Amex Points to Alaska Flights: Complete Guide [2026]

Last Updated on July 27, 2026 by Daniel Globe

American Express Membership Rewards points are among the most flexible travel rewards currencies available, earned through popular cards like the American Express Gold Card and The Platinum Card®. However, using those points to book flights on Alaska Airlines requires navigating specific partner rules. While direct transfers to Alaska Airlines are not supported, cardholders can still extract substantial value for Alaska-operated flights through strategic partner transfers and travel portal redemptions.

Overview of Alaska Airlines’ Atmos Rewards

Alaska Airlines’ loyalty ecosystem has undergone significant evolution. Following Alaska’s acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, the carriers integrated their frequent flyer infrastructures into a unified program called Atmos Rewards. Under this combined platform, status recognition, mileage accrual, and partner redemptions were consolidated into a single network.

Atmos Rewards maintains Alaska’s reputation for high-value partner award redemptions. As a key member of the Oneworld alliance, Atmos Rewards points can be redeemed across major international carriers, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and Qantas.

Can You Transfer Amex Points to Alaska Airlines?

No — American Express Membership Rewards points do not transfer directly to Atmos Rewards. Prior to mid-2025, travelers utilized a temporary two-step workaround by transferring Amex points 1:1 to Hawaiian Airlines’ HawaiianMiles and subsequently moving those miles into Alaska’s Mileage Plan. That indirect path closed permanently on June 30, 2025, when American Express officially ended its partner transfer relationship with Hawaiian Airlines.

How to Use Amex Points Toward Alaska Airlines Flights

Option 1: Transfer Amex Points to British Airways Avios (1:1)

Because Alaska Airlines is a member of the Oneworld alliance, partner airlines like British Airways can book award seats on Alaska flights. Amex points transfer to British Airways Executive Club instantly at a 1:1 ratio in increments of 1,000 points.

British Airways uses a distance-based award chart, making this method especially attractive for non-stop, short- to medium-haul Alaska routes:

• Short-haul West Coast flights: Routes like Seattle to San Francisco or Portland to Los Angeles can often be booked for as few as 8,250 to 12,000 Avios each way in economy class.
• West Coast to Hawaii: Direct flights from West Coast hubs (such as Seattle, Portland, San Jose, or Los Angeles) to Hawaiian destinations frequently cost around 13,000 to 20,000 Avios each way in economy, subject to saver-level award space availability.

Once points are moved to British Airways, they can also be combined freely across other Avios-issuing programs like Qatar Airways Privilege Club or Finnair Plus if partner availability differs across systems.

Option 2: Book via Amex Travel with Pay With Points

If partner award availability via British Airways is unavailable, you can book Alaska Airlines cash fares directly through the Amex Travel portal using Pay With Points. Under standard redemptions, points are worth 1 cent each toward airfare.

However, small business cardholders can significantly enhance this valuation:

• The Business Platinum Card®: Yields a 35% points rebate when using Pay With Points for First Class flights or any cabin class on your selected qualifying airline (if Alaska Airlines is selected as your annual qualifying carrier). This raises effective redemption value to roughly 1.54 cents per point.
• American Express® Business Gold Card: Yields a 25% points rebate under matching qualifying conditions, raising value to approximately 1.33 cents per point.

Benefits of Using Amex Points for Alaska Flights

Navigating Amex redemptions for Alaska flights presents distinct advantages depending on which path you choose:

• Distance-Based Avios Sweet Spots: Short non-stop routes on Alaska Airlines often cost significantly fewer points through British Airways Avios than through variable cash-equivalent pricing.
• Earning Miles on Portal Bookings: When booking Alaska flights through Amex Travel using Pay With Points, the ticket is treated as a paid cash fare by Alaska Airlines. This means you will earn Atmos Rewards elite status points and redeemable points on the flight.
• Transfer Bonuses: American Express periodically offers 15% to 30% limited-time transfer bonuses to British Airways Avios, lowering the effective points cost for Alaska partner award bookings.

Limitations of Using Amex Points for Alaska Flights

Working without a direct transfer partnership introduces operational constraints that travelers should consider:

• Restricted Saver Award Space: Alaska Airlines releases a limited number of partner saver award seats to British Airways. During peak holiday seasons or high-demand routes, partner space may be zeroed out entirely.
• Per-Segment Pricing: British Airways charges Avios per individual flight segment. If your itinerary involves a connecting flight on Alaska Airlines (e.g., San Diego to Seattle to Anchorage), you will be charged separate Avios prices for each leg, diminishing the value compared to non-stop flights.
• One Airline Selection Restriction: The Amex Travel Pay With Points 35% rebate only applies to the single qualifying airline selected on eligible business cards per calendar year.

Maximizing Value When Using Amex Points for Alaska Flights

To ensure you obtain the maximum value for your Amex Membership Rewards points, follow these strategic steps prior to booking:

1. Compare Redemption Rates: Calculate the cash price on AlaskaAir.com versus the Avios required through British Airways. If cash fares are low, booking via Amex Travel (especially with a 35% rebate) may cost fewer total points than an award ticket.
2. Target Non-Stop Itineraries: Reserve Avios transfers strictly for direct non-stop Alaska routes to prevent multi-segment pricing markups.
3. Check Alternative Avios Partners: Because Avios accounts can be linked across British Airways, Qatar Airways, and Finnair, check if partner taxes or award availability vary across platforms before locking in your booking.

Is Using Amex Points for Alaska Flights Worth It?

Redeeming American Express Membership Rewards points for Alaska Airlines flights remains worthwhile, provided you select the method aligned with your route structure. For non-stop West Coast regional trips or direct flights to Hawaii, transferring points to British Airways Avios offers exceptional value that often outperforms standard portal redemptions. Conversely, for complex connecting flights or itineraries lacking partner award availability, utilizing Pay With Points through Amex Travel—particularly for Business Platinum cardholders—provides a predictable, reliable alternative that still earns frequent flyer miles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you transfer Amex points directly to Alaska Airlines?

No. American Express Membership Rewards points do not transfer directly to Alaska Airlines or its Atmos Rewards loyalty program. The temporary indirect route via Hawaiian Airlines closed on June 30, 2025.

How do you use Amex points on Alaska Airlines flights?

You can transfer Amex points 1:1 to British Airways Executive Club and book Alaska-operated flights as partner awards, or book cash tickets through Amex Travel using Pay With Points.

Are there transfer fees when moving Amex points to British Airways?

American Express does not charge an excise fee for transferring points to foreign flag carriers like British Airways. However, partner award tickets may carry nominal taxes and government security fees (typically starting around $5.60 one-way for domestic US flights).

How long does an Amex transfer to British Airways take?

Transfers from Amex Membership Rewards to British Airways Executive Club are typically instant, though processing can occasionally take up to 48 hours in rare cases.

What is the minimum number of Amex points required to transfer to Avios?

The minimum transfer threshold to British Airways Executive Club is 1,000 Membership Rewards points, and transfers must be completed in increments of 1,000.

Can you transfer Amex points to someone else’s Atmos Rewards account?

No. Amex Membership Rewards points can only be transferred to loyalty accounts registered in the primary cardholder’s name or the name of an authorized user on the account.

Sources

1. AwardWallet — Confirmation of Amex-to-Hawaiian transfer partnership termination date
2. Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards — Official integration details for Alaska and Hawaiian loyalty programs
3. American Express Membership Rewards — Current airline partner list and transfer policies
4. British Airways Executive Club — Partner award booking rules for Oneworld member flights