Where your Alaska Airlines points can go

Alaska Airlines credit cards earn points in the Mileage Plan program, and you can transfer those points to about 15 airline partners at a 1:1 ratio. The partners include carriers like American Airlines, Delta, United, British Airways, and Cathay Pacific, along with several others. Each partner has its own award chart, seat availability, and transfer rules, so the value you get depends entirely on which airline you pick and what you're trying to book.

Transfers happen when ready once you request them through your Alaska Airlines account online. There's no fee to transfer, and points don't expire as long as your account stays active. The main trade-off is that airline miles are usually worth less per point than using Alaska points for Alaska flights — you're paying a premium for flexibility.

Key Takeaways

  • Alaska Airlines credit card points transfer at 1:1 to partner airlines including American, Delta, United, British Airways, and Cathay Pacific, with transfers completing when ready.
  • Each partner airline has different award prices for the same route, so comparing before you transfer can save thousands of points.
  • Partner transfers typically cost more points per mile of travel than booking directly with Alaska, making them most useful when Alaska has no award availability.
  • Some partners offer transfer bonuses during promotional periods, meaning you get bonus miles on top of what you transfer.

The complete list of Alaska Airlines transfer partners

The full roster includes American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Air France-KLM, Turkish Airlines, Avianca, Air Canada, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, LATAM, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic. Alaska occasionally adds or removes partners, so check your account for the current list before transferring.

Not all partners are equally useful. American, Delta, and United cover the most routes and have the most award availability in the United States. British Airways and Cathay Pacific work well for long-haul international travel. Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways offer good value on Middle Eastern and Asian routes. The smaller partners like Brussels Airlines and Air France-KLM are most valuable if you're flying to or within Europe.

How to compare award prices before you transfer

The same flight can cost wildly different amounts depending on which airline's award chart you use. A transatlantic flight might cost 50,000 miles on one partner and 80,000 on another. Before transferring a single point, search the partner's award availability and pricing on their website or through a tool like ExpertFlyer or Momondo.

Write down the point cost for your desired route on at least two or three partners. Then divide the total points needed by the number of miles you're flying to see the cost per mile. A 5,000-mile domestic flight that costs 25,000 miles is worth 5 points per mile, while the same flight at 35,000 miles costs 7 points per mile. Once you know which partner offers the best rate, transfer only what you need for that specific booking.

When partner transfers make sense versus Alaska bookings

You should consider transferring to a partner when Alaska has no award availability on your preferred dates or route. Alaska's award chart is fixed, meaning a domestic flight always costs the same number of points regardless of demand. Partner airlines use dynamic pricing, so off-peak flights might cost less than peak ones — but peak flights cost more.

Partner transfers also make sense when you're trying to book a complex itinerary that Alaska doesn't serve well. For example, if you want to fly from Seattle to London to Cairo, Alaska might not have a good routing, but British Airways and EgyptAir (if available through a partner) could piece it together. The downside is that you'll usually pay more points overall for the same journey.

Transfer bonuses and promotional offers

Alaska Airlines occasionally runs promotions where you earn bonus miles when you transfer to a specific partner. These might offer 10%, 20%, or occasionally higher bonuses on top of your transfer. A promotion might read "transfer 10,000 miles to American Airlines and get 1,000 bonus miles," meaning you'd end up with 11,000 American miles instead of 10,000.

These bonuses appear in your Alaska Airlines account when they're active. Check your account dashboard or sign up for Alaska's email list to hear about upcoming promotions. The bonuses are most common during slower travel seasons and around partner anniversaries. If you're planning a transfer anyway, waiting a few weeks for a bonus can be worth it — though don't delay if you're at risk of losing award availability.

What happens after you transfer

Once miles land in a partner account, they belong to that airline. You can't transfer them back to Alaska, and you can't combine them with miles from another partner. The partner's rules explore: their award charts, their blackout dates, their fuel surcharges, and their expiration policies. Some partners expire miles after three years of inactivity; others have different rules.

You'll need to create an account with the partner airline if you don't already have one. Use the same name and spelling as your Alaska account to avoid delays. After the transfer completes, log into the partner's website and search for your award. Most partners let you hold an award for 24 to 72 hours before you have to pay, giving you time to confirm the booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer points to a partner and then transfer them back to Alaska?

No. Once miles reach a partner airline, they stay there under that partner's rules. You cannot move them back to Alaska or to a different partner. Transfer only the amount you're certain you'll use.

Do I pay taxes and fees on partner awards?

Yes. Partner awards usually include taxes and fuel surcharges on top of the mile cost. These vary by airline and route. Some partners charge more in surcharges than others, so factor that into your comparison before transferring.

What if the award I found disappears after I transfer my points?

Award space can open and close quickly, especially on popular routes. Search and confirm availability before you transfer. Most partners let you hold an award for 24 to 72 hours, giving you time to complete the booking after your miles arrive.

Are there any partners that don't charge fuel surcharges?

Some partners charge lower surcharges than others, but most international carriers add them to awards. Check the partner's award page for the specific flight you want to see the total cost before transferring.

How long does a transfer take?

Transfers to most partners complete within minutes to a few hours. A small number of partners may take up to 24 hours. You'll see the miles in your partner account once the transfer finishes.