This is a super pleasant surprise…
In this post:
American expands award redemptions on Hawaiian
American AAdvantage has just rolled out award redemptions on Hawaiian Airlines flights operated globally. Previously, AAdvantage members were able to redeem miles only for flights between Hawaii and international destinations, while redemption opportunities now include travel between the mainland United States and Hawaii.
For those curious about the logic for this update, keep in mind that Alaska recently acquired Hawaiian. While the airlines now belong to the same company, they’re maintaining their individual branding. We’re starting to see the two airlines swap routes to improve aircraft utilization, and even launch long haul flights out of Seattle with Hawaiian aircraft.
That can be frustrating for oneworld flyers, since Alaska belongs to oneworld, while Hawaiian doesn’t (though the plan is for the airline to join in 2026). So while we knew AAdvantage redemptions on Hawaiian would eventually be made available, we didn’t have any reason to believe it would happen so soon, so this is great.
Hawaii is of course one of the most popular destinations for people to redeem their points, so it’s a boost to AAdvantage miles to have access to Hawaiian award availability.
What about earning American miles on Hawaiian?
It’s already possible for American AAdvantage members to earn miles for travel on Hawaiian Airlines globally. If you book directly with Hawaiian, you’ll earn miles based on a percentage of the distance flown, per the below chart. Meanwhile if booking through American, you’d earn miles based on how much you spend.
The bad news is that as before, miles earned on Hawaiian don’t qualify as Loyalty Points, and therefore won’t help you earn elite status. Presumably that will also change over time for the better, at the latest when Hawaiian joins oneworld (though hopefully before then).
Bottom line
American and Hawaiian have expanded their loyalty partnership, following Alaska’s takeover of Hawaiian. It’s now possible to redeem AAdvantage miles for Hawaiian flights globally. It was already possible to earn AAdvantage miles for Hawaiian flights, but you still can’t earn Loyalty Points.
What do you make of these AAdvantage changes related to Hawaiian?
Lucky - any idea if business/first on the JFK to HNL (or JFK to OGG via HNL, or similar routes) route on Hawaiian Airlines will be available via American Airline miles? Looks like there is no availability when I search.
Shame AS aren’t really focusing on ensuring AS elites get the same elite benefits on HA as they do on AS.
Mass cuts to AS Hawaii service recently with everyone rebooked onto HA but zero workaround to ensure AS elites get the same benefits on HA. Meaning free seat selection and free checked bags etc won’t be honored on HA.
This is supposed to change soon.
They're working on reciprocal status matching (unconfirmed rumor was by end of year), and once you match to Hawaiian status, the benefits would be available. They're moving to a single program in mid-2025 as well.
Fascinating to see that reverse redeye leaving 1:45AM from Las Vegas to HNL.
Brutal is more like it.