Key Points

• Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines completed their merger in September 2025, creating the fifth-largest U.S. airline.
• The combined network now serves 138 destinations with 365 aircraft, opening new award booking opportunities.
• Mileage Plan members gained access to Hawaiian's Asia-Pacific routes while maintaining Alaska's strong West Coast coverage.

Introduction

The Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines merger became official in September 2025, and the first full quarter of combined operations just wrapped up. For points and miles collectors, this merger represents one of the most significant airline consolidations in recent years—and the implications for award travel are substantial. Here's what the combined carrier achieved in 2025 and what it means for your travel strategy going forward.

The Merger by the Numbers

Network Expansion

The combined Alaska-Hawaiian network now operates 365 aircraft serving 138 destinations across North America, Asia, and the Pacific. This represents a significant expansion from Alaska's primarily West Coast and transcontinental focus to include Hawaiian's dominant inter-island service and Asia-Pacific routes.

Key statistics from 2025:

• 1,300+ daily flights
• 54 million passengers served (combined)
• Maintained top-three on-time performance among U.S. carriers
• Preserved both airlines' distinct brand identities

What This Means for Award Travelers

The merger creates several strategic advantages for Mileage Plan members. Alaska's already-strong West Coast network now connects seamlessly with Hawaiian's inter-island service, making multi-destination Hawaii trips more accessible with miles. More importantly, Hawaiian's routes to Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney, and other Asia-Pacific destinations are now bookable with Alaska Mileage Plan miles.

Alaska Mileage Plan: Your Access Point

Alaska's Mileage Plan remains the primary loyalty program for both airlines, and it's one of the most valuable programs for award travelers. The program's partnership with both oneworld (through Alaska) and Hawaiian's legacy partnerships creates unique redemption opportunities.

Top Redemption Sweet Spots

With the combined network, several award bookings became significantly more attractive:

West Coast to Hawaii Inter-Island CombinationsBook a single award ticket from Seattle or San Francisco to multiple Hawaiian islands using Alaska miles. Previously, you'd need to piece together Alaska flights to Hawaii and then separate Hawaiian inter-island tickets.

Asia-Pacific via HawaiiHawaiian's routes to Tokyo Narita, Seoul Incheon, and Sydney are now bookable with Alaska miles at competitive rates. These routes often have better award availability than transpacific flights from the mainland.

Transcontinental with Hawaii ExtensionsCombine Alaska's strong East Coast service with Hawaiian inter-island connections for coast-to-coast-to-islands trips on a single award ticket.

Credit Card Strategy for the Combined Network

The merger makes Alaska Airlines credit cards more valuable than ever. With expanded route options and maintained top-tier customer satisfaction, these cards deserve a fresh look in your wallet strategy.

Best Credit Cards for Alaska-Hawaiian Travel

The best Alaska Airlines credit cards now offer access to both carriers' networks. The Bank of America Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card remains the primary option, offering:

• 40,000-60,000 bonus miles (offers vary)
• Companion fare from $122 each year
• First checked bag free for you and up to six guests
• Miles that work on both Alaska and Hawaiian flights

For travelers who value flexibility, the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve provide strong alternatives. While these cards don't earn Alaska miles directly, Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to multiple airline partners, giving you options if Alaska award availability doesn't work for your dates.

The Capital One Venture X offers another strategic approach. You can book Alaska and Hawaiian flights through Capital One Travel and earn 10x miles on hotels and 5x on flights, then use those miles to offset travel purchases including Alaska-Hawaiian tickets.

What Changed (and What Didn't)

Service Standards Maintained

Both airlines kept their distinct service approaches in 2025. Alaska maintained its West Coast focus with premium class service, while Hawaiian preserved its signature island hospitality and complimentary inter-island meals in Main Cabin.

Operational Excellence Continued

The combined carrier maintained top-tier on-time performance throughout 2025, finishing in the top three among U.S. airlines. For award travelers, this reliability matters—irregular operations can strand you when traveling on partner awards or tight connections.

Fleet and Route Updates

Alaska continued its fleet modernization with new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, while Hawaiian maintained its Airbus A330 fleet for long-haul routes. The carriers kept their separate flight operations in 2025, maintaining existing route structures while exploring new connection opportunities.

Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond

Alaska announced plans for gradual integration throughout 2026, with a focus on enhancing the guest experience while maintaining the operational reliability both carriers are known for. For points collectors, this means:

Expanded Partnership OpportunitiesAs the airlines integrate systems, expect improved award booking between the two carriers and potentially new airline partnerships leveraging the combined network's reach.

Product HarmonizationAlaska hinted at bringing premium products to more routes, which could mean enhanced business class options on Hawaiian's long-haul international flights or Alaska's transcontinental services.

Technology IntegrationThe airlines committed to unified booking systems by late 2026, which should simplify award searches and make multi-carrier bookings more straightforward.

Strategic Considerations for Award Travelers

Book Hawaiian Routes Now

If you have Hawaii Asia-Pacific travel planned, book Hawaiian routes while award availability remains strong. As systems integrate and the Alaska Mileage Plan community discovers these routes, availability may tighten.

Build Your Alaska Miles Balance

With the expanded network, Alaska miles became significantly more valuable in 2025. Consider focusing credit card spending on cards that earn Alaska miles or transfer to Mileage Plan partners. The best travel credit cards guide breaks down which cards work best for building airline miles.

Watch for Integration Promotions

Airline mergers typically bring bonus mile promotions as carriers encourage customers to try new routes. Monitor Alaska Mileage Plan for targeted offers on Hawaiian routes or vice versa.

Consider Companion Fare Strategically

The Alaska companion fare certificate now works on a much larger network. Plan your annual companion trip to maximize value—think mainland to Hawaii inter-island combinations or long-haul to Asia-Pacific destinations where two tickets normally cost significantly more.

The Competitive Landscape

The Alaska-Hawaiian combination created the fifth-largest U.S. airline, positioned between JetBlue and Spirit. More importantly for West Coast travelers, it created a genuine competitor to United and Delta on Pacific routes.

For award travelers, this competition matters:

• More flight options mean better award availability
• Competitive pressure often leads to airline promotions
• Alaska's historically generous award chart creates pricing pressure on competitors

Maximizing Your Miles Strategy

Earning Alaska Miles

Beyond the Alaska Airlines credit card, you can earn Alaska miles through:

• Flying Alaska and Hawaiian (obviously)
• Flying oneworld partners (American, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and others)
• Shopping through the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Shopping portal
• Staying at partner hotels (though often not the best value)

Smart Redemption Strategies

Alaska Mileage Plan maintains one of the last published award charts in the industry, meaning you can predict exactly how many miles you'll need. This predictability is increasingly rare and valuable.

Top redemptions with the combined network:

• West Coast to Hawaii: 15,000-20,000 miles one-way in economy
• Mainland to Hawaii inter-island combinations: Often just 5,000 miles more than a direct flight
• Hawaii to Asia: Starting at 40,000 miles one-way in economy (on partner airlines)

For more on maximizing airline miles across programs, check out our complete guide to airline alliances and how to leverage them for maximum value.

FAQ

Can I use Alaska miles on Hawaiian flights now?

Yes, Alaska Mileage Plan miles work on both Alaska and Hawaiian flights since the merger completed in September 2025. You can book either carrier through the Alaska Airlines website or app.

Will the airlines fully combine their operations?

Alaska and Hawaiian maintained separate operations throughout 2025 but announced plans for gradual integration through 2026. Both airlines will continue operating under their respective brands.

Are Hawaiian's Asia-Pacific routes good value with Alaska miles?

Hawaiian's routes to Tokyo, Seoul, and Sydney offer competitive redemption rates through Alaska Mileage Plan, often with better award availability than competing transpacific options. These routes represent some of the best new opportunities from the merger.

Should I get an Alaska Airlines credit card now?

The merger significantly expanded the Alaska network, making Alaska Airlines credit cards more versatile than before. If you regularly travel to Hawaii or fly West Coast routes, the annual companion fare alone often justifies the card. See our best Alaska Airlines credit cards comparison for current offers.

What happened to Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles?

Alaska Mileage Plan became the primary program for both airlines. Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles members were given options to convert their miles to Alaska Mileage Plan miles at a favorable rate.

Conclusion

The Alaska-Hawaiian merger reshaped the West Coast and Pacific airline landscape in 2025, creating new opportunities for points collectors while maintaining the service standards both carriers are known for. The expanded network makes Alaska Mileage Plan miles significantly more valuable, especially for travelers interested in Hawaii inter-island connections or Asia-Pacific routes.

As the airlines continue integrating through 2026, watch for promotional opportunities and system updates that could create even better award booking options. For now, the combination gives you access to 138 destinations with a single loyalty program—and that expanded reach makes this merger one of the most significant developments in award travel strategy this decade.

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