Booking Hawaii travel may be getting more interesting, if not confusing. That, as Alaska Airlines has just launched a new booking platform, Stays by Alaska Vacations, in conjunction with Expedia. The airline says this platform allows Hawaii travelers and others to earn or redeem Alaska miles when booking hotels and vacation rentals. This follows a another recent announcement tying Hawaiian Airlines with Costco Travel.
We checked and found the full range of Expedia Hawaii properties available. The press release indicated that in fact there are more than 900K hotel and vacation rental properties available on the portal. The service claims to streamline travel planning process for Hawaii-bound visitors among others.
Alaska Mileage Plan integration and redemption.
Through Stays by Alaska Vacations, Mileage Plan members earn one mile per dollar spent on accommodation bookings. Those holding Alaska’s Visa Signature card receive three extra miles per dollar spent when pre-paying for stays.
That has some interesting possibilities, especially if booking a Hawaii vacation in the near-future where the concerns about pre-paying don’t outweigh the significant additional mileage earning. Another option is to redeem Alaska miles for accommodations as a way to reduce overall out-of-pocket Hawaii travel expenses.
Where does that leave the Hawaiian Airlines/Costco Travel deal?
The introduction of Stays by Alaska Vacations could potentially influence the dynamics of Hawaiian Airlines’ partnership with Costco Travel. Hawaiian Airlines two months ago announced its own collaboration with Costco Travel, touting competitive travel packages that include flights, accommodations, and car rentals.
Since the outcome of the Alaska-Hawaiian merger was unknown at the time, the airline continued to operate autonomously and making deals like this one. But now what?
The partnership promised exclusive access to Hawaiian Airlines’ content for Costco Travel members, better deals, including “Neighbor Island point-to-point flights,” as well as dynamically priced ancillary services (seat selection fees, baggage fees, trip insurance, and anything else Hawaiian could sell).
However, with Alaska Airlines now offering a similar, mileage-integrated booking platform in partnership with Expedia, there could be increased pressure on the Hawaiian Airlines, Costco Travel deal.
If Alaska’s platform gains traction (and competitive pricing) it could lead to further changes in joint offerings or a re-evaluation of the loyalty benefits provided through Costco Travel vs. Expedia to maintain customer loyalty and market share in Hawaii. See more details on the Hawaiian Airlines and Costco Travel partnership.
Strategic expansion in Hawaii begins.
This move can be seen as another part of Alaska’s broader strategy to enhance its offerings in the Hawaii travel market. Already a very significant player in flights to the islands and now even more so with the pending acquisition of Hawaiian, Alaska Airlines is now expanding its services to include a full range of travel options.
The airline previously launched their Alaska Airlines Vacations portal to offer bundled discounts on airfare, hotels, car rentals, and activities. This expanded partnership with Expedia further cements Alaska’s determination to be a comprehensive travel resource.
Implications for Hawaii travel.
This latest partnership between Alaska and Expedia is likely to intensify competition within the packaged Hawaii travel sector, often seemingly dominated by Costco Travel. By uniquely integrating mileage rewards with a vast array of lodging choices, Alaska Airlines is aiming to attract a greater share of Hawaii-bound travelers.
This development may encourage other providers to enhance their own joint marketing programs in order to stay competitive, potentially benefiting travelers with more Hawaii travel options and better deals.
What’s your take on the Alaska/Expedia tie-up and whether this could put pressure on Costco Travel among others?
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Skeptical ere. These partnerships seem to only lead to higher prices with more fingers in the pie.
I’m good with this. I’m an Alaska Airlines miles hoarder, and the idea of using and earning miles through Expedia might be a win-win.
I’ve always loved flying Hawaiian Airlines because of their local vibe and amazing customer service. With Alaska taking over and this new deal with Expedia, I’m worried it’s going to lose its unique charm. Wonder what else is going to change?”