Quick thoughts on the current Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines integrated experience on a legacy Hawaiian-operated route.
I was able to pre-select my meal during booking on 04/30, which was a nice early sign of integration, although the interface still feels incomplete since there are no food photos yet.
Before departure, I visited the Plumeria Lounge during the breakfast to lunch transition. I ended up having a mix of pancakes, Portuguese sausage fried rice, eggs, cereal, banana bread, plus self-serve poke over rice with miso braised pork and a lilikoi cheesecake bar.
Onboard, the experience felt very similar to pre-integration Hawaiian First Class. The soft product elements like the pillow and blanket are still the same. We had a pre-departure beverage, macadamia nuts after takeoff, and the usual taro roll with salad during the meal service. The main dish, koji-brined roasted chicken, was decent but the rice was a bit overcooked. After meal service, there was a dessert cart with chocolate haupia pie, coffee, and after-dinner drinks.
Service was friendly throughout. There were also several flight attendant trainees onboard on their final training flight, which made the cabin a bit busier than usual, but the crew remained professional and welcoming.
One small change I noticed is that printed menus are now gone. That was a bit disappointing since they previously highlighted local brands, chefs, and Hawaiian products. As a graphic designer, those details always added something special to the experience.
Overall, the flight still largely felt like Hawaiian Airlines First Class, even with the ongoing integration changes.
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