Alaska Airlines revealed two interesting and positive developments and a curve ball, possibly shedding light on what will happen whenever Hawaii travel resumes. The first relates to more space on-board, while the second about protecting your money with up to two years to travel. Lastly, an Alaska A320, barely a decade old, was just scrapped for parts. All signs of the times. Please read on, and keep in mind these changes are for all Alaska Air flights, including Hawaii.
Middle seats blocked on Alaska Airlines Hawaii flights.
First, the company announced it will keep all middle seats empty. At present, that is being offered only on bookings through 5/31/20. First class seats are also being reduced from 12 to 6 on every Alaska Airlines Hawaii flight. We expect that to be extended and subsequently broadened to other airlines, and we’ll explain why below.
Alaska Airlines already said, “We’ll re-evaluate our efforts to provide extra space in mid-May.” In other words, stay tuned for more.
Is this the new normal on flights to Hawaii?
Reading between the lines, today’s announcement makes clear the point that this will be an ongoing feature for some time, once Hawaii flights resume. With demand for air travel at the lowest point ever, this will undoubtedly be a most welcome feature for returning passengers while not further encumbering the airlines.
Furthermore, we fully expect to see the other airlines provide the same level of separation. Those wishing to sit closer together on Alaska are being asked to make the request at the point of reservation or at the airport.
Other airlines are already following suit. London behemoth EasyJet, with 1,o00+ routes, announced today that it will eliminate middle seats in order to encourage more people to travel upon flight resumptions. “That is something that we will do because I think that is something that the customers would like to see.” — Johan Lundgren, EasyJet CEO.
Historic ticket cancellation extension.
For anyone who has or will cancel Alaska Airlines flights in March through May 2020, the credits will be extended for booking through July 5, 2021, with travel to commence by May 31, 2022.
For any credits you have at Alaska that were deposited prior to March 1, 2020, your booking (not travel) window will be extended by 6 months. You do not need to travel before that 6-month extension date – you just need to book your ticket by then.
Why a relatively new Alaska Airbus A320 was junked for parts.
Yesterday, an Alaska plane met a fate that seemed unfathomable. One of their legacy A320 aircraft obtained when they acquired Virgin America was disassembled for spare parts. The plane was a mere 12 years old, whereas the average airliner flies for 3 decades.
We expect to see a lot more of this as airlines downsize following epic changes and fleets are reorganized. The plane was at the end of its Alaska lease apparently, and there was more value to the owner in the parts rather than in the whole plane. It also eliminated the need for expensive aircraft storage, which can be tens of thousands of dollars per plane each month.
The plane in question was not ETOPS certified, and therefore was never used for Hawaii flights.
Beat of Hawaii photo of Alaska Airlines 737-800 at Lihue.
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Hi, my wife and I would like to travel to Hawaii once things start up again. I have been to the Big Island and Ohau, but my wife has never been to Hawaii. what island(s) would you suggest for a first-timer that I can take my wife to? We will have 10 days. We don’t golf and are in our early 60’s and good health so mobility is not an issue. Thank you, Kerry
Hi Kerry.
As we’ve said before, you’ll get as many answers to your question as there are islands. It is all up to what you value. We did a comparison of the islands that’s contained in this post series. Have you looked at that? Let us know if you have any questions.
Aloha.
Have you heard any news of Hawaiian airlines extending their waivers also?
thanks so much for keeping Gus up to date, been a subscriber for a while and have recommended your site to others. you have got it all. thanks and yes I will be back to the islands sometime next year, maybe fall, but probably spring. yayayayay and aloha
Hi Mary.
Thanks for your comments and for being a regular.
Aloha. R/J
Hi, from a loyal reader of Beat of Hawaii to get the latest news of and about Hawaii. I am a frequent flyer on Alaska, San Jose to Lihue. Something that might be of interest to some people who also fly this same route. I am flying this coming Sep’t staying for two weeks. And this time I am flying using Alaska air miles. Normally the air miles needed are 40,000 round trip. However, Alaska has flights using only 23,000 miles. A huge reduction imho.
Thank you
Eddie
Hi Eddie.
Thanks for that tip, and for being a regular. We really appreciate it.
Aloha. R/J
While this is an improvement for spacing, it doesn’t address the elephant in the plane that decreases distancing, allowing seats to recline, when passengers recline their seat into the air space of the passenger behind their seat. Of course if they were smart, they wouldn’t do it because they have now positioned themselves right into the face of the other passenger well within their exhale space. To get better distancing, it should be, no middle seat one row, then only middle seat next row, then no middle next row and so on through the plane. And for one aisle planes, the no middle seat row coupled across from a middle seat row. For two aisle planes only the middle row needs adjusting. Here again, reclining needs to be restricted or again the two heads will be getting too close. These measures unfortunately for the airlines profits cuts the numbers by at least another third.
Many thoughts: if one is that concerned about public exposure then that person should probably not be on an airplane. Are y’all sure this is what you want? We are letting our leaders run our lives and this entire situation while we just roll over and die. You know that we the people have the power. Restricting the global economy (severely) Is not the answer nor even a viable suggestion. This entire episode was just to postpone and buy some time which we have done so let’s knock off the mumbo-jumbo and get back to work, and allow the airlines to do same.
Good answer … this coming from a 30 year commercial airline pilot based in HNL for 10+ years … finally, someone “gets it”.
As we said in the Navy … BZ … i.e., “well done”.
Purchased a flight to Kaua’i May 21-25, 2020. Any information if visiting will be permitted then? Refundable tickets of course. Thank you.
Hi Valerie.
No update quite yet. We suggest you check back in the next two weeks, as we expect to know much more.
Aloha.
What to visit Hawaii sometime soon. What part of the island is the best to visit.
Having the middle seat empty is great but what about that person behind you coughing and sneezing. Maybe every other row should be empty also.
OMG, please turn off replies to this thread for me please. I thought they would only be to my comment not every comment made on this article. Thanks!
Hi Kathy.
We did turn that off. For future reference, that is all something you can manage directly. Guests have been asking for ability to subscribe to comment threads as the volume of comments makes it difficult to keep track.
Aloha.
Over the years, you’ve become an invaluable source for understanding Hawaiian travel, starting from the big picture you provide all the way down to the details. Your editorial policies and coverage are both insightful AND practical for anyone who travels to Hawaii. Mahalo for everything you do.
ps – it’s quite interesting to see the contrast between how Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are treating their customers in this Covid-19 world. The kind of information you provide helps this reader make better decisions about where to spend my travel dollars.
Hi St L.
Thanks!! You just made our day.
Aloha.
I received the full announcement from Alaska in an email as well. One interesting piece you did not include above (separate from the cancellation part) is new bookings .
The way I am reading that, is if I book my planned October 31st flight to Kauai by May 31st, if for some reason I need to cancel/postpone it I can do so without a fee. Waiting until closer to May 31st to book that flight offers me more room in 2021 to reschedule. If I wait until late summer to book, all bets are off. Or, am I reading this all wrong?
“Book without worry.
Our Peace of Mind waiver, which began on February 27, has been extended. For new ticket purchases made before May 31, 2020, you can change or cancel without a fee. Fare differences may apply and non-refundable tickets will receive credit towards a future flight.”
Mahalo
Hi Craig.
Seems like you’re reading this correctly. More will be revealed.
Aloha.