Say Aloha to the End: Amex Transfers to Hawaiian (in turn, Alaska) Are Shutting Down
What You Need to Know Before the Door Closes on This Travel Hack
Cue the sad ukulele music. Starting June 30, 2025, you’ll no longer be able to transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Hawaiian Airlines. And since Hawaiian has a sneaky little link to Alaska Airlines, that means your backdoor access to Alaska Mileage Plan via Amex? Also getting shut down.
If you’re scratching your head wondering why this matters, buckle up — because these were some of the most valuable miles in the U.S. for both domestic and international travel. Yes, really.
Why This Is a Big Deal for Points Nerds (Like Us)
Let’s be honest, transferring Amex points to Hawaiian wasn’t about dreaming of leis and luaus. It was about unlocking Alaska Airlines miles, one of the most underrated loyalty currencies out there. You could transfer Amex points to Hawaiian, then slide them over to Alaska and book some serious sweet spot redemptions.
Still not convinced? Here's what you'd be missing:
- MIA to JFK on American Airlines: Book it through Alaska for just 15,000 miles round-trip.
- The exact same flight using American Airlines miles? 18,000 points. That’s a sad 3,000-point upcharge for doing it the “normal” way.
So yeah, it wasn’t just clever — it was efficient.
First-Class Steals: International Sweet Spots with Alaska Miles
Domestic deals are cool and all, but let’s zoom out.
One of the juiciest redemptions with Alaska miles? Business class to London on American Airlines. We're talking lie-flat seats from New York to London for only 45,000 miles one-way. That’s less than most airlines charge for economy these days.
If you're wondering whether you should rush to transfer now… the answer is looking like a loud, dramatic YES.
The Clock Is Ticking: What You Should Do Before June 30
Here’s the current game plan if you're sitting on Amex Membership Rewards points and don’t want to watch their value drop:
- Transfer Amex points to Hawaiian Airlines before June 30, 2025.
- Once they’re in Hawaiian, convert them to Alaska miles using the Hawaiian-Alaska mileage transfer partnership. You can already do that right here. No need to wait for a fully integrated website.
Now, if you're not a frequent flyer, then you might not want to just dump all of your points into Alaska. Loyalty programs have a sneaky way of pulling the rug out from under you. Often overnight, and without so much as a warning email. So, while this might look like a great idea today, who knows what curveball might land next month?
Think about where you actually want to travel within the next year and plan around that. Don’t move points just to chase hype. Move points that align with your short-term goals. That way, your miles are ready to work for you, not just look pretty in an account you might never use.
What About BILT? The Silver Lining
Here’s the good news: BILT Rewards still transfers directly to Alaska Airlines. So, if you’re earning points from paying rent (or dining out, or travel), you’re still in the Alaska club.
That said, Amex and BILT aren’t interchangeable, and for many of us, Amex has been our heavy-hitter in the points world. This change definitely dings the flexibility Amex once offered for top-tier redemptions.
Final Boarding Call
Losing a transfer partner always stings, especially when it quietly unlocks some of the best award redemptions out there. If you’ve been sleeping on this strategy, consider this your wake-up call, with a free cup of strong airport coffee.
Mark your calendar for June 30, 2025, and make your transfers before it’s too late. After that, it’s mahalo and goodbye to one of the cleverest Amex point plays in the book.
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Jacqueline Gomez
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