Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines Unveil Unified Cabin Experience Ahead of 2026 Integration

by Anthony Losanno
Alaska Hawaiian

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As Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines continue their integration into a single operation, travelers can look forward to a refreshed and unified cabin experience across both airlines beginning with flights in April 2026. The airlines are aligning their booking systems, seat offerings, and fare structures to create a consistent and flexible travel experience (while maintaining the distinctive touches that make each brand unique).

The merger will blend Alaska’s modern network and Hawaiian’s island hospitality to create a smooth booking and flying experience across both carriers. Whether enjoying POG juice and island-inspired meals on Hawaiian or signature fruit and cheese platters on Alaska, passengers can expect personalized comfort no matter which route they fly.

For travelers crossing oceans, both airlines’ lie-flat Business and First Class cabins will offer a premium experience. Hawaiian’s Airbus A330 and Alaska’s new Boeing 787 feature full lie-flat seating, direct aisle access, large HD monitors, and wireless charging. The Boeing 787’s 34 enclosed suites add privacy and luxury to long-haul journeys such as Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) to Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) or Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Passengers in these cabins will also enjoy access to Alaska Lounges, The Plumeria Lounge in Honolulu, and select oneworld® partner lounges worldwide.

Alaska Hawaiian

First Class

Alaska’s Boeing 737 and Embraer E175 as well as Hawaiian’s Airbus A321 and Boeing 717 will offer First Class passengers spacious seating, complimentary meals and beverages, two checked bags, and priority boarding and deplaning. For longer domestic flights over 2,000 miles, First Class guests will also receive complimentary lounge access, which adds comfort to coast-to-coast and island-to-mainland journeys.

Premium Class

Beginning in April 2026, Hawaiian’s Extra Comfort seats will be rebranded as Premium Class across both airlines. Passengers will continue to enjoy up to four inches of extra legroom (with the added perk of complimentary cocktails, beer, and wine). This update will appear in the booking system starting October 14th to give travelers a taste of what’s to come in the unified network.

Main Cabin Preferred and Main Cabin

For travelers who value convenience, Main Cabin Preferred seating offers seats located toward the front of the aircraft for quicker deplaning, which is perfect for those eager to start their vacation the moment they land. The Main Cabin remains the classic, dependable option across both airlines, offering seat selection, a complimentary carry-on, and the ability to earn Atmos Rewards points on every trip.

Saver Fare

To create consistency across both airlines, Hawaiian’s Main Cabin Basic will transition to Alaska’s Saver Fare starting April 2026. The Saver Fare remains the most affordable option, featuring no carry-on bag fee, assigned seating within 24 hours of departure, and flexible change policies. Passengers who cancel at least 14 days before departure will receive a 50% travel credit, while same-day confirmed changes will be available for a nominal fee.

The unified platform will also introduce per-seat pricing to give passengers more control over their journey. Whether preferring a window, aisle, or middle seat, travelers can select their spot based on personal preference and budget.

Anthony’s Take: Starting next week, travelers booking trips for April 2026 and beyond will begin seeing the new cabin options and pricing structures. The integration represents a significant milestone in the merger process and will unify what both airlines offer. It’s great to see this come together while the airlines maintain the identities that have made them unique.

(Image Credits: Alaska Airlines.)

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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.

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