Alaska + Hawaiian: Questions and Answers

Alfredo G. Evangelista | Assistant Editor

Airplanes link our island the way ferries and bridges connect other places.
I remember my first trip on an airplane. I was around five years old. I was with my Mom and we were onboard a Hawaiian Airlines propeller plane traveling to Hilo to attend a funeral. It was a bumpy ride and yes, I threw up. Over the years, air travel became less bumpy as technology improved. Our family periodically travelled to O‘ahu to attend family gatherings. Our church youth choir traveled to Kaua‘i and O‘ahu. My high school debate and speech teams traveled to O‘ahu for tournaments.

I think my first trip to the mainland was as a senior in high school to attend a church conference—the Episcopal Asian-American Strategic Task Force (E.A.S.T.) conference in San Diego via Western Airlines. Later in the summer of 1976, our church youth choir (which had evolved into a Filipino Folk Dance troupe) toured the West Coast–first on Canadian Pacific Airlines then United Airlines. At the end of the trip, I flew on a United Airlines flight to Chicago and then hopped on a now defunct small carrier to attend Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin. At Ripon, it amazed me many of my classmates had never flown in an airplane; a classmate from Pittsburgh traveled to Wisconsin via train. When I transferred to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, I flew United Airlines (tears would well up in my eyes when I heard Honolulu City Lights while boarding) and sometimes Hawaiian Airlines, whose terminal at that time was separate from LAX.

After graduation from law school, my interisland work travel was primarily through Aloha Airlines although at one time my boss purchased me a pass on Mid Pacific Air which featured prop planes and jets. Mid Pacific Air folded and in 2008, Aloha Airlines followed suit—and I was upset because I was saving my AlohaPass miles for a future trip to the mainland. With Aloha Airlines’ bankruptcy, the consumers lost all their mileage points.

I get it that it’s tough to run an airline but after the failed interisland ferry that apparently Hawai‘i is still paying for, airline travel is the only way to go between the islands.

In December 2023, the Alaska Air Group (the flagship of the 49th state) announced the acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines (the flagship of the 50th state). Personally, I was concerned because I didn’t want to lose any of my Hawaiian Miles. So I thought an acquisition (or a merger, depending on whose viewpoint) would be best instead of a third bankruptcy by Hawaiian Airlines.

The merger was completed in September 2024 and now—one year later–the integration is becoming more visible to consumers.

In early September, Diana Birkett Rakow was introduced as the new CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, effective October 29. Rakow will be based in Honolulu, one of the seven hubs of Alaska Air Group (Seattle, Honolulu, Portland, Anchorage, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco). Rakow has been with the airlines for eight years and previously worked at Group Health and Kaiser Permanente. Educated at Harvard and the University of Washington, Rakow was previously a health policy advisor for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. She will continue to report to Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Air Group.

Prior to the announcement of Rakow’s promotion, the news was abuzz with the announcement the mileage programs of both Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines would become “Atmos.”

With many so-called experts posting on their own websites as to what they thought would happen, The Fil-Am Voice contacted Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines for information and we received responses to our questions from Alex Da Silva, Regional Communications Director-Hawai‘i and Jacob Aki, Senior Public Affairs Manager.

The questions covered a range of topics such as routes, operations, mileage, and employees.

The Fil-Am Voice: It’s been reported some Hawaiian Airlines routes will be canceled, including Boston. Which routes are affected and when? Will Alaska offer alternatives?

Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: In August we announced the suspension of Honolulu–Incheon (South Korea), Honolulu–Fukuoka (Japan), and Honolulu–Boston service. Final flights will be Nov. 19 from Fukuoka and Boston to Honolulu, and Nov. 21 from Incheon to Honolulu. Impacted guests will be offered re-accommodation or refunds.

These changes allow us to redeploy aircraft to strengthen service between Honolulu and Sydney, Papeete, Los Angeles, Seattle, and other high-demand markets.

• Honolulu–Sydney: increased to daily flights (Dec. 18–Jan. 31)
• Honolulu–Papeete: second weekly flight beginning March
• Honolulu–Los Angeles: fifth daily flight during peak periods (Nov. 21–Dec. 1, Dec. 19–Jan. 6)
• Honolulu–Seattle: fourth daily flight (late Nov.–mid-April)

Hawaiian Airlines guests can continue to fly between Hawai‘i and Incheon or Fukuoka via one-stop itineraries through Hawaiian’s other Japan destinations, including twice-daily Honolulu-Haneda and daily Osaka services, and partner carriers, including oneworld alliance members. Hawaiian Airlines will also launch nonstop flights five times a week between Seattle and Incheon on Sept. 12. Between Honolulu and Boston, guests can connect daily on Alaska Airlines’ flights via Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and San Diego.
The Fil-Am Voice: Japan and Korea are major markets. Are there additional changes?

Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Yes. Honolulu–Incheon and Honolulu–Fukuoka flights will end in November. How-ever, we will continue 14 weekly flights to Tokyo Haneda and maintain Osaka service.

The Fil-Am Voice: Hawaiian once flew to Manila. Are there plans to bring that route back under the merger?

Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: There are no current plans to resume Honolulu–Manila service. However, through our partnership with Philippine Airlines, guests can still conveniently travel to Manila on nonstop flights from Honolulu, Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. These flights can be booked on alaskaair.com, with Atmos Rewards points earned and redeemed.

The Fil-Am Voice: Will direct Maui–Las Vegas flights continue?
Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Yes. Direct Maui–Las Vegas service will continue.

The Fil-Am Voice: Late flights from O‘ahu to Maui were a challenge last year. Now that weekday 9:30 p.m. flights have returned, will they continue?
Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Yes. We intend to keep late-night interisland flights. Neighbor island residents told us this service is essential for attending evening events on O‘ahu without overnight stays, and we are committed to maintaining this access.

The Fil-Am Voice: Some reports suggest only Hawaiian will operate in Hawai‘i. Can you clarify?

Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: The long-term plan is for Hawaiian Airlines to operate all flights to, from and between the Hawaiian Islands under the combined company. This transition will take several years to complete.
The Fil-Am Voice: Are there plans to expand or improve premier lounges across Hawai‘i and the West Coast?

Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Yes. Hawaiian currently operates premier clubs on O‘ahu, Maui, Hawai‘i island, and Kaua‘i, in addition to the Plumeria Lounge in Honolulu. A new flagship premium lounge at Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is scheduled to open in 2028, located in the Mauka Concourse and significantly larger than existing spaces.

Alaska Lounges are available in Anchorage, JFK, Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle, with new lounges planned for Honolulu and San Diego.
The Fil-Am Voice: Have Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines operations been co-located at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)?

Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Yes. Hawaiian has moved check-in operations to Terminal 6, co-locating with Alaska. This provides faster access between check-in, gates, and baggage claim, making travel more seamless.

The Fil-Am Voice: Will aircraft configurations change on mainland routes?
Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Our fleet strategy will continue to use the Boeing 737 MAX, A321neo, and A330 aircraft across transpacific and mainland markets.

The Fil-Am Voice: Will premier members still have a dedi-cated check-in line?
Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Yes. Preferred check-in lines for status members will remain in place.

The Fil-Am Voice: What happens to HawaiianMiles members under Atmos?
Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: HawaiianMiles accounts will transition into Atmos on October 1. Miles convert 1:1 into Atmos points, preserving their value. Balances will merge into Atmos profiles, and members can redeem them at the same value.

The Fil-Am Voice: How do Atmos tiers compare to Hawaiian’s tiers?
Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Atmos offers four tiers:
• Atmos Silver (20,000 pts) ~ Pualani Gold
• Atmos Gold (40,000 pts) ~ Pualani Platinum
• Atmos Platinum (75,000 pts)
• Atmos Titanium (100,000 pts)

The Fil-Am Voice: Does it take more flights or segments to achieve status now?
Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Not necessarily. Atmos offers three ways to accrue points—mileage, revenue, or segment-based—so members can choose the method that best fits their travel habits. Elite members also earn bonus points, making status accessible in multiple ways.

The Fil-Am Voice: Are award levels for Hawai‘i–mainland flights the same as before?

Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Yes. Core award levels remain consistent with HawaiianMiles.

The Fil-Am Voice: Do West Coast and East Coast flights require the same number of points?

Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: No. Atmos uses dynamic pricing, so East Coast flights generally require more points than West Coast—similar to HawaiianMiles.

The Fil-Am Voice: Will status earned in 2025 carry into 2026?

Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Yes. Any status achieved in 2025 will be honored through the 2026 program year.

The Fil-Am Voice: What happens to Hawaiian Airlines credit cards?
Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Existing Hawaiian Airlines credit cards (issued through Barclays) remain active and will now earn Atmos points. Balances cannot transfer from Hawaiian Airlines credits cards to new Atmos cards. All Atmos cards are issued as Visa through Bank of America. Spending bonuses apply only to new purchases, not balance transfers.

The benefit of two free checked bags when purchasing tickets directly on Hawaiian or Alaska with your card will continue.

The Fil-Am Voice: Were Hawaiian Airlines union employees guaranteed job security?

Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Yes. All union positions were preserved.
The Fil-Am Voice: What about non-union employees?

Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Some non-union positions have been eliminated due to duplicative natures. We are supporting affected employees with severance payments and career transition resources.

The Fil-Am Voice: Do union employees lose seniority or benefits?
Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: No. Seniority and benefits will be preserved and union workgroups for both Alaska and Hawaiian have begun joint collective bargaining negotiations.

The Fil-Am Voice: Will employee and retiree flight benefits continue?
Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Yes. Flight benefits remain unchanged.
The Fil-Am Voice: What positive changes can Hawai‘i-based customers expect?
Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: A larger network, more schedule options, late-night interisland flights, expanded lounge access, upcoming refurbished cabins on the Airbus A330s, our Huaka‘i by Hawaiian resident travel program, and Atmos Rewards with more partners and flexibility.
The Fil-Am Voice: What about fares?

Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Fares will continue to reflect demand, route, and season. Our focus is adding seats and options where demand is highest, which helps keep fares competitive, along with promotions for Hawai‘i residents.
The Fil-Am Voice: What about onboard food?

Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: We will continue to offer local favorites on Hawai‘i routes while expanding pre-order and seasonal menu options.
The Fil-Am Voice: What about in-flight entertainment?
Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Streaming to personal devices remains standard, with a broader library. Seatback systems will continue where available.
The Fil-Am Voice: Internet access?
Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Building off Hawaiian’s position as an early innovator, Alaska will roll out Starlink Wi-Fi starting in 2026, with the full fleet equipped by 2027.

The Fil-Am Voice: Will customer service improve—especially getting a “live voice”?

Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Yes. We are focused on improving our call center experience for our guests.

The Fil-Am Voice: Is the Pualani logo going away?

Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: No. The Hawaiian Airlines brand, including the Pualani logo, will be preserved in perpetuity.

The Fil-Am Voice: Who is leading the new airline in Hawai‘i? How will culture be protected?

Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Hawaiian Airlines is currently led by CEO Joe Sprague. Incoming Hawaiian Airlines CEO Diana Birkett Rakow will take the helm on October 29 and lead Hawai‘i operations, supported by a senior Hawai‘i-based leadership team. We remain committed to cultural stewardship through our existing efforts to promote Hawaiian language and sponsorship of community programs.

The Fil-Am Voice: Will community giving continue—including to smaller nonprofits and groups outside O‘ahu?

Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: Yes. Both airlines have strong records of community investment, and those commitments will continue statewide.
The Fil-Am Voice: Anything else for our Maui readers, especially the Filipino community?

Alaska Airlines+Hawaiian Airlines: We know how important travel is for staying connected. That’s why we’re committed to making every journey as seamless as possible, whether it’s a trip to the West Coast, a visit to the Philippines through our partners, or a quick hop between islands. Our goal is to remain Hawai‘i’s most trusted airline, delivering safety, reliability, care, and a travel experience that honors the deep bonds our communities share across Hawai‘i and beyond.

Assistant Editor Alfredo G. Evangelista is a graduate of Maui High School (1976), the University of Southern California (1980), and the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law (1983). He is a sole practitioner at Law Offices of Alfredo Evangelista, A Limited Liability Law Company, concentrating in estate planning, business start-up and consultation and nonprofit corporations. He has been practicing law for 41 years (since 1983) and returned home in 2010 to be with his family and to marry his high school sweetheart, the former Basilia Tumacder Idica.