Alaska Airlines tritt mit dem ersten Nonstop-Flug nach Asien, durchgeführt von Hawaiian, in seine interkontinentale Ära ein

Alaska Airlines tritt mit dem ersten Nonstop-Flug nach Asien, durchgeführt von Hawaiian, in seine interkontinentale Ära ein

ADVERTISEMENTNewsAlaska Airlines enters its intercontinental era with first-ever nonstop flight to Asia, operated by HawaiianSean CudahySean CudahySenior Aviation ReporterSean Cudahy is an aviation reporter covering news about airlines, frequent flyer programs and consumer travel issues.May 13, 2025•11 min readThe cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view ouradvertising policy andproduct review methodology for more information.Editor's NoteThe Points Guy was invited on Alaska Airlines' Tokyo inaugural as a guest of the airline, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of TPG staff and were not subject to review by the airline or any other external entity.Make way for Alaska Airlines on the global stage.Nine months after the Seattle-based carrier got government approval to acquire Hawaiian Airlines, I was on board Monday as the two airline brands — now operated by one parent company — worked together to launch nonstop service from Alaska's Pacific Northwest home base to Tokyo.Touching down Tuesday at Narita International Airport (NRT), the flight ushered in a new era for Alaska, a longtime domestic-focused airline that only ventured as far outside the U.S. as its fleet of narrow-body Boeing 737s would take it.The new flight will offer travelers a new way to get to Japan with points and miles. And, with more nonstop international destinations in the works, the route will likely serve as the launching pad for a global expansion that Alaska expects will take the combined carrier to a dozen long-haul destinations by the end of this decade.SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYInaugural Japan serviceThere was some irony in the pomp and circumstance surrounding Monday's inaugural flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Narita, to be sure. After all, multiple airlines already fly nonstop to Tokyo from Seattle, from Delta Air Lines to All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines; Hawaiian has also flown between its home state and Japan for years.Still, this flight held extra meaning.When Alaska Air Group first announced plans to acquire Hawaiian Airlines in December 2023, part of the vision was to become a true global airline. Among the opportunities Alaska saw in its Honolulu-based counterpart: Hawaiian's fleet of larger, wide-body planes — and its orders for more of them in the years to come.SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYIn recent months since the merger, we've seen Alaska and Hawaiian work to integrate their loyalty programs and behind-the-scenes operations. They even moved gates at major hubs to be closer to one another.Executives saw the launch of a global gateway at SEA as a key step in that evolution that now has the two brands— beacons in America's 49th and 50th states — growing together as the nation's fifth-largest carrier.Daily NewsletterReward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletterJoin over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts"It's surreal for me to see how much our growth has been," Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci said, speaking before the flight.SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYAt the airportFrom the outset, Hawaiian will operate this new international service between Seattle and Narita on a route that, uniquely, won't touch Hawaii at all — unlike most of the routes it has operated in its history.For passengers checking a bag (or checking in) at the airport, that meant this trip started at the Hawaiian ticket counter in Seattle.SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYEven though there's now one parent company behind Alaska and Hawaiian, the two airlines will still operate as two distinct airlines — much like KLM and Air France do in Europe, despite sitting under one corporate umbrella.The melting pot that is this combined airline operation really started to become obvious once I passed through security.As a Hawaiian business-class passenger on Monday's flight, I got access to the Alaska Lounge, opting to visit the spacious N-concourse outpost closest to the gate.SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYAhead of the early afternoon departure, guests could choose from a breakfast buffet or visit the full-service coffee and cocktail bars — the latter of which offered up a Narita Banana concoction ($9) curated for the inaugural flight.Previous slideNext slide1 of 7The Alaska Lounge on Seattle's N-Concourse. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY0123456Outside the window sat the Hawaiian Airbus A330 scheduled to fly the Tokyo route.SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYOverlooking the aircraft, I ran into Anchorage, Alaska, native Matthew Sandoval, a self-described Alaska "super fan" who once had his 10th birthday party at an Alaska gate — and since then has been on more of the carrier's inaugural flights than he can count."Cincinnati, Columbus, Belize, Fort Myers, Jackson Hole, Anchorage, JFK," he rattled off. "This one's definitely different."Inaugural festivitiesDown at the gate, passengers and passersby found all the pomp and circumstance you'd expect from an inaugural flight, from decor to food and entertainment.Following a taiko drumming performance and a traditional Hawaiian blessing, Alaska and Hawaiian executives cut the ribbon that signaled it was time to board.Previous slideNext slide1 of 4SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY0123At their seats, passengers found a few more tokens commemorating the flight, from a bag tag to a porcelain chopsticks holder.SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYOnboard productHawaiian's A330 flying this route still sported all of the touches you'd expect on a Hawaiian plane, from cabin crew members in classic Hawaiian shirts to an inflight safety video that showed scenery from the Aloha State accompanied by ukulele music.It's also a more legacy cabin experience overall, with the aging product a bit evident in the economy and Extra Comfort sections of the aircraft.Previous slideNext slide1 of 3Main cabin on a Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY012While the business-class cabin does offer lie-flat seats, they're arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration that's lost competitiveness in a world of suites and universal direct aisle access.SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYTo be clear: The ability to lie down and sleep on a long flight beats any coach seat by a long shot.But, compared with some of the newer lie-flat products I've flown, the pods in Hawaiian's A330 front cabin certainly are less modern, spacious and private — and they lack many of the bells and whistles you'd find on Hawaiian's own Boeing 787 Dreamliner that debuted just about a year ago.Previous slideNext slide1 of 3SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY012That said, there may be an aircraft upgrade on the horizon."We're very excited that over time, we will shift our international flying here in Seattle to 787 Dreamliner aircraft," Joe Sprague, the new CEO of the Hawaiian Airlines brand, said Monday.Another bit of news: Executives suggested those Dreamliner flights from Seattle to Tokyo — and other long-haul destinations — may ultimately be operated by Alaska itself, not Hawaiian.Inflight Starlink a 'plus'Easily the most impressive feature on board this Hawaiian A330: the fast, free Starlink Wi-Fi that was available from boarding. Hawaiian has been the only U.S. carrier to offer Starlink service — though United Airlines is set to debut the technology this week.Business-class experienceUp front, I settled into my seat in Row 2 with the assistance of a flight attendant, who added a mattress cover to my seat, offering a bit more padding ahead of the overnight trip.Hawaiian's cabin crew members also brought around an amenity kit "buffet" of sorts, allowing you to grab the products you wanted in the tote bag the airline provided.Previous slideNext slide1 of 3SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY012Following a predeparture glass of Champagne, a water cannon salute from Seattle's first responders and a just-behind-schedule takeoff, HA Flight 823 was on its way to Asia.Previous slideNext slide1 of 2SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY01Inflight diningAt cruising altitude, the inflight meal service allowed passengers to choose from a Hawaiian Fusion or Japanese menu for dinner.SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYI chose the latter, and found the roasted chicken with umami sauce alongside steamed white rice and miso soup to be the highlight of the inflight service — though the cheesecake for dessert didn't hurt, either.Previous slideNext slide1 of 5SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY01234I also enjoyed the ginger scallion chicken and chow fun noodles that appeared about 90 minutes prior to our landing at Narita — an arrival that came at 4:53 p.m., after 10 hours and 45 minutes in the air.SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYHow to book Hawaiian's new Seattle-Tokyo flightTravelers hoping to book the new Hawaiian-operated, Alaska Air Group flight from Seattle to Tokyo have a few options.You can redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles or HawaiianMiles miles. Keep in mind, you can shift your miles seamlessly between the two programs over the next couple of months, ahead of the launch of a new, joint loyalty program encompassing both airline brands. So book your award flight through whichever program offers the best redemption.Travelers who need to up their Mileage Plan account balance can transfer Bilt Rewards Points to Alaska at a 1:1 ratio.For now, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to HawaiianMiles and then (if you want) move those miles over to Alaska Mileage Plan at a 1:1 ratio — though you may want to act sooner rather than later if you're going this route.Keep in mind that you can also use Alaska miles to fly across the Pacific on a variety of Oneworld alliance partner airlines too, including nonstop flights from the U.S. to Tokyo on both Japan Airlines and American Airlines.Seoul is next ... then EuropeLooking ahead, Alaska's long-haul ambitions in Seattle go far beyond Tokyo.TPG already reported Hawaiian-operated flights to Seoul, South Korea, will start later this year. On Monday, the carrier confirmed Europe flights will begin during the second quarter of 2026.SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYIt hopes to launch 12 international long-haul destinations from its SEA hub by 2030.But don't expect a third global hub for the brands (beyond Seattle and Honolulu) anytime soon. "At least for the foreseeable future it'll all be Seattle-centric," Minicucci told me. "Beyond that, we'll see."Related reading:When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?The best airline credit cardsWhat exactly are airline miles, anyway?6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayedMaximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flightsThe best credit cards to reach elite statusWhat are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuationsFeatured image by SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYEditorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.TPG featured cardBest for businesses with high spendingCapital One Venture X BusinessApply for Capital One Venture X BusinessTerms & restrictions apply. 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