch associate).
Whereas we often do not advocate making speculative transfers from bank card packages to airline currencies, this new improvement could also be sufficient to take action.
