Alaska Takeover of Hawaii: The Wildcard Factor
- Okay, here's a self-check based on the provided text, designed to be a "hard stop" - meaning it tests comprehension of all key facts.
- Instructions: Answer the following questions to the best of your ability from memory.
- You understood most of the main points, but review the areas you missed.
Okay, here’s a self-check based on the provided text, designed to be a “hard stop” – meaning it tests comprehension of all key facts. I’ll present questions, and you should answer them without looking back at the text. Then, I’ll provide the answers for you to check yourself.
Instructions: Answer the following questions to the best of your ability from memory. Do not refer back to the article. Write down your answers.
Questions:
- What is the primary reason Alaska Airlines is acquiring Hawaiian Airlines?
- what is the “selling cutover” and when is it scheduled to be completed?
- Why is the PSS (Passenger Service System) cutover considered so critical?
- What commitments did Alaska make to regulators to gain approval for the merger? (Name at least 2)
- What happened when United Airlines merged with Continental Airlines in 2012 regarding their PSS cutover?
- What two recent tech-related disruptions did Alaska Airlines experience, and when did they occur?
- What companies provide the PSS platforms for Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines, respectively?
- what is the name of the new, combined loyalty program?
STOP HERE. Do not read further until you have answered all the questions to the best of your ability.
Answer Key (Check Your Work):
- What is the primary reason Alaska Airlines is acquiring Hawaiian airlines?
* Alaska believes a larger, more expansive airline will be a stronger competitor, particularly against American, Delta, and United.
- What is the “selling cutover” and when is it scheduled to be completed?
* The “selling cutover” is the process of moving all new and existing bookings from Hawaiian’s PSS to Alaska’s PSS. its scheduled to be completed by the night of April 21, 2026.
- Why is the PSS (Passenger Service System) cutover considered so critical?
* The PSS is the “heart of the airline” and connects to everything customer-facing. A failure could disrupt reservations for many travelers.
- What commitments did Alaska make to regulators to gain approval for the merger? (Name at least 2)
* Guaranteed free-family seating.
* Not blocking new competitors at the Honolulu airport.
* Continuing to serve rural small communities in Alaska and hawaii.
- What happened when United Airlines merged with Continental Airlines in 2012 regarding their PSS cutover?
* Travelers faced issues checking in, resulting in long queues, lengthy call center holds, and flight delays, damaging United’s reputation.
- What two recent tech-related disruptions did alaska Airlines experience, and when did they occur?
* An IT outage on October 23rd, which forced the cancellation of over 400 flights.
* A global outage of the Microsoft Azure system on October 29th, which affected both Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines.
- What companies provide the PSS platforms for Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines, respectively?
* Hawaiian: Amadeus
* Alaska: Sabre
- What is the name of the new, combined loyalty program?
* Atmos
Scoring:
* 7-8 Correct: Excellent! You have a strong grasp of the key information.
* 5-6 correct: Good. You understood most of the main points, but review the areas you missed.
* 3-4 correct: Fair.You need to review the article again,focusing on the details.
* 0-2 Correct: Review the article carefully.You need to re-familiarize yourself with the key facts.
this is a “hard stop” self-check. The goal is to test your recall without relying on the text. Hopefully, this helps you assess your understanding!