Last Updated on July 25, 2026 by Daniel Globe
American Express Membership Rewards is one of the most versatile credit card loyalty programs available, allowing cardholders to earn transferable points on daily purchases and redeem them across a wide network of airline and hotel partners. While Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is widely considered one of the most valuable frequent flyer programs due to its generous award chart and Oneworld alliance access, American Express does not have a direct transfer partnership with Alaska Airlines. However, cardholders can still transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to Alaska Airlines at a 1:1 ratio by utilizing an indirect transfer workaround through HawaiianMiles.
Quick Answer
You cannot transfer Amex Membership Rewards points directly to Alaska Airlines. However, you can transfer Amex points to HawaiianMiles at a 1:1 ratio instantly, and then transfer your HawaiianMiles to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan at a 1:1 ratio for free using the joint points transfer tool. This effectively allows a 1:1 transfer from Amex to Alaska Airlines.
Key Takeaways
- Indirect 1:1 Transfer: Transfer Amex points to HawaiianMiles (1:1), then transfer HawaiianMiles to Alaska Mileage Plan (1:1).
- No Direct Partnership: American Express does not list Alaska Airlines as a direct Membership Rewards transfer partner.
- Fast Execution: Points transfers from Amex to Hawaiian and Hawaiian to Alaska typically process instantly online.
- Oneworld Value: Transferred miles can be redeemed for award flights on Alaska Airlines and Oneworld partners like Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines, and Qantas.
At a Glance: Amex to Alaska Point Transfer Details
| Transfer Ratio | 1:1 (via HawaiianMiles intermediate step) |
| Minimum Transfer | 1,000 Membership Rewards points |
| Transfer Speed | Instant (both steps) |
| Transfer Fees | None ($0) |
Overview of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is widely recognized as one of the most traveler-friendly frequent flyer programs in North America. Alaska Airlines maintains a robust route network across the West Coast, Hawaii, and major domestic destinations. Following its integration into the Oneworld Alliance, Mileage Plan members can redeem miles across global partner airlines including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qantas, and Qatar Airways.
One distinct advantage of Alaska Mileage Plan is its award chart structure and routing rules. Unlike many legacy carriers that have shifted to fully dynamic pricing models, Alaska Airlines retains valuable distance-based award structures for partner redemptions and permits a free stopover on eligible one-way international award bookings.
Can Amex Membership Rewards Points Be Transferred to Alaska Airlines?
Direct transfers from American Express Membership Rewards to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan are not available. Alaska Airlines is not a direct transfer partner in the American Express Membership Rewards portal.
However, cardholders can complete a 1:1 transfer indirectly using Hawaiian Airlines as an intermediary bridge. Following the combination of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, a joint points transfer tool was launched enabling seamless 1:1 mileage movements between HawaiianMiles and Alaska Mileage Plan. Because HawaiianMiles is an official 1:1 transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, cardholders can move Amex points to HawaiianMiles first, and then move those miles directly to Alaska Airlines at full 1:1 parity.
How to Transfer Amex Membership Rewards Points to Alaska Airlines
Transferring your points requires completing two simple online transactions:
Step 1: Transfer Amex Points to HawaiianMiles
- Log in to your account at American Express and navigate to the Membership Rewards section.
- Select Earn & Redeem, then click Transfer Points.
- Locate Hawaiian Airlines (HawaiianMiles) in the airline partner list.
- Link your HawaiianMiles account number to your Amex account (names on both accounts must match exactly).
- Enter the number of points you wish to transfer (in increments of 1,000) and confirm the transfer. Points typically post to HawaiianMiles instantly.
Step 2: Transfer HawaiianMiles to Alaska Mileage Plan
- Visit the official Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines points transfer portal.
- Log in to link your Alaska Mileage Plan account with your HawaiianMiles account.
- Select the quantity of HawaiianMiles you want to move to Alaska Airlines.
- Confirm the transfer. The miles will transfer at a 1:1 ratio instantly and become available for award bookings on Alaska Airlines and its Oneworld partners.
Warning: All point transfers from American Express to HawaiianMiles and subsequently to Alaska Airlines are final and irreversible. Once points are converted into airline miles, they cannot be returned to your Membership Rewards balance.
Benefits of Transferring Amex Points to Alaska Airlines
Moving your Membership Rewards points to Alaska Airlines via the HawaiianMiles bridge unlocks premium travel opportunities that are otherwise difficult to access through other Amex transfer partners:
- Access to Oneworld Partners: Redeem miles for long-haul business and first-class cabins on world-class carriers such as Qatar Airways (Qsuite), Japan Airlines, and Cathay Pacific.
- Generous Stopover Policy: Alaska Airlines allows one free stopover on one-way international award tickets, letting you visit two destinations for the cost of a single award flight.
- No Added Surcharges on Select Partners: Unlike certain European frequent flyer programs, Alaska Mileage Plan does not pass along heavy fuel surcharges on many of its international award partners.
Limitations and Restrictions of Transferring Points
Irreversible Transfers
Once you confirm the transfer from Amex to HawaiianMiles, the transaction cannot be cancelled or reversed. Always confirm award seat availability on Alaska Airlines or its partner airlines before initiating a point transfer.
Award Seat Availability
High-demand routes, particularly international business class seats on partner carriers, have limited award space. Finding availability requires searching well in advance or remaining flexible with travel dates.
Account Name Matching
To successfully transfer points from Amex to HawaiianMiles and onward to Alaska Airlines, the legal first and last name registered on your American Express account, HawaiianMiles account, and Alaska Mileage Plan account must match identical records.
Tips for Maximizing the Value of Transferred Points
Pro Tip: Before transferring your points, place your desired award flight on hold if searching on partner sites, or verify availability directly on AlaskaAir.com. Transferring points takes only a few minutes, but award seats can be booked by other travelers quickly.
To maximize the value of your transferred points, keep the following strategies in mind:
- Leverage the Free Stopover: If you book a single flight from North America to Asia or Europe on a partner airline, add an intermediate stopover in the partner carrier’s hub city (e.g., Tokyo via Japan Airlines or Doha via Qatar Airways) at no extra mileage charge.
- Watch for Transfer Bonuses: American Express occasionally runs promotional transfer bonuses to HawaiianMiles (such as a 15% to 20% bonus). Transferring during a promo allows you to yield more Alaska miles per Amex point transferred.
- Compare Alternative Pathways: If you hold Marriott Bonvoy points, you can also transfer Marriott points directly to Alaska Airlines at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.
“By utilizing the 1:1 HawaiianMiles bridge, cardholders turn American Express Membership Rewards into a functional transfer partner for Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, unlocking premium cabin redemptions across the Oneworld alliance.”
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
While American Express does not offer a direct transfer option to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, the 1:1 indirect transfer pathway via HawaiianMiles provides a seamless solution for cardholders. By taking advantage of this bridge, you can easily convert Amex Membership Rewards points into valuable Alaska miles to book flights across Alaska Airlines and its global partner network. Plan ahead, confirm award seat availability prior to transferring, and utilize routing features like free international stopovers to get maximum value from every point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer American Express points directly to Alaska Airlines?
No, American Express does not have a direct transfer relationship with Alaska Airlines. However, you can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to HawaiianMiles at a 1:1 ratio, and then transfer those miles 1:1 to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan using their combined online transfer tool.
How long does it take to transfer points from Amex to Alaska Airlines?
Transfers from American Express to HawaiianMiles are usually instant. Once received, transferring miles from HawaiianMiles to Alaska Mileage Plan via the points transfer portal is also instant, allowing you to complete the entire conversion within minutes.
Are there any fees for transferring Amex points to Alaska Airlines?
No, there are no transfer fees imposed by American Express or Hawaiian Airlines when converting Membership Rewards points to HawaiianMiles or transferring HawaiianMiles to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan.
Can I transfer Amex points to someone else’s Alaska Airlines account?
No. American Express requires the destination HawaiianMiles account to be in the primary cardholder’s name. Similarly, transferring HawaiianMiles to Alaska Mileage Plan requires both loyalty accounts to belong to the same individual with matching personal details.
Sources
- American Express Membership Rewards Partner Directory — Official listing of direct airline transfer partners and terms.
- Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Airline Partners — Official documentation on Alaska partner redemptions and alliance rules.
- Oneworld Alliance – Alaska Airlines — Details on alliance-wide award availability and member airline integrations.