Last Call To Pool HawaiianMiles Before This Vanishes

Changes are rapidly unfolding as Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines continue their integration, and time appears to be running out to maximize one of the best travel hacks available for Hawaii flights. A little-known opportunity we reported on previously to combine American Express points with HawaiianMiles and Alaska Mileage Plan is likely to disappear soon. If you are sitting on unused points, this is your final boarding call to pool them before it is too late.

The Hawaii connection you need to know.

We first reported last fall how HawaiianMiles could act as a bridge to transfer American Express points into Alaska Airlines’ highly valuable Mileage Plan program. The process was simple but brilliant: transfer Amex points to HawaiianMiles, then move them over to Alaska Mileage Plan at a 1:1 rate. This unlocked significant rewards for Hawaii travelers, allowing them to fly to and from the islands using Alaska’s flexible partner network.

Since then, everything has been moving toward a complete integration of the loyalty program. Hawaiian is ending multiple partner airline redemptions this summer, and all signs point to the Amex-to-Hawaiian-to-Alaska workaround disappearing soon as well. Once the new Alaska-Hawaiian program is fully launched, it will likely no longer allow these indirect transfers.

Why this hack works (for now).

American Express Membership Rewards do not transfer directly to Alaska Mileage Plan. But they do transfer to HawaiianMiles. Thanks to the temporary 1:1 Hawaiian to Alaska transfer option introduced after the merger, travelers have been able to move points that would otherwise be stranded.

This created an enormous value boost. Alaska miles stretch farther than most other U.S. airline currencies, making it possible to book transpacific, mainland, and even international flights for fewer miles than competitors charge.

For Hawaii travel, this has meant cheaper awards, access to both airlines’ flights, and flexibility to use miles when cash fares soar. But this opportunity was always expected to be temporary, and airline executives have recently hinted that they intend to close the door on these outside currency transfers as they finalize the new program.

Pooling HawaiianMiles before the gate closes.

One more critical factor: HawaiianMiles still allows pooling among family members, with one key requirement: the person receiving pooled miles must have a Hawaiian Airlines credit card.

Using this feature, it is possible to combine scattered Amex points, HawaiianMiles, and even Alaska miles back into one large balance. This can then be transferred to a single Mileage Plan account, giving travelers full control to book multiple flights with maximum efficiency.

Without pooling, travelers could be stuck trying to manage separate small balances across multiple accounts, each insufficient to book a complete trip.

The growing urgency: Hawaiian partnerships ending.

After June 30, 2025, HawaiianMiles members will lose access to several major airline partners, including JetBlue, Japan Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Korean Air. No new bookings with these airlines will be possible after that date.

While the Amex transfer option has not yet been officially terminated, Alaska Airlines’ loyalty team has publicly stated that their goal is to end the ability for travelers to move outside credit card points into Mileage Plan. They prefer to keep mileage earning within their own system, especially with new credit cards on the horizon.

This makes today the critical window to act.

How to execute the strategy.

First, transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to HawaiianMiles. This process is usually instantaneous but may take up to 24 hours.

Second, if needed, pool HawaiianMiles from multiple family accounts using the Hawaiian Airlines credit card pooling benefit.

Third, move the pooled HawaiianMiles into an Alaska Mileage Plan account. Once there, they are much more flexible and valuable, especially for booking flights between Hawaii and the mainland.

Importantly, transfers from Alaska back to Hawaiian are still possible but limited to the same person’s accounts. This is helpful for flexibility, but not a substitute for pooling across multiple travelers.

Why Alaska miles are so powerful for Hawaii trips.

Alaska Airlines uses a distance-based award chart for most partner flights, rather than dynamic pricing tied to cash fares. This means you can book long-haul flights for consistently reasonable mileage amounts.

For example, Alaska partner awards allow flights from Hawaii to Japan, Australia, or even Europe for far fewer miles than major U.S. carriers charge. Domestic flights within the mainland or to Hawaii can also be cheaper, especially when cash prices spike during peak seasons.

Having one large pool of Alaska miles opens up these options without worrying about minimum redemption thresholds or juggling multiple accounts.

A real-world Hawaii success story.

When we used this strategy, we successfully combined HawaiianMiles, Amex points, and Alaska miles to create a balance of about 500,000 Alaska miles. This funded multiple trips for two people, including Hawaii vacations and international travel.

Strategic planning turned fragmented balances into powerful travel rewards that stretched far beyond Hawaii alone.

FAQs about pooling HawaiianMiles and transferring points.

Can I still transfer points after the merger is complete?

Details are still unfolding, but it is expected that the Amex to Hawaiian to Alaska transfer option will end before the loyalty program merger is finalized.

What happens to my HawaiianMiles after June 30, 2025?

You can continue to use your HawaiianMiles for Hawaiian flights and through Alaska’s network, but partner redemptions with airlines like JetBlue and Japan Airlines will no longer be available.

Are there alternatives to this strategy?

Once this window closes, your best options will involve earning directly with Alaska’s Mileage Plan program or using other Amex airline transfer partners outside the Hawaii market.

Final thoughts: Act now or risk losing out.

There is no official shutdown date yet for the Amex-to-Hawaiian-to-Alaska transfer workaround, but the writing is on the wall. Hawaiian’s broader partner network is ending after June 30, and loyalty teams have signaled that big changes are ahead.

If you want to lock in maximum value for your Hawaii travel plans, move quickly. Transfer points, pool HawaiianMiles while it is still allowed, and convert them to Alaska miles for greater flexibility and savings.

Have you used this strategy to book a dream trip to Hawaii? Share your tips, questions, or success stories in the comments below.