This week, Alaska Airlines’ takeover of Hawaiian Airlines officially closed. While Hawaiian Airlines is now part of Alaska Air Group, the two airlines are still on separate operating certificates. For that matter, the two airlines plan to keep their independent branding in the long run.
One question I’ve seen over and over is whether Hawaiian Airlines plans to join the oneworld alliance… and I’m happy to report that I have an answer.
The plan is for Hawaiian Airlines to join oneworld
An Alaska Airlines spokesperson tells me that the company plans for Hawaiian Airlines to formally join the oneworld alliance in 2026, in conjunction with the two airlines reaching a single passenger service system.
That means that the oneworld alliance will be gaining yet another member airline. Both Fiji Airways and Oman Air are expected to join the oneworld alliance in the coming months, and we know that Starlux Airlines wants to join oneworld, but it remains to be seen if it will be accepted (given the airlines that have veto rights).
Up to four new airlines in the pipeline for an alliance is pretty great, as SkyTeam and Star Alliance don’t seem to have many new airline members planned, at least publicly.
What are the practical implications of this anyway?
Alaska and Hawaiian’s integration will be a gradual process. Even before the two airlines are on one operating certificate, we’re going to see loyalty program members get quite a bit of flexibility.
HawaiianMiles members should be able to unlock oneworld perks long before that, including elite benefits, plus opportunities to earn and redeem miles:
- In the coming weeks, it should be possible to transfer miles at a 1:1 ratio between Alaska Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles, meaning that HawaiianMiles members will be able to (indirectly) earn and redeem miles on oneworld partner airlines
- In the coming months, we should see reciprocal status matches between Alaska Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles, meaning that HawaiianMiles members will be able to indirectly unlock oneworld elite perks when flying on partner airlines
So for Alaska Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles members, we’ll see quite a bit of reciprocity long before 2026.
Meanwhile the 2026 timeline will matter for those of us belonging to other oneworld programs (other than Alaska Mileage Plan), who want to be able to earn and redeem miles on Hawaiian, and take advantage of oneworld Sapphire and oneworld Emerald elite perks.
Bottom line
With Alaska having acquired Hawaiian, many have wondered what this means for the oneworld alliance. The good news is that Hawaiian is expected to join the alliance, but only in 2026. Until then, Alaska and Hawaiian flyers can take advantage of reciprocal opportunities, but those loyal to other oneworld programs will have to be patient.
What do you make of Hawaiian joining oneworld?
