Alaska Airlines lets you move miles from your account to someone else's, but the process has strict rules about who can receive them and what it costs
You can transfer Alaska Airlines miles to another person through the Alaska Airlines website, but only to someone with an active Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account. The airline charges a fee based on how many miles you transfer — currently $1 for every 1,000 miles, with a $25 minimum. The transfer takes about 24 hours to complete once approved.
Transfers are permanent and non-refundable, so you cannot undo the transaction or get your money back if you change your mind. The person receiving the miles must have an existing Mileage Plan account; you cannot create a new account as part of the transfer process.
Key Takeaways
- Alaska Airlines charges $1 per 1,000 miles transferred, with a $25 minimum fee, which you pay from your credit card at the time of transfer.
- The recipient must already have an active Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account — you cannot transfer to someone without one.
- Miles arrive in the recipient's account within 24 hours, but the transaction cannot be reversed once you complete it.
- You can transfer miles to family members, friends, or anyone else with an Alaska account, with no restrictions on who the recipient is.
How to Start a Transfer on the Alaska Airlines Website
Log into your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account on the main Alaska Airlines website. Go to the "Mileage" section and look for the option labeled "Transfer Miles" or "Give Miles." You will need the recipient's Mileage Plan account number, which they can find in their own account under "Account Details" or "My Account."
Enter the number of miles you want to transfer and the recipient's account number. Alaska Airlines will show you the fee upfront — for example, transferring 5,000 miles costs $5, and transferring 25,000 miles costs $25. Review the details carefully because you cannot cancel after you submit the request.
Complete the payment using a credit or debit card. Alaska Airlines will send you a confirmation email, and the miles will appear in the recipient's account within 24 hours. The recipient will also receive a notification that miles have been added to their account.
What Happens If the Recipient's Account Information Is Wrong
If you enter an incorrect account number, the transfer may fail before it processes, and Alaska Airlines will not charge your card. If the system accepts the transfer but the account number belongs to someone you did not intend to send miles to, you will need to contact Alaska Airlines customer service to request a reversal — but the airline does not may provide it will reverse the transaction.
Always ask the recipient to confirm their account number before you start the transfer. Have them log into their own account and read the number aloud or send it to you in writing. This takes 30 seconds and prevents a costly mistake.
Transferring Miles as a Gift or for Family Travel
Many people transfer miles to a spouse, adult child, or parent so that person can book their own ticket. The recipient can use the miles when ready after they arrive in their account, either to book a flight or to pay for part of a ticket if they do not have enough miles for the full cost.
If you are transferring miles to help someone book a specific flight, make sure they have enough miles before you transfer. Check the Alaska Airlines award chart on the website to see how many miles that flight costs, then add a small buffer in case prices change. Miles do not expire as long as the account has activity at least once every 24 months, so there is no rush to use them.
Fees and Costs You Need to Know
The transfer fee is $1 per 1,000 miles, rounded up. This means transferring 1 mile costs $25 (the minimum), transferring 1,001 miles costs $26, and transferring 50,000 miles costs $50. You pay this fee at the time of transfer using a credit or debit card — it does not come out of your miles balance.
There are no other hidden costs. Alaska Airlines does not charge the recipient anything to receive miles, and there are no taxes or additional fees. The only money that leaves your account is the transfer fee charged to your card.
Rules About Who Can Receive Miles and How Often You Can Transfer
Alaska Airlines does not restrict who you can transfer miles to — you can send them to a spouse, friend, coworker, or anyone else with an active Mileage Plan account. There is no limit on how many times you can transfer miles or how many miles you can transfer in a single transaction, as long as you have the miles in your account.
The only requirement is that the recipient must have an active account. If someone's account has been closed or inactive for more than 24 months, miles cannot be transferred to it. If you are unsure whether an account is active, ask the person to log in and confirm they can access their account.
What to Do If a Transfer Does Not Go Through
If you submitted a transfer request and your credit card was charged but the miles did not arrive in the recipient's account after 24 hours, contact Alaska Airlines customer service. Have your confirmation email ready, along with the recipient's account number and the number of miles you transferred.
Alaska Airlines customer service can be reached through the website chat, by phone at 1-800-252-7522, or through the Alaska Airlines mobile app. Explain that your transfer did not complete and provide the confirmation details. The airline can investigate whether the miles went to the wrong account or if there was a system error, and they can help resolve the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer miles to someone who does not have an Alaska Airlines account yet?
No. The recipient must have an active Mileage Plan account before you transfer miles. If someone you want to send miles to does not have an account, they can create one for free on the Alaska Airlines website first, then you can transfer the miles to them.
What if I transfer miles by mistake to the wrong person?
Contact Alaska Airlines customer service when ready with your confirmation email and the details of the transfer. While the airline does not may provide reversals, they may be able to help if you report the error quickly. Transfers cannot be undone automatically, so speed matters.
Do the miles I transfer expire?
No, as long as the recipient's account has activity at least once every 24 months, the miles will not expire. Activity includes booking a flight, transferring miles, or even just logging into the account. If the account becomes inactive for 24 months, all miles will be forfeited.
Can I transfer miles from a joint account or someone else's account?
No. Only the account holder can transfer miles from that account. If you are an authorized user on someone else's account, you cannot initiate a transfer. The primary account holder must log in and complete the transfer themselves.
Is there a limit to how many miles I can transfer at once?
No. You can transfer as many miles as you have in your account in a single transaction. The fee scales with the amount — transferring 100,000 miles costs $100, for example — but there is no maximum transfer size.