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It’s been practically a 12 months since Alaska Airways and Hawaiian Airways formally merged, closing one of many greatest airline offers in twenty years. Should you’re like me and cherished the little perks of Hawaiian airways, together with free Starlink, POG, and a cookie at touchdown, you doubtless puzzled if issues had been about to vary. With integration effectively underway and the mud starting to settle, we wished to offer an replace and share our ideas on who advantages most from the merger—and who might even see some drawbacks. Let’s dive in.
Expanded Route Community and Extra Locations
The mixed airline now serves 141 nonstop locations, together with 29 worldwide routes. Honolulu has emerged as a serious hub, making it simpler to hook up with Asia, the South Pacific and the U.S. mainland.
For Oʻahu guests, this implies extra nonstop flight choices, higher scheduling and smoother connections. Whether or not you’re flying in from Los Angeles, Seattle or Tokyo, count on extra comfort moving into Honolulu Worldwide Airport.
Loyalty Applications and Atmos Rewards
As of August 20, HawaiianMiles and Alaska’s Mileage Plan have formally merged into Atmos Rewards. Vacationers can now select how they earn factors—by miles flown, ticket spend, and even variety of segments.
For frequent guests to Oʻahu, this implies you may construct factors on brief interisland hops, long-haul flights to the continental U.S., or premium routes like Honolulu to Tokyo. Perks embrace:
- 1:1 level switch between legacy accounts
- Elite standing matches
- A brand new premium bank card with lounge entry and companion advantages
- Free Starlink Wi-Fi for Atmos members beginning in 2026
JetBlue Partnership Ending Quickly
Should you’ve been reserving Oʻahu journeys utilizing JetBlue TrueBlue factors, take word: the Hawaiian–JetBlue partnership is ending. It’s essential to e book flights by September 30, 2025, and journey by March 31, 2026, to make use of factors. After that, Atmos Rewards is your solely loyalty possibility.
Seasonal Increase in Honolulu Flights
Excellent news for peak-season vacationers: Hawaiian Airways is including additional flights to and from Honolulu this winter.
- Honolulu – Sydney: each day service Dec 18, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026
- Honolulu – Los Angeles: 5 each day flights throughout Thanksgiving and Christmas vacation intervals
- Honolulu – Seattle: 4 each day flights, together with new Boeing 787 service to Tokyo with upgraded suites
This expanded schedule makes it simpler to snag a flight to Oahu even throughout high-demand holidays.
Key Coverage Adjustments Vacationers Ought to Know
Alongside the perks, there are some adjustments to look at:
- New No-Present Coverage: Miss your flight with out canceling? You’ll forfeit the worth of your ticket.
- Seat Collectively Protections: Households are assured seating collectively with out paying additional.
- Job Cuts Behind the Scenes: A handful of Hawaii-based jobs have been eradicated, however interisland service stays protected by regulators.
- Management Shifts in Honolulu: Alaska has put in new administration to supervise Hawaiian operations, so count on extra streamlined check-in and customer support enhancements.
Winners and Losers of the Hawaiian-Alaska Merger
So who comes out forward—and who could really feel the squeeze?
Winners
- Oʻahu vacationers profit from extra flight choices, particularly throughout holidays.
- Frequent flyers take pleasure in versatile loyalty perks below Atmos Rewards.
- Households have higher seating protections and expanded interisland reliability.
Potential Losers
- Vacationers loyal to JetBlue should alter shortly earlier than the partnership ends.
- Worth-sensitive vacationers may see larger fares on busy Oʻahu routes as competitors narrows.
Remaining Take: A Internet Optimistic for Vacationers
General, the Alaska–Hawaiian Airways merger has been a web win for vacationers. Expanded route entry, a stronger loyalty ecosystem, and new shopper protections create extra alternatives for each residents and guests to Hawaiʻi. Nonetheless, with some job cuts, stricter fare guidelines, and fewer rivals, not each consequence is rosy.
For now, although, the mixed service seems to be well-positioned to serve Hawaiʻi and past— making it simpler than ever to attach the Hawaiian Islands with the remainder of the world.
