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Hawaiian Airlines to Add 20-Minute Bag Guarantee in April
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Hawaiian Airlines flyers are getting another new perk as a result of the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines merger. Hawaiian Airlines passengers will soon be eligible to receive Atmos Rewards points or a discount code if their checked bags do not arrive on the baggage carousel within 20 minutes of arrival. This 20-minute baggage guarantee has been a perk on Alaska Airlines' domestic flights since 2010.
“In late April, Hawaiian Airlines will begin offering Alaska Airlines’ 20‑minute baggage guarantee as the airlines continue integrating their customer service systems,” an Alaska spokesperson told NerdWallet via email.
To claim the guarantee, customers need to contact a customer service agent at the airport baggage office within two hours of arrival. Eligible passengers can then choose between 2,500 Atmos Rewards bonus points or a $25 discount code for a future Alaska or Hawaiian flight.
While Alaska didn’t specify an exact date in late April, there will be multiple changes happening around the time. Hawaiian Airlines is expected to officially join the Oneworld alliance before the end of April.
The airlines have also highlighted April 22, 2026, as a major technical milestone for the merger. That’s also when Hawaiian flights are set to adopt the “AS” code before the flight number, as opposed to the long-standing “HA” code.
Even though Alaska acquired Hawaiian in September 2024, there has been significant ongoing work behind the scenes to integrate the two airlines, including the creation of their joint loyalty program, Atmos Rewards.
Alaska isn't the only airline with a delayed baggage perk. Delta Air Lines also offers a 20-minute baggage guarantee for domestic flights, and it functions similarly to Alaska’s program. However, the process is a little simpler: Passengers need to fill out an online form within two hours of arrival to receive 2,500 Delta miles. The airline quietly shortened its reporting window from 72 hours to two hours earlier this year, matching Alaska’s requirement.
Both airlines reserve the right to suspend the guarantee if issues occur outside of the airlines' control, such as severe weather.
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Benjamin Din is a lead travel writer at NerdWallet. He previously was a technology reporter at Politico, where he authored a daily newsletter covering tech and telecom policy.
Benjamin loves to travel — both for work and for fun. He’s reported from three continents and visited more than 45 countries. He has written for The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle and The (Johannesburg) Star, as well as covered two Olympics with NBC Sports.