I Just Transferred Nearly Half a Million Amex Points to Alaska — Here’s Why

As points and miles experts, we generally advise against transferring points to hotels or airlines without a game plan in place. However, there are always exceptions to the rule, and this is one of those times.

Last year, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines merged, creating a roundabout way that allowed transfers from American Express Membership Rewards to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan via Hawaiian Airlines. So, why is this a big deal?

The Mileage Plan has some great sweet spots that make it an incredibly valuable program. However, it only has a single 1:1 transfer partner. Once the Hawaiian Airlines loophole officially closes on June 30, 2025, Alaska Airlines miles will once again be difficult to earn.

I had been debating whether or not to transfer points from Amex to Alaska via Hawaiian for a while, and I finally decided to go for it. In this post, I’ll share my reasoning for making this speculative transfer, and I’ll give you a quick look at how you can do the same.

Limited-Time Sweet Spot: Amex to Alaska Transfers

What’s the big deal about transferring Amex points to Alaska Airlines? The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program has lots of great sweet spots that make it flexible and valuable.

However, Alaska miles tend to be difficult to earn since there is only a single 1:1 transfer partner in Bilt Rewards. (You can also transfer points from Marriott Bonvoy, but at a less-than-desirable 3:1 ratio.)

When Alaska Airlines merged with Hawaiian Airlines late last year, it opened up the ability to transfer points back and forth between the programs. That meant there was a back-door way to transfer Amex points to Alaska, using Hawaiian as the middleman.

However, the last day to transfer Amex points to Hawaiian (and therefore to Alaska) is June 30, 2025, which is leading many people to ask, “Should I speculatively transfer Amex points to Alaska Airlines?”

Why I Transferred Amex Points to Alaska Airlines

I have actually only used Alaska Airlines miles once — to book a Condor business class flight from Boston to Frankfurt for 55,000 miles. It seems kind of nuts to speculatively transfer 440,000 American Express points, which are worth a whopping $9,680 according to our valuations.

However, I strongly value the ability to redeem Alaska miles for airlines in the Oneworld alliance and even other carriers, such as Korean Airlines and Starlux Airlines.

As I was researching this topic for episode 9 of “The Upgraded Points Podcast” (releasing on June 9, 2025), I came across excellent availability and pricing on flights I need to book for travel next year. I found flights for 45,000 to 55,000 Alaska Airlines miles each way in business class between my home airport in Columbus, Ohio (CMH), and both Barcelona (BCN) and Rome (FCO) for 4 people each way.

I didn’t want to give up the opportunity to have access to those flights, so I decided to transfer some (okay, a lot of) Amex points to Alaska. I decided to move enough points to book 4 round-trip business class tickets to Europe at the 55,000-point rate, which worked out to be 440,000 American Express points.

My husband and I had over 1 million points combined, so even though I transferred a lot of points, I still have over half a million Amex points sitting in those accounts. We earned 1 million Amex Membership Rewards points from spending on the The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express and The Platinum Card^® from American Express. Both cards also offer massive welcome bonus offers upon meeting minimum spend requirements.

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

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Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

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Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel^® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel^®.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• With American Express Global Lounge Collection^® eligible Card Members can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion^® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club^® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express^® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
• A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Use the dedicated CLEAR Lane to confirm your identity without taking out your passport or ID – this can mean shorter lines, less waiting. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card^®.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
• $695 annual fee.¤
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

LIMITED TIME TRAVEL OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Welcome Offer

Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card^® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your Business Platinum Card^® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends 6/30/25.

150,000 points + $500 statement credit

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,800

Annual Fee

$695

APR

18.49% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights, prepaid hotels, and short-term rentals and prepaid flight and hotel packages booked through Amex Travel
• Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection (as of 10/2024).
• Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million per calendar year)

Cons

• High annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Limited Time Travel Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card^® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your Business Platinum Card^® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends 6/30/25.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 10/2024.
• Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required.
• Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
• NEW! Make the Business Platinum Card^® work even harder for you. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® points for flights, prepaid hotels, and short-term rentals and prepaid flight + hotel packages booked at AmexTravel.com. 1X points on other eligible purchases.
• Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR^® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card^®.
• $695 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

How To Transfer Amex Points to Alaska

Before transferring your Amex points to Alaska, you’ll need to create both Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines accounts. Then you’ll need to link your Hawaiian and Alaska accounts to each other and then link your Hawaiian account to your American Express account.

It’s best to do this at least a few days before you need to transfer your points, so do it now, even if you’re still unsure whether you will transfer points.

Next, initiate a transfer from American Express to Hawaiian Airlines. You’ll find this in the Rewards & Benefits section of your account under Earn and Redeem. When I transferred my points, I received them instantly.

One of the annoying quirks of the American Express Membership Rewards program is that you have to pay an excise tax offset fee when transferring to a domestic airline. This fee maxes out at $99, so it’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s something you should know about.

Once your Amex points are in your Hawaiian Airlines account, you can transfer them to the Alaska Mileage Plan program. However, you won’t find this ability on the Hawaiian Airlines website — it needs to be done through the Points.com Alaska/Hawaii exchange page.

After completing this final step, the miles showed up in my husband’s Alaska account within a few minutes, although it can take up to 72 hours. In total, it took 10 to 15 minutes to transfer points from Amex to Hawaiian to Alaska.

Final Thoughts

I have never speculatively transferred points out of a flexible program until now. Since the ability to transfer Amex points to Alaska (via Hawaiian) is ending on June 30, 2025, I decided to go ahead and move over 440,000 points.

I’ll still have over half a million Amex points left over, so I didn’t even come close to draining my accounts. If you think you’ll be able to use Alaska miles in the next year or so and have a healthy balance of Amex points, you might also want to consider making a speculative transfer — just this once!