Update 10/20/24: Interesting tidbit during a TPG interview from Brett Catlin, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of loyalty, sales and alliances:
“Our intent is not to have a transferable currency where guests can earn across competitor cards, to be totally honest,” Catlin said. “And when given the opportunity to kind of close that door, we will.”
Update 9/26/24: The ability to transfer miles is now live. Transfers are instant and you can transfer in multiples of 50 miles. Hat tip to FM
A few days ago it was confirmed that Hawaiian Airline miles would transfer to Alaska Airline miles at a rate of 1:1. Alaska Airlines has now put together a F.A.Q regarding the merger and miles will be able to be transferred in both directions at a 1:1 rate with no fees later this month.
Getting an error message when trying to transfer now
Wonder how long the Hawaiian cards will last
They should not close the “Bank of Hawaii” cards. That’s a big draw in Hawaii and Bank of America does not even operate a branch in Hawaii. Embarrassing.
I think he wasn’t talking about that- he was talking about ending AMEX MR transfers to Alaska via Hawaiian.
What I don’t understand is- if he really doesn’t like that, why did he allow it to happen now for this window? They could have waited until later in the merger- when they could end Hawaiian’s deal with AMEX- before allowing 1:1 transfers from Hawaiian to Alaska.
Appease the feds
“when given the opportunity” <– What do you think she means by this? What is stopping them today from closing it?
I am planning some Amex earning around the ability to transfer to AS right now so it would be really good to have a general idea of how much time I have.
There likely is some sort of contract/term agreement with Amex/Hawaiian.
This likely is at least partially why Bilt went from expecting a Hawaiian renewal to it disappearing overnight (Alaksa didn’t want them to renew).
I assume this was part of the negotiations with the government to not sue to block the merger. Axing MR transfers to Hawaiian could be (and like was) viewed as a devaluation of Hawaiian’s loyalty program. Any devaluation would sink the whole deal, or at least drawn an antitrust suit.
I have a whopping 165 miles in my Hawaiian account. I just successfully transferred 150 and it was instant. Wife just got approved for the 70,000 mile Hawaiian card and she will transfer after it posts.
Based on this comment you can tell The writing is on the wall for Alaska awards. The awards of yesteryear are no more and just like AA most other OW and non partners are making it harder to redeem AS/AA miles on their metal.
Yeah it doesn’t look good. I think they’re hoping for lots and lots of transfers of 70000 freshly earned Hawaiian miles, right after which they announce a massive devaluation, referred to in the email title as ‘A New and Improved Alaska Mileage Plan Program Has Arrived!!’.
Seems like they must have an agreement between Hawaiian and Amex and that’s why the door remains open. Amex actually stands to lose whenever these points are transferred rather than burned internally. Hawaiian Airlines is the one that stands to gain from any transfer.
Card issuers and loyalty programs have contracts. Those contracts are for a term of years, which can simply expire or be renewed. Amex and Hawaiian have such a contract. It will run its term. By the sound of things, Alaska will not seek to renew it when the term expires.
I guess the question is whether Hawaiian is still independent enough to try to sell more miles to Amex through a promotion
Answer to that is clearly a “no” – Hawaiian is not independent in any way now (other than branding). It’s all controlled by Alaska.
Based on the Alaska guy’s comment, one can certainly see Amex going away. But, one must ask why they entered into a relationship with Bilt. And, how long that relationship might last. Seems odd.
My good sir, everything about BILT seems odd. Till the music stops, earn and burn.
I was an early adopter of Bilt and absolutely cleaned up. To all the critics of Bilt out there, I have nothing but gratitude for Bilt. Going forward is another story. But, I’m thankful for the first couple years.
Right on, brother! Clean-up, woop woop!
do you mean via manufactured spend on Bilt card or what?
Not who you’re replying to, but I took a free trip to Hawaii because Bilt had the 1:2 transfer to Hawaiian Air last year, and then they just had the Alaska transfer bonus, so I have a free trip to Japan lined up. I didn’t have to manufacture the spending. Rent in an HCOL area just is what it is.
I think they’re hinting that Bilt will also go away in the future…
I went to transfer my 41,000 Hawailian to mileage plan by visiting https://storefront.points.com/mileage-plan/en-US/exchange/lps?lpId=2053, and logging on with my mileage plan membership account. After 1hr, I tried to transfer another 12,000 to mileage plan by same way, however, after I put my mileage plan membership account with password, it always redirects to Hawailian webpage. Does anyone know where is the issue?
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How does one avoid fee when transferring MR to Hawaiian? upto $99
There is no way to avoid the fee afaik
Amex charges fees to transfer points to domestic airlines. Barf.
Amex does charge any fees, they just pass on. Chase eats them.
Amex does not charge fees, they pass them on. Chase eats them.
Yes, they do charge fees to us. It doesn’t matter where the fee initiates or if it’s something that’s just passed on, it’s still charged to the us as the cardholder