Using FF Miles
 

I have AMEX Reward points that I can transfer to an airline for miles. I would like to travel on American Airlines, but AA is not a partner with AMEX. They are, however, a partner with Hawaiian Airlines. Since AA and HA are partners,is it possible to transfer Amex points to my Hawiian acct, and then have American use my miles from my HA acct? I know this sounds confusing, but if anyone knows how I can use my Amex points for AA miles, I would appreciate your input. Thanks for your help.

I would highly recommend calling AMEX or AA for the details you want.

Also, there is a whole forum dedicated to use of AmEX credit card points at flyertalk.com.

Here is the url:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=410

If the flight you're flying to fly is code-shared by HA, i.e. having a HA flight number, showing up on HA's reservation system, etc., then you should be able to claim those miles.

You should be calling HA's FF desk for detail, not AA, not AMEX. Once they've reserved your seats, then you can have the miles transferred from AMEX to Hawaiian. AA's not involved in any of this, until you get to the airport to check in.

If that flight is not code-shared with HA, then you can't have it done.

Here is a simple explanation:

If you tranfer your AMEX points into Hawaiian Airlines you could get a ticket on Hawaiian Airlines <b>or</b> Alaska Airlines, America West, Northwest and Virgin Atlantic. THAT'S IT!

You have to call Hawaiian to book your flights on any of the above mentioned airlines.

You could use AA's miles for a ticket on Hawaiian (it has to be ticketed by AA), but you can't use Hawaiian miles on AA.

As posted by OP:
<b>Since AA and HA are partners,is it possible to transfer Amex points to my Hawiian acct, and then have American use my miles from my HA acct?</b>

I'm afraid it doesn't work that way. Whatever miles you have with whatever airline, you ALWAYS book the trip with your airline, If they happen to allow you to travel on other airlines, then it would work, but the ticket still has to be issued by the airline that you have the miles with. In this case Hawaiian does not allow travel with AA using Hawaiian miles, so no, AA can't use Hawaiian miles because it just doesn't work that way.

I'm confusing myself at this point. :-)

The short answer is no.

Damn AAFreq... how the heck do you store all this info in your brain?
Amazing how much you know...

<b>TxTravelPro</b>,

It's a hard job but somebody has to do it. :-D

Actually, the short answer, as I see it, is yes.

I wanted to go to New Zealand. The only airlines that go there are Air New Zealand and Quantas, neither of which partners with Amex. However, both partner with USAir (which partners with Amex), with which I have a FF acount, but not enough FF for a free ticket. So I called USAir, told them my situation, and they booked a free ticket for a flight with ANZ, at which point I called and transferred points from my Amex account to USAir, enough to cover the required number of points. At no time did I call ANZ.

It might be worth it to call Hawaiian, explain the situation, and see if they will book a flight on AA. ((C))

<b>Jed</b>

you could see it anyway you want, but the short answer is still no.

Hawaiian will NOT let you book AA flight using Hawaiian miles. Which part of that statement you don't understand?

Here is a page from Hawaiian Airlines site regarding their award booking possibilities:

<b>http://www.hawaiianair.com/hawaiianmiles/howtoredeem/</b>

And here are the charts for redeeming Hawaiian miles for award tickets:

<b>http://www.hawaiianair.com/hawaiianmiles/howtoredeem/use_fly.asp</b>

Oops. :&quot;&gt;

I am not familiar with Hawaiian Airlines, but after reading through its website and timetables, it appears that the only AA flights that are codeshared, and therefore eligible to be claimed with HA FF miles are a handful of American Eagle turboprop flights from LAX to places like San Luis Opisbo, Santa Barbara, San Diego &amp; Fresno...