How to Transfer HawaiianMiles to American Airlines: Your Ultimate Guide
Are you sitting on a pile of HawaiianMiles, dreaming of far-flung destinations, but finding that American Airlines is the carrier that can take you there? You're not alone! Many travelers find themselves in this exact situation, wondering how to bridge the gap between different airline loyalty programs. While a direct, one-to-one transfer of HawaiianMiles directly to American Airlines AAdvantage miles isn't typically possible in the most straightforward sense, there are indirect strategies and key partnerships you need to understand to potentially make your miles work for you across both airlines.
Let's dive into the fascinating world of airline mile transfers and uncover how you can maximize your HawaiianMiles for American Airlines flights!
Step 1: Understanding the Landscape – Direct Transfers vs. Partner Redemptions (Engage!)
Are you ready to unlock the true potential of your HawaiianMiles? Before we even think about clicking "transfer," it's crucial to understand a fundamental concept in airline loyalty programs: direct transfers between different airlines are rare. Think of airline miles like different currencies – you can't typically exchange HawaiianMiles directly for American Airlines miles at a 1:1 ratio.
However, where there's a will, there's often a way! The key lies in understanding airline partnerships. Both Hawaiian Airlines and American Airlines have a network of partner airlines with whom they have agreements, allowing members to earn and redeem miles on each other's flights.
So, what's the good news? American Airlines is actually a partner of Hawaiian Airlines, and vice-versa! This means you might not need to "transfer" miles in the traditional sense, but rather leverage existing agreements.
Step 2: The Direct Redemption Path – Using HawaiianMiles for American Airlines Flights (and Vice-Versa)
This is often the most direct and efficient way to use your HawaiianMiles for travel that involves American Airlines.
Sub-heading: Checking Hawaiian Airlines Partner Redemption Options
Hawaiian Airlines has a list of airline partners with whom you can redeem your HawaiianMiles for award flights. As of now, American Airlines is indeed listed as a Hawaiian Airlines partner for both earning and redeeming miles.
Here's how this typically works:
Identify Your Desired American Airlines Flight: Before you do anything with your miles, find the specific American Airlines flight you want to book. Note the flight number, date, origin, and destination. This is crucial for the next step.
Contact HawaiianMiles Service Center: Unlike some airline programs that allow online partner award bookings, Hawaiian Airlines generally requires you to call their HawaiianMiles Service Center to book award flights on partner airlines. This is a critical step, so be prepared with your flight details.
Prepare your HawaiianMiles account information: Have your HawaiianMiles number and any necessary security details ready.
Provide American Airlines flight details: Clearly state the American Airlines flight you wish to book using your HawaiianMiles.
Inquire about availability and mileage cost: The representative will be able to check award availability for that specific American Airlines flight and tell you how many HawaiianMiles it will cost. Award space on partner airlines can be limited, so flexibility with your dates is a plus.
Be aware of potential fees: While not always the case, some partner award bookings might incur additional taxes, fees, or even a booking fee from Hawaiian Airlines.
Confirm and Book: If the flight is available and you agree to the mileage cost and any associated fees, the representative will guide you through the booking process. Your HawaiianMiles will then be deducted from your account.
Sub-heading: Important Considerations for Direct Redemption:
Availability: Award space on partner airlines is often limited and can be harder to find than on the operating airline's own flights. Be flexible with your travel dates and times if possible.
Round-Trip Requirement: Historically, Hawaiian Airlines has sometimes restricted partner awards to round-trip bookings only. Always confirm this with the HawaiianMiles Service Center.
No Online Booking for Partners: This is a key differentiator. You cannot typically book American Airlines flights directly on the Hawaiian Airlines website using HawaiianMiles. Phone booking is generally required.
Mileage Charts: Hawaiian Airlines may have specific award charts for partner airline redemptions, which might differ from their own flight awards. It's a good idea to ask the representative about the specific mileage needed for your desired route.
Step 3: The Indirect Route – Leveraging Transferable Points Programs (If Applicable)
While you can't directly transfer HawaiianMiles to AAdvantage, you might have other points that can be transferred to either airline, allowing you to effectively pool resources. This is more about diversifying your points portfolio than directly moving HawaiianMiles.
Sub-heading: Transferring from Flexible Points Programs to HawaiianMiles
If you have points from transferable programs like American Express Membership Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy, you can transfer these to HawaiianMiles.
Check Transfer Ratios: Each transferable points program has a specific transfer ratio to HawaiianMiles. For example, American Express Membership Rewards often transfers at a 1:1 ratio. Marriott Bonvoy typically transfers at a 3:1 ratio, often with a bonus when transferring larger chunks of points.
Initiate the Transfer: Log in to your flexible points program account and select the option to transfer points to airline partners. Choose HawaiianMiles and follow the prompts.
Wait for Transfer Completion: Transfers can take anywhere from a few minutes to several business days. Plan accordingly.
Then, Refer to Step 2: Once your points are in your HawaiianMiles account, you would then follow the steps outlined in Step 2 to try and book an American Airlines flight via the HawaiianMiles Service Center.
Sub-heading: Transferring from Flexible Points Programs to American Airlines AAdvantage
Similarly, you might have points from programs that directly transfer to American Airlines AAdvantage. For example, Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy are known transfer partners for AAdvantage.
Check Transfer Ratios: Understand the transfer ratio from your flexible points program to AAdvantage.
Initiate the Transfer: Log in to your flexible points program account and select the option to transfer points to airline partners. Choose American Airlines AAdvantage.
Wait for Transfer Completion: Allow time for the transfer to process.
Book Directly on AA.com: Once the miles are in your AAdvantage account, you can then book American Airlines flights directly on the American Airlines website (aa.com) or through their app.
Why is this relevant to "transferring HawaiianMiles to American Airlines"? Because it offers alternative ways to get miles into the American Airlines ecosystem if your HawaiianMiles redemption doesn't pan out or isn't the best value. It allows for a more strategic approach to your overall travel rewards.
Step 4: The Alaska Airlines Connection (Recent Development!)
This is a very important and relatively new development! Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines are in the process of merging their loyalty programs. This presents a game-changing opportunity.
Sub-heading: Linking HawaiianMiles and Alaska Mileage Plan Accounts
Join Alaska Mileage Plan (if you haven't already): If you don't have an Alaska Mileage Plan account, you'll need to create one. It's free to join.
Link Your Accounts: Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines are actively encouraging members to link their HawaiianMiles and Mileage Plan accounts. You can typically find a dedicated linking portal on either Hawaiian Airlines' or Alaska Airlines' website. Ensure your personal information (name, date of birth) matches on both accounts for a smooth linkage.
Transfer Miles Between Accounts (1:1 Ratio!): Once your accounts are linked, you can seamlessly transfer miles between your HawaiianMiles account and your Alaska Mileage Plan account at a 1:1 ratio, free of charge! This is a direct transfer that was not previously available.
Redeem on American Airlines via Alaska Mileage Plan: Now that your HawaiianMiles are effectively "convertible" to Alaska Mileage Plan miles, you can leverage Alaska's extensive network of airline partners, which includes American Airlines (as an Oneworld alliance member).
Search on AlaskaAir.com: Use the Alaska Airlines website to search for award flights on American Airlines.
Book with Mileage Plan Miles: If award space is available, you can book the American Airlines flight directly on AlaskaAir.com using your Mileage Plan miles (which were originally HawaiianMiles!).
Sub-heading: Why the Alaska Airlines Connection is a Game-Changer:
Direct 1:1 Transfer: This is the closest you'll get to a direct transfer from HawaiianMiles to American Airlines-usable miles.
Broader Partner Network: Alaska Mileage Plan has a fantastic roster of global airline partners, including many in the Oneworld alliance, giving you far more redemption options for your miles than Hawaiian's previous limited set of individual partners.
Online Booking Capability: You can often search and book partner awards directly on AlaskaAir.com, which is much more convenient than calling a service center.
Keep in mind: This merger is ongoing, so always check the latest updates on both Hawaiian Airlines' and Alaska Airlines' websites regarding loyalty program integration.
Step 5: Consider Alternatives and Best Value
Even with the Alaska Airlines connection, always consider if transferring and redeeming is truly the best value for your miles.
Sub-heading: Value Proposition of Your Miles
HawaiianMiles Value: Generally, HawaiianMiles tend to offer the best value when redeemed for flights on Hawaiian Airlines itself, especially for inter-island travel or flights to the U.S. mainland. Their partner redemption rates can sometimes be higher for comparable flights.
American Airlines AAdvantage Value: AAdvantage miles can offer excellent value for premium cabin international travel on American Airlines or its Oneworld partners (like Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines, British Airways). Domestic economy redemptions can vary in value.
Comparison: Before transferring miles to Alaska to then book American, do a quick comparison of the cash cost of the American Airlines flight versus the mileage cost through both Hawaiian (via phone) and Alaska (online). This helps you determine if it's a good deal.
Sub-heading: When to Choose Each Method
If you need a specific American Airlines flight and Hawaiian has direct partner availability: Call HawaiianMiles Service Center.
If you want maximum flexibility and access to the Oneworld network for American Airlines flights: Leverage the Alaska Airlines merger and transfer your HawaiianMiles to Alaska Mileage Plan. This is likely your best overall strategy now.
If you have flexible points that can transfer to AAdvantage directly: Transfer them there and book directly on aa.com.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are 10 related FAQ questions to help you navigate the world of airline mile transfers:
How to know if my HawaiianMiles can be transferred to American Airlines?
You cannot directly transfer HawaiianMiles into an American Airlines AAdvantage account. However, you can redeem HawaiianMiles for flights operated by American Airlines through Hawaiian's partner redemption program, or, more significantly, convert HawaiianMiles to Alaska Mileage Plan miles (due to the merger), which can then be used to book American Airlines flights.
How to find out the mileage cost for an American Airlines flight using HawaiianMiles?
You need to call the HawaiianMiles Service Center directly. Provide them with the American Airlines flight details (date, route, flight number), and they will inform you of the required HawaiianMiles and any associated taxes/fees.
How to link my HawaiianMiles and Alaska Mileage Plan accounts for transfers?
Visit the official websites of Hawaiian Airlines or Alaska Airlines (e.g.,
How to book American Airlines flights using Alaska Mileage Plan miles (converted from HawaiianMiles)?
Once your HawaiianMiles are transferred to your Alaska Mileage Plan account, you can then search for and book American Airlines award flights directly on AlaskaAir.com, as American Airlines is an Alaska Airlines partner.
How to determine if using miles for a flight is a good value?
Compare the cash cost of the flight to the number of miles required. Divide the cash cost by the mileage required to get a "cents per mile" value. Generally, values of 1.5 cents per mile or higher are considered good for economy, and even higher for premium cabins.
How to avoid common pitfalls when transferring or redeeming miles?
Always confirm award availability before transferring points from flexible programs, double-check all passenger details, be aware of any blackout dates or capacity controls, and understand any fees involved.
How to find out which airlines are partners with Hawaiian Airlines?
Visit the "Partners" section on the Hawaiian Airlines official website. This will list their current airline partners for earning and redeeming miles.
How to contact the HawaiianMiles Service Center?
The contact information, including phone numbers, for the HawaiianMiles Service Center can be found on the Hawaiian Airlines official website under their "Contact Us" or "HawaiianMiles" sections.
How to earn American Airlines miles if I frequently fly Hawaiian Airlines?
You can earn AAdvantage miles when flying on Hawaiian Airlines marketed and operated flights that are eligible according to the American Airlines partnership rules. Look for details on AA.com's partner airlines section for Hawaiian.
How to utilize other flexible points for American Airlines flights if I can't use HawaiianMiles directly?
Consider credit card points from programs like Marriott Bonvoy or Bilt Rewards, as these programs allow direct transfers to American Airlines AAdvantage. This provides an alternative avenue to acquire AAdvantage miles.