Last Updated on July 29, 2026 by Daniel Globe
American Express Membership Rewards points do not transfer directly to Alaska Airlines’ Atmos Rewards, and the former HawaiianMiles workaround is no longer available. Your best current choices are to book an Alaska-operated award through an eligible Amex airline partner, use points through American Express Travel, or accept the weaker Marriott Bonvoy conversion route.
Quick Answer
No. As of July 2026, Amex Membership Rewards does not transfer directly to Atmos Rewards, and Amex ended HawaiianMiles transfers on June 30, 2025. To use Amex points for Alaska flights, book available Alaska award seats through an eligible Amex airline partner or use Pay with Points through American Express Travel.
Key Takeaways
- The old Amex-to-Hawaiian-to-Alaska transfer path ended in 2025 and no longer works.
- You may be able to transfer Amex points to an eligible airline partner, such as Qantas Frequent Flyer, and use that program to book available Alaska-operated award seats.
- American Express Travel lets eligible cardmembers use points toward paid Alaska fares without transferring points to an airline.
- Marriott Bonvoy transfers to Atmos Rewards, but the 3:1 airline conversion usually makes it a poor use of Amex points.
- Never transfer points until you have found award space and reviewed the receiving program’s fees and cancellation rules.
At a Glance
| Time Required | About 10–30 minutes to search, compare, transfer, and book; transfer posting times vary |
| Difficulty | Moderate because partner award space and pricing must be checked before transferring |
| Tools Needed | Amex account, Atmos Rewards account, eligible partner account, travel dates, and route details |
| Cost | Taxes and booking fees vary; converting through Marriott also sacrifices points because of the 3:1 airline ratio |
Warning: Membership Rewards transfers to airline and hotel partners are generally final. Confirm that the exact flight is available, check the required points and fees, and review cancellation rules before moving anything out of Amex.
Why Amex Points Can’t Transfer Directly to Alaska
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines now use the combined Atmos Rewards loyalty program. However, Atmos Rewards is not a direct American Express Membership Rewards transfer partner.
The previous workaround relied on two separate steps: Amex points were transferred to HawaiianMiles, and HawaiianMiles were then moved to Alaska’s former Mileage Plan program. American Express officially ended transfers to HawaiianMiles on June 30, 2025. HawaiianMiles later transitioned into Atmos Rewards on October 1, 2025, so the old two-account transfer process no longer applies.
The Hawaiian bridge was a temporary historical workaround. It is not a current way to convert Amex Membership Rewards points into Atmos Rewards points.
Transfer partners can change, so check the live American Express transfer-partner portal before making plans. Do not rely on an older guide, screenshot, or saved transfer link.
Why the Hawaiian Airlines Workaround No Longer Works
The Amex-to-Hawaiian route failed in two separate stages. First, Amex removed HawaiianMiles as a transfer partner. Second, HawaiianMiles stopped operating as a separate rewards program when its accounts and balances transitioned to Atmos Rewards.
Amex to Hawaiian Transfers Ended in 2025
An official American Express program update states that Membership Rewards transfers to HawaiianMiles became unavailable effective June 30, 2025. Hawaiian Airlines therefore should not appear as a current U.S. Membership Rewards transfer option.
This also means you cannot revive the workaround by opening a new Hawaiian account, adding a small balance, or using an old Points.com URL. No positive balance in a former HawaiianMiles account changes Amex’s partner list.
HawaiianMiles Became Atmos Rewards
Former HawaiianMiles balances converted to Atmos Rewards at a 1:1 ratio during the 2025 loyalty-program integration. Mileage Plan miles also became Atmos Rewards points. Members who completed that migration no longer need to transfer miles between separate HawaiianMiles and Mileage Plan accounts.
Note: Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines remain separate customer-facing airline brands, but their current loyalty currency is Atmos Rewards. An active Atmos Rewards account is the relevant account for earning or redeeming points with either airline.
Create the Right Accounts Before You Transfer
You do not need separate HawaiianMiles and Mileage Plan logins for a current transfer. Instead, create or verify these accounts based on the method you plan to use:
- American Express account: Needed to view your current Membership Rewards transfer partners and Pay with Points options.
- Atmos Rewards account: Needed if you want to earn or redeem Atmos points directly or view Alaska and Hawaiian activity.
- Partner airline account: Needed if you intend to transfer Amex points to an airline such as Qantas and book an Alaska-operated partner award.
- Marriott Bonvoy account: Needed only if you plan to use the inefficient Marriott-to-Atmos conversion.
Use your full legal name consistently. Before transferring, confirm that your name, date of birth, and other required account details match. A name mismatch can delay account linking or force you to contact the loyalty programs for help.
Pro Tip: Create and verify your partner account before award space appears. That lets you transfer and book quickly without rushing through account setup while a limited award seat is available.
Current Ways to Use Amex Points for Alaska Flights
Although you cannot convert Amex points directly into Atmos Rewards points, you can still use Membership Rewards for an Alaska Airlines trip. The best method depends on whether you want an award ticket or a paid fare.
Option 1: Book Alaska Through an Amex Airline Partner
Some airline programs that participate in Amex Membership Rewards can book Alaska-operated award flights when Alaska releases seats to partners. For example, Qantas Frequent Flyer allows members to use Qantas Points for eligible flights carrying an Alaska Airlines flight number.
The number of seats available to Qantas or another partner may be smaller than the number Alaska sells with cash or Atmos points. You therefore must search through the partner program—not only on Alaska’s website—before transferring.
| Need | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Partner award space | Search the partner program for your exact Alaska route and date |
| Current Amex partner | Confirm the program appears in your Amex transfer portal |
| Matching account details | Check that the Amex and partner loyalty accounts use the same eligible member name |
| Points requirement | Transfer only the amount needed after checking the live ratio and any bonus |
- Search the partner airline’s website for an Alaska-operated award on your route.
- Record the required points, taxes, fees, cabin, flight number, and cancellation rules.
- Open your Amex transfer portal and confirm that the airline is available to your account.
- Check the displayed transfer ratio and estimated processing time.
- Transfer only the number of points you need.
- Wait for the points to arrive, then book the award immediately.
- Save the partner confirmation code and locate the Alaska confirmation code if it is different.
If the Alaska flight does not appear on the partner’s website, transferring more points will not make it appear. Try nearby airports, another date, a nonstop segment, or a different Amex airline partner.
Option 2: Book Through American Express Travel
You may also use Membership Rewards points for all or part of an eligible paid Alaska fare through American Express Travel. This method does not create Atmos Rewards points. Instead, your points are used toward the cost displayed during checkout.
- Open American Express Travel and search for the Alaska flight you want.
- Compare the fare, baggage rules, seat options, and cancellation terms with Alaska’s direct website.
- Choose the eligible flight and select the option to use Membership Rewards points.
- Decide whether to cover the whole fare or use a combination of points and your eligible card.
- Complete the booking and save the confirmation information.
This approach can make sense when partner award space is unavailable or when the paid fare is low. Because it is a paid ticket rather than a partner award, review the fare details to see whether the trip is eligible to earn Atmos points or receive benefits.
Check Transfer Fees, Limits, and Timing
There is no current Amex-to-Atmos transfer fee because there is no direct transfer. Your actual cost and timing depend on the alternative you choose.
| Method | Fee or Value Check | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Amex to an airline partner | Check the live transfer ratio, taxes, booking fees, and cancellation rules | Varies by partner; do not assume an instant transfer |
| Partner award ticket | Taxes and program-specific booking fees apply | Book as soon as transferred points arrive |
| Amex Travel Pay with Points | The required number of points appears during checkout | No separate airline-program transfer is required |
| Marriott Bonvoy to Atmos | 3 Marriott points to 1 Atmos point, with a 5,000-point bonus for most 60,000-point airline transfers | Processing varies and may not be suitable for urgent bookings |
American Express states that loyalty-partner transfers cannot be reversed. Its terms also warn that partner programs can change award levels, blackout rules, capacity controls, and other terms at any time. If Amex offers a transfer to a U.S. airline program, an excise-tax offset fee may apply under the current Membership Rewards terms.
Warning: Do not transfer points speculatively because you expect an Alaska award to appear later. A partner can remove the seat, change its price, or alter its rules, while your transferred points remain locked in that program.
How to Redeem Atmos Rewards Points for Premium Flights
If you already have Atmos Rewards points, you can redeem them for Alaska, Hawaiian, and eligible global-partner flights. The current program offers access to more than 30 airline partners, including oneworld airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qantas, and Qatar Airways.
Do not rely on the old claim that a business-class flight should cost 50,000 points. Current partner awards use Atmos Rewards award charts based on factors such as region, distance, cabin, itinerary, and available award inventory. The displayed levels are starting prices, not a promise that every flight will be offered at that amount.
- Check the current award chart for the regions and cabin you need.
- Search one-way segments and compare several dates.
- Confirm the operating airline, connection points, taxes, and total points.
- Account for the current partner award fee, which is generally $12.50 per person each way on eligible partner bookings unless a waiver applies.
- For an eligible international itinerary, check whether one en-route stopover of up to 14 days improves the trip.
- Compare the award’s total points and cash fees with the current paid fare before booking.
Premium-cabin partner space can be limited. Start with the hardest long-haul segment, then build connecting flights around it. Searching each segment separately can help you identify whether the long flight or the connection is blocking the itinerary.
Pro Tip: Calculate cents per point by subtracting the award’s unavoidable taxes and fees from the comparable cash fare, then dividing the remaining dollar amount by the number of points required. Use the result as one comparison—not as a guarantee of future value.
Best Backup Options for Amex Points
The right backup depends on whether your main goal is to fly on Alaska Airlines or to build an Atmos Rewards balance.
- For an Alaska-operated award: Search Amex airline partners that can book Alaska flights. Transfer only after the partner displays a bookable seat.
- For a paid Alaska ticket: Compare American Express Travel’s Pay with Points option with the cash fare available directly from Alaska.
- For actual Atmos Rewards points: Earn through Alaska, Hawaiian, eligible airline partners, Atmos credit cards, shopping, dining, hotels, or other current Atmos earning partners.
- For a last-resort conversion: Transfer Amex points to Marriott Bonvoy if available, then convert Marriott points to Atmos Rewards.
The Marriott route deserves caution. Marriott’s airline transfer page lists Atmos Rewards at a rate of 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 Atmos point. For most airline partners, Marriott adds 5,000 bonus airline points for every 60,000 Bonvoy points transferred, so 60,000 Marriott points generally become 25,000 Atmos points.
That conversion may help if you already have an orphaned Marriott balance and need a small Atmos top-up. It is usually a weak reason to transfer a large Amex balance because two conversion stages create more delay and can produce much less airline currency than a direct Amex airline transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Worth Using Amex Points for Alaska Airlines Flights?
It can be worth it when an eligible Amex airline partner shows an Alaska award that costs fewer points than the value you would use through Amex Travel. Compare the award price, taxes, fees, transfer ratio, cancellation rules, and cash fare before transferring.
What Is the 3-1-1 Rule on Alaska Airlines?
The 3-1-1 rule is a TSA carry-on screening rule, not an Alaska loyalty rule. Liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes generally must be in containers of 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters or less, inside one clear quart-sized bag. Medically necessary liquids and certain other items may qualify for exceptions. Check the current TSA liquids guidance before packing.
How Can I Transfer Amex Points to Alaska Airlines?
You cannot currently transfer Amex Membership Rewards directly to Atmos Rewards. The former HawaiianMiles workaround ended in 2025. Instead, you can transfer to an eligible Amex airline partner that displays Alaska award space, use points through American Express Travel, or convert through Marriott Bonvoy at a much weaker rate.
How Much Are 100,000 Amex Points Worth for Alaska Flights?
There is no guaranteed value because Amex points do not convert directly into a fixed number of Atmos points. Their value depends on the Amex Travel checkout rate or the exact partner award you book. Compare the cash fare with the total transferred points, taxes, and fees for your specific itinerary.
Does the Amex-to-Hawaiian-to-Alaska Points.com Method Still Work?
No. American Express ended HawaiianMiles transfers effective June 30, 2025, and HawaiianMiles transitioned into Atmos Rewards on October 1, 2025. Old Points.com instructions describe a discontinued process.
Can Marriott Bonvoy Points Transfer to Atmos Rewards?
Yes. Marriott lists Atmos Rewards as an airline transfer partner at 3 Marriott points to 1 Atmos point. For most airline partners, transferring 60,000 Marriott points also earns a 5,000-point airline bonus, resulting in 25,000 Atmos points. This route is available but usually offers weak value for Amex points.
Conclusion
You cannot currently turn Amex Membership Rewards into Atmos Rewards through Hawaiian Airlines or Points.com. That workaround ended in 2025. To use Amex points for an Alaska trip, search an eligible airline partner for Alaska award space or compare a paid fare through American Express Travel. Use Marriott only as a last resort, and never transfer points until the exact flight and total booking cost are confirmed.
Sources
- American Express Membership Rewards Program Updates — confirms the end of transfers to HawaiianMiles.
- Alaska Airlines: Introducing Atmos Rewards — explains the Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles transition.
- Atmos Rewards Airline Award Charts — current partner pricing, fees, and stopover rules.
- Qantas and Alaska Airlines Partnership — confirms eligible Alaska flights can be booked with Qantas Points.
- Marriott Bonvoy Points-to-Miles Transfers — confirms the Atmos transfer ratio and applicable bonus.
- TSA Liquids, Aerosols, and Gels Rule — official 3-1-1 carry-on guidance.