HONOLULU, Hawaii — Frequent-flyer accounts tied to Hawaiian Airlines will go dark for four full days next month, a short blackout meant to pave the way for the carrier’s long-anticipated loyalty merger with Alaska Airlines. For Honolulu-based travelers—and anyone else who holds HawaiianMiles—the window from Sept. 26 to Sept. 30 could feel like an eternity if they are caught unprepared.
HawaiianMiles shuts down to make room for Atmos Rewards
The legacy HawaiianMiles program officially stops operating Thursday, Sept. 26, as Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines combine their two currencies—HawaiianMiles and the Mileage Plan—into a single wallet called Atmos Rewards. Normal access returns Oct. 1, when the revamped platform is scheduled to go live. During the freeze, members will not be able to:
- Log in to their loyalty accounts
- Redeem miles for award flights or upgrades
- View or download mileage balances
- Update traveler profiles, payment methods or contact details
The transfer will happen automatically, and both airlines have confirmed that every mile and each tier of elite status will map over at a one-to-one ratio. Nevertheless, the temporary shutdown could disrupt fall travel planning—especially for residents of Honolulu, Maui and Kauai who commonly rely on last-minute interisland redemption tickets.
Why the freeze matters
• Blackout period: Sept. 26–30 • Program relaunch: Oct. 1 under Atmos Rewards • Mileage conversion: 1 HawaiianMile = 1 Atmos point • Impacted travelers: All HawaiianMiles members, including co-branded credit-card holders With bookings for Thanksgiving and the December holidays already heating up, a four-day gap in award availability might push some travelers toward cash fares—or leave them unable to book at all. If a preferred award seat disappears during the conversion, there is no guarantee it will reappear once Atmos Rewards is live.
What to do before Sept. 26
Below is a check list for anyone sitting on HawaiianMiles:
- Redeem or hold award seats now. If you are eyeing specific flights for October, November or December, lock them in before the blackout.
- Take screenshots of your balance. Digital snapshots or PDFs can help prove your mileage total if any numbers look wrong on Oct. 1.
- Download your traveler profile. Saved passport data, Known Traveler Numbers and seating preferences should transfer, but a manual backup adds peace of mind.
- Enroll in Huaka‘i by Hawaiian. Residents who have not yet signed up for the local benefits program must do so before Sept. 26 to guarantee continuity after the switch.
- Link Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles accounts. Pairing the two databases now can simplify status matching once Atmos Rewards is operational.
- Verify your Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® activity. Spending that posts after Sept. 30 will go straight into the new Atmos wallet.
What changes after Oct. 1
Hawaiian and Alaska say that mileage values will retain their current worth, but everything else—from upgrade rules to elite-tier thresholds—could be reshuffled. Here is what we know and what remains unclear:
- Upgrade certificates: Existing certificates should remain valid, yet the routes on which they can be applied may be updated under Atmos.
- Elite tiers: Current Pualani Gold and Platinum levels are expected to translate to Mileage Plan status equivalents, though the precise earning chart has not been published.
- Partner redemptions: A new slate of partner airlines may join, while some old partners could fall away.
- Saved payment methods: Credit-card numbers will not migrate. Members will need to re-enter payment data after Oct. 1.
Tips for Travelers
- If you book an award flight before Sept. 26 for travel after Oct. 1, print or save the e-ticket in case the itinerary needs to be re-issued when Atmos launches.
- Set a calendar reminder for Oct. 1 to log in early, confirm your balance and double-check any pending reservations.
- Expect heavier-than-normal call-center traffic on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2; self-service through the website or mobile app will be faster.
- Keep digital boarding passes on your phone if you are traveling during the blackout window—airport kiosks may not recognize your loyalty number while the system is offline.
Credit-card legislation could reshape rewards
The temporary freeze comes as U.S. lawmakers debate an amendment that would cap interchange fees on credit-card transactions. A coalition of industry groups warned senators this month that the proposal might erode the economics behind travel rewards programs. “Americans value and enjoy credit card rewards programs because they reward consumers for dollars that they would be spending no matter what,” the letter said in a prepared statement. A second line cautioned that “many may be unpleasantly surprised if Congress disrupts those programs,” the authors added. Although the legislative outlook remains uncertain, any reduction in interchange revenue could eventually force airlines to devalue points or raise fees—adding another reason to lock in high-value HawaiianMiles redemptions before the conversion.
Frequently asked questions about the HawaiianMiles blackout
Will I lose miles if I do nothing?
No. Your entire balance and elite status will transfer automatically at a 1:1 rate to Atmos Rewards.
Can I still earn miles during the blackout?
Yes, but they will not post to your account until the new system is live. Keep boarding passes or receipts just in case.
What happens to companion pass vouchers?
Hawaiian says unused companion discounts will remain valid, but you might need to re-enter the code after Oct. 1.
Will the blackout affect checked-bag fee waivers tied to elite status?
No interruptions are expected at the airport. Your status level should still be visible to frontline agents.
I have a flight on Sept. 28—do I need to do anything?
Check in online 24 hours before departure and download the boarding pass to your mobile wallet. Gate agents can manually credit miles retroactively if they fail to post.
Bottom line
For most travelers, the Sept. 26–30 blackout will pass quietly, but anyone sitting on a large bank of HawaiianMiles—or planning a milestone trip later this year—should act before the clock winds down on Sept. 25. A few proactive clicks today can help guarantee that your miles, upgrades and resident discounts arrive safely on the other side of the loyalty merger. — as the letter said in a prepared statement.
