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🚨 Amex to Hawaiian to Alaska Points Transfers Might End Soon – What You Need to Know

  • Writer: William Yu
    William Yu
  • 3 days ago
  • 3 min read

If you're sitting on a stash of Amex Membership Rewards points, and you've been eyeing a transfer to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, time is running out. Thanks to a clever workaround involving Hawaiian Airlines, travelers have been able to funnel Amex points into Alaska’s highly valuable loyalty program—but that loophole could be closing as early as June 30, 2025.


In this article, we’ll break down:

  • What this Amex-to-Alaska transfer trick is

  • Why June 30th is a critical date

  • What this means for your travel plans

  • Action steps to take right now



✈️ What Is the Amex to Alaska Points Transfer Trick?


Alaska Airlines has never been a direct transfer partner of Amex Membership Rewards. But when Alaska announced its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, something interesting happened.


Hawaiian is a transfer partner with Amex, and for now, you can:


  1. Transfer Amex points to Hawaiian Airlines at a 1:1 ratio

  2. Convert those HawaiianMiles to Alaska Mileage Plan miles, also at 1:1


This workaround effectively gives you a backdoor way to turn Amex points into Alaska miles, unlocking valuable redemptions with Alaska’s airline partners—think Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and even stopovers on one-way flights.


📅 June 30, 2025 – Mark This Date


While not officially confirmed, all signs point to June 30th, 2025 as the end date for this transfer pathway. Here's why:


  • Hawaiian has announced that Virgin Australia and all non-Alaska airline partnerships will end by that date.

  • Shopping and dining programs tied to Hawaiian will also shut down at the same time.

  • The merged Alaska-Hawaiian loyalty program is expected to debut in “Summer 2025.”


The pattern is clear: big changes are coming, and the Amex to Hawaiian transfer option could vanish without warning.


💥 Why This Matters


Alaska Mileage Plan is one of the most lucrative airline loyalty programs out there. Here’s what makes it so special:


  • Sweet spot redemptions like business class to Asia for fewer miles than other programs.

  • Stopovers on one-way flights—almost unheard of elsewhere.

  • A wide range of premium partner airlines (JAL, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, etc.)


But without the Amex → Hawaiian → Alaska option, earning Alaska miles becomes much harder—especially if you don't regularly fly Alaska or hold their co-branded credit card.


✅ What You Should Do Now


If you want to take advantage of this transfer before it disappears, here are your next steps:


  1. Don’t wait until June 30, 2025. The window could close at any time.

  2. Only transfer if you have a specific redemption plan. Points transfers are one-way—once they're gone, you can’t get them back.

  3. Monitor official updates from Amex, Hawaiian, and Alaska in case the deadline moves.

  4. Plan strategically to book those high-value awards before this pipeline shuts down.


🧳 Final Thoughts


The Amex to Hawaiian to Alaska points transfer route has been one of the most exciting developments in the travel rewards space. But like all good things, it seems to be coming to an end.


If you want to capitalize on this backdoor Alaska miles hack, now’s the time to act. Don't wait until the last minute—start making your transfer and redemption plans today.


✍️ Have you used this transfer trick before? Drop a comment below and share what you booked with your miles!

 
 
 

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