Flying to Honolulu on miles looks very different in late 2026 than it did two years ago. HawaiianMiles is gone and has been folded into Alaska’s Atmos Rewards. Hawaiian Airlines is now in the oneworld alliance. Southwest keeps adding Hawaii flights. Here’s where each major program stands as of October 2026, and which one we’d use from where.
Quick comparison
| Program | Flies to Honolulu on | Award pricing | Chase transfer? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atmos Rewards (Alaska + Hawaiian) | Alaska and Hawaiian | Distance-based “starting at” chart. West Coast economy starts at 12,500 points one-way | No |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | Southwest | Tied to the cash fare | Yes, 1:1 |
| United MileagePlus | United | Dynamic | Yes, 1:1 |
| American AAdvantage | American | Dynamic | No |
| Delta SkyMiles | Delta | Dynamic | No |
| British Airways Club / Iberia (Avios) | American, Alaska, and now Hawaiian (oneworld partners) | Distance-based partner pricing | Yes, 1:1 |
Atmos Rewards: the new Alaska and Hawaiian program
Alaska Airlines launched Atmos Rewards on August 20, 2025, combining Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles. HawaiianMiles accounts moved over on October 1, 2025, at one mile to one point, and Alaska says points don’t expire. On April 22, 2026, Hawaiian Airlines officially joined oneworld. That same day it moved to a single reservation system with Alaska and retired its “HA” flight code, according to One Mile at a Time.
Atmos prices Alaska and Hawaiian flights within North America, including Hawaii, by distance. The published “starting at” one-way prices are:
| Flight distance | Economy from | First from |
|---|---|---|
| Under 700 miles (interisland) | 4,500 | 15,000 |
| 2,101–3,500 miles (most West Coast to Hawaii) | 12,500 | 30,000 |
| 3,501+ miles (Midwest and East Coast to Hawaii) | 20,000 | 60,000 |
Two caveats. First, those are floors. Beat of Hawaii’s searches right after the change found Los Angeles to Honolulu often pricing well above 12,500 points. Second, travelers from the Midwest lose out: Minneapolis to Honolulu now falls in the 3,501+ mile band at 20,000 points and up, versus a flat 15,000 under the old HawaiianMiles chart, AwardWallet notes. Chase points don’t transfer to Atmos.
Southwest Rapid Rewards
Southwest flies nonstop to Honolulu from Las Vegas, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego and San Jose, per Upgraded Points’ March 2026 route guide. Ontario, California (from June 4, 2026) and Burbank (from August 4, 2026) were added this year. Southwest also flies between Honolulu and Hilo, Kahului, Kona and Lihue.
Award prices track the cash fare, so a sale fare is also a points sale. Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Southwest at 1:1. Southwest has no first class cabin. If you hold A-List status, Southwest’s site lists one free checked bag, Group 1 boarding, seat selection at booking, extra-legroom seats within 48 hours of departure when available, a 25% earning bonus and same-day standby. Those perks are especially useful on a long overwater flight.
United, American and Delta
- United MileagePlus: Dynamic pricing. For Midwest travelers, United and American both fly Chicago O’Hare to Honolulu nonstop. Chase points transfer to United at 1:1, which makes it the easy Chase option from Chicago.
- American AAdvantage: Dynamic pricing. American is also adding Chicago O’Hare to Maui (Kahului) from December 17, 2026, per Hawaii Guide.
- Delta SkyMiles: Dynamic pricing. Detroit to Honolulu goes daily from November 9, 2026, according to Hawaii Guide and AeroXplorer. Upgraded Points reports Air France-KLM Flying Blue awards on Delta to Hawaii from 15,000 miles one-way, and Chase transfers to Flying Blue at 1:1. Flying Blue prices also vary by date.
The Avios option from the West Coast
British Airways and Iberia Avios (both 1:1 Chase partners) can book American and Alaska nonstops from the West Coast to Hawaii. Pricing is per flight, based on distance. Recent reports conflict: The Points Guy lists 20,000 Avios one-way in economy for American or Alaska flights of 2,001–3,000 miles, while Upgraded Points cites 22,000. Either way, it’s not the sweet spot it once was. On many dates, Atmos’s 12,500-point floor or a Southwest sale beats it.
Now that Hawaiian is in oneworld, oneworld programs can book Hawaiian-operated flights too. One Mile at a Time cautions that it may take time for every partner to publish pricing and open award space, so search before you transfer.
Practical tips
- Never transfer points speculatively. Find the award seat first, then move the points. Transfers usually can’t be reversed.
- From the Midwest, consider a split ticket. Fly to the West Coast on one award and continue on another. Because Atmos and Avios price by distance, the long Midwest-to-Hawaii nonstop costs more than a West Coast nonstop.
- Interisland hops are cheap. Atmos interisland economy starts at 4,500 points. Southwest also flies interisland.
- Watch new routes. Schedules change often. Hawaii Guide lists several new routes starting in winter 2026–27.
Want points that can go to Southwest, United or Avios? Chase Sapphire cards earn Ultimate Rewards points that transfer to all three at 1:1. You can compare current offers and apply with our Chase referral link.
Disclosure: This is our personal Chase referral link. If you’re approved through it, we may earn a referral bonus, at no extra cost to you. You can always apply directly on Chase’s website. See our Advertising & Referral Disclosure.
Our take
From California, Las Vegas or Phoenix, we’d check Atmos and Southwest first. Atmos can be cheap when the 12,500-point floor appears. Southwest is easy to book with Chase points, and A-List perks make the flight more comfortable. From Chicago or elsewhere in the Midwest, United with Chase points is usually the simplest nonstop option, but compare it with a West Coast connection. The downsides: almost every program now uses dynamic or “starting at” pricing, holiday dates can cost two or three times the floor, and Midwest travelers took the biggest hit when Hawaii’s flat pricing ended.
Sources
- Alaska Airlines Newsroom: Introducing Atmos Rewards
- Wikipedia: Atmos Rewards
- One Mile at a Time: Hawaiian Airlines joins oneworld
- Upgraded Points: New Atmos award chart
- AwardWallet: Atmos award chart changes
- Beat of Hawaii: Hawaii award flights got more expensive
- Upgraded Points: Southwest flights and routes to Hawaii
- TravelPulse: Southwest new Hawaii routes for summer 2026
- Southwest: A-List
- FlightConnections: Chicago O’Hare to Honolulu
- Hawaii Guide: New Hawaii flights 2026
- AeroXplorer: Delta Hawaii expansion
- Upgraded Points: Best ways to fly to Hawaii with points
- The Points Guy: British Airways distance-based award chart
- Upgraded Points: Chase transfer partners
Prices, points rates, schedules and entry rules change often; confirm details with the airline, hotel or organizer before you book. Points Capital is not a financial advisor.
