American Express Transfers to Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines Will Terminate June 30, Reshaping Reward Strategies for Frequent Flyers, Essential Details at a Glance

American Express transfers to Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines will officially terminate on June 30, reshaping reward strategies for frequent flyers across the country. This shift hits at the heart of one of the most creative points redemption strategies travelers have relied on for years. For those who have used American Express Membership Rewards to funnel points first to Hawaiian Airlines and then onward to Alaska Airlines, the end is near. Moreover, American Express is known for its flexibility. That flexibility has helped millions of frequent flyers craft personalized travel reward strategies. However, with the ability to transfer to Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines soon to vanish, those same frequent flyers are now left reassessing their options.

The travel rewards landscape is facing a sudden shift that frequent flyers can't ignore. American Express has confirmed that it will end points transfers to Hawaiian Airlines on June 30, 2025. As a result, travelers will lose their indirect pathway to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, too. This development comes after months of speculation and could drastically impact the reward strategies of many cardholders across the U.S.

American Express Membership Rewards has long stood as one of the most flexible and valuable loyalty currencies. Its ability to transfer points to multiple airline programs made it a favorite among savvy travelers. However, with this new restriction, the landscape has changed.

June 30 is your deadline. After that, one of the best backdoor strategies in points travel disappears.

The timing is critical. Frequent flyers and travel enthusiasts now have just weeks to make strategic transfers. Although speculative transfers are usually discouraged, Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan remains one of the most rewarding programs for international and domestic flights alike. For those planning near-future travel, this short-term redemption opportunity might be too valuable to pass up.

Adding another layer of complexity, each transfer from Amex to HawaiianMiles comes with a 0.06 cent-per-mile excise tax, capped at $99 per transfer. Cardholders must weigh the cost and potential upside before initiating a move.