Things are moving fast in the post-merger world, and travelers to Hawaii just got a little something tangible in their inbox: new perks, free checked bags, and earlier access to upgrades—many of which are either already live, just weeks away, or happening very soon.
While the eventual integration of the Alaska and Hawaiian loyalty programs is still months off, perhaps six, the shake-up for travelers flying to or from Hawaii has already begun.
And yes, this update is worth noting, especially if you have an airline credit card, elite status, or an unused companion fare.
Free bags just became more accessible.
One of the biggest friction points for Hawaii travelers—especially families—is checked baggage. So the quiet rollout of cross-airline bag benefits is a good surprise with real-world value.
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature and Business cardholders now get a free checked bag for themselves and up to six others on the same reservation when flying on Hawaii flights operated by Hawaiian Airlines. In a reciprocal move that will also be well received, Hawaiian’s Barclay Mastercard customers now get two free bags when flying on Alaska-operated flights.
Compare that to the major airlines. This is a strong benefit that’s been widely asked for, including bag perks for co-branded cardholders. It is an immediate benefit that cuts through much of the merger noise.
There are some restrictions. The Hawaiian Mastercard benefit only applies to flights between North America and Hawaii and interisland flights, not on international routes. Only the primary cardholder qualifies. But the fact that this is happening at all, before the full loyalty program integration, is a clear signal of deeper coordination we hope to see underway.
Early elite perks are now within reach.
Alaska’s new milestone-based loyalty system lets members begin unlocking perks with as few as 10,000 elite-qualifying miles. In frequent flyer math, that’s the equivalent of two roundtrips from the West Coast to Hawaii in a year. What you can unlock depends on your preferences and may or may not be considered of adequate value by some: WiFi access, pre-ordered meals like the Signature fruit and cheese platter, lounge passes, and bonus miles.
For travelers who only fly to Hawaii a few times a year, this may change the game. Most programs don’t offer anything below the 25,000-mile mark. Delta’s Medallion tiers and United’s Premier levels have nothing comparable until much higher spend or distance is reached. Even Southwest’s Companion Pass, though generous, requires significantly more flights or credit card activity. On the other hand, the value of the low-tier perks may not provide adequate value to attract loyalty.
This shift from fixed tiers to customizable perks at earlier milestones is Alaska’s attempt to soften the elite divide while attempting to pull more casual flyers into the loyalty funnel. Whether you care about cheese plates or want WiFi that may soon be free, you can now have something to choose from based on your own travel habits.
Hawaii seating upgrades finally arrive for top elites.
Starting April 24, travelers with Alaska’s MVP Gold 75K or 100K status can book Hawaiian Airlines’ Extra Comfort seats at no charge when flying on a Main Cabin fare. These extra-legroom seats come with early boarding.
This is noteworthy for a few reasons. First, it’s one of the few public-facing changes that demonstrates that Hawaiian isn’t just being absorbed—now it’s beginning to reflect Alaska’s elite structures. Second, it mirrors similar benefits across global alliances: Delta elites getting Comfort+ on Air France, or United elites with access to preferred extra legroom seats on Lufthansa.
It also makes the case for top-tier flyers to keep their business in the ecosystem. There’s been concern that the Alaska–Hawaiian merger could dilute benefits or limit options. But this perk, though clearly narrow in scope, indicates otherwise.
The companion fare gets a Hawaii twist.
One of the most popular perks in Alaska’s toolkit is the annual companion fare—the airline’s BOGO ticket that, until now, could only be used on Alaska aircraft. That changes this summer, when those companion fares will become valid for flights operated by Hawaiian Airlines within North America. Many of you have commented on wanting that feature to be extended, and now it will be.
This is a strategic expansion because many West Coast flyers have used the companion fare to reach Hawaii more affordably. However, having the option to redeem it on Hawaiian-operated flights opens new routes, new departure cities, and more timing flexibility, especially during travel periods when award inventory can be in tight supply.
No precise date has been given yet for this perk to go live, but it’s expected sometime mid-summer. This suggests that both airlines are aligning backend systems faster than expected.
What travelers still can’t do.
Despite the momentum, some major gaps remain for Hawaii-bound flyers. The perks announced so far do not apply to international routes to Asia and the South Pacific; those are excluded. That means travelers to places like Tokyo, and Papeete won’t see any of these upgrades or free bags—at least for now.
There remains a list of regular customer requests that will need to be addressed as the two programs become one. These will likely come later, as the fully unified program is revealed. But for now, travelers juggling both accounts may still feel caught in between, but less frustrated.
Bottom line for Hawaii travelers.
If you’re heading to the islands this year and have status, a companion fare, or either airline’s credit card, it’s time to look at your upcoming benefits. The timing of this shake-up, right before summer travel, shows a clear strategy: Alaska and Hawaiian want travelers to feel the benefits of the deal before this gets finalized.
This is a smart move for Alaska Airlines, which is intent on driving continued loyalty in Hawaii. Not everyone wins yet, but for those flying with intention—or at least with cheese plate or paid Wi-Fi aspirations—there’s suddenly at least a little more to gain.
What changes excite you, or what are you waiting to see happen? Please share your comments.
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thanks for all of the intel on all things Hawaii. i’ll be flying from LAX to HNL at the end of June and I’m bummed that the 787 isn’t equipped with the Starlink WiFi. Do you have any knowledge as to when the 787 might get it installed?
Great news on the companion fare being extended soon to HA flights!
BOH team, suggestion to include a link to your information source. It would be great to be able to read the press release or wherever you got the info. Thanks!
Actually there are fewer options for travelling to Hawaii from the west Coast until the companion fare “sharing” is made available. Almost all routes that Alaska had direct from the west coast have already been converted to Hawaiian flights. So right now if I wanted to use my companion certificate I would have to fly through Seattle to get to HNL. My guess is they will wait until the majority of the summer high season is over with before allowing the Alaska Companion certificates to be used in Hawaiian flights. Not very nice for people who have had the Alaska cards for years.
Also, the flight from Seattle is $100 More each way and that’s if you originate from Seattle (the dates I checked). If you originate from nearby Portland the fare is over $200 more each way.
Does Hawaii charge for golf bags apart from luggage? If so, how much
i wonder what will happen to the annual $100 discount on buying a round trip ticket if you are a Barclays member. Will that go away?
IMO moving the companion fare from Alaska to Hawaiian airlines flights is one way to remove this benefit off Alaska’s table. If Alaska deteriorates the Hawaiian planes and services so be it for the companion fares also. Surprised this companion fare isn’t limited to the Continental US (48 us states) excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Most online and such always exclude Alaska and Hawaii in the small print for shipping. IMO this might be a plan to slide it into a place just for elimination.
We’re booked through Alaska for our trip to Oahu later this month (April 25th). We’re on an Alaska flight to Seattle, but a Hawaiian flight to Oahu, then American back home. Being Hawaiian Barclay card holders do we get two free checked bags each on all of the planes involved?
A big warning about flights down to Australia from Hawaii. We flew HNL-SYD on Hawaiian on 29 March. Upon arrival, Australian BioSecurity crew came aboard and everybody was told to stay seated while all overhead bins were opened and the whole cabin was fumigated with an aerosol. Then we stayed seated for about ten minutes while the a/c ran full blast. Then we got off. But about 36 hours later my wife and I started having strong flu symptoms, even though we had stayed mostly in out hotel room the following day. Went to Urgent Care and staff said we probably got germs from sick pax when they kept everyone on the plane with strong air circulation after landing. This was the first time in six visits that the fumigation was so long and extensive. So, bottom line, bring a Covid-grade mask and wear it during fumigation. Not doing so cost us over $400 in medical billings plus cost or antibiotics.
Aloha BOH Editors!
Sadly, benefits for frequent West Coast visitors on Alaska are out of luck with their loyalty benefits right now. We cannot book a flight on an Alaska flight, only on Hawaiian, and we don’t get upgraded to premium or first class if you are an elite member.
The only flights we have access to on Hawaiian are n9w more costby, the schedules have changed and if you book with points it means no nonstop flights. Been trying to book a flight for April/May but the cost is up and I cannot book a seat until after I pay.
Feels like loyalty is out. When I contacted Alaska, they asked for my patience as the merger concludes…but I believe they have their sights on international flights out of Seattle. SFO/West Coast travelers are not their priority even though we were their safety net post pandemic.
Aloha,
What I want them to sort out is what is my actual status? I log in one week, it’s Platinum – another week it’s back to Gold. Two more weeks, back to Platinum and now last week back to Gold.
What the heck is going on and it’s hard to book flights and make decisions if I don’t know what the heck my status is/going to be on Hawaiian specifically.
Mahalo BOH for all you do.
Every time airlines merge, the benefits just shrink. They start with little perks like this to get people excited, then quietly remove them later. I stopped chasing loyalty a long time ago.
Used my Alaska credit card companion fare last year, and it was solid. If I can use it on Hawaiian this year, that’s an actual win. But I don’t expect them to make loyalty easy.
We’re heading to Maui this summer from the mid west, and I’ll admit the perks will help. That said, the bigger question is how much fares will go up once all this integration talk turns into reality.
These loyalty programs promise more than they deliver, no matter the airline, and now more than ever. I’ll wait to see how it actually plays out once the systems merge. Still very skeptical across the airlines.
I’ve had the BA Alaska card for years. The baggage perk is nice in theory, but it’s a bit overhyped to keep the merger benefits in the news.
I have the Hawaiian card and don’t see this changing much for me. Most of our flights are interisland, and those still seem to be left out.