Week ending 2026.03.06 · Alaska / Hawaiian

Status Summary

ARC published a ticketing advisory stating that ticketing on Hawaiian (HA/173) ticket stock will be discontinued effective April 21, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET), and that open Hawaiian tickets with flights departing April 22 or later must be refunded and/or reissued before March 15.
Public reporting continued to frame the next major customer-facing integration step as the reservation-system migration (Hawaiian’s Amadeus passenger service system → Alaska’s Sabre platform), scheduled overnight April 21–22; Hawaiian’s oneworld entry is described as late April, with reporting placing it on April 23.
Labor-side integration signals this week were centered on Seattle-domicile moving-expense administration: the AFA Alaska + Hawaiian MEC reported it filed a grievance challenging management’s proof-of-relocation requirement for flat-rate moving expense eligibility.
Litigation remained part of the public backdrop: Hawaii News Now reported an appeal seeking a restraining order aimed at preserving Hawaiian as a standalone airline while the merger continues to be litigated.

Operational integration: No new operational milestone was broadly announced this week; public integration posture remains focused on readiness and execution planning ahead of the April systems cutover. Watch next: crew-facing training, SOP, and day-of-travel policy updates that align with April 21–22 cutover activities.
Systems & customer-facing integration: The April 2026 PSS cutover window and related ticketing constraints remain the dominant signal set (including the HA/173 ticket-stock discontinuation effective April 21 and the March 15 reissue/refund deadline for certain open tickets). Watch next: additional guidance on booking flows, flight-number/designator presentation, and IRROPS handling as the cutover approaches.
Labor / contract integration: Seattle-domicile moving-expense eligibility is now in a formal grievance posture per union communications, while JCBA negotiations remain on a scheduled cadence (next session publicly listed for March 24–26). Watch next: whether on-hold JCBA sections (seniority, grievance/enforcement, charters) show new movement as the April systems milestone nears.
Regulatory / external constraints: Court-related activity continued in the background, with no visible change to the publicly described April cutover plans. Watch next: any court action or public statement that changes integration pacing, messaging, or roadmap commitments.

March 15 ticketing deadline. If the HA/173 refund/reissue requirements generate customer confusion or agency rework, watch for spillover into call volume, airport-service friction, and irregular-operations handling.
April 21–22 PSS cutover readiness. Watch for crew-facing communications on disruption playbooks, schedule/customer reaccommodation workflows, and any app/tool changes tied to the reservation-system transition.
Oneworld benefit alignment. Hawaiian’s expected late-April oneworld entry may shift customer expectations (priority handling, lounge access, status reciprocity). Watch for cabin-facing guidance and airport-process updates.
SEA moving-expense grievance outcomes. Watch for interim guidance on documentation requirements, timelines, or payroll/tax treatment for transferring Hawaiian flight attendants while the grievance process runs.
JCBA sequencing signals. Monitor for any published movement on seniority integration mechanics, grievance procedures, and charter structures — sections described as on hold in recent bargaining updates.

ARC (Feb 22, 2026): Important Update on Ticketing for Hawaiian Airlines — View →
The Points Guy (Mar 5, 2026): Behind Alaska’s dual-brand strategy with Hawaiian — View →
Alaska Air Group News Hub (Mar 5, 2026): Atmos Rewards + oneworld (Hawaiian scheduled to join in late April) — View →
Hawaii News Now (Feb 26, 2026): Appeal seeking restraining order related to Alaska/Hawaiian merger — View →
AFA Alaska + Hawaiian (Mar 2, 2026): SEA domicile negotiations update (moving expense grievance) — View →
AFA Alaska + Hawaiian (Feb 27, 2026): Joint Contract Negotiations Session 12 (next session listed for Mar 24–26) — View →