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San Francisco–based flight attendant Peter continues 30+ years of positive connections

When Peter Tizzard defines the top requirements for providing good service, he has a lengthy list: “Being genuine and sincere is important,” says the 32-year commercial-aviation professional who has worked for more than 12 years combined at Alaska Airlines and Virgin America. “Paying attention to details, being humble, listening and making positive connections with our guests are crucial, too.”

All of these goals come down to one thing, Tizzard says: “Bringing joy to people. It’s just the right thing to do.”

Tizzard, a San Francisco–based flight attendant who lives in Las Vegas, has, in multiple roles, provided great service to flyers over the years. He started out in ground operations in 1987 at a regional airline in Florida. Eventually, he became a flight attendant, and he was one of the original teammates at Virgin America in 2007. A multi­talented employee, he has helped hire and train flight attendants over the years, and has worked as a catering operations analyst, an inflight service instructor and an air transportation supervisor.

Being a flight attendant was his original dream, Tizzard says, explaining that, since childhood, he’s had a passion for travel and learning about other cultures.

His parents instilled this, says Tizzard, whose father worked for 38 years for British Airways, and whose mother worked as a travel-agent manager. Born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Tizzard feels fortunate and blessed to have traveled “all over” while growing up.

According to co-workers, Tizzard brings great positivity to his work and is respected for being encouraging and uplifting with other flight attendants, as well as with airline guests.

“I try to lead and make others feel comfortable,” Tizzard says. “This work is my passion, and there’s no greater thing you can do with life and work than to follow your passion in a way that serves you and the world.”

Questions & Answers

What do you like most about your job?

There are never two flights alike. And the connections I make with guests can change my perspective—and theirs.

What are your interests outside work? I’m very outdoorsy. I like hiking and biking, at home and when I travel.

Where do you most like traveling? Throughout Asia and Europe, for the food and culture and history. Places I’ve returned to include Osaka and Kyoto, Japan; Krabi, Thailand; and Madrid, Spain. And anywhere with a beach equals sun and fun.

Do you have any travel tips? At least once a year, pack “one way” and donate clothes, shoes and jackets at your destination. Take it as a chance to refresh your wardrobe. There are great places to shop for new clothes while you’re traveling.

What advice do you have for new hires? It’s never about the destination. It’s about the journey.

Kudos from Peter’s Co-Workers

“Peter welcomes guests and starts a conversation, and he captivates them for the entire flight. And even after the flight. It’s a gift that only some people have.” —Ludi S., Flight Attendant, San Francisco

“He just makes you feel good. He makes you feel smart; he makes you feel comfortable; he makes you feel welcome. He makes you feel like you’re the only person in a room when he’s talking to you, because he’s so intentional, and so present. There aren’t a lot of people like him.” —Molly C., Flight Attendant, San Francisco

“He is really level about how he treats everyone. Everyone’s treated really, really well.” —Elmer T., Customer Service Agent Trainer, San Francisco

“Guests are always ecstatic with Peter’s personalized service. Everybody loves Peter when they walk off the aircraft.” —Michael G., Captain, San Francisco

Alaska Airlines employees such as Peter Tizzard are the reason for our excellence. Join us in creating an airline people love. Visit alaskaair.jobs.

UH Mānoa Play, ʻAuʻa ʻIa: Holding On, Brings ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i to the New York Stage

When Hawaiian Airlines commits to aloha in everything we do, we must also commit to supporting the language and culture from which aloha came. Our ‘ohana was honored to support the travel of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s Hawaiian Theatre Program to bring its historical epic, ‘Au‘a ‘Ia: Holding On, to New York City.

After performing five (mostly sold out) shows at the New York Theatre Workshop’s Reflections of Native Voices Festival, the cast of 50 students returned to Hawai‘i last month. Their success marked a moment of pride for Hawai‘i, and many throughout the community, including myself, were curious to hear about their journey to share Hawaiian culture on the U.S. East Coast. 

Aua Ia 6

Photo credit: ‘Āina Paikai
The youth actors gathered in front of the Hawaiian Airlines Premier Lounge at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport before their flight to New York City.

 

In recognition of ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian language) Month this February, I reached out to Dr. Kaliko Baker, assistant professor at the UH Mānoa’s Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language and husband of ‘Au‘a ‘Ia: Holding On founder Hailiʻōpua Baker to learn more about the play.

After immersing myself in the story of the production, I was humbled (once again) as a speaker of a thriving Hawaiian language and culture today. Because of my kumu (teachers) and the efforts that they’ve put forth to pave the path before me, I have the privilege of sharing in new knowledge with those around me – from a thriving people. Inspired by the play, I am reminded of an old saying:

“Ua lehulehu a manomano ka ‘ikena a ka Hawai‘i.”

Great and numerous indeed is the knowledge of the Hawaiian people.

Join me in this "behind-the-scenes" look at UH Mānoa’s ‘Au‘a ‘Ia: Holding On. 

Those who cherish the land carry everything – lineage, culture and language – with them. Performing arts helps us pass this knowledge on to future generations, as it has been done by those who came before.

Dr. Hailiʻōpua Baker, director of the UH Mānoa’s Hawaiian Theatre Program, created ʻAuʻa ʻIa: Holding On as an account of her commitment to learning the Hawaiian language and to unearth what it means to be Hawaiian in modern-day Hawai‘i. The play was given life by students who, through ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, expressed appreciation for their past.

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Photo credit: John Wells
From left: Hina Keala, Jorin Young, Ākea Kahikina, Kaipu Baker, Dylan Chase Lee and Imai Winchester.

 

ʻAuʻa ʻIa: Holding On made its debut at the UH Mānoa in September 2019 with more than 50 acclaimed cast members.

According to UH Mānoa’s Department of Theatre and Dance, the production is “a faithful account of Hawai‘i’s past, from the perspective of the four haumāna. Tasked with a daunting research project for class, they embark on a journey that takes them into the repository of 19th-century Hawaiian language archival materials. They connect with their kūpuna (ancestors), explore the meaning of mana (divine power/authority), and interrogate the histories of Ko Hawai‘i Pae ‘Āina (the Hawaiian archipelago).” 

The play, Dr. Kaliko further explained, “was created for our people, so that we may come together with a shared responsibility to the land. In that sense, a lot of people came to experience it. They watched, they listened and it struck a chord within them. Our audiences were touched, and it was evident in the outpouring of emotions each night. It is such a beautiful thing, the tales of our people.”

Dr. Kaliko and his wife Dr. Hailiʻōpua Baker’s tale began during an era when students were fighting for the survival of Hawaiian culture in college curricula.

“It was a different time back then. We were students following in the wake of the pioneers who were spearheading the Hawaiian language revitalization movement in the 70s and 80s,” recalled Dr. Kaliko. “It was a revolution because the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa was looking to cut Hawaiian language studies in order to save money. We vigorously resisted and the university promised to not cut ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi again at Mānoa.”

The duo has been dedicated to sharing Hawaiian language and culture ever since. He pursued his master’s and doctorate degrees and helped found the UH Mānoa’s Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, which encompasses Kamakakūokalani, Kawaihuelani, Kānewai, and Native Hawaiian Student Services. Their story established a path for future students and cultivated enthusiasm and support for all things Hawaiian.

“There was so much positive change,” said Dr. Kaliko. “It’s rewarding to see that these Hawaiian resources are now readily available. We need to continue to push forward, because, like our great chief once said: ‘There’s no turning back.’”

Aua Ia 4

Photo credit: ‘Āina Paikai
From left: Jorin Young, Kaipu Baker, Dylan Chase Lee and Ākea Kahikina.

 

Dr. Kaliko believes Hawaiians must remain rooted in their culture and all that makes them Hawaiian. This passion was the foundation upon which ʻAuʻa ʻIa: Holding On was created. “[Our people] are what will continue to make things ‘Hawaiian’ in this evolving world around us, and so our commitment to truly understanding this responsibility is of utmost importance to ensuring that Hawaiʻi remains Hawaiʻi.”

As the play continues to grow in popularity, Dr. Kaliko and Dr. Hailiʻōpua remain focused on savoring the moment. He takes the most pride in creating new opportunities for the Hawaiian language to thrive. “This means of enjoyment is like the salt that perfectly seasons the food and satisfies your craving,” said Dr. Kaliko.

“The next goal is to take ʻAuʻa ʻIa: Holding On to the other Hawaiian Islands. While it was such a rewarding experience to take the play to New York, ʻAuʻa ʻIa: Holding On […] is a reminder to remain steadfast in our responsibilities to Hawaiʻi” he said.

 

Featured image credit: ‘Āina Paikai

Hawaiian Holdings Announces Investor Day Presentation Webcast

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HONOLULU, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA), parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. ("Hawaiian"), announced today that it will webcast presentations to investors to be given by Hawaiian's leadership team on March 9, 2020.  The webcast will begin at approximately 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

(PRNewsfoto/Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.)

The webcast will be open to the public through a live audio webcast accessible in the Investor Relations section of Hawaiian's website at HawaiianAirlines.com. For those who are not able to listen to the live webcast, the presentations will be archived for 90 days on Hawaiian's website.

About Hawaiian Airlines     

Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 16 years (2004-2019) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai'i.

Now in its 91st year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai'i's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers non-stop service to Hawai'i from more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides, on average, more than 160 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, and over 240 daily flights system wide.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian's Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook  (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian's LinkedIn page.

For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines' online newsroom.

 

 

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hawaiian-holdings-announces-investor-day-presentation-webcast-301010106.html

SOURCE Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.

Flyback Friday: Giving Our Guests the Birds-Eye View of the Hawaiian Islands

It’s no secret the Hawaiian Islands are home to dramatic, often breathtaking scenery. From jagged mountain ranges carved by cascading waterfalls to the gradient turquoise ocean, most locals would agree the most spectacular panoramic views come from the air.

Did you know…

Over nine decades ago, we launched our first sightseeing tours over O‘ahu using the Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker under our former alias Inter-Island Airways, Ltd. These flights were a part of the company’s strategy to get locals comfortable with flying before the launch of regularly scheduled flights between the Neighbor Islands in 1929.  

1929 Bellanca Pacemaker

Off the beaten path

As operations evolved in the subsequent decades, our crewmembers remained focused on transporting guests between the Neighbor Islands safely while also giving them the travel experience of a lifetime. It wasn’t unusual for captains to modify their flight path – before the days of air traffic control – to allow for a more dramatic view from the cabin.

20

Adding tours to the schedule

In the wake of the Kīlauea eruption in February 1955, we officially added sight-seeing tours over the Island of Hawai‘i to our schedule using the Convair 330s.

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The flights proved so popular that we eventually retrofitted several of our Douglas DC-3 with huge, five-foot-wide "viewmaster" windows. These planes were nicknamed “Gooney Birds,” and were used extensively for tours well into the 1960s.

1957 Viewmaster

 

We eventually retired the DC-3 and transitioned to an all-jet fleet in 1966 with the DC-9 – a plane too large for sight-seeing trips. As a result, sales for the special flights were halted and wouldn’t be relaunched until the 1980s when we received the smaller de Havilland Dash 7 turboprops. The aircraft, used primarily on Neighbor Island routes, enabled us to start a series of “Islands in the Sky” tours that were operated (almost) daily until 1993, when we retired the Dash 7s from our fleet.

1981 Dash 7

de Havilland Dash 7 turboprop

[Editor’s note: These flights operated daily, so long as the majority of the aircraft’s seats sold.]

Fast-forward to today

While sight-seeing tours operated by Hawaiian are rare today, our regular flight paths still offer guests a striking view of Hawai‘i’s famous landscape from the comfort of their seats. Guests on our flights will often get a “guided tour” from our flight attendants who name their favorite spots as our aircraft flies over the Hawaiian Island chain.

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Hawaiian Airlines Marks 16 Consecutive Years as Most Punctual U.S. Airline

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HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaiʻi's hometown carrier for more than 90 years, remained the nation's most punctual carrier in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, marking the 16th straight year its guests have enjoyed the best on-time performance in the U.S. industry.

Hawaiian's flights averaged an 87.7 percent on-time rate in 2019, exceeding the U.S. industry average by 6.1 percentage points.

"Our more than 7,400 employees know how important it is for our guests to be on time, whether they are starting a family vacation in Hawaiʻi, or traveling between our islands for business or to visit their ʻohana, and I couldn't be prouder of their accomplishment," said Peter Ingram, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines. "We recently observed our 90th anniversary and this 'Sweet 16' is definitely another achievement worth celebrating."

Hawaiian has extended its on-time performance streak, which began in 2004, as it grew into a global airline that today offers a robust network of over 240 daily international, transpacific and neighbor island flights. The airline's modern fleet of more than 60 jet aircraft provide nonstop service between Hawaiʻi and 13 gateway cities in North America – more than any other carrier – as well as an unparalleled flight schedule between the Hawaiian Islands. The airline also serves Australia (Sydney and Brisbane), American Samoa (Pago Pago), Japan (Haneda and Narita in Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, and Fukuoka), New Zealand (Auckland), South Korea (Seoul), and Tahiti (Papeete).

Last year, Hawaiian launched five-times-weekly service between Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye (HNL) and Boston Logan (BOS) international airports. A fleet of fuel-efficient Airbus A321neo enabled Hawaiian to also start new nonstop flights between Maui's Kahului Airport (OGG) and both Sacramento (SMF) and McCarran (LAS) international airports, as well as expanded service between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and HNL.

Next month, the airline will introduce its third daily nonstop flight between Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND) and the Hawaiian Islands, several months ahead of the 2020 Olympic Summer Games.

The U.S. DOT's monthly Air Travel Consumer Report ranking the nation's 16 largest air carriers is available online at www.dot.gov/individuals/air-consumer/air-travel-consumer-reports.

About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 16 years (2004-2019) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai'i.

Now in its 91st year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawaii's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawai'i from more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides, on average, more than 160 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, and over 240 daily flights system wide.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian's Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian's LinkedIn page.

For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines' online newsroom.

Make your getaway to Fiji even sweeter with these 6 surprises

Photos by Kim I. Mott

There’s more to Fiji that meets the eye than just powdery beaches and crystal-clear reefs. Here are six things that will sweeten your travel experience to the South Pacific island nation:

1. Clap once for Kava, then, three more times

Sheltered from the outside world until just two centuries ago, Fiji’s rich cultural traditions – including community-wide meke “spirit dances” reenacting ancient stories – remain a large part of daily life.

No tradition weighs more heavily on Fijian consciousness than the art of the kava ceremony, which is typically a mandatory part of being invited to any village. If lucky, you’ll have the opportunity for kava many times during your visit (and not only one set up by a resort).

Many tours and treks arrange visits to villages and kava ceremonies. Any visitors to a town must begin by asking to meet the turaga-ni-koro (village headman), who can make introductions to the ratu (chief). As visitors, you should offer a gift, or sevusevu, to get permission to visit. Unless you happen to have a whale’s tooth (a highly prized and rare, offering), powdered kava root that’s been aged four to seven years is a perfect option.

The chief will invite you into his home or into a community center where males sit cross-legged and women sit with legs to the side, as a headman (usually) mixes the kava powder with water in a wooden turtle-shaped bowl called the tanoa. It’s a slow process, and you should remain quiet (and not take photos) until the first round of drinking has been done.

The drink – which sort of resembles muddy water – is served in a bilo cup made from a coconut shell. Clap once before receiving it, drink it fully, hand the empty cup back, and clap three more times. Kava tastes like grassy water and offers your tongue a slight tingle. It’s not alcohol but is known to be relaxing if you have many rounds.

The ritual is known as wai ni vanua, or “water of the land,” indicating the village and the village welcomes you to visit. Things are casual and social after the first round. Generally, it’s OK to take photos after the first round but always ask.

It’s nice to explain who you are and why you’re visiting – the villagers will be interested to hear! For extra cultural-sensitivity points, keep your head lower than the chief’s, and never turn your back toward him, even when exiting. Visitors should wear a sulu sarong and refrain from wearing anything on ones’ head, like a hat or sunglasses. (But don’t worry if you make a mistake; locals are very easy-going with first-timers.)

2. It takes a village 

Any local will tell you; you haven’t visited Fiji until you visited one of Fiji’s nearly 1,200 koro (or villages) — where populations tend to be defined not by individuals but by mataqali (family groups). Visiting one begins by asking permission (and often a kava ceremony, see above). High-end resorts often offer village excursions (including kava, dances, handicrafts demos and a chance to buy local). It’s well worth arranging a trip to more far-flung places less used to seeing daily visitors. 

Navala in Vitu Levu’s Nausori Highlands is a village must-see. Reached from Nadi in a few hours via a snaking road that turns to gravel and weaves past sugar cane farms and along mountain ridges that envelop you slowly. Navala is Fiji’s last village made up of traditional bure thatch huts. About 200 of them line across a valley surrounded by green peaks.

For F$25, visitors can visit without prior arrangement, but you’re better off coming with a guide such as Tui from Bulou’s Lodge, a modest accommodation on the Ba River just outside town. Tui is a resident who can help set up a kava ceremony in the chief’s bure and lead you on river walks or to hidden waterfalls fed by natural springs. 

Another option to get here is a multi-day trek with village homestays via Talanoa Treks, which includes a visit to Nabutautau. 

3. Look for the pink bananas

You don’t have to travel far in Fiji to see a lot. Within the 50-acre Sleeping Giant Garden, just north of Nadi Airport, you’re able to walk past a series of lifelike orchids shaped like antelopes, angel wings and dancing ladies. Near a pond where dozens of frogs sit on lily pads, and shrouded in giant green leaves, loom bunches of pink bananas (or musa velutina), a self-peeling fruit found around the South Pacific.

Fiji may be known for its blue water, but often it is green that stands out. Tussles of trees, brush, shrubs and vines tangle up mountainsides in a seemingly impenetrable canopy of varying greens that sprout from the islands’ volcanic-rich soils. 

Amidst the lush landscape are 800-some species of plants found nowhere else, making for rewarding hikes (fortunately, the mongoose population handles most snakes).

Locals use many plants as traditional medicines. Some resorts, including the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort in Savusavu, offer traditional medicine walks, where you learn many common remedies. Pounded kalabuci damu (copperleaf) mixed with water helps sore throats, chewing mokomoko fern leaves aid healthy skin, while guava leaves can calm digestive issues.

The heart of green Fiji is without a doubt Tauveni Island. Known as the “Garden Island,” it’s rimmed with low-key resorts and crisscrossed with steamy hikes through the immense national park that occupies over three-quarters of the island. The best hike hugs the coast, the 5km Lavena Coastal Walk, which takes in waterfalls, black-sand beaches, mushroom-like coral pedestals, snorkeling spots.

Locals also dream of visiting Tauveni to see Fiji’s elusive national flower, the tagimoucia: a crimson and cream flower that’s inspired pop songs and has been described to “hang down in clusters like a chain of ruby raindrops.”

4. Fall in lovo with the backyard BBQ

The modern cuisine of Fiji is surprising. Meals are refreshingly fresh and healthy. And, diverse. Local homes are happy to incorporate styles from Indo-Fijians, Fiji citizens who are fully or partially of Indian descent, so you’ll find plenty of curries and roti flatbreads as part of the daily diet. 

Islands have also concocted their own ceviche, a seafood dish originating in Peru typically made from fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices and spices.The seafood here is legendary – imagine fresh filets of wahoo, marlin or barracuda served in coconut milk, plus giant lobsters and prawns — especially a spicy bowl of kokoda. Sometimes served in an open clamshell, this delicious mix of raw fish is marinated in lime juice and served with coconut cream, onion and chilis. 

Another must-try: lovo. A dish, wrapped in foil and banana leaves, then set overheated river stones and left to roast over a pit for a few hours slowly. It’s the South Pacific’s version of an underground BBQ, made with any protein you prefer (fish filets, pork or chicken cutlets, or even rourou taro leaves). Most resorts offer lovo, and it’s still a special banquet-type method used in villages for weddings, birthdays, funerals and other special occasions.

Visiting a Fijian market is a colorful way to see what tropical staples make up a regular part of local farming and local diets. Walkthrough one and see often artfully stacked displays of pineapple, kumula (sweet potato), taro and uto (breadfruit), nama (sea grapes) or powdered kava root sold in small paper bags. You’re sure to find tavioka (or cassava) on your plate, as the starchy root is so common it’s been called “Fiji’s rice.” Meanwhile, coconuts come from the “tree of life” and play a big role as curries, bread, even as cups during kava ceremonies.

5. Get ready to rugby

Fiji’s gorgeous color-coded dollar bills are adorned with tropical animals and traditional details like the intricate designs seen on masi bark-cloth wall hangings. But none compare to the glory of Fiji’s $7 bill, which celebrates the nation’s first (and only) Olympic medal after Fiji took gold in 2016 in seven-on-seven rugby. 

Rugby has been big here since the English introduced it in the 1880s. Now, it’s said you can only choose a village site once you have found a field to play rugby. Fun fact: the first televisions appeared here only in 1987, so locals could watch rugby. If a ball’s not around, locals are known to play using empty bottles, lemons or wadded-up shirts.

The official season for professional teams is from April to September – and the youth competition during April’s Coca Cola Light Games is also popular – but you’ll find rugby played all year, particularly on Saturdays. In towns like Ba on Vitu Levu, an hour’s drive from Nadi, gets busy on Saturdays, when locals line the field with lawn chairs to watch game after game of teams pouring in from the Nausori Highlands.

6. Pick your path with Fiji Airways

Make your getaway to Fiji even more rewarding with Alaska Global Partner, Fiji Airways! Book before the end of Feb., and pick your path: Use Alaska miles to get up to 50% off award travel, OR earn DOUBLE the Alaska miles! Terms apply.

Hawaiian Airlines, HawaiianMiles Members Donate 35 Million Miles to Hawai‘i Nonprofits

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Hawaiian Airlines and HawaiianMiles members donated 35 million miles to 13 local nonprofits in 2019 via the carrier’s member giving program. Each organization received an average of 2.8 million miles to support services aligned with Hawaiian’s corporate pillars of culture, education, environment and health and human services in Hawai‘i. The 35 million gifted miles constitutes the largest annual donation since the program’s inception in 2005.

“Our HawaiianMiles members achieved an incredible milestone and their record-breaking generosity is a testament to how truly special Hawai‘i is,” said Bryan Kapeckas, managing director of loyalty and travel products at Hawaiian Airlines. “Each donation of airline miles – no matter the size – resulted in an impactful investment back into our community, and we couldn’t be more thankful.”

Hawaiian, the state’s hometown carrier for over nine decades, encourages HawaiianMiles members to participate in the yearlong giving program by donating miles to a selection of Hawai‘i-based nonprofits. The airline matches up to a half-million miles of the total donations made annually to each nonprofit.

Last year, HawaiianMiles members donated 28 million miles – more than doubling the 10.4 million miles given in 2018. Hawaiian contributed a company match of 7 million miles that resulted in a record year-end total of 35 million miles.

Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330

 

Benefiting organizations include:

  • American Cancer Society Hawaii Pacific
  • American Red Cross of Hawaii
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii
  • Blood Bank of Hawaii
  • Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL)
  • Friends of Hōkūle‘a and Hawai‘iloa
  • Hawaiian Humane Society
  • HUGS
  • Make A Wish Hawaii
  • Maui Forward Bird Recovery Program
  • National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii
  • Shriners Hospital for Children of Honolulu
  • Special Olympics Hawai‘i

 

In addition to the HawaiianMiles member contribution, the carrier gifted 19.2 million miles to over 150 Hawai‘i nonprofits in 2019 via its Team Kōkua Giving Program. To learn more about Hawaiian Airlines’ corporate giving and responsibility initiatives, click here.

Nonprofit quotes:

“The American Cancer Society is a grateful partner in the HawaiianMiles giving program,” said Lani Almanza, manager of hospital systems and mission delivery for the American Cancer Society Hawaii Pacific. “The miles donated help us provide critical access to care needed by cancer patients who have to travel away from their home island to receive their life-saving cancer treatments and ease the financial burdens that they face. In 2019 we were able to provide over 77 round-trip flights for Hawai‘i cancer patients, with some of those to treatment centers in the continental U.S.”

“The HawaiianMiles giving program provides wonderful community support for Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii. As a youth-serving organization with a statewide presence, our staff and the youth we serve use the donated miles to travel for specialized training opportunities in Honolulu and even mainland locations,” said Dennis Brown, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii. “We’ve also provided air travel for youth to participate in leadership seminars, college campus visits, and other experiences they couldn’t otherwise afford.”

“The Friends of Hōkūle‘a and Hawai‘iloa are most grateful for the HawaiianMiles giving program, for it has afforded us a greater ability to reach out into our community and share the voyaging traditions and canoe building skills of ancient Hawaiian culture,” said Billy Richards, president of Friends of Hōkūle‘a and Hawai‘iloa.

“We are deeply grateful for the generous gifts of HawaiianMiles that allow us to raise funds that go directly to providing services for O‘ahu’s homeless animals. These services include complex medical treatments that give pets a new lease on life with loving families,” said Daniel Roselle, director of community relations at the Hawaiian Humane Society.

“Our partnership with the HawaiianMiles giving program allows Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project to put more dollars towards on the ground endangered species management and forest restoration,” said Dr. Hanna Mounce, project coordinator at the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project. “Every flight that we are able to cover with miles for interisland meetings, exchanges of volunteers, survey work, and collaborations within Hawaii and beyond helps us put more funding into the conservation work we do.”

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 15 years (2004-2018) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i.

Now in its 91st year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawaii’s biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawai‘i from more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides, on average, more than 160 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, and over 240 daily flights system wide.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian’s Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook  (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.

For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom.

More ways to go global: Alaska Airlines to expand American Airlines relationship and join oneworld

For Alaska Airlines guests, the world is getting closer – and easier to reach.

We’re expanding our relationship with American Airlines and announcing plans to join oneworld, the highly rated global airline network – two moves that open the world for our guests. We see this as an exciting West Coast international alliance, which includes:

  • the ability to earn and use miles on both Alaska and American
  • full elite status reciprocity
  • lounge access to nearly 50 American Admirals Clubs worldwide and seven Alaska Lounges in the U.S. (However, Alaska Lounge members do not currently have access to the Admirals Club in San Francisco International Terminal 2 due to space constraints. Alaska will be opening a new 8,500-square-foot, top-floor lounge in Terminal 2 this fall. Boarding pass and guest restrictions apply.)
  • continued domestic codeshare and expanded international travel from Los Angeles and Seattle for hassle-free booking and travel between Alaska and American Airlines

In addition, we’re seeking full membership into oneworld, expected in summer 2021. Together, this new alliance and oneworld membership will give guests seamless access to 1,200 destinations around the world.

“This alliance opens the world for Alaska Airlines guests, whether traveling for business or pleasure,” said Andrew Harrison, Alaska’s executive vice president and Chief Commercial Officer. “And importantly for our employees and the communities we serve, this West Coast international alliance enables Alaska’s continued independent growth.”

Once Alaska’s membership is approved by oneworld, guests traveling on Alaska, American or a oneworld partner will feel like they have one connected travel experience – no matter who or where you fly.

At the same time, agreements with our current valued Global Partners will continue uninterrupted.

The reach of our expanded global network means we can give our guests what they want most – access to a huge international portfolio, seamless reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, lounge access and more choices to experience the world.

So, what does this West Coast international alliance mean for Alaska Mileage Plan members?

Our new alliance will let members earn and redeem miles on even more domestic and international destinations. This includes today’s announcement by American Airlines for the first nonstop flight from Seattle to Bangalore, India, starting October 2020, along with new service from Seattle to London, starting in spring 2021.

Effective immediately:

  • Redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles on all American Airlines flights and continue to earn miles on American flights with an Alaska flight number.
  • Access any of American’s 50 Admirals Club locations worldwide with an Alaska Lounge membership.
  • Continue to earn and redeem Mileage Plan miles on our current portfolio of 16 Global Partners.

Starting spring 2020:

  • Earn Alaska Mileage Plan miles on any American Airlines flights, domestically and internationally.

Starting summer 2021:

  • Earn and redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles on all oneworld airlines.
  • Alaska elites will enjoy privileges, including priority boarding, premium seating, baggage benefits and more when you fly on American Airlines or any oneworld airline.
  • Access 650 lounges within the oneworld network as an MVP Gold or Gold 75K member.

This is just the beginning. We will share more details with you as these benefits become available.

Today
  • Redeem Alaska miles on all American Airlines flights.
  • Alaska Lounge members can access American’s 50 Admirals Club locations.
  • Earn and redeem miles on our current portfolio of 16 Global Partners.
Spring 2020
  • Earn Alaska miles on all American Airlines flights, domestically and internationally.
Fall 2020
  • American Airlines launches nonstop service between Seattle and Bangalore, India.
Spring 2021
  • American Airlines launches nonstop service between Seattle and London-Heathrow.
Summer 2021
  • Earn and redeem Alaska miles on all oneworld® airlines.
  • Alaska elites will enjoy privileges, including priority boarding, premium seating, baggage benefits and more when you fly on American Airlines or any oneworld® airline.
  • MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75k members can access 650 lounges within the oneworld® airline network.

Q&A:

What is the benefit of this alliance?

Enhancing our relationship with American Airlines by forming a West Coast international alliance and joining oneworld opens the world to our guests. This means traveling on Alaska, American or a oneworld airline will feel like one connected travel experience––no matter who or where you fly.

With this announcement, how many destinations will I be able to connect to?

We’ll be able to connect guests to more than 1,200 destinations worldwide when we are a full member of oneworld.

Does this mean your relationship with American won’t end?

Correct. Alaska and American will continue our domestic codeshare relationship uninterrupted.

What does this mean for your existing unaffiliated Global Partners?

Our 16 Global Partners are very valuable and we’ll keep them as long as they continue to provide a unique value to our guests.

Does this mean I’ll be able to access the American Airlines Admirals Club in Terminal 2 at San Francisco International Airport?

The Admirals Club in Terminal 2 at SFO is closing in March. However, you’ll have access to a new 8,500-square-foot, top-floor lounge at San Francisco International Airport’s Terminal 2 when the new Alaska Lounge opens in 2020.

Self-care in the air: 6 tips to get in the flight headspace

Many of us have lives that go nonstop, so it’s essential to prioritize the solacing self-care activities that bring us the most joy and put us in the best headspace. And if travel’s on that list for you, then you’ve landed in the right spot (and flight spot!). This year, we want to help you approach your time spent in the air with health and wellness in mind, from relaxing destinations to onboard meditations, and everything in between.

Lettuce eat well.

Sometimes anything goes when you’re on-the-go––pizza for breakfast, airport martinis for lunch, a package of gummy bears for dinner. (No judgment!) But if you’re sticking to a New Year’s resolution to eat healthier, no matter where in the world you’re headed, then we’re making sure you don’t just have to wing it. Our onboard menu is already known for being the healthiest in the sky, but we recently partnered with Evergreens to continue bringing local, healthy, and fresh ingredients to your tray table. The Beets So Fly Salad is available now on select longer-haul flights until March 16, followed by the Go Fig or Go Home Salad, available through the spring. Don’t forget to pre-order yours on the Alaska app––which happens to be our favorite kind of meal prep.

Destination: Meditation

It can be tough to quiet the mind when you’re jet-setting and preparing for a long-awaited adventure, which is why we’re proud to partner with Headspace to offer FREE inflight meditation sessions. We’ll help you be kind to your mind––from takeoff and touchdown to pre-flight nerves and inflight naps! If that sounds good, then look for Headspace in our entertainment portal the next time you’re on board, and get ready to let go, on the go.

The home stretch

You can always sit with us! But we know sitting for too long can leave you restless in your seat at 35,000 feet, so the next time the seat-belt sign is on, why not try your own version of in-seat yoga? Flexing, pointing and rotating your feet, side-to-side neck stretches, wiggling your fingers and toes, and crossing your arms and legs can help your body feel like it’s in motion. (Just be conscious of your seatmate’s space!) And of course, everyone loves long walks down the aisle — especially after sitting for a few hours — so be sure to take advantage of those stretchable strolls to the lavatory. Booking a Premium Class seat with extra legroom (and complimentary cocktails!) is also an easy and valuable way to elevate your self-care game right out of the gate.

More DIY on the fly

Some other ideas to help make your flight as pampered as possible? Hydrate. Bring your own water bottle and #FillBeforeYouFly. (We’ll also make sure you’re served water as soon as it’s safe for our flight attendants to walk through the cabin.) Keep calm and pack a sheet mask in your carry-on. (Your skin needs hydration, too!) Order a nice, hot cup of Teavana® tea. Watch a classic, feel-good film from our selection of the Most Movies in the Sky.* Do the crossword puzzle in the back of Beyond. Make a soothing travel playlist for the exact amount of flight time. Before you know it, you’ll be landing refreshed, ready to go BIG or go home — or wherever your travels may lead!

Say yes to de-stress!

We know opportunities for mindfulness exist in varying degrees and forms, subjective to timeframes and lifestyles, but we hope you find it, if even briefly, in your travels. (Yes, our Signature Fruit & Cheese Platter is a form of self-care!)

Get out of town!

Need travel ideas for finding nonstop zen on a long weekend? Treat yourself to these retreats.

Hawaiian Airlines Reports January 2020 Traffic Statistics

HA High Res Logo_mid

HONOLULU, Feb. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Hawaiian Airlines, Inc., a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA) ("Hawaiian"), today announced its system-wide traffic statistics for the month ended January 31, 2020. 

(PRNewsfoto/Hawaiian Holdings, Inc.)

Hawaiian welcomed more than 963,000 guests in January 2020. Total traffic (revenue passenger miles) increased 6.6 percent on an increase of 7.5 percent in capacity (available seat miles) compared to January 2019. Load factor decreased 0.7 points year-over-year to 83.6 percent.

The table below summarizes January statistics compared to the prior-year period.

SYSTEM-WIDE OPERATIONS1

JANUARY

2020

2019

% CHANGE

PAX

963,053

958,548

0.5%

RPMs (000)

1,528,701

1,434,019

6.6%

ASMs (000)

1,829,217

1,700,850

7.5%

LF

83.6%

84.3%

(0.7) pts
       

PAX

Passengers transported

RPM

Revenue Passenger Mile; one paying passenger transported one mile

ASM

Available Seat Mile; one seat transported one mile

LF

Load Factor; percentage of seating capacity filled
 

1Includes the operations of contract carriers under capacity purchase agreements.

About Hawaiian Airlines     

Hawaiian® led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance from 2004-2018 as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. U.S. DOT results for 2019 will be reported in February.  Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai'i.

Now in its 91st year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai'i's biggest and longest-serving airline. Hawaiian offers non-stop service to Hawai'i from more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides, on average, more than 170 jet flights daily between the Hawaiian Islands, and over 260 daily flights system wide.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian's Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook  (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian's LinkedIn page.

For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines' online newsroom.

 

 

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hawaiian-airlines-reports-january-2020-traffic-statistics-301000124.html

SOURCE Hawaiian Airlines

Call of the Wild: Helping An Aspiring Environmentalist Spread Her Wings

When Hawaiian Airlines flight 446 took off from Auckland for Honolulu on Sept. 12, 2018, Charlie (Charlene) Thomas hid her fear of flying. Instead, the 16-year-old environmental activist channeled her focus on the opportunity ahead: cleaning O‘ahu dirtiest shores to shed light on the problem with marine debris and microplastics.

Thomas was one of the eight Kiwi youth ambassadors selected for the project organized by the Sea Cleaners, a New Zealand-based nonprofit partner of Hawaiian Airlines and Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania.

 

NZ Herald Business Front Page

Thomas was featured on the front page of the New Zealand Herald's business section (Sept. 17, 2018 issue) while on assignment on O‘ahu with the Sea Cleaners.

 

The initiative was rekindled several months later in 2019 when three Hawai‘i students traveled to Auckland to return the favor and mālama (care for) Kiwi coastlines. Thomas, who was hired as a full-time Sea Cleaner after her trip, showed the newest cohort of youth ambassadors the ropes. The exchange was one of several hundred initiatives that she worked on, taking her to coastlines throughout the Auckland and Northland regions.

Charlie 2

During Charlie Thomas's tenure with the Sea Cleaners, she helped with hundreds of large-scale cleanups and removed debris from coastlines throughout New Zealand. Finding odd items, such as discarded children's toys that had washed ashore, was not uncommon.

 

Fast forward to 2020 and Thomas, 18, is preparing to work alongside experts at the Kure Atoll Conservancy during an eight-month field camp on the Kure Atoll.

Located over 1,400 miles from O‘ahu, Kure is the most remote portion of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The 220-acre island is a stopping point for migratory birds traveling between North America and Asia, and home to over 7,000 species of marine life, including Hawaiian Monk seals, green sea turtles, and native seabirds. Kure is protected under the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010 and “the largest conversation area on Earth” as of 2016.

[Editor's note: Curious about what the Kure Atoll looks like? Click here!]

DLNR Papahanamokuakea

IMAGE CREDIT: Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources
An image of a former field camp group at the Kure Atoll in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

 

Thomas will be the youngest of four program volunteers and the first New Zealander to ever work at Kure Atoll. She’ll live in a solar-powered facility and spend her days without internet access, cell phone service, ground transportation or food that hasn’t been flown or boated in, and her bags will only be packed with the clothes she needs, some art supplies, a camera, and a selection of books.

Thomas departs Auckland this week via a Hawaiian Airlines flight to Honolulu. While in town, she’ll undergo a two-week intensive training, led by the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources – Division of Forestry and Wildlife, before fully transitioning her life to the Kure.

 

Charlie Thomas took time before her journey began to share her passions with us…

When did your love for and dedication to the environment start?

CT: As a child. We have a bach (cabin) on Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf and I would hunt the beach for shells, rocks, bones, treasures to keep. When I was about 10 or 11, I went out for a long time with my net and bag and came home with nothing but rubbish, bits of plastic mostly.  After that, my Dad and I did a survey of our own, along the entire shoreline. We collected enough plastic rubbish equivalent to about 770 of those two-liter plastic milk bottles. 

What impact did your first Sea Cleaners Youth Ambassador trip to Hawai‘i have on you?

CT: Hawai‘i changed absolutely everything. It was the beginning of a new chapter for me. When I returned to New Zealand, I was offered a job with Sea Cleaners. I had a much broader perspective of the issue of pollution by marine plastics and a burning desire to help to educate more people.

Charlie 1

Thomas pictured next to piles of fishing nets and mooring rope during her first Sea Cleaners to the North Shore of O‘ahu.

Do you have a fond memory of your time in Hawai‘i?

CT: I am inspired by Laysan Albatross; just as canaries were to the coal miners, Laysan Albatross are to the oceans. I saw my first Laysan Albatross as I was staring out the window on our Hawaiian Airlines neighbor island flight to Maui.  I just kept on watching them flying about out there in the distance, white specks and that helped me to stay calm as I am not so good at flying.

Who else inspires you?

CT: Sir David Attenborough always and now, massively, artist Chris Jordan. I can’t begin to explain how important his work is through film and images. He made a visual documentary called Albatross that everyone should see. It shows exactly the damage created by marine plastics and much more.

Charlie Sea Bird Watercolour

An artist at heart, Thomas has garnered extra funding for her trip to the Kure Atoll by selling her artwork. Pictured above is one of her pieces, a watercolor painting of a seabird.

In addition to leading cleanup operations with the Sea Cleaners, I’ve heard you’ve been speaking at primary schools throughout New Zealand. How was that experience and do you think it was well-received by the students?

CT: It was amazing. Children are so keen to learn and their questions are not silly. I speak about my own experiences in New Zealand and Hawai‘i. We received many letters and cards afterward telling us how they have been inspired and that they want to do what we do.

After Kure Atoll, [working with youth] is what I want to do more of. Educating young people is what will make a difference in the future. We have to continue to spread awareness…to open eyes.

 

Russell Williss, Hawaiian’s New Zealand country director, agrees…

In Oceania, Hawaiian has participated in a series of activities centered on the environment and particularly the engagement of young New Zealanders. How did that come about?

RW: It's all part of giving something back to the communities we serve. In New Zealand, just as in Hawai‘i, we share common concerns about the preservation of culture, language and environmental sustainability including our shorelines. There's a strong sense of responsibility to take care of the land, ocean, and community and to encourage future generations to do the same.  

Our airline has partnered with the Sea Cleaners now over several years. Can you walk us through how the partnership was formed?

RW: Hawaiian Airlines is committed to supporting nonprofit organizations that protect the environment in Hawai'i and in the markets we serve. In New Zealand, one organization that caught our eye was Sea Cleaners – a natural fit.

Since 2002, Sea Cleaners have removed more than 8.8 million liters (or 2,326,700 gallons) of rubbish from New Zealand’s coastlines, equating to over 85 million individual pieces collected and over 160,000 total volunteer hours. Controlling pollution by marine plastics is a concern shared around the world especially in countries and destinations bordered by the oceans — as both Hawai‘i and New Zealand are.

Our first collaboration with Sea Cleaners and Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania involved cross-cultural coastal cleanups where Kiwi and Hawai‘i youth worked side-by-side on O‘ahu's shorelines and later on Rangitoto Island just off the coast from Auckland. Our own Team Kōkua joined them and it was fantastic (and a lot of hard work!) to see everyone coming together to highlight the issue of marine plastics in the Pacific. 

Rusty Charlie Darragh

Pictured L to R: Russell Williss of Hawaiian Airlines, Charlie Thomas, and Darragh Walshe of Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania.

In your opinion, how important are youth ambassadors in environmental sustainability?

RW: Really important. It’s youth leading the way and at 18 years of age, Charlie Thomas and like-minded young New Zealanders working with Sea Cleaners deserve our encouragement. Not only are they spending countless hours working to repeatedly clean up our New Zealand coastlines, but they also play a very important role in leadership and education.

Thomas and other youth leaders like her get out and about in schools to educate younger kids to dispose of their rubbish in eco-friendly ways including recycling. So on one hand, they repeatedly clean up the rubbish on our shorelines, but they also work hard to limit pollution at the source by teaching our youngest Kiwis how to protect the environment and steward others.  

How to pack your Machu Picchu adventure into a carry-on

Happy dance, you’ve booked a trip to Machu Picchu, one of the most stunning displays of natural beauty and preserved history in the world. Plane tickets in hand, travel itinerary from Cuzco, and a guide to lead the way—you’re almost ready for the adventure of a lifetime. 

The only thing standing in your way? Packing, of course.   

While Machu Picchu is Peru’s most popular destination with more than 1.5 million visitors in 2018 alone, it can also be a relative mystery when it comes to packing and preparation. The trip to Machu Picchu crosses everything from cold high desert to humid rainforest – with a fair share of trekking in between. 

At the start of our Machu Picchu trek on a cold morning from Hidroeléctrica, a former train station and popular launch point for day trekking route up to the ruins, my girlfriend and I could see our breath hanging in the dark, early morning air. As the sun crested the steep mountain valley, temperatures jumped and humidity set in, collecting on our base layers as we stripped down and continued our slow trek through low-hanging jungle. Then came the rain. Scrambling for our packs one more time, we threw on rain jackets and prepped for our long haul up the mountain. In a span of hours, we had changed outfits nearly three times. We’d been warned about the contrasts in the Sacred Valley, but if it weren’t for some strategic packing, our dream trip could have turned into a nightmare. 

As you pack, consider the buses and trains you’ll need to take to begin the walking portion. A trip to Machu Picchu covers a lot of terrain, and the drive from Cuzco to the start of many Machu Picchu treks is a minimum of seven hours. Trust us, you don’t want to lug a heavy and unwieldly suitcase all this way. 

The best way to get the most out of your Machu Picchu excursion is to pack your trip down to a carry-on. Yes, a carry-on. 

So how do you fit all that adventure into your cabin baggage? Here’s a no-frills guide to packing and preparing the ultimate carry-on for all of your Machu Picchu needs. 

Winding up the Sacred Valley to the base of Machu Picchu, the train tracks from Aguas Calientes are a stunning (albeit long) approach for hikers heading to the famous ruins. Photo by Kade Krichko

It starts with a pack

The backpack may be the most important packing choice you make for a trek to Machu Picchu. The Aircontact Lite 40 + 10 L from Deuter is a good option. (Photo courtesy of Deuter)

Caption: The backpack may be the most important packing choice you make for a trek to Machu Picchu. The Aircontact Lite 40 + 10 L from Deuter is a good option. (Photo courtesy of Deuter) 

Ask any world traveler, and they’ll tell you the key to carry-on travel is a good backpack. For your Machu Picchu trip-of-a-lifetime, the pack is key to more than squeezing your life into a carry-on; it’s critical for the actual trek as well. This means choosing the right backpack is likely the most important part of packing.  

The Deuter Aircontact Lite 40 + 10 L is a great option for anyone headed to Peru’s breathtaking ruins. The pack is easy to stow in your aircraft’s overhead compartment and combines a super lightweight frame and comfortable fit with creative storage and a bundle of useful features. Offering 40 liters of storage space, the Aircontact Lite can actually expand to accommodate an additional 10L, giving you a little extra flexibility on the ground to pack and repack without jamming everything into place. The pack also features a separate bottom compartment for storing wet or dirty clothes – but more on that later. 

The Aircontact Lite 40 + 10 L offers a customizable fit through adjustable straps, a flexible sternum strap and a padded hip belt to provide comfort for moving on and off planes, in between buses, and up and down the trail.  

 The case for a pack within your pack

 Your carry-on pack isn’t the only bag you’ll need to carry your load. Make sure to pack a small daypack inside your carry-on as well. This pack will be essential for quick day missions in cities like Cuzco and the ruins of Ollantaytambo, where you’ll want to carry a camera and an extra layer, but little else. There are several options that pack down to fit in the pocket of your hiking pants – one example is the REI Flash 18 – and will be well worth the effort.  

Organize your space with packing cubes

Packing cubes, like these from REI, will help you keep your bag efficiently organized. (Photo courtesy of REI)

As you pack your carry-on for Machu Picchu, remember that organization is key when it comes to space management. One of the best tools for maximizing room and efficiency is a good set of packing cubes. It may seem natural to compartmentalize your gear, but packing cubes make the process even easier, offering a portable set of “drawers” for separating shirts and pants from toiletries and technical gear.  

Placed appropriately, these packing cubes will make it easy to change gear in and out of your pack, and can be removed and used as drawers in hotels and hostels. REI sells a few packing cube sets, and there are dozens of options available online for every kind of traveler.   

Stay dry, stay happy

Staying dry is especially key for anyone traveling to Machu Picchu, and should be a priority when packing your carry-on. While the ruins have a distinct rainy season between November and May, humidity in the area ranges between 80% and 100% year-round, meaning fast-moving precipitation is never far off. Proper rain clothes – we recommend a lightweight rain jacket and rain pants – are a must. A poncho will help, but the continuous up and down of the Machu Picchu is easier with clothes that articulate with you rather than blow against you. 

Also, quick-dry material is your friend. Merino wool goes a long way in the Andes, keeping you dry when weather turns ugly and keeping odor-causing bacteria off your skin and base layers. Quick-drying synthetic fibers can be very useful as often you’ll need gear to dry overnight. Think one to two shirts or base layers and a pair of convertible hiking pants/shorts as the basis of your wardrobe. 

For wet or dirty laundry, pack a small dry-bag or plastic bag to separate potentially smelly gear from the rest. This will go a long way in keeping your pack fresh and travel companions happy.  

Pack a puffy

Almost all Machu Picchu adventures start in Cuzco, a beautiful high-altitude city that can also get quite cold year-round (with lows barely rising above 45-degrees Fahrenheit). In fact, many of the Andean villages you will travel to experience a significant temperature drop at night. Battle the cold without bringing your whole winter closet by packing a puffy jacket like this one from Stio. Puffy jackets are lightweight and built to pack down into small spaces, making them ideal cold weather tools and the perfect options for fitting into a carry-on.  

Hiking boots, of course – but sandals are your footwear Swiss Army knife 

Your feet will thank you if you pack a pair of sturdy sandals like Chacos. (Photo courtesy of Chacos)

You won’t want to spend every waking hour of your trip in hiking boots, but packing extra shoes takes up valuable space in a hurry. Get the best of both worlds with a solid pair of sandals. 

The Chaco Z/2 classic is an excellent option for tired feet, providing support and function for walks around town, but also the utility to be used in a shower or late-night bathroom run. Sandals pack down to almost nothing, and can fit in most backpack side compartments. Trust us, your feet will thank you.  

Don’t forget a travel sheet

This is an easy one, but an important piece that needs to make your final pack list. A travel sheet takes up little room in the carry-on, but provides a physical barrier between you and whatever bed you might be sleeping on during your time abroad. While there are plenty of modern lodging options on your trip to Peru, hostels and other lodges can get the occasional bedbug attack, so it’s best not to take any chances. REI and outdoors stores carry these travel sheets in a variety of styles and even have sheets built to fit inside your sleeping bag.  

Items recommended in this article were selected by the author based on personal experience. Neither the author nor Alaska Airlines will earn any commissions on purchases of recommended items.

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