Latest news today February 9, 2017 on Hawaiian Airlines and whether or not the company’s pilots are heading towards a work stoppage.
Today’s News from Hawaiian Airlines
A strike has almost definitely been averted and a deal should soon be consummated. The parties are finalizing terms of the proposal and then a vote will happen. Pilot’s are set to receive up to 40% more – depending on aircraft and seniority. That means that their most seasoned A330 captains’ pay will rise from about $223K to $313K. It will be retroactive to 2015, resulting in an additional cost to Hawaiian of about $40M.
“It definitely will be a significant gain year over year for the pilots.” — Hoon Lee, ALPA. Â Interestingly, union leaders voted 3 to 1 to accept the deal, with Lee voting against it because he didn’t feel it represented adequate value.
Beat of Hawaii indicated in January the a deal was likely at hand.
News at that time from executives at Hawaiian Airlines revealed a lot about what to expect in the pilots’ union negotiations:
Hawaiian Airlines booked a $20 million expense in the last quarter specifically related to the ongoing pilot labor contract negotiations. While the company did not portray that charge as an indication that a settlement is near, it is our sense that in fact that is the most clear indication to date that a settlement is approaching. Obviously the company and the union would not comment further so as not to prejudice the negotiations.Â
Is a strike imminent? Definitely not. We are continuing to apprise you of this latest development. At Beat of Hawaii are more convinced than ever there will ultimately be no strike. We are continuing to make reservations and fly on Hawaiian Airlines ourselves.
Should you purchase travel insurance? While not needed anymore to cover a strike, you can and should at least consider buying travel insurance to cover all of your non-refundable travel expenses.
Whether to buy trip insurance is a completely personal decision. We’re choosing to do so more frequently now than in the past for multiple reasons. Recently for example, we risked missing a flight and a cruise when the possibility of a hurricane threatened service interruptions. Trip insurance would have added peace of mind and in the end cost less than the airline change fees and other expenses we subsequently incurred.
Note: Beat of Hawaii will continue to update this page as changes warrant.
Regarding Travel insurance and possible pilots’ strike, the agents tell me that if the strike is ‘foreseen’ such as this one and insurance was purchased after the fact (for those of us who already have our tickets on HA), it would not be covered under trip cancellation or trip interruption. So it looks as if travel insurance would only cover if the insured had selected the very expensive “cancel for any reason” and chose to cancel the entire trip. So, I guess we gamble with our HA reservations.
Hi Jane,
Suggest you check further as this is not correct information. Our friends at TravelGuard have a strike related no coverage list and Hawaiian isn’t on it.
Aloha.
I am flying Oct 20 to Maui and return Nov 3. It is not looking good, as they could be on strike?
Hi Heather.
If we were giving it odds, perhaps 15% change of actual strike. If worried, suggest you consider trip insurance.
Aloha.
If a strike happens, does our air fare get reimbursed by the airline. If it happens while we are there will we get 1/2 of it??
Hi Robert.
Not as far as we know.
Aloha.
If a Round Trip flight has been paid for and the Airline can’t fulfill there obligation to it, what’s my recourse.
I did buy nonrefundable Tickets, that means If I Bale.
I did get Trip Insurance for that.
Hello I was wondering if you had any new news on the strike? I am trying to fly to Oahu 9-26 through 10-3.
Just wondering if it is yet possible to know when the earliest date is that the 30 day cooling-off period could commence? (Noting that mediation will likely end on Friday July 1st?)
This would greatly help in planning a very important trip to Hawaii.
Many Thanks
Hi John,
Very unlikely that a strike will actually occur. We’ll update as soon as we have more information.
Aloha.
I much appreciate your speedy reply-thank you. I suppose I am just trying to calculate when the 30 day cooling off period could start at the earliest, if it ever did. Could it start by next week-end?
My trip is complicated and very dependent upon timing. With mediation probably ending at the end of this week?…. are the airline and/or the pilots able to go straight to a 30 day warning, assuming arbitration is rejected, or are there some other hoops everyone has to jump through?
Would government permission to leave mediation follow immediately at the end of this week?
Perhaps this is an unfair question but I was hoping some past experience with these issues might offer a clue. I note that, unsurprisingly, no word ever comes out of mediation as to how things are going. Thank you for your great help during this uncertain time. I realise that you rate a strike as unlikely–but unlikely is not quite helping me with a very expensive decision involving many people. 🙂
Thank again.
Hi John,
Wish we had more answers to your good questions. We’ll update as soon as we hear more.
Aloha.
Maybe a suggestion would be for this individual to contact the airline itself and not the online info company that is simply providing the public with news.
Good morning, I am flying Hawaiian Airlines from NYC to Honolulu on July 31. Have inter island flight on the 7th of August. Then back to NYC on Aug. 14th.. Just wondering what your feelings were on the possible strike.. I don’t have trip insurance but booked on amex card.. Please advise..Thank you for your website. Always very informative.
Hi Patti,
You will in all likelihood be fine. We have flights with Hawaiian in September ourselves. Strike is not at all likely. Our sense is that credit card would protect the money you spent but wouldn’t help you get alternative transportation. Thank you.
Aloha.
GOING JULY 18 WITH A INTERISLAND FLIGHT BOOKED ON THE 25 COMING BACK TO SEATTLE AUG 1. WHAT IS THE LATEST ON THEE STRIKE.
Leaving from mainland to Oahu for family vacation between Aug 2-13. I’m worry bout HAL strike. Also, I did not purchase insurance.
We are booked to fly to Hawaii on October 16 and fly home again on October 22. Should we go ahead with booking accommodation and tours etc. Your advice would be most appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Kathryn.
Yes we continue to reiterate that an actual strike is very unlikely. If you wish to purchase travel insurance or have accommodations you can cancel, that might be useful just as a precaution.
Aloha.
We are flying to Kauai 7/27 then to Hilo 8/1, then home 8/17. Should we be worried ? We paid for our tickets on credit card that has been paid already!