Alaska Airlines to acquire Hawaiian Airlines

[WilsonM]

Note for those with AMEX points, that the US DOT has outlined certain conditions for the merger, including the guarantee of Hawaiian Miles' value (not actually sure how that one works) and a 1:1 transfer between Hawaiian Miles and the new program (probably a form of AS Mileage Plan). Obviously we don't know when, but it might be worth keeping in mind to get some Alaska points

 

[justinbrett]

Received this email this morning. The deal is done.

 

[justinbrett]

They’re not wasting any time. Changes already made effective yesterday, including AS lounge access when flying HA (only for AS members, no mention of oneworld)

In the coming weeks, both airlines will sell flights of both airlines, so you can book HA on AS and vice versa. Also they are enabling points transfer between the programs until the new combined program is launched next year.

Alaska Airlines completes acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, expanding benefits and choice for travelers - Alaska Airlines News

Hawaiian Airlines has officially joined Alaska Airlines, marking the beginning of a partnership that will reshape the travel industry for years to come. In a first for a U.S. airline, we will maintain both beloved brands. While your experience with each airline remains the same for now, there's...

news.alaskaair.com

I guess JH just lost one of her jobs.

 

[Saab34]

I really wish they bring the 787 to Melbourne!

Looking forward to see what this means in the longer term, ie 787s in Alaska livery. I’d expect that to occur in the 2030s.

 

[SYD]

They’re not wasting any time. Changes already made effective yesterday, including AS lounge access when flying HA (only for AS members, no mention of oneworld)

In the coming weeks, both airlines will sell flights of both airlines, so you can book HA on AS and vice versa. Also they are enabling points transfer between the programs until the new combined program is launched next year.

Easy for them to (limited lounges and training) pre rollout of OW benefits.

Slightly OT, but anecdotal reports QF is now allowing QFF status PAX into QF lounges when flying FJ code (presumably in advance of full OW entry).

Alaska Airlines completes acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, expanding benefits and choice for travelers - Alaska Airlines News

Hawaiian Airlines has officially joined Alaska Airlines, marking the beginning of a partnership that will reshape the travel industry for years to come. In a first for a U.S. airline, we will maintain both beloved brands. While your experience with each airline remains the same for now, there's...

news.alaskaair.com

Lots of references to OW but not clear when/how they integrate?

I guess JH just lost one of her jobs.

What was that one?

 

[justinbrett]

What was that one?

HA board member.

Easy for them to (limited lounges and training) pre rollout of OW benefits.

Slightly OT, but anecdotal reports QF is now allowing QFF status PAX into QF lounges when flying FJ code (presumably in advance of full OW entry).

Lots of references to OW but not clear when/how they integrate?

The reverse is not true yet (HA lounge for AS flights) probably due to capacity at HNL. It will be interesting to see changes at HNL in coming years, whether they try to consolidate the oneworld flights into two main areas (won’t all fit in T1) and have two big lounges, closing the AA/JL lounge. Maybe another oneworld branded lounge forT2?

Either way it’s going to be very good to have oneworld status at HNL.

 

[dairyfloss]

HA board member.



The reverse is not true yet (HA lounge for AS flights) probably due to capacity at HNL. It will be interesting to see changes at HNL in coming years, whether they try to consolidate the oneworld flights into two main areas (won’t all fit in T1) and have two big lounges, closing the AA/JL lounge. Maybe another oneworld branded lounge forT2?

Either way it’s going to be very good to have oneworld status at HNL.

Yes - you'd have to think with HA, AS, QF, JL, AA & FJ flying out of HNL, it is very ripe for a nice, new OW lounge! JQ pax already miss out there due to flight timing, and so no impact to the QF lounge. They can hand back the closet for someone else to occupy.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Saab34]

How does she have time for all that. Running Virgin, Tennis, plus HA. Good grief.

One masthead did report Bain wasn’t happy with how much time the tennis commitments had been chewing up in her diary.

 

[RSD]

This does sound like good news for those of us in QFF

 

[justinbrett]

This does sound like good news for those of us in QFF

The only downside is I expect AS to remove their codeshares on QF’s SYD/MEL-HNL, and QF may reduce SC earn on HA’s SYD route (well I guess it’s zero now so it’s technically an increase).

It should make trips like SYD-HNL-LAS a lot easier and might even see QF103/4 go daily and a BNE service added (QF) or at least HA resume it.

 

[VPS]

DOT secures consumer protections ahead of Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines merger

The Department of Transportation got new guarantees from Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines as the two companies prepare to merge.

www.usatoday.com

Bit more on the story

 

[Lynda2475]

It will be good to be able to earn some points and SC on inter-island flights now. I prefer Big Island (Hawaii) over Oahu.

 

[justinbrett]

DOT secures consumer protections ahead of Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines merger

The Department of Transportation got new guarantees from Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines as the two companies prepare to merge.

www.usatoday.com

Bit more on the story

All of the protections are simply what AS & HA already promised. The DOT just made them binding.

 

[jakeseven7]

Slightly OT, but anecdotal reports QF is now allowing QFF status PAX into QF lounges when flying FJ code (presumably in advance of full OW entry).

Good news if true. Is there a known date yet for FJ to fully enter OW?

 

[Himeno]

Good news if true. Is there a known date yet for FJ to fully enter OW?

They've just said "within 12 months" when they announced FJ would become a full member in early June.

 

[SYD]

They've just said "within 12 months" when they announced FJ would become a full member in early June.

Which is realistic, since they were part the way there.

They’ve progressed with the announcement of adopting AAdvantage as the FF program (who knows what/how long that’ll take) but other things like accessing partner lounges / luggage etc for OW status PAX flying in FJ codes could in theory start immediately on a partner by partner basis if theirs mutual benefit.

 

[Mattg]

1:1 mileage transfers are now available between HawaiianMiles and Mileage Plan. Minimum transfer is 50 miles.

Alaska | Hawaiian Airlines

We are working together to create a powerful platform for growth and opportunities across both the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines brands.

www.hawaiianairlines.com

 

[levelnine]

1:1 mileage transfers are now available between HawaiianMiles and Mileage Plan. Minimum transfer is 50 miles.

Alaska | Hawaiian Airlines

We are working together to create a powerful platform for growth and opportunities across both the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines brands.

www.hawaiianairlines.com

As I mentioned in the US Amex thread, this is huge news for those amassing US Amex MR points because it's a backdoor way of converting MR to AS miles. Previously AS miles were relatively hard to earn. Now they are extremely easy. I know of people transferring multiple millions of points to AS through this method. So expect availability to go to 0 for anything that resembles a sweet spot that an American would be interested in.