Exciting Alaska & Hawaiian Loyalty Program Unveiled

Cast your minds back to September 2024, when the wheels finally turned on the Alaska Airlines’ takeover of Hawaiian Airlines. It’s been a rollercoaster for Alaska Air Group, as they’ve shaken things up quite dramatically. We’re talking major strategic moves, including transforming Seattle into a globe-trotting hub.

After months of nail-biting anticipation, Alaska and Hawaiian have cooked up a brand-new loyalty program. Everyone’s been buzzing about when it would finally make its debut, and lo and behold, we’ve nailed down the timeline.

What’s New with Alaska’s Loyalty Program? Mark Your Calendars for August 2025

Alaska Air Group decided to keep both Alaska and Hawaiian’s branding intact — a pledge that’s crucial to their Hawaiian constituents. But here’s the twist: they’re uniting two different worlds with a fresh, joint loyalty program. The deets? Glad you asked:

• August 2025 marks the grand reveal of the new loyalty program. Alaska’s existing Mileage Plan will jump ship to this new setup.
• Come October 1, 2025, HawaiianMiles will officially punch its ticket to the new program, too.

Curious about the branding cocktail? We’re in the same boat. It may blend Alaska and Hawaiian styles, just like that fancy split at Lufthansa and SWISS under the Miles & More umbrella. Or perhaps the “Atmos” buzzword will sprinkle some magic here.

And hey, if you’re itching to swap mileage points, you can shift them between the two existing platforms without dropping a dime. Perfect for those who love mixing and matching flying perks. The merge offers status matches and cool reciprocal perks, though Hawaiian won’t officially join the oneworld alliance until we’re knee-deep in 2026. Until then, keep your redemption dreams and elite perks under wraps for Hawaiian flights.

As for the new program structure, don’t hold your breath for a radical reinvention—expect it to hew close to the tried-and-true Mileage Plan format we know and love. Look forward to redeeming miles in innovative ways, since the Mileage Plan is already shaking things up with changes, like pocketing elite miles on award flights.

Fingers crossed that Hawaiian perks get a power-up. With cross-fleeting, first-class perks should broaden their horizon—and fast!

With All the Card Talk, What’s Happening with Bank of America?

And credit cards? Let’s chew over those. Alaska’s Mileage Plan cards are proudly issued with Bank of America, while HawaiianMiles has them cozy with Barclays.

But what’s next? With the loyalty merge, look for Bank of America to ramp up its partnership with Alaska Mileage Plan. In fact, it’s rolling out a new premium card alongside the existing Alaska cards when things go down in August.

Unfortunately, Hawaiian’s cards with Barclays might see the chopping block. But no worries—there’ll be an opportunity to jump to a Bank of America card. Sure, losing some sign-up bonus potential isn’t the cheeriest news, but it’s a logical step forward.

Why Was Loyalty the Linchpin in the Hawaiian Takeover?

Dig into the numbers, and it’s no wonder loyalty cards are golden geese for airlines, U.S. carriers included. Alaska, though not the biggest player, is a champ when it comes to squeezing value from its loyalty program.

The magic of loyalty wasn’t a sideline in buying up Hawaiian but one of the main events. Alaska pulls in more bucks proportionally from their loyalty machinations than Hawaiian, an untapped opportunity they’re itching to stream-roll. Hawaii’s allure as a holiday haven means everyone will be looking for that enticing credit card deal.

From pivoting Hawaii’s vacationers into credit card aficionados to slotting in reward flights within Alaska’s ranks—the possibilities are sky-high. For proof, look no further than the juicy slides from Alaska’s 2024 Investor Day. Have a glance at the growth story they’re eyeing.

The Bottom Line: A Clear Flight Path Ahead

Buckle up, folks! Come August 2025, Alaska Air Group will spill the juicy details of its new loyalty blueprint. Alaska Mileage Plan is on the fast track, while HawaiianMiles bids us adieu in early October 2025.

While I might be taking a shot in the dark, it seems the new program will mirror the Alaska style, but with extras sprinkled for Hawaiian flyers. Surprises may lurk around the corner, but there’s no reason to suspect hyperbole—I’m optimistic, grounded in some cautious anticipation.

What do you expect from the merging Alaska & Hawaiian loyalty program?