Can I Transfer My Alaska Airlines Miles To American Airlines? | Mileage Transfer Facts

Understanding the Relationship Between Alaska Airlines and American Airlines

Alaska Airlines and American Airlines are both major players in the U.S. aviation industry, but their frequent flyer programs operate independently. Alaska’s Mileage Plan and American’s AAdvantage programs each have unique structures, rules, and partnerships. This independence means that transferring miles between these two programs isn’t straightforward or officially supported.

While it might seem intuitive to combine miles for maximum value or convenience, Alaska Airlines miles cannot be transferred directly to American Airlines miles. The two airlines do not have a reciprocal mileage transfer agreement. This is unlike some other airline alliances or partnerships where points or miles can move fluidly between carriers.

However, the relationship between Alaska and American is more nuanced than a simple no-transfer policy. They have codeshare agreements on certain routes and are part of strategic partnerships that allow some cross-program benefits. But these benefits stop short of outright mileage transfers.

Why You Can’t Transfer Miles Directly Between These Programs

Frequent flyer miles represent a form of currency within an airline’s ecosystem. Each program controls its own currency supply, redemption options, and valuation. Allowing direct transfers between unrelated currencies would complicate accounting and potentially devalue the programs.

Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan has always prided itself on flexibility with its own set of airline partners (like Emirates, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas), but it remains separate from major global alliances such as Oneworld—which American Airlines is a founding member of.

American Airlines’ AAdvantage program is deeply embedded in the Oneworld alliance network. Alaska joined Oneworld as a full member only recently (in 2021), but this membership does not extend to allowing direct mileage transfers with American’s program. Instead, it opens up award booking opportunities across partner airlines.

In essence, while you can redeem Alaska miles for flights operated by American Airlines under certain conditions, you cannot move your earned points from one program’s balance into the other’s.

How to Use Alaska Miles for American Airlines Flights

There is a silver lining if you hold Alaska miles but want to fly on American Airlines. Alaska’s Mileage Plan allows you to redeem your miles for award flights operated by American Airlines on many domestic and international routes.

Here’s how it works:

• Booking Through Alaska: You must book your award ticket through the Alaska Airlines website or reservations center.
• Award Availability: Availability depends on what seats American releases for partner awards.
• Mileage Cost: The number of miles required varies by route and class of service but often offers better value than booking directly with AAdvantage miles.
• Fees & Taxes: You pay applicable fees and taxes associated with the ticket; these vary depending on route and fare class.

This method essentially lets you leverage your Alaska miles to fly on American planes without needing to transfer points into AAdvantage.

Benefits of Booking American Flights Using Alaska Miles

• Lower Mileage Requirements: Some routes cost fewer miles when booked via Mileage Plan compared to AAdvantage.
• Stopovers Allowed: Alaska permits one free stopover even on one-way awards—something rare in many frequent flyer programs.
• Access to Premium Cabins: You can redeem for first-class seats on many American-operated flights using Alaska miles.
• No Expiration While Active: As long as you keep your Mileage Plan account active by earning or redeeming at least once every 24 months, your miles remain valid.

These perks make using your Alaska balance for flying American an attractive option despite no direct transfer option.

Alternatives If You Want More Flexibility Between Programs

Since “Can I Transfer My Alaska Airlines Miles To American Airlines?” has a clear answer—no direct transfer—what alternatives exist?

1. Use Credit Card Points as Intermediaries

Some flexible credit card rewards programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Citi ThankYou Points allow transferring points into multiple airline partners including both Alaska and American. While this doesn’t convert one airline mile into another directly, it lets you pool transferable points into either program based on need.

For example:

• Transfer Chase points to either AAdvantage or Mileage Plan accounts.
• Decide which airline offers better redemption value at booking time.

This flexibility requires building balances outside of airline programs but can be invaluable for frequent flyers navigating multiple loyalty currencies.

2. Book Separate One-Way Awards

If traveling on itineraries involving both airlines:

• Book your outbound flight with one program (e.g., use AAdvantage for an AA flight).
• Book your return with another (e.g., use Mileage Plan for an AA flight).

This method avoids transfers but maximizes available mileage balances across programs.

3. Explore Codeshare and Alliance Benefits

Since both airlines are now under Oneworld alliance membership (Alaska joined in 2021), you can enjoy seamless connections and earn elite status benefits across carriers without needing to transfer miles. This alliance integration enhances travel experience rather than mileage liquidity.

Comparing Mileage Programs: Key Differences Between Alaska and American

Understanding how these two programs differ helps explain why transferring isn’t possible—and why each program appeals differently depending on travel habits.

Feature	Alaska Mileage Plan	American AAdvantage
Alliance Membership	Oneworld (joined 2021)	Founding Oneworld Member
Mileage Expiration Policy	Miles expire after 24 months inactivity	Miles expire after 18 months inactivity (can be extended)
Award Booking Flexibility	Allows stopovers on one-way awards	No stopovers allowed on one-way awards
Partner Airline Network	Diverse partners including Emirates & Cathay Pacific	Largest global network via Oneworld alliance partners
Mile Earning Methodologies	Bases earnings mostly on distance flown plus fare class modifiers	Bases earnings mostly on dollars spent plus elite bonuses

This table highlights why each program suits different travelers: those valuing flexibility might prefer Mileage Plan; those seeking global reach might lean toward AAdvantage.

The Impact of Airline Alliances on Mile Transfers & Redemptions

Airline alliances like Oneworld aim to create seamless travel experiences across multiple carriers worldwide through shared benefits such as coordinated schedules, lounge access, elite status recognition, and award redemptions.

Despite being part of the same alliance now, the ability to transfer miles between member airlines’ loyalty programs remains rare. Alliances facilitate booking partner awards but don’t equate to merging loyalty currencies.

The reason lies in business models: each airline wants control over its loyalty economics while offering passengers access beyond their own network through award redemptions rather than point exchanges.

Hence:

• You can book an AA flight using Alaska miles.
• But you cannot convert those Alaska miles into AA miles directly.

This distinction preserves program value while still providing cross-carrier benefits for travelers willing to navigate separate accounts during booking.

The Process of Redeeming Alaska Miles for American Flights Step-by-Step

Booking an award flight operated by American using your Alaska miles requires some planning:

• Create/Log Into Your Mileage Plan Account: Ensure your account is active and has enough miles.
• Search Award Availability: Use the official alaskaair.com website search tool specifying “Use Miles” option.
• Select Your Destination: Enter origin/destination airports served by both airlines.
• Filter Results: Look out for flights operated by “American Airlines” indicated in search results.
• Select Flight & Cabin Class: Choose preferred dates and class such as economy or first.
• Review Mile Cost & Fees: Confirm mileage required plus any taxes/fees displayed.
• Complete Booking: Provide traveler details and finalize reservation.
• E-Ticket Confirmation: Receive confirmation email with itinerary details.

This process makes it relatively easy to leverage your Mileage Plan balance even if flying primarily with AA-operated flights—a useful workaround given no direct transfer capability exists.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls When Redeeming Partner Awards

Be aware that:

• Not all AA flights may show availability through Alaska’s system due to inventory controls.
• Award chart changes can affect mile costs unexpectedly.
• Fees may vary depending on origin country due to taxes or fuel surcharges.
• Changes/cancellations often have different policies than standard paid tickets; always review before booking.

Preparation helps ensure smooth bookings when crossing airline loyalty boundaries without transferring points directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer my Alaska Airlines miles to American Airlines directly?

No, Alaska Airlines miles cannot be transferred directly to American Airlines. Both airlines operate separate frequent flyer programs with no reciprocal mileage transfer agreement. This means you cannot move miles from Alaska’s Mileage Plan to American’s AAdvantage account.

Why can’t I transfer my Alaska Airlines miles to American Airlines?

The two programs are independent with their own currency systems and rules. Allowing direct transfers would complicate accounting and risk devaluing the programs. Despite Alaska joining Oneworld, direct mileage transfers between Alaska and American are not supported.

Are there any partner redemption options for using Alaska Airlines miles on American Airlines?

Yes, while you can’t transfer miles, you can redeem Alaska Airlines miles for flights operated by American Airlines. This is possible through award bookings under their codeshare and partnership agreements, giving some flexibility in using your Alaska miles.

Does Alaska Airlines’ recent Oneworld membership allow mile transfers to American Airlines?

Alaska joined the Oneworld alliance in 2021, which enables better award booking opportunities across partners like American Airlines. However, this membership does not permit direct transfers of miles between the two airlines’ frequent flyer programs.

How can I use my Alaska Airlines miles if I want to fly on American Airlines?

You can use your Alaska miles to book award flights on American Airlines through Alaska’s Mileage Plan program. Although you cannot transfer miles, this partnership allows you to redeem your Alaska miles for travel on certain American-operated routes.