So, you've got a pile of American Express Membership Rewards points, and the allure of Hawaii is calling your name? Excellent choice! Transferring your Amex points to Hawaiian Airlines (HawaiianMiles) can be a fantastic way to unlock award flights to paradise.
Step 1: Are You Ready for Paradise? Confirm Your Travel Plans! ️
Before you even think about transferring your precious points, the absolute first and most critical step is to confirm the availability of your desired Hawaiian Airlines flight awards. Imagine transferring tens of thousands of points only to find out there are no seats left on your preferred dates! That's a nightmare scenario.
Why is this so important? Once you transfer Membership Rewards points to an airline loyalty program, the transfer is almost always irreversible. You cannot get those points back to your Amex account.
How to check award availability?
Visit the Hawaiian Airlines website: Go to HawaiianAirlines.com, select "Book with Miles" or "Redeem Miles," and search for your desired flights.
Be flexible: If your dates are somewhat flexible, you'll have a much better chance of finding award availability. Weekends and peak travel seasons tend to be much harder to book with miles.
Consider different cabins: Check availability for both Economy (Main Cabin) and First/Business Class if you're open to either.
Note the required miles: Jot down the exact number of HawaiianMiles needed for your desired flights. This will be crucial for the next step.
Step 2: Ensure You Have a HawaiianMiles Account
If you don't already have a HawaiianMiles account, you'll need to create one. It's quick, easy, and free!
Sub-heading: Joining HawaiianMiles
Go to the Hawaiian Airlines website: Navigate to HawaiianAirlines.com.
Look for "HawaiianMiles" or "Join": You'll typically find a link to join their loyalty program in the top navigation or footer.
Fill out the registration form: Provide your basic information like name, address, date of birth, and email. Make sure the name on your HawaiianMiles account exactly matches the name on your American Express Membership Rewards account to avoid any transfer issues.
Receive your account number: Once registered, you'll immediately receive your HawaiianMiles account number. Keep this handy!
Step 3: Access Your American Express Membership Rewards Account
Now it's time to dive into your Amex account and initiate the transfer.
Sub-heading: Logging In and Navigating to Rewards
Go to the American Express website: Visit AmericanExpress.com and log in to your account.
Locate "Membership Rewards": Once logged in, look for the "Membership Rewards" or "Rewards" section. This is usually accessible from your account dashboard.
Select "Transfer Points": Within the Membership Rewards section, you'll find an option like "Use Points," "Transfer Points," or "Transfer to Travel Partners." Click on this to see the list of transfer partners.
Step 4: Select Hawaiian Airlines as Your Transfer Partner
From the list of available airline and hotel partners, you'll need to find Hawaiian Airlines.
Sub-heading: Identifying Hawaiian Airlines
Scroll through the list: American Express has a comprehensive list of partners. Find "Hawaiian Airlines" in the alphabetical listing.
Click to select: Once you've found it, click on Hawaiian Airlines to proceed.
Step 5: Link Your HawaiianMiles Account to Your Amex Account
This is a crucial step if you haven't linked your accounts before.
Sub-heading: Providing Account Details
Enter your HawaiianMiles account number: You'll be prompted to input your HawaiianMiles account number. Double-check for accuracy!
Verify your Amex card: American Express will likely ask you to verify your Amex card by entering the 4-digit code on the front and the 3-digit CVV code from the back of your card. This is a security measure.
Confirm linking: Follow any on-screen prompts to confirm the linking of your accounts. You might also receive an email confirmation.
Step 6: Determine the Number of Points to Transfer
This is where your earlier research on flight award availability comes into play.
Sub-heading: Understanding Transfer Ratios and Increments
Transfer Ratio: American Express Membership Rewards points typically transfer to HawaiianMiles at a 1:1 ratio. This means 1 Amex point equals 1 HawaiianMile.
Minimum Transfer Amount: Transfers are generally made in increments of 1,000 points. The minimum transfer amount is usually 1,000 points. Make sure your desired transfer amount is a multiple of 1,000.
Input the amount: Enter the exact number of Membership Rewards points you wish to transfer. Remember, only transfer the amount you need for your confirmed award booking.
Step 7: Review and Confirm Your Transfer
Carefully review all the details before finalizing the transfer.
Sub-heading: Final Checks
Double-check everything: Confirm the HawaiianMiles account number, the number of points being transferred, and the transfer ratio.
Read the terms and conditions: Briefly review any terms and conditions associated with the transfer.
Confirm the transfer: Click the "Confirm" or "Submit" button to initiate the transfer. You may need to enter a One-Time Password (OTP) sent to your registered email or phone for final verification.
Step 8: Wait for the Points to Appear in Your HawaiianMiles Account
The transfer time for American Express points to HawaiianMiles is generally quite fast.
Sub-heading: Expecting Your Miles
Instant or up to 24 hours: Many transfers happen instantly, but it can sometimes take up to 24 hours for the miles to reflect in your HawaiianMiles account. It's always best to allow for this buffer, especially if your desired flight is popular.
Check your HawaiianMiles account: Log into your HawaiianMiles account periodically to check for the updated balance.
Step 9: Book Your Hawaiian Airlines Award Flight!
Once the HawaiianMiles appear in your account, it's time to book that dream trip!
Sub-heading: Securing Your Seat
Go back to Hawaiian Airlines: Log back into your HawaiianMiles account on the Hawaiian Airlines website.
Search for your confirmed award flight: Use the exact dates and route you previously checked for availability.
Proceed with booking: Select your desired award flight and complete the booking process using your newly transferred HawaiianMiles.
Pay taxes and fees: Remember that award flights typically require you to pay for taxes and fees, which will be in cash.
Important Considerations for Amex to Hawaiian Airlines Transfers:
Potential Merger with Alaska Airlines: Keep in mind that Hawaiian Airlines is in the process of merging with Alaska Airlines. While direct transfers are still possible, this merger could impact future transfer options and HawaiianMiles' value. As of June 30, 2025, American Express is ending its partnership for direct transfers to Hawaiian Airlines. This means you need to complete any transfers before that date. Post-merger, you may be able to transfer Amex points to Alaska Airlines (Mileage Plan) and then potentially move them to HawaiianMiles (though the specifics of inter-airline transfers post-merger will need to be confirmed by both airlines).
Transfer Bonuses: Occasionally, American Express offers transfer bonuses to airline partners. This means you might get more than a 1:1 ratio (e.g., 1 Amex point = 1.2 HawaiianMiles). Always look out for these promotions, as they can significantly increase the value of your points!
Expiration of HawaiianMiles: HawaiianMiles never expire as long as your account remains active. However, it's always good practice to use your miles within a reasonable timeframe.
Domestic US Airline Fees: American Express imposes a small fee when transferring Membership Rewards points to U.S.-based airlines, including Hawaiian Airlines. This fee is $0.0006 per point (or $0.60 per 1,000 points), capped at $99 per transfer. For example, transferring 50,000 points would incur a $30 fee (50,000 * $0.0006 = $30).
Related FAQ Questions
How to check my American Express Membership Rewards point balance?
You can check your Amex Membership Rewards point balance by logging into your American Express online account and navigating to the "Membership Rewards" section. The balance is usually prominently displayed on the main rewards page.
How to find my HawaiianMiles account number?
Your HawaiianMiles account number can be found by logging into your Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles account on their website. It's typically displayed on your account dashboard or profile page.
How to know if there's a transfer bonus for Hawaiian Airlines?
American Express will advertise any transfer bonuses directly on their Membership Rewards transfer page. You'll usually see a banner or a special notation next to Hawaiian Airlines if a bonus is active.
How to avoid transfer fees when sending Amex points to Hawaiian Airlines?
Unfortunately, for transfers to U.S. airline partners like Hawaiian Airlines, American Express charges a small fee. There's no way to completely avoid this fee when directly transferring to Hawaiian Airlines.
How to know if my HawaiianMiles are active?
Your HawaiianMiles account remains active as long as you have qualifying activity (earning or redeeming miles) at least once every 18 months. HawaiianMiles do not expire if your account is active.
How to use HawaiianMiles for hotel stays or car rentals?
HawaiianMiles can also be redeemed for hotel stays and car rentals through the Hawaiian Airlines website's dedicated redemption portals for non-flight partners. The value often varies, so compare it against cash prices.
How to book partner airline flights with HawaiianMiles?
Hawaiian Airlines has a few airline partners (like Japan Airlines, JetBlue, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia). To book partner awards, you typically need to call the HawaiianMiles Service Center, as online booking for these is not always available.
How to upgrade my Hawaiian Airlines flight with miles?
You can use HawaiianMiles to upgrade a paid Main Cabin ticket to Domestic First Class or International Business Class on Hawaiian Airlines flights, provided the original ticket was issued by Hawaiian Airlines. This is usually done by calling Hawaiian Airlines.
How to combine HawaiianMiles from different accounts?
If you hold a Hawaiian Airlines credit card, you can often transfer HawaiianMiles for free to another HawaiianMiles cardholder. Without the credit card, there's typically a fee involved (e.g., one cent per mile plus a service fee).
How to contact American Express customer service for transfer issues?
If you encounter any issues during the transfer process, you can contact American Express customer service by calling the number on the back of your card or by using their online chat support.