Alaska Mileage Plan Miles Can Now Be Redeemed Directly for Hawaiian Airlines Flights

In September 2024, Alaska Airlines completed its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, marking a significant development in the airline industry’s landscape. This strategic move has not only expanded Alaska Air Group’s reach but also influenced its loyalty program strategies. While Alaska’s Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles currently operate as separate entities, the anticipation of a unified loyalty program by mid-2025 is generating considerable interest.

Currently, miles can be transferred between the two programs at a 1:1 ratio, and the integration is further enhanced by the addition of Hawaiian Airlines award flights on Alaska’s platform. The introduced Alaska and Hawaiian award chart, which adopts dynamic pricing, allows for Mileage Plan miles to be redeemed directly for Hawaiian flights.

The recent update to the loyalty programs signifies a step toward deeper integration, albeit with caveats. While the dynamic pricing model offers flexibility, it does not necessarily guarantee more cost-effective redemption opportunities, leaving room for improvement as the programs harmonize further. Hawaii remains one of the top destinations for miles redemption due to its aspirational appeal, and this acquisition underscores the strategic importance of having a strong presence in such coveted markets.

Our Take

The integration of Hawaiian award flights into Alaska’s system is a promising development. This change provides users additional flexibility and convenience by enabling seamless bookings for itineraries across both airlines within a single platform. There are a few cases where the miles required from both programs are virtually identical, however, travelers should remain vigilant, however, travelers should remain vigilant by comparing reward flight prices across both Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles to ensure they are making the most of their miles since pricing disparities still exist.

Alaska’s strategic move to incorporate Hawaiian Airlines into its loyalty program framework is an encouraging step toward offering travelers more value and choice in their award redemptions, promising exciting potential as the integration matures.