Alaska & Hawaiian Airlines Merger: What It Means for Hawaiian Airlines Miles

The Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines merger is changing the travel landscape, especially for Hawaiian Airlines loyalty program members. In late 2024, Alaska Airlines finalized a $1.9 billion deal with Hawaiian Airlines. This merger brings big changes for Hawaiian Airlines miles (HawaiianMiles) users, from new redeeming options to loyalty program integration. 

Let’s take a look at what this means for Hawaiian Airlines (HawaiianMiles) members, including how to redeem Hawaiian Airlines miles on flights to Alaska, how to transfer miles between programs, how alliances will be updated, how statuses will match, how transfer partners will change, how mileage options will evolve, and more.

Overview of the Alaska Hawaiian Airlines Merger (Timeline & Regulatory)

Alaska Airlines announced plans to acquire Hawaiian Airlines on December 3, 2023. The merger was intended to create a stronger network on the West Coast and in the Pacific region by combining Alaska’s predominantly domestic routes with Hawaiian’s long-haul fleet and international destinations. 

On September 18, 2024, the deal was officially closed, resulting in Hawaiian Airlines becoming part of Alaska Air Group. The merger created a combined carrier operating nearly 1,500 daily flights to 141 destinations in the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific. Notably, Alaska decided to keep both brands – Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines – under its umbrella.

Alaska and Hawaiian agreed to maintain mileage values and member status throughout the transition. This includes no mileage expiry, free 1:1 mileage transfers between HawaiianMiles and Alaska Mile Plan programs until the combined program launches, and a commitment not to devalue HawaiianMiles balances when they are converted to the new program, we will discuss this in more detail later. These safeguards are designed to ensure that HawaiianMiles members are not affected by the merger.

What the Merger Means for Hawaiian Airlines Miles Users

For Hawaiian loyalty program members, the merger brings significant changes, mostly positive ones.

Alaska and Hawaiian will create a single frequent flyer program that will cover both airlines. The airlines have confirmed that all HawaiianMiles will eventually be converted to Alaska Mileage Plan miles at a 1:1 ratio. Details of this combined program are expected to be announced in mid-2025.

Elite status integration

If you have elite status in the Hawaiian program (Pualani Gold, Pualani Platinum, etc.), these status levels will transfer to the equivalent status in the Alaska Mileage Plan program after the programs are combined. Until full integration, the airlines can also match statuses so that loyal passengers can enjoy the benefits of both airlines. 

This means that Hawaiian elite privileges will not be lost.

Your Hawaiian miles will become more versatile. Next, we’ll look at status matching in more detail.

Hawaiian Airlines Status Match Opportunities with Alaska Airlines

The merger includes a generous status leveling and reciprocity policy. Instead of forcing you to start from scratch in the Alaska program, the airlines have developed ways to level and even combine your status levels.

Instant status change by combining accounts

Elite HawaiianMiles members (Pualani Gold, Pualani Platinum) can combine their HawaiianMiles account with an Alaska Mileage Plan account and get an equivalent status in the Alaska program.

For example, suppose you have Pualani Platinum status (Hawaiian’s highest tier). In that case, you will be assigned a higher level in the Alaska Mileage Plan program (most likely MVP Gold 75K, Alaska’s highest elite tier). 

This linking and matching is done through an online form – once your accounts are linked, the status match is instantaneous. Similarly, elite members of the Mileage Plan program in Alaska who had status in the Mileage Plan program only can get the corresponding status in Hawaii.

Combined elite qualifying miles

In 2024, Alaska and Hawaiian introduced an offer where if you’ve flown on both programs, they’ll combine your elite qualifying miles to potentially upgrade your status to a higher level. 

For example, if you’ve earned 20,000 miles on Alaska and 10,000 on Hawaiian, they may give you status as if you’ve earned 30,000 miles on one program, assigning you a higher tier based on the amount of miles. 

Even non-elite members can qualify for the new elite tier this way. This was a one-time placement for the year of the merger to ensure that loyal customers would not lose and could enjoy their status with the combined airline. 

Reciprocal elite privileges

Once approved, elite privileges are recognized across both airlines. Alaska MVP elites traveling on Hawaiian Airlines receive privileges such as priority boarding, free checked baggage, and even Extra Comfort seats if they are available. Conversely, Pualani Hawaiian Elite members who qualify for Alaska Airlines status will enjoy the benefits of this status when flying on Alaska Airlines (e.g., upgrades to premium class, complimentary premium beverages, etc.). 

It’s important to note that HawaiianMiles members who qualify for Alaska membership also receive Oneworld membership status (Sapphire or Emerald) corresponding to their Alaska level, which provides access to lounges and priority services on airlines such as American Airlines, British Airways, and Qantas. This is a huge improvement for Hawaiian loyalists – previously, Pualani status was only useful on Hawaiian flights, but now it can translate into global alliance benefits. 

How to change your status

Go to the Alaska website and use the “Match Your Status” tool (or the link to it on the Hawaiian Airlines website) hawaiianairlines.com. 

Provide your HawaiianMiles membership credentials and Alaska will match your Mile Plan status. 

Once the match is established, your Alaska Airlines Frequent Flyer number will carry that status whenever you book flights on Alaska, Hawaiian Airlines or any other Oneworld partner.

Maintaining your status

The terms of the merger also require that the combined program “match, maintain or enhance” each member’s tier level during the integration. This means that you shouldn’t lose your elite status because of the merger. When the programs merge, expect a smooth transition of your current status to an equal or higher level in the new system. In the meantime, to keep the benefits of both airlines, make sure you’ve linked your accounts and your status matches. 

Hawaiian Airlines’ status-matching program with Alaska is convenient and ensures that loyal passengers are recognized and rewarded across an extended network. If you haven’t already done so, linking your accounts to status is one of the first things you should do.

Hawaiian Airlines Alliance Status and Potential Changes

Before the merger, Hawaiian Airlines had a unique position: it was not a member of any major global airline alliance. Instead, Hawaiian maintained individual partnerships with various airlines across OneWorld, SkyTeam, and independent carriers. For example, it partnered with Japan Airlines (a Oneworld member), JetBlue (independent), Korean Air (SkyTeam), Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia, and others for earning and redeeming miles. 

Joining oneworld in 2026

As part of the merger agreement, Hawaiian Airlines plans to join the Oneworld alliance by 2026 once they integrate their passenger service systems. This will make the expanded Alaska/Hawaiian network part of the same alliance as American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Japan Airlines and others.

Completion of previous partnerships

As Hawaiian moves to an alliance ecosystem in Alaska, some of Hawaiian’s old partnerships are ending. In particular, HawaiianMiles airline partnerships will end by mid-2025 for those carriers that are being released or are not part of the Oneworld alliance. The last day to book award tickets using HawaiianMiles on flights with partners such as JetBlue, Japan Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, Korean Air and China Airlines is June 30, 2025 (for travel through February 28, 2026). After that, these deals will expire. 

In summary, Hawaiian’s alliance status is evolving from an independent, multi-partner approach to being part of a large global alliance. For frequent flyers, this is a win: alliance membership brings standardized benefits and many more options for earning and burning miles. Just be mindful of the transition timeline (mid-2025 for partner changes, 2026 for full Oneworld join). The Hawaiian Airlines alliance future is firmly Oneworld, alongside Alaska.

Hawaiian Airlines Transfer Partners and How They May Change

Many HawaiianMiles members earn miles not only through flights, but also through credit card rewards and transfer partners. 

Transfer Partners

Partnership with Amex

HawaiianMiles is known for several key transfer partners. The main one is the American Express Membership Rewards program, which allows you to convert Amex points to HawaiianMiles at a 1:1 ratio. 

Other bank programs like Bilt Rewards and Capital One don’t currently convert points to HawaiianMiles, nor do Chase and Citi. So, the main flexible source of Hawaiian miles is Amex MR (and to a lesser extent, Marriott).

The big question is whether Amex’s membership rewards program will remain a partner after HawaiianMiles merges with the Alaska Mileage Plan program. Historically, the Alaska program has not been a direct partner with Amex, Chase or Citi in terms of mileage transfer. (Alaska has partnered with Marriott Bonvoy and recently added Bilt Rewards as a transfer option, but not with the major banking programs.) Alaska loyalty program executives have stated that they don’t want to allow indirect backdoor transfers from competitor credit cards to the Alaska site. They want to earn miles with their own co-branded cards. This suggests that the Amex→Hawaii→Alaska transfer pipeline may be closed in the future. For now, however, it is open. You can convert Amex MR points to Hawaiian miles and then immediately transfer Hawaiian miles to Alaska miles at a 1:1 ratio. This effectively allows you to get Alaska miles using Amex points – a “hack” that points enthusiasts are taking advantage of while it’s still available.

Partnership with Marriott Bonvoy

Hawaiian Airlines also partners with Marriott Bonvoy: you can convert Marriott points to Hawaiian miles (usually at a 3:1 ratio, with bonuses for large transfers), and, uniquely, you can even convert Hawaiian miles to Marriott points (at a 2:1 ratio – 5,000 Hawaiian miles = 2,500 Marriott points).

The Marriott Bonvoy will likely remain a partner in the combined program, as the Alaska Mileage Plan program also accepts Marriott point transfers. However, the ability to convert HawaiianMiles to Marriott points is unique and won’t last indefinitely; most likely, it will be discontinued after the launch of the new program, as the Alaska program doesn’t have the concept of converting miles to points for hotel stays. If you have a stash of Hawaiian miles you’d like to use for hotel bookings, you have until the loyalty program merger to use that 2:1 conversion for Marriott. After that, your miles will become airline miles only.

Co-branded credit cards

Hawaiian Airlines has co-branded credit cards (through Barclays US and Bank of Hawaii) that can be used to earn Hawaiian miles. Alaska Airlines has its own set of credit cards (through Bank of America) that earn Alaska Airlines miles. As the programs integrate, these products are likely to change. For Hawaii cardholders, eventually your card may be transferred to an Alaska-related card or you may be given the option to switch products. This issue is not yet fully resolved, but stay tuned.

Partners in stores and restaurants

HawaiianMiles has partnerships with local Hawaiian businesses (e.g., Foodland grocery store, Hawaiian Airlines Marketplace, etc.) and other shopping programs. According to Hawaiian, some of these partnerships will be discontinued by June 30, 2025, as they move to the Alaska platform. 

Alaska Mileage Plan has its own powerful online shopping portal and restaurant rewards network. Mileage Plan members in Hawaii are encouraged to connect to Mileage Plan and use the Alaska Mileage Plan Shopping portal to continue earning as many Hawaii partners will be appearing there. So, while the partner names may change, the ability to earn miles for shopping, dining, car rentals, and more will remain – just within the Alaska ecosystem.

Going forward, the combined Alaska and Hawaii program is expected to build on Alaska’s existing banking partnerships (BofA, Marriott, Bilt cards) and possibly integrate the best local airline partnerships for members living in Hawaii. We will keep an eye on this in the future.

Can You Use Hawaiian Miles on Alaska Airlines? (Current & Future)

One of the first questions that Hawaiian loyalists have is whether Hawaiian miles can be used on Alaska Airlines flights.

You can’t yet directly redeem HawaiianMiles for Alaska Airlines award tickets through Hawaiian Airlines’ own booking system. However, thanks to the merger, HawaiianMiles members can convert Hawaiian miles to Alaska Mileage Plan miles at a 1:1 ratio for free and then use those Alaska Airlines miles to book Alaska Airlines tickets (or even awards that combine Alaska and Hawaii segments on the same ticket). Essentially, you transfer your Hawaiian miles to the Alaska Airlines program and then redeem them for Alaska Airlines tickets.

For example, if you have 20,000 HawaiianMiles, you can redeem them for 20,000 Alaska miles for free, and then go to the Alaska Airlines website and book an award seat on an Alaska Airlines flight or upgrade your class of service. Alaska’s premium offers and partners become available to you as soon as your miles are registered in the Mileage Plan program.

And the airlines have also made it clear that even this stage of transition will become unnecessary after the loyalty programs merge. By the end of 2025, there will likely be one unified mileage currency for both airlines, so you’ll be able to seamlessly redeem miles on Alaska and Hawaiian flights without any conversions. Alaska Airlines has already allowed its Mileage Plan members to directly redeem Alaska miles on all Hawaiian Airlines flights starting in early 2025. We also expect that Hawaiian Airlines miles will be fully redeemable on Alaska flights once the programs are combined.

How to Transfer Hawaiian Miles to Alaska’s Mileage Plan

1. Link your accounts: First, make sure you have accounts in both programs. Then log in to your Alaska Mileage Plan account (or your HawaiianMiles account – both sites provide access to the transfer feature). You will see an option to link your HawaiianMiles and Alaska accounts.
2. Initiate the transfer: On Alaska’s website, go to the “Transfer Miles” section (or use the “Transfer Miles” link on Hawaiian’s website). You will be asked to select a destination for the transfer. Select HawaiianMiles Alaska fare plan, enter the number of miles you want to transfer and confirm. Miles are transferred at a 1:1 ratio with no fees. (For example, transferring 10,000 HawaiianMiles will result in 10,000 Alaska miles).
3. Restrictions: There are minimum restrictions for this transfer. You can transfer as many miles as you need. The minimum amount to transfer is small – 50 miles. Since there are no fees and no loss of value for transferring miles, you can transfer miles back and forth as needed.
4. Confirmation: Transfers are usually instant or very fast. Once the transfer is complete, the miles will disappear from your HawaiianMiles account and appear in your Alaska Mileage Plan balance.

Once the programs are fully integrated, you won’t need to make transfers manually.

Actionable Advice: What Hawaiian Miles Users Should Do Next

With all of these changes on the horizon, here are specific steps and tips for HawaiianMiles members to help them navigate the transition and get the most out of their membership:

1. Link and reconcile your accounts now: If you haven’t already, link your HawaiianMiles account to your Alaska Mileage Plan account. This will match your elite status and also set you up for mileage transfers. Even if you don’t have elite status, linking your accounts allows you to transfer miles and track your balances across both programs.
2. Transfer miles strategically: Take advantage of free 1:1 transfers between Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines accounts. If you are waiting for an award from Alaska Airlines or want to book a flight with an Oneworld partner (under the Alaska Airlines program), transfer your Hawaiian miles to Alaska Airlines miles. If you have Amex Membership Rewards and want to redeem for Alaska Airlines awards (such as Qatar Qsuite Business Class or Cathay Pacific First Class), consider flying Amex → Hawaiian Airlines → Alaska while this indirect route is available. On this route, you can transfer to the Alaska – Hawaii – Qatar flight.
3. Redeem tickets from partners that will soon cease operations: Check out the list of Hawaiian partner airlines that will be retiring in 2025 (JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic/Australia, Korean Air, China Airlines, JAL). If you have a lot of HawaiianMiles and one of these carriers was on your wish list, you have until June 30, 2025 to book an award ticket with them using Hawaiian miles. For example, you wanted to redeem HawaiianMiles for a JetBlue Mint flight or a Korean Air flight to Seoul – you can still do that, but time is running out. These flights will no longer be available directly after the specified date. Of course, you may be able to reach these destinations via Alaska’s network at a later date, but the award price and availability may vary.
4. Patience for the new program (don’t panic): Don’t make any hasty decisions, such as burning all your miles for fear of devaluation. Your miles are safe, they won’t expire or become worthless during the transition. You can afford to wait for the details of the new combined program. 
5. Plan your travels with both brands: During this interim period, take advantage of the combined network. You can now book Hawaiian’s interisland flights along with Alaska’s mainland flights on the same itinerary on the Alaska website, making it easier to plan your trip. If you have status on one of the flights, use the services of the airline that offers you the best conditions for each stage. 

Conclusions

HawaiianMiles members should consider the Alaska-Hawaii merger as an opportunity. By taking the above steps, you’ll reap all the benefits: more ways to earn, more places to redeem miles, and the assurance that your loyalty will be rewarded in the new program. The key is to stay informed, enjoy your current privileges, and be prepared for the greater frequent flyer opportunities that will be available in the future.