Hawaiian pilots say they’re bracing for major changes to how Hawaii flights operate. From red-eye fatigue to crew base shifts, what they’re warning may soon reshape your travel experience.
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78 thoughts on “Hawaiian Pilots Warn: Merger Could Change Hawaii Flights Forever”
The three airlines should be run separately for cost saving & safety. Hawaiian crew the B787, Alaska crew the B737 & the Horizon crewing the E-175.
The cost in pilots training & safety would stabilize the AAG with a firm foundation. It worked for years between Alaska & Horizon. AAG group with the backing of the Directors need to put an end to Pilot Whining. Grow up you are a Captain in Command with an outstanding occupation. If a new 787 base is created on the mainland or E-175 base created in the Island then move. If you want to fly a different aircraft type, fill out your application & interview.
I flew Hawaiian Airlines for decades. After my last experience in May of this year I will never book with them again. I booked a flight through the Hawaiian Airlines App. Got a confirmation number, picked my seats (Extra Comfort)
About two weeks before my flight I checked the flight through the App to order my food. There was a message that said “Your confirmation number have been changed to a Alaska Airlines flight.
I then had to download their app to check my flight, order food, check baggage, get boarding passes etc. The seats were not comparable to what I had on Hawaiian Airlines. None of the seats on Alaska had screens and were smaller compared to Hawaiian Airlines. It was not on par with what I have come to expect when I fly to Hawaii
The biggest problem I had was I booked a flight with Hawaiian, not Alaska. For them to just switch it on me is not fair.
I have been a Hawaiian airlines customer for as long as I can remember. Being from the islands I flew with Hawaiian Airlines but now live on the mainland. I have always flown with Hawaiian and have been greeted with the spirit of Aloha. I just recently flown back to the islands on Alaska Airlines and unfortunately I didn’t love it. Not quite sure yet if I would give them another try the next time I go back home to Kona, Hawaii.
My comment is more of a question for the readership. I have been an airline employee since the 1980’s and have seen and experienced many airline mergers, including other carriers with regional associations such as Eastern, New York Air, Piedmont, & PSA. Alaska has purchased Hawaiian. Hawaiian is no longer operated by a Honolulu administration. Control has shifted to Seattle. There will be changes no doubt. That is just a fact. My question is this….would people prefer to 1) retire the Hawaiian branding since the operation is now mainland based & just let the memories of the original Hawaiian Airlines experience live on -OR- 2) maintain the Hawaiian branding on the operation, despite mainland crews and mainland operational control? Alaska Airlines has publicly pledged to choose option 2, but after reading some of these comments, I’m wondering if it just might be better to let the Hawaiian branding fade away into airline history as it was and let it be fondly remembered.
I’ve only ever flown Hawaiian to the islands. From the moment you step onto the plane it’s like you’re already there. I love the aloha vibes although I wish they still served real food instead of those hot pockets. If Alaska Air changes all that, then there’s no purpose of flying Hawaiian anymore. It’s going to be like flying on any other boring airline. I sure hope they keep things the way they are but somehow I highly doubt it. It will be the end of an era. Sad face!!
We fly to Hawaii every year in November fir our birthdays. My wife and I have birthdays 1 day apart. Most of the time, we have flown United with great service and dependable flights. Last trip, our travel agency booked us on Alaskan Airlines. The trip home was a nightmare. We got to Seattle and our flight time kept bring pushed back. But that’s not the worst of it. Our gate changed 5 times!!with the last 3 times not being announced. No text. No email. No announcements on intercom and nobody at the gate to tell us! We had to keep our eyes glued to the board that showed arrivals and departure. Finally, the last gate change, we had to take a bus to the airplane, way off to the side of the airport. We didn’t find the staff friendly or helpful. We’ll never fly anything Alaskan Airlines again!
I flew last Saturday on Hawaiian from San Diego to Oahu. I fly often and almost exclusively on Hawaiian. The flight crew was friendly and helpful at the beginning of the flight. I noticed that the cabin was very plain, not the Hawaiian colors and designs I was used to. I like to fly first class and was served mixed nuts instead of macadamia nuts. The meat tasted good but you could hardly cut or chew it as it was so tough. The crew made announcements in Hawaiian. Strange. Yes, some changes have already happened. I might try other airlines in the future. Sad as Hawaiian has been my favorite. One more comment, it is expensive to go out to eat.
I’ve mostly flown on Alaska with only 1 inter island Hawaiian airlines flight. I didn’t notice any difference between the two different flights. Unfortunately I did not experience special Hawaii Aloha vibe just a different plane 😕
I cringe anyone thinks this was a merger and there are still two airlines. Alaska bought out Hawaiian. The Hawaiian Airlines name is just for marketing. There is no longer a Hawaiian airline like we used to have.
I will only fly Hawaiin. I’ve flown twelve times to Hawaii and I’ve always flown Hawaiin. I love the hospitality I get from Hawaiian. I flew back to Ontario June 14th and I had to fly Alaska. I hated it. Next time I’ll travel to LAX to fly Hawaiin.
I worked for United starting in 1968,they had acquired Capitol in 1961,you would not believe how many years it took for the Capitol people to come to grips about that takeover. Years, Airline people have a family approach to their job. And this one is going to be extremely difficult. Good luck boss.
Get over it. Alaska is in charge, Hawaiian was a dumpster fire operationally and financially.
Hawaiian was bought, and the purchaser has control.
So true! To the victor goes the spoils. If Alaska did not come to the rescue. there would be no Hawaiian! I love Hawaiian Airlines but reality sucks! And the reality is Alaska took over Hawaiian – not vice versa….
Hawaiian Airlines have held the #1 Safety certificates for years, Alaska does Not hold the same safety standards and inspections. Alaska does Not provide a meal on the long flight to Hawaii, where Hawaiian always has. I will not personally step onto an Alaska airline. Of course the experience will be lost! You must have Hawaiians on a Hawaiian flight! It’s all part of the cultural experience. Hawaii is special, Hawaiians are a huge part of or actually what makes the place special. Without Hawaiians you may as well be in Miami, or Catalina. Without Hawaiians it’s Not Hawaii. With no head of the FAA and more airline incidents than ever before, perhaps they should incorporate Hawaiian Air Policies, improve there own model of safety and the safety of employee’s and the public safety? The facts are, happier employee’s equal healthier and safer companies. Schedule predictability is huge in actually Retaining employee’s, saving $ on training new hires etc. Corporate blind spots abound.
You’re saying that the airline born in Alaska with an eskimo on the tail lacks the same safety stands and practices as the airline that operates in one of the most benign environments on the planet?
Were the Hawaiian employees willing to take PAY CUTS to save their company and enjoy their lifestyles? I doubt it!
I felt the change on a recent incident i had on a reservation I changed, it was horrible, hopefully I don’t lose my miles, if I do, im done.
Just returned from 10 days in Maui. Our flights were thru Hawaiian Airlines which I’ve flown with four other times. I had to come home a couple days early and although booked thru Hawaiian it was an Alaskan flight. There is no comparison. It would be a big mistake to change anything about how Hawaiian operates their flights and i hope Alaskan is smart enough to see that. Hawaiian knows what they are doing and that’s why i fly with them. My flight home on Alaskan got me home. Period. Hawaiian would have got me home with Aloha. Mahalo Hawaiian.
The airlines’ names are:
Alaska Airlines (Not Alaskan!)
Hawaiian Airlines
Mahalo