You can transfer miles to Alaska Airlines from most major airline and hotel loyalty programs, but the process and value differ depending on where your miles come from

Alaska Airlines accepts mile transfers from American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points, and several hotel programs including Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. The transfer happens online through your credit card or hotel account, takes one to three business days to complete, and usually costs nothing. However, not all programs transfer at the same rate — some give you a one-to-one conversion, while others charge a premium or offer bonus miles to sweeten the deal.

The real question before you transfer is whether Alaska Airlines miles are worth more to you than keeping points in your current program. Alaska Airlines miles work best for flights within the western United States, Hawaii, and Mexico, or for premium cabin upgrades on longer routes. If you rarely fly those routes, your points may be more valuable staying put.

Key Takeaways

  • American Express, Chase, and Citi all let you transfer points to Alaska Airlines directly through your online account, with transfers completing in one to three business days.
  • Transfer rates vary: some programs offer one point for one mile, while others require a bonus purchase or charge a premium conversion rate.
  • Alaska Airlines miles are most valuable for domestic flights, Hawaii travel, and premium cabin upgrades, so transfer only if those routes match your travel plans.
  • Hotel programs like Marriott and Hilton also transfer to Alaska, but the conversion rate is usually less favorable than credit card transfers.
  • Once miles land in your Alaska Airlines account, they do not expire as long as you have account activity at least once every 24 months.

Transferring from American Express Membership Rewards

Log into your American Express account online, go to the Membership Rewards section, and select "Transfer Points to Airline Partners." Choose Alaska Airlines from the list, enter the number of points you want to transfer (they transfer in increments of 1,000), and confirm your Alaska Airlines account number. The transfer posts within one to three business days.

American Express typically offers a one-to-one conversion: 1,000 Membership Rewards points become 1,000 Alaska Airlines miles. However, American Express occasionally runs promotions where you earn bonus miles on transfers — for example, transferring 10,000 points might earn you 12,000 miles instead. Check your Membership Rewards dashboard before transferring, because these bonuses appear as a banner and are not automatic.

Transferring from Chase Ultimate Rewards

Open your Chase account, navigate to Ultimate Rewards, and click "Transfer Points." Select Alaska Airlines, enter your Alaska account number, and choose how many points to transfer (also in 1,000-point increments). Chase processes the transfer within one to three business days.

Chase also uses a one-to-one conversion for most cardholders, but the rate depends on which Chase card you hold. Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders sometimes see promotional bonuses on Alaska transfers. Check the transfer page in your account — if a bonus is running, it will show the bonus rate before you confirm.

Transferring from Citi ThankYou Points

Log into your Citi account, find the ThankYou Center, and select "Transfer Points to Travel Partners." Choose Alaska Airlines, verify your Alaska account number, and enter the transfer amount in 1,000-point blocks. Citi completes the transfer in one to three business days.

Citi's standard rate is also one-to-one, though Citi occasionally offers transfer bonuses for specific card products. Like American Express and Chase, any active bonus will display on the transfer confirmation screen before you submit.

Transferring from Hotel Loyalty Programs

Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and IHG One Rewards all transfer points to Alaska Airlines, but the conversion rates are less favorable than credit card transfers. Marriott typically converts at a rate of 3 Bonvoy points to 1 Alaska mile, meaning you lose two-thirds of your points in the transfer. Hilton and IHG use similar ratios.

To transfer from a hotel program, log into your hotel account, find the transfer or redemption section, select Alaska Airlines, and enter your Alaska account number. Hotel transfers also take one to three business days. Because the conversion rate is steep, transfer hotel points to Alaska only if you have a specific flight in mind and the miles will get you there faster than saving for a hotel redemption.

What happens after miles land in your Alaska account

Once the transfer completes, the miles appear in your Alaska Airlines account under your Mileage Plan number. You can use them when ready to book flights on Alaska Airlines or its partners (including American Airlines, Delta, and United for certain routes). Miles do not expire as long as you have at least one account activity every 24 months — this includes earning miles, redeeming miles, or even just logging into your account.

Alaska Airlines does not allow you to transfer miles back out to another program, so make sure you want them before you initiate the transfer. If you change your mind within a short window, contact Alaska Airlines customer service to ask about a reversal, though they are not obligated to grant one.

When transferring makes sense and when it does not

Transfer to Alaska if you have a specific flight booked or planned within the next few months and Alaska miles will get you there. Alaska's sweet spots are short-haul domestic flights (Los Angeles to San Francisco, Seattle to Portland) and Hawaii routes, where you might need only 12,500 to 25,000 miles for a one-way ticket. If you fly those routes regularly, the transfer is worth it.

Do not transfer if you are sitting on points with no trip planned. Holding points in American Express, Chase, or Citi keeps your options open — you can transfer to Alaska later, or use them for other airlines, cash back, or travel credits. Once miles are in Alaska's account, that flexibility is gone. Also avoid transferring if your typical routes are cross-country or international, where Alaska miles are less valuable and you might get better value redeeming them through another airline partner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose miles when I transfer to Alaska Airlines?

The amount you lose depends on where your points come from. Credit card programs (American Express, Chase, Citi) usually convert at one-to-one, so you do not lose anything. Hotel programs convert at a much lower rate — Marriott gives you 1 Alaska mile for every 3 Bonvoy points, so you lose two-thirds of your balance. Check the conversion rate on the transfer screen before you confirm.

How long does it take for miles to show up in my Alaska Airlines account?

Most transfers complete within one to three business days. American Express, Chase, and Citi all post transfers within that window. If it has been more than three business days, log into your Alaska Airlines account to confirm the miles arrived, then contact the program you transferred from if they are still missing.

Can I transfer Alaska Airlines miles back to my credit card points?

No. Alaska Airlines does not allow outbound transfers. Once miles land in your Alaska account, they stay there. You can only use them to book flights or upgrade tickets, so transfer only the amount you plan to use within the next year or two.

What if I do not have an Alaska Airlines account yet?

Create one before you transfer. Go to alaskaair.com, click "Join Mileage Plan," and complete the signup. It takes a few minutes and is free. You will receive a Mileage Plan number when ready, which you will need to enter during the transfer process.

Are there any fees to transfer miles to Alaska Airlines?

No. American Express, Chase, Citi, and the hotel programs do not charge a fee to transfer to Alaska Airlines. The only cost is the points themselves — you do not pay cash on top of the transfer.