Update, 9/26:Ā You can now transfer your miles in either direction between Alaska and Hawaiian! Just select if you want to transfer to HawaiianMiles or Alaska Mileage Plan miles and sign into both accounts to transfer.
You can transfer all of your miles, in at least 50 mile increments. The transfer is limited to 500,000 miles per transfer. Your profiles on Alaska and Hawaiian must match for the transfer to go through.
I just transferred over all my Hawaiian miles over to Alaska and they posted instantly:
You can now transfer AMEX points over to Alaska at a 1:1 ratio by transferring instantly to Hawaiian and then instantly to Alaska.
Congrats to everyone who got the 20% bonus last month!
HT: Eluzer K.
Update, 9/18: Alaska has completed its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9B.
The integration process will take up to 18 months, but later this month you will be able to transfer miles from Hawaiian to Alaska and vice versa at a 1:1 ratio!
That means for the first time ever, you can effectively transfer AMEX points to Alaska via Hawaiian at a 1:1 ratio!
The DOT is requiring the 1:1 transfer ratio and that miles never expire. The DOT will also require that “The combined airline must maintain a minimum dollar value for all miles in the new loyalty program, measured by the guest-facing value of miles redeemed for carrier-operated flights” and that “The combined airline must not impose change or cancellation fees on rewards redemption tickets for travel on carrier-operated flights.” It remains to be seen how exactly that will play out.
Lounge members also have reciprocal access and elite status matching will take place later this year.
Originally posted on 9/17:
The US DOT has approved the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines merger, with some conditions.
The biggest is that miles must be preserved at a 1:1 ratio and never expire!
That topic was the subject of my own speculation last month, when I speculatively transferred 500,000 AMEX points into 600,000 Hawaiian miles, on the gamble that they would become 600,000 Alaska miles.
I never thought I’d be writing an expected value formula on DansDeals, but I got pretty wonky with the fun!
While Hawaiian miles aren’t worth much,Ā Alaska miles can be very lucrative. This comparison chart shows just how much better their miles are over the competition for domestic awards.
And now it seems like the bet will pay off, with the DOT insisting on 1:1 transfer ratios!
The DOT said the combined airline must also continue flying their current rural routes, provide family seating on all fares, and provide compensation for airline caused delays and cancellations.
You can still transfer miles from AMEX to Hawaiian, though the 20% bonus is no longer applicable. I would certainly assume we will get advance notice before that transfer option goes away, but it’s always possible that it goes away without warning. I would assume the transfer option will go away at some point before the merger closes.
Of course, the merger still has to close. And Alaska can devalue its program in a combined mileage program, but I don’t think that will happen right away as airlines don’t try to squander goodwill soon after a merger.
How many AMEX points will you transfer to Hawaiian before the merger is finalized?
HT: Moshe R
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119 Comments On "[BREAKING: Mileage Transfers From Hawaiian And AMEX Now Live!] WOW! DOT Approves Alaska-Hawaiian Merger, On Condition That Miles Combine At 1:1 Ratio!"
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Dan, Are you on the US DOT too now? Haha!
How much of a sure thing is this
Thank you Dan!! I moved 500k of my 1.5m
With the 20% bonus?
I moved over my entire stash of 400K with the bonus (so almost 500K in Hawaiian points now) because I believe in you Dan! Thank you so much for the post last month.
Awesome!
We need do some out with āwe believe in Dan ā merch
So Dan needs to get in politics now and endorse Tramp ,
like Swift did for Harris š
Dan , have you every thought about your influence ?
Whatever Dan says I do.
I didnāt have 8m on my account so I didnāt move moreā¦
Lol, nicely done.
great. I transferred what I had last week in Amex points to HI air before the deadline based on your thoughts (I didn’t have much, about 26,000, but I’ll take it in Alaska).
I really hope I’m wrong, but to your last article point, I think devalue coming first 1/2 of next year.
Nicely done!
I don’t foresee a major devaluation for a year or so from the merger close date, but that’s just a guess of course.
Dan what do you think of signing up for the Hawaiian airlines Barclays card right now, do some quick spending and getting that welcome bonus ultimately in Alaskan airlines miles
We should have a heads up before that goes away. It’s also possible that it sticks around.
Unlike the AMEX transfer option- which is almost certain to go away before the merger (though hopefully with notice)- the Barclay’s co-brand cards might stick around. That’s what happened when American merged with US Airways, there are 2 co-brand issuers post-merger, similar with the Marriott-Starwood merger. Time will tell. But certainly no rush to grab the Hawaiian cards right now.
i love the math
I actually took your original advice and transferred 1 million points. Now Iāll have 1.2 Alaska.
Thank you Dan!
Amazing!
BH great news- i took a gamble and moved 1m with the 20% hopefully it goes thru and ill have 1.2m AS IYH
Awesome!
Alaskan deval incoming
I got the Barclays Hawaii credit card right away I heard about the merger. Nowadays the offer is even better: 70K miles, spending only $2,000.
I transferred 60K Amex. into 72K Hawaiian.
In addition opened Hawaiian cc with 70k sign up bonus for spending 2G
Week before I used 60k Alaska miles for 2 RT 1st class tix AA JFK-MIA
Nice! I moved 275k (now 330k).
How do you all have so many Amex points? I have a measly 100k š
are we going to be able to transfer hawaiann miles to alaska or redeem hawaiaan miles at alaska rates
yes transfers will be allowed beginning later this month
https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=137495.msg2866890#msg2866890
So can still transfer over now and it will merge into AS
āThe combined airline must not take any actions that would devalue HawaiianMiles miles, must maintain the value of each unredeemed HawaiianMiles mile earned prior to the merger closingā¦ā
Dan,
Doesnāt this suggest that our Hawaiian miles cannot ever be devalued for flight redemptions?
Also, thanks to you I got in on the MR transfer!
Why didn’t you move 1m?
1. Discussed here: https://www.dansdeals.com/more/news/airline-news/im-going-transfer-1000000-amex-points-hawaiian-airlines/
2. Still sitting on over 800K Alaska miles, so that’s more than I thought I could use before a potential devaluation.
3. If they were still El Al partners, that would have changed the calculus.
Too bad the deadline was on motzei shabbos, by the time I saw the post it was after midnight
We shared that post several times.
True, was waiting on a final take from you, as it was advised to wait until closer to the end date for the bonus transfer to see how things progress with the merger.
What we need now is a deal on pagers
https://x.com/DansDeals/status/1836147411195945213
https://x.com/DansDeals/status/1836148981698601093
Do you honestly support the indiscriminate explosions of thousands of mini-bombs within a civilian population with no idea who/where the explosions are going to occur? This is no better than what Israel’s enemies do/have done.
If the so-called “righteous” nations engage in such tactics, where does it end? You can’t complain about the next October 7th now.
Certainly not.
This wasn’t indiscriminate. It was micro-explosions that targeted a terrorist group’s communications network and it was a very clean strike.
Probably the most targeted anti-terrorist operation in history.
Comparing that to kidnapping, beheading and burning babies and raping girls is a disgusting accusation.
I agree was targeted and impressive in ingenuity and outcome. Though I was attempting to explain the awesomeness of the attack to my son (under 10) as he heard 2 non terrorist young kids were killed. Though I blame Hezb for that ultimately, very hard to explain concept of ācasualties of warā to young (and some old) people. Not sure best answers to that one. But I do support this attach by Israel on known terrorists.
Hey – You forgot to add in the supermarkets! You also forgot to mention that it didnāt injure the civilians even the oneās standing right next to the terrorist!
Can one still move miles now to Hawaii?
Read the post š
××× ×××
Wow, I am pretty surprised at how the DOT sounds off on such seemingly nitty-gritty parts of the deal, such as transfer ratios.
Well they do have their own Hawaii points to look out for.
Moved over 400k of my 2.2mil AMEX points with the 20% bonus. Hopefully they last a while- and the program doesn’t devalue before I get to use them!
I moved 450k plus 20%. Thanks Dan!
I don’t have American Express points or any other banks transferable to Hawaiian airlines
Dan I have a question I did transfer 66,000 miles and today and other 49,000 making total of 115,000. Iām located in Cincinnati I know you are in Columbus area so was wondering what would you suggest it is for me and my girlfriend to wisely use the 115,000 so we both can do trips to Hawaii and Alaska hooefully it is possible since I looked and the points to Alaska for two are around 50k plus taxes if you can provide more insights would be great
asking for a friend- he has 1.5m MR however due to issues with his business, some accounts were closed (he was told by amex that they will be re-opened) and other are under financial relief. probably wont be able to use amex (BP) for at least another year until balance is paid off.
He already transferred 1m with the 20%, but he wants to know if he should send the remaining 1.5m and have total of 2.7m AS.
would you advise him to do that or should he hold off the 1.5m in his MR account and be happy with the 1.2m AS?
why couldn’t your friend say he is asking for a friend….
Or his friend asking for his friends friend which would be him
Can you remind what is the great value now that El Al is not an option?
Will amex stop being transferable to Hawaiian airlines?
So I fly out of EWR
American sucks for that..
So what is alaska miles really good for
Who is forcing you to fly out of EWR. PHL and JFK have great options for American
Without allow is there still an advantage to Israel?
So Dan how many more points are you transferring
if i have about 250k points would you recommend sending them all over?
It doesn’t say anything about killing the value of the miles for transfers to American, which is the biggest and best value for Alaska miles at this point.
Any chance Hawaiian miles usage will be restricted to Alaska metal only?
Any way to know beforehand if miles in Hawaiian account will count towards lifetime status for Alaska once the accounts trasfer/merge?
I cant make a laining on this for the life of me āThe combined airline must maintain a minimum dollar value for all miles in the new loyalty program, measured by the guest-facing value of miles redeemed for carrier-operated flights”
Hawaiian CC currently offers 2 free checked bags, how likely is Alaska to honor the baggage allowance post merger?
If I get the Hawaii cc will Alaska honor the free checked bag allowance?
hey folks.. late to the party but am i safe to xfer miles now (without the 20% bonus sigh) to Hawaiian to be moved to Alaska in the near future ?
Is it smart to get Hawaiian card now for the 70k miles?
Anyway around the transfer fee from amex to hawaiin?
No, but worth noting that it’s capped at $99, so larger transfers will save it.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see AA tighten up it’s award buckets to AS since low level awards are going to be impossible to get for AAdvantage members. This rush of newly Amex minted AS miles is might force AA or other OW partners to pull a United move and whack availability to AS.
Be careful what you wish for, since AS can’t devalue – doesn’t mean the AS’s partners wont take steps to protect thier programs.
It is a concern.
Are all transfers instant?
Amex to Hawaiian
Hawaiian to Alaska
Yes
Hi Dan, can AmEx stop to allow transfers to Hawaiian at anytime? Since i have some amex points pending and Don’t wanna pay twice $99?
I believe they will give warning, but I am waiting on confirmation from Alaska and AMEX about that.
Do alaska miles expire ?
No
Doesn’t need any activity to keep it alive?
No
Then I think you should update the master thread ? It says overthere that you need activity every 24 months.
It was updated earlier today. š
Ahh probably right after I checked… though it still only shows Marriot as a transfer partner
Is 150k for qsuites worth?
Whats the cancelation and change policy with Alaska flights?
No charge, but partner booking fees ($12.50 per direction) aren’t refundable.
2 months too late
imagine booking elal nyc-tlv with 70k amex points
True, what a shame!
I think this happening so fast- before AMEX transfers to Hawaiian go away- is going to be bad for us. It means that it’s too easy to get Alaska miles, since you can do AMEX>Hawaiian and Hawaiian> Alaska at the same time, so it’s essentially AMEX>Alaska. This means a ton of AS miles in the market now hitting the sweet spots hard, and Alaska is going to have a HUGE devaluation even sooner. I had anticipated AMEX>Hawaiian going away in conjunction with the merger and Hawaiian>Alaska being possible.
But will the DOT allow the devaluation?
I agree with the comment above that the biggest risk now is that AA may block most partner bookings like UA does.
But from the DOT wording limiting devaluations- it says “carrier-operated flights”. The way I’m darshaning that is that they can’t devalue (ie raise mileage prices) for their own flights, but they can for partner flights. So they can charge more for flights on American.
@dan please remove this comment as they may actually act upon it…
Exactly right. Common sense here ^^^^
What about applying for Hawaiian credit cards now. I guess now is the time.
Both brands are being kept.
Anyone else getting an era when trying to transfer? I keep getting an era.
Website is down
Sorry, we cannot complete this request at this time. Please contact Customer Support if the error persists.
What is the cancelation policy for Alaskan and Hawaiian award redemption?
Heavy delay on transfers Amex>Hawaiian
They keep on refunding my transfers. Are transfers down?
Same here
here comes the devaluation of Alaskan miles?
do I have to do the transfer or will Hawaiin and the Alaska accounts just merge after a while on their own without me doing anything?
Anyone else unable to transfer from AMEX to Hawaiian right now? It says it goes through, but then minutes later it gets refunded with no warning or explanation.
Seemsike game over, just chatted with Amex and they did the transfer for me & got rejected & they told me that the airline is rejecting it…
Hard to find any good redemptions for Alaska business now
Transfers from Amex working again!
Getting “not eligible for this exchange” message trying to transfer from ha to alaska. Anyone with this? Name, address and phone all match up
I have seen that anyone with a two letter name has been having issues
TY – That’s us – darn Chinese names. š
I noticed that the Hawaiian website says that “Miles transferred into a HawaiianMiles account from another program may not be transferred to another loyalty program.” Maybe too many people have been transferring Amex–>Hawaiian–>Alaska and they want to close the loophole? In any event, just a heads up in case anyone is considering a large transfer.
It’s referring to a 3rd party program, not to Alaska, which now owns Hawaiian.
So how do I transfer from Hawaiian to Alaska? Under the option share miles? It ask for Hawaiian acct number. does it mean My Alaska number?
Does anyone else get an era message when trying to transfer the Hawaiian mile to Alaska. I get it when I try signing into the Alaska account when directed by the transfer site.
Trying to transfer from Hawaiin to Alsaka, and keep getting an error message saying “We’re sorry. Something went wrong. If you continue to see this error, please contact your loyalty program’s support team.”
getting the following error message when attempting transfer from Hawaiian to Alaska, and the names on account match. any ideas?
“You are not eligible for this exchange. Please check the FAQ section for more details or contact your Loyalty provider.”
Does it still make sense to transfer Amex points to Hawaiian (and subsequently transfer to Alaska)? Was looking at Coach class NY to LA flights (say at least 2 months out) and it seems more expensive to use Alaska Airlines miles (getting just $0.008 per point value) than to pay in dollarsā¦what are the best routes to get more than $0.01 per Amex point value on Alaska Airlines flights or Alaska Airlines partners flights?
What’s the cancellation policy with an award ticket?
And sure enough American block all their business class seats with Alaska. Oh wellā¦