Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines Offering Elite Status Match

Updated: December 22, 2024, 2:42pm CST

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How We Got Here: Alaska and Hawaiian Partnership
Alaska Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles Status Match
Maximizing Elite Perks Across Both Airlines
Final Thoughts

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The integration of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines continues to evolve, and frequent flyers now have another reason to celebrate.

Following the merger confirmed earlier this year between the 2 airlines, Alaska Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles have introduced reciprocal elite status matches. This move allows travelers to enjoy elite perks across both programs while the airlines work toward launching a unified loyalty program in 2025.

Here’s what this means for loyal Alaska and Hawaiian flyers — and how you can take advantage of the latest benefits.

How We Got Here: Alaska and Hawaiian Partnership

In September 2024, Alaska Airlines completed its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, marking a major shift in the aviation landscape. While mergers are nothing new in the industry, this one is unique: Both airlines intend to maintain their separate brands while merging into a single loyalty program, which adds complexity to integrating their operations.

Alaska Hawaiian Airlines — Image Credit: Nick Ellis

One of the most anticipated outcomes of the merger is the planned introduction of a unified loyalty program by mid-2025. The surviving program will be Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, and we’ll eventually see the end of HawaiianMiles. Until then, the 2 airlines have made strides toward aligning their offerings.

For example, travelers can now:

Now, a significant new perk has been added: the ability to match elite status between the 2 loyalty programs.

Alaska Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles Status Match

Effective immediately, elite members of Alaska Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles can match their status between the programs. Here’s how the benefits align:

Alaska Mileage Plan MVP: Matches to HawaiianMiles Pualani Gold
Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K, and MVP Gold 100K: Match to HawaiianMiles Pualani Platinum
HawaiianMiles Pualani Gold: Matches to Alaska Mileage Plan MVP
HawaiianMiles Pualani Platinum: Matches to Alaska Mileage Plan MVP Gold

The status match can be requested online by logging into your account on this landing page. While the process can take up to 72 hours, most matches are reflected within a few hours.

It’s also worth noting that elite qualifying miles earned with both programs can be combined toward status qualification in 2025 once the unified program launches.

Hot Tip:

Alaska Airlines routinely offers a status match and status challenge, which could help you get status with Alaska to then see if you can match it to Hawaiian. Beware that some airlines require proof your status was earned through flying before you can use it to match to another program.

Maximizing Elite Perks Across Both Airlines

For now, this reciprocal status match is the best way for elites to enjoy perks across the 2 airlines. If you’re an Alaska Mileage Plan elite flying Hawaiian Airlines, you’ll want to match your status and add your HawaiianMiles number to your reservation. Likewise, Hawaiian elites flying Alaska should link their matched status for the best benefits.

That said, elite perks differ between the 2 programs. For instance:

HawaiianMiles elite members primarily enjoy extra-legroom seating upgrades.
Complimentary first class upgrades on Hawaiian Airlines are only available for interisland flights, and Platinum members also receive upgrade certificates.

This initiative primarily benefits those with status in either Alaska Mileage Plan or HawaiianMiles. Elite travelers with Oneworld status through other partner airlines won’t see added perks until Hawaiian officially joins Oneworld, which is expected by 2026.

Final Thoughts

Alaska Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles continue to align their offerings as the merger deepens, with reciprocal status matches being the latest development. This move ensures that frequent flyers on both airlines can enjoy elite benefits while traveling on the other carrier.

The integration of Alaska and Hawaiian is steadily building momentum, with the ultimate goal being a unified loyalty program in 2025 to make things even more uniform going forward.