Can I Transfer My Amex Points To Hawaiian Airlines? | Plan B

No—Amex Membership Rewards transfers to HawaiianMiles ended on June 30, 2025, so you’ll need a different way to book Hawaii flights with points.

You’re not alone if you saved Amex points for a Hawaii trip and then hit a wall at the transfer screen. For years, HawaiianMiles was a simple exit ramp from Membership Rewards. That lane is closed now. The good news: you can still turn Amex points into flights to Hawaii. You just do it through other airlines, other booking channels, or a mix of both.

This article covers what changed, what still works, and how to pick a path that fits your route and budget.

What The Transfer Cutoff Means In Plain English

Membership Rewards points can still move to many airline and hotel programs. HawaiianMiles just isn’t one of them anymore. American Express lists Hawaiian Airlines points transfers as no longer available as of June 30, 2025. Membership Rewards Program Updates (July 2025) shows the date and the change.

If you already transferred points to HawaiianMiles before the cutoff, those miles stay in your airline account. If you didn’t, you can’t start that transfer now. There’s no hidden backdoor inside Amex, and calling in won’t reopen a partner link that’s been removed from the program.

Can I Transfer My Amex Points To Hawaiian Airlines?

No, not anymore. The transfer option ended June 30, 2025. That’s the whole answer. Next comes the part that saves your trip: picking the right replacement plan.

Transferring Amex Points To Hawaiian Airlines After June 2025

If you see posts or videos claiming the transfer still works, check the publish date. Many pages were written before the cutoff. Some are updated with a banner, some aren’t. Your safest move is to treat any “step-by-step transfer” instructions as outdated unless they also say the option ended and show alternatives.

Also watch for confusion caused by airline mergers and loyalty program branding. A program name can change while the value inside your account stays the same. Your job is to follow what the current transfer partner lists and current airline award booking tools actually allow.

Three Real Ways To Use Amex Points For Hawaii Flights

Transfer To A Different Airline Program And Book A Partner Flight

This is the classic points play: move Membership Rewards to an airline partner, then book a flight on that program’s website. You might end up flying a different airline than the one you transferred to, since many programs can book partner airlines.

What this approach is good at: bringing lower mileage prices than a cash portal, and letting you mix and match airlines when you’re flexible on dates. What it’s bad at: limited award seats and rules that vary by partner.

Book Through Amex Travel When Cash Prices Make Sense

If award seats are missing, a paid ticket booked with points can be the clean play. Compare the points price to the cash fare before you commit.

Use Points For A Hawaii Hotel Then Pay Cash For The Flight

If flights won’t cooperate, shifting points to hotel nights can still cut the trip cost.

Pick Your Best Transfer Partner Based On Your Starting Airport

Hawaii looks like one destination on a map, but the best points route depends on where you start. West Coast nonstop routes are a different game than East Coast connections. Inter-island hops are another layer.

Start with this workflow:

• Find flights you’d actually take: the right day, the right number of stops, the right airport in Hawaii.
• Check who operates those flights: Alaska, American, Delta, United, Hawaiian, or a partner.
• Then pick the points program that can book those seats with rules you can live with.

When you do it in this order, you avoid the classic trap: moving points first, then discovering the seats you wanted were never available on points.

Common Amex Transfer Partners That Can Reach Hawaii

You don’t need a transfer partner that “is” Hawaiian Airlines. You need a partner that can book flights to Hawaii on airlines that serve your route. Below is a practical menu of paths that many U.S. travelers can use, depending on award space and routing rules.

Use the table as a planning map, not a promise. Award seat supply changes by day, and each program has its own fees and cancellation rules.

Amex Transfer Path	Flights To Hawaii You Can Target	Watch For
Air Canada Aeroplan	United flights, plus some partner routes from the mainland	Partner award space can vanish fast; double-check before transferring
Avianca LifeMiles	United flights to Hawaii when saver seats exist	Changes can be strict; keep screenshots of the itinerary
ANA Mileage Club	Round-trip awards on United and partners	Round-trip booking rules; transfers can take longer than instant
Air France-KLM Flying Blue	Delta flights, including some mainland-to-Hawaii routes	Pricing can swing; taxes and carrier charges vary
British Airways Executive Club (Avios)	American Airlines and Alaska Airlines flights, route-by-route	Short nonstop routes can shine; connections may price higher
Singapore KrisFlyer	United flights to Hawaii on eligible award space	Some partner awards need a call; holds may not be offered
Delta SkyMiles	Delta flights on dates where pricing is fair	Dynamic pricing means deals come and go
Hilton Honors Or Marriott Bonvoy	Hotel nights on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island	Resort fees, parking, and blackout-style room limits at some properties

How To Avoid Regret Transfers

Search First, Transfer Second

Amex transfers are one-way. Once points land in an airline program, you usually can’t send them back. So your safest rhythm is: find the exact award you want, then transfer, then book.

Match The Program To The Seat Type You Found

Airlines often release different buckets of award seats. One program may see the seat you want, another may not. If Aeroplan shows seats on your United flight, that doesn’t mean every partner will show the same seat. Confirm on the program you plan to book with.

Check Total Cost, Not Just Points

Two awards can cost the same points while charging different taxes and fees at checkout. Build a fast habit: click through to the final payment screen before you transfer points. If the taxes look steep, keep shopping with another program or shift to a paid ticket.

What About HawaiianMiles And The Alaska-Hawaiian Program Change

Hawaiian’s loyalty system has been transitioning as the airline integrates with Alaska’s loyalty plans. If you already have HawaiianMiles from earlier transfers or flights, you’ll want to track how your account will be handled during the changeover. Alaska’s official FAQ page for HawaiianMiles integration spells out how balances move and what members should expect. HawaiianMiles Integration FAQ is the cleanest place to start.

For Amex point planning, the takeaway is simple: since the direct transfer path is gone, your focus shifts to programs that still take Membership Rewards and can book the flights you want.

When Amex Travel Beats Transfers

A paid ticket can beat an award when your dates are fixed, you need multiple seats, or the award fees look rough. Compare the cash fare to the points price inside Amex Travel before you move any points.

Build A Simple Hawaii Points Plan That Fits Your Trip

Step 1: Lock Your Trip Shape

Decide what “good” looks like. Nonstop from the West Coast? One stop from the Midwest? A red-eye home? If you don’t define this early, you’ll waste hours chasing awards that don’t match your real life.

Step 2: Pick Two Transfer Programs To Check

Don’t check ten programs. Pick two that match your likely airlines. If you live near a United hub, start with one of the programs that books United awards. If you lean Delta, start with a program that sees Delta space plus Delta’s own program as a backup.

Step 3: Add A Hotel Backup

If flights don’t line up, hotels can still save you a chunk of the trip cost. Having a hotel plan in your pocket keeps you from making a rushed flight transfer you’ll regret.

Fast Checklist Before You Move Any Points

Use this right at the moment you’re ready to book. It’s built to stop the two big mistakes: transferring too early, and booking the wrong fare type.

Check	What To Verify	Why It Matters
Seat Found	The exact flight and cabin show as bookable in the program you’ll use	No seat, no transfer
Total Fees	You clicked through to the final taxes and fees screen	Stops surprise checkout costs
Transfer Timing	Transfer speed for that partner won’t cause you to lose the seat	Award seats can disappear while you wait
Name Match	Your airline profile name matches your Amex profile name	Prevents transfer or ticketing errors
Change Rules	You read the cancellation and change terms before checkout	Stops a nasty surprise if plans shift
Backup Plan	You know your next-best flight or program if this option dies	Keeps you moving when inventory shifts

Realistic Expectations For Finding Hawaii Award Seats

Award space comes in waves. If you strike out, shift by a day, try a nearby airport, or accept one stop. Stick with “search first, transfer second,” and you’ll stay in control.

What To Do If You Already Have HawaiianMiles

If you’ve got HawaiianMiles sitting in your account from earlier, treat them as a separate wallet. Use them for flights, upgrades, or partner redemptions that still exist inside the current program rules. Also track any account migration steps tied to the Alaska integration, since program branding and login flows can change. The Alaska FAQ linked earlier is the best single reference for that transition.

Takeaway: Your Best Next Move

If your plan was “Amex to Hawaiian,” swap it for a two-part plan: find the flight first, then choose the program that can book it, then transfer only when you’re ready to click purchase. That one habit saves most points headaches.