Please note: As of June 30, 2025, the indirect method of transferring American Express Membership Rewards points to Alaska Airlines via Hawaiian Airlines is no longer available. This post reflects that change and focuses on alternative strategies for leveraging Amex points for Alaska Airlines travel.
Navigating the Skies: Unlocking Alaska Airlines Travel with Your American Express Points
So, you're sitting on a comfortable stash of American Express Membership Rewards points, and the allure of Alaska Airlines' extensive route network, fantastic Mileage Plan program, and valuable Oneworld alliance partnerships has caught your eye. You're eager to transform those hard-earned points into exciting travel experiences! While a direct transfer from American Express to Alaska Airlines isn't currently an option, savvy travelers know there are still ways to use your Amex points to fly with Alaska. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the most effective strategies, step by step, to make your Alaska Airlines travel dreams a reality.
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| How To Transfer American Express Points To Alaska Airlines |
Step 1: Understand the Landscape: Why the Indirect Route?
First things first, let's address the elephant in the room: American Express Membership Rewards does NOT have a direct transfer partnership with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. This is a crucial piece of information that often catches new points and miles enthusiasts off guard. For a long time, there was a popular "loophole" that allowed transfers from Amex to Hawaiian Airlines, and then from Hawaiian Airlines to Alaska Airlines. However, as of June 30, 2025, this method has been discontinued due to the ongoing merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.
So, if you can't directly transfer, how do you still use your Amex points for Alaska flights? The key lies in understanding Alaska's robust network of airline partners. Alaska Airlines is a proud member of the oneworld alliance, which opens up a world of possibilities for redeeming miles on member airlines. Many of these oneworld partners are direct transfer partners with American Express. This is where your strategy begins!
Step 2: Identify American Express Airline Transfer Partners that can Book Alaska Flights
Since a direct transfer to Alaska isn't possible, we need to look for Amex transfer partners that allow you to book flights on Alaska Airlines. This means leveraging Alaska's extensive airline partnerships. The most common and valuable way to do this is through Alaska's oneworld alliance partners.
Here are some of the most relevant American Express Membership Rewards transfer partners that also partner with Alaska Airlines (through oneworld or bilateral agreements), making them prime candidates for your point transfer strategy:
British Airways Executive Club (Avios): A very popular choice! British Airways Avios can be redeemed for flights on Alaska Airlines due to their oneworld alliance membership. The transfer ratio is generally 1:1.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: Another strong oneworld partner. Transferring Amex points to Asia Miles (usually 1:1) can allow you to book Alaska flights.
Qantas Frequent Flyer: As a fellow oneworld airline, Qantas is an Amex transfer partner (often 500 Amex points = 500 Qantas Points). You can use Qantas Points to book Alaska Airlines flights.
Important Consideration: Always check award availability on the partner airline's website before you transfer your points. Award space can be limited, and points transfers are typically irreversible.
Step 3: The Strategic Transfer: Step-by-Step Guide
Tip: Use the structure of the text to guide you.
Now that you know which Amex partners to target, let's dive into the practical steps of transferring your points.
Sub-Step 3.1: Determine Your Desired Alaska Airlines Flight
Research your flight: Before transferring any points, you need to know what Alaska Airlines flight you want to book. Use the Alaska Airlines website to search for your desired route and dates.
Note down flight details: Pay close attention to the flight number, date, and origin/destination airports.
Check cash prices: Have an idea of the cash price of the ticket. This helps you evaluate if using points via a partner offers good value.
Sub-Step 3.2: Find Award Availability on a Partner Airline
This is the most critical step. You're not looking for award availability on Alaska's website directly with Amex points, but rather on the website of the American Express transfer partner that can book Alaska flights.
Go to the partner airline's website: For example, visit British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, or Qantas Frequent Flyer.
Log in to your loyalty account: If you don't have one, create one. This is usually free and quick.
Search for award flights: Use their award search tool. Be sure to specify that you're looking for flights operated by partners (if the option is available, though often it's automatic when searching for a specific route).
Input your Alaska Airlines flight details: Enter the same origin, destination, and dates you found on Alaska's site.
Look for "partner availability": The key here is to find the exact Alaska Airlines flight you want available for booking using the partner's miles. This indicates "partner award space."
Compare mileage requirements: Note down how many miles the partner airline requires for that specific Alaska flight.
Sub-Step 3.3: Initiate the American Express Point Transfer
Once you've confirmed award availability with an Amex partner, it's time to transfer your points.
Log in to your American Express online account: Go to americanexpress.com.
Navigate to the Membership Rewards section: This is typically found under "Rewards & Benefits" or a similar heading.
Select "Transfer Points": You'll see a list of airline and hotel transfer partners.
Choose your desired airline partner: Select British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, or Qantas Frequent Flyer, based on your research.
Link your loyalty account: If you haven't done so already, you'll need to link your Amex Membership Rewards account to your partner airline loyalty account. Ensure the name on your Amex account exactly matches the name on your partner loyalty account. This is crucial for a successful transfer. You'll need your partner loyalty program account number.
Enter the number of points to transfer: Input the exact number of points required by the partner airline for your desired Alaska flight. Most Amex transfers require a minimum of 1,000 points and transfer in increments of 1,000 points.
Review and confirm: Double-check all details before finalizing the transfer. Points transfers are generally irreversible.
Sub-Step 3.4: Pay the Excise Tax Offset Fee (for U.S. Transfers)
If you are transferring points from a U.S.-issued American Express card to a U.S. airline partner (like Delta, JetBlue, or formerly Hawaiian Airlines for direct transfers), American Express levies an excise tax offset fee of $0.0006 per point (or $0.60 per 1,000 points), up to a maximum of $99. While Alaska isn't a direct partner, if you were to transfer to a U.S. airline that then allowed transfers to Alaska (which is no longer the case with Hawaiian), this fee would apply. For international airline partners like British Airways or Cathay Pacific, this fee typically does not apply. Always confirm the specific terms of your transfer.
Sub-Step 3.5: Wait for Points to Post and Book Your Flight
Monitor transfer time: While many Amex transfers are instant, some can take a few business days. It's wise to be aware of typical transfer times for your chosen partner. For British Airways and Cathay Pacific, transfers are often instant or within a few hours.
Book your Alaska flight: Once the points have appeared in your partner airline loyalty account, immediately go back to their website and book your Alaska Airlines flight. Award availability can disappear quickly, so act fast!
Record your booking reference: Make sure to save the booking reference number provided by the partner airline. This will be different from any reference number Alaska Airlines might use internally, but it's what you'll use to manage your booking with the partner airline.
Tip: Look for examples to make points easier to grasp.
Step 4: Maximize Your Value: Tips and Strategies
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Transferring points can be complex, but these tips will help you get the most out of your Amex Membership Rewards.
Look for Transfer Bonuses: American Express occasionally offers transfer bonuses to specific airline partners. These bonuses can significantly increase the value of your points, sometimes by 20%, 30%, or even more. Always keep an eye out for these promotions before making a transfer. A 20% bonus means 100,000 Amex points become 120,000 partner miles!
Be Flexible with Dates: If your travel dates are flexible, you'll have a much easier time finding award availability, especially on popular routes or in premium cabins.
Consider "Sweet Spots": Some airline loyalty programs have "sweet spots" – specific routes or award charts that offer exceptionally good value. For example, British Airways Avios can be excellent for short-haul flights on Alaska Airlines due to their distance-based award chart.
Understand Award Chart Differences: Each airline partner has its own award chart and redemption rules. What might be a good deal on British Airways Avios for an Alaska flight might not be on Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, and vice versa. Do your homework!
One-Way vs. Round-Trip: Sometimes, booking two one-way tickets can be more advantageous than a round-trip, especially if you're mixing and matching partners or if one direction has limited availability.
Check for Taxes and Fees: While using points can save you the base fare, you'll still be responsible for taxes and fees. These can vary significantly between airlines and routes. Some airlines, like British Airways, are known for higher fuel surcharges on certain routes, which can eat into your savings.
Don't Transfer Until You're Ready to Book: As mentioned, point transfers are generally irreversible. Only transfer the necessary points once you've confirmed award availability and are prepared to book immediately.
Step 5: Beyond Transfers: Alternative Uses of Amex Points for Alaska Flights
While direct transfers to Alaska are out and indirect transfers via Hawaiian are gone, there's another way to indirectly use your Amex points for Alaska Airlines travel, though it often provides less value than direct transfers to partners for award flights:
Sub-Step 5.1: Book Flights Through Amex Travel Portal
You can use your American Express Membership Rewards points to book any flight, including those on Alaska Airlines, directly through the Amex Travel portal.
Value Proposition: When booking through the Amex Travel portal, your points typically have a fixed value of 1 cent per point for flights. This means 10,000 Membership Rewards points would be worth $100 towards a flight.
Flexibility vs. Value: While this offers maximum flexibility (you can book any seat available for cash), it generally provides lower value than transferring your points to an airline partner and redeeming for an award flight, especially for business or first-class travel. You're effectively using your points like cash.
How to do it: Simply log in to your Amex account, navigate to the Amex Travel portal, search for your Alaska Airlines flight, and choose to "Pay with Points" at checkout.
Step 6: Consider Other Flexible Point Currencies
While this guide focuses on American Express, it's worth noting that other transferable point currencies do have direct transfer partnerships with Alaska Airlines. For instance, Bilt Rewards is a direct transfer partner to Alaska Mileage Plan. If you have Bilt Rewards points, transferring them to Alaska is a straightforward process. This is a good example of why diversifying your points portfolio can be beneficial.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to transfer Amex points to Alaska Airlines directly?
Tip: Summarize each section in your own words.
Quick Answer: You cannot directly transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. This option is not available.
How to use Amex points for Alaska Airlines flights indirectly?
Quick Answer: You can indirectly use Amex points for Alaska Airlines flights by transferring your Amex points to one of Alaska's partner airlines (like British Airways Executive Club or Cathay Pacific Asia Miles) and then booking an Alaska Airlines flight using those partner miles.
How to find award availability on Alaska Airlines through partner airlines?
Quick Answer: Visit the website of an American Express airline transfer partner (e.g., British Airways, Cathay Pacific), log in to your loyalty account, and use their award search tool to find Alaska Airlines flights that are available for redemption with their miles.
How to link my Amex Membership Rewards account to a partner airline?
Quick Answer: Log in to your American Express account, go to the Membership Rewards section, select "Transfer Points," choose your desired airline partner, and follow the prompts to link your existing loyalty account by entering your partner account number. Ensure names match exactly.
How to pay the excise tax offset fee when transferring Amex points?
Quick Answer: The excise tax offset fee (for transfers to U.S. airlines) is usually calculated automatically during the transfer process and can be paid with cash (recommended for better value) or with points (at a lower redemption value). For international partners often used to book Alaska flights, this fee typically doesn't apply.
Tip: Read the whole thing before forming an opinion.
How to know the transfer ratio from Amex to partner airlines?
Quick Answer: The transfer ratio is displayed on the American Express Membership Rewards transfer page when you select a partner. Most airline partners transfer at a 1:1 ratio (e.g., 1,000 Amex points = 1,000 partner miles).
How to check if there are any transfer bonuses for Amex points to airline partners?
Quick Answer: Regularly check the American Express Membership Rewards website, specifically the "Transfer Points" section, or follow points and miles blogs and news sites for announcements of current transfer bonuses.
How to book an Alaska Airlines flight using points from a partner airline?
Quick Answer: Once your Amex points have successfully transferred to the partner airline's loyalty account, log in to that partner airline's website and use their award search engine to book the Alaska Airlines flight you previously found with award availability.
How to use Amex points to book Alaska Airlines flights via the Amex Travel Portal?
Quick Answer: Log in to your American Express account, go to the Amex Travel portal, search for your desired Alaska Airlines flight, and select the "Pay with Points" option at checkout. This redeems points at a fixed value, usually 1 cent per point.
How to determine the best value for transferring Amex points for Alaska Airlines flights?
Quick Answer: Compare the number of partner miles required for an Alaska flight versus the cash price of that flight, considering any taxes and fees. Look for "sweet spots" in partner award charts and always factor in any active transfer bonuses to maximize your redemption value.
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