Starting later this year, Delta Airlines has decided to add Hawaii flights and up-gauge some of its existing Hawaii flights in a most interesting way. They’re moving to treat Hawaii as an international destination by adding their Premium Select option on some longer-haul Hawaii routes.
The airline said in their announcement, “Delta customers won’t need to fly internationally to enjoy the elevated experience of Delta Premium Select. Three daily nonstop routes to Hawaii – Atlanta to Maui, New York-JFK to Honolulu, and Salt Lake City to Maui – will offer more space to relax and stretch out.”
This is the first time Delta has made this upgraded service available on domestic routes. They’re adding 80k new premium seats on their schedule of Hawaii fights compared with pre-Covid.
Hawaii flights see unprecedented demand for premium products.
Earlier this week, Hawaiian CEO Peter Ingram said the same thing. Essentially, their business and premium-economy (Extra Comfort) products are on fire. Hawaiian is having difficulty keeping up with demand for those seats and is even contemplating how to add more premium to its seating mix through future configuration changes.
At Delta, the company said, “We continue to see unparalleled demand for our premium products, so we’re giving our customers access to nearly 330,000 premium seats to Hawaii this winter. Hawaii is a highly sought-after destination for families and adventurists alike, and we’re offering them more choice and comfort than ever before.”
New Delta Hawaii flights start November 19.
Delta will turn its priority back to Maui by bringing on the only nonstop daily flights from Atlanta to Maui starting November 19. Then on December 17, Delta will add daily JFK to Honolulu flights. At the same time, Salt Lake City to Maui will return to daily service. Delta plans to offer 19 daily nonstops to four Hawaiian destinations from its seven U.S. gateways this winter.
What is Delta Premium Select?
The company said Delta Premium Select provides customers “more space to relax and stretch out, with a wider seat, deeper recline, and an adjustable footrest and leg rest. Passengers also receive an upgraded amenity kit, noise-canceling headsets, a blanket made from recycled materials, and a memory-foam pillow to help them arrive rested and refreshed.”
If you want comfort at far less cost than business/first class, this is worth looking into.
This is the first time Delta has ventured into this premium product on U.S. flights, and it isn’t surprising that they chose Hawaii as the launch. The product is still evolving, and the company said they plan to launch enhancements over the upcoming months. “Customers can look forward to an elevated dining experience [including] refreshed premium food and beverage options from small businesses minority suppliers across the globe, and premium service touchpoints…”
Delta Premium Select is already available on most transatlantic and transpacific international flights.
How much extra does it cost?
We did a comparison of prices for Main Cabin (economy), Premium Select (premium economy), and Delta One (business). Here’s what we found for round trip fares, lying nonstop between Honolulu and Atlanta, using January 12-19, 2022 dates.
- Economy: $1,069
- Premium Economy: $1,646
- Business $6,150
New Delta Hawaii flights for winter 2022-2023:
Atlanta to Maui – A330.
Departs ATL at 11:00 a.m.
Arrives OGG at 4:00 p.m.
Departs OGG at 5:25 p.m.
Arrives ATL at 6:40 a.m. (next day)
New York-JFK to Honolulu – B767-400.
Departs JFK at 9:00 a.m.
Arrives HNL at 3:35 p.m.
Departs HNL at 4:55 p.m.
Arrives JFK at 7:25 a.m. (next day)
Salt Lake City to Maui – A330.
Departs SLC at 3:20 p.m.
Arrives OGG at 7:13 p.m.
Departs OGG at 8:40 p.m.
Arrives SLC at 5:40 a.m. (next day)
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The flight there and back will be the best part of the trip. Once you get to the Islands you’ll be treated like garbage by people who think they own the island and have lost their ability to be hospitable.
No thanks. I’ll spend my money somewhere else. Unless things change someday, I won’t return to Hawaii.
This Decision is absolutely Amazing. Blessings to Deltas New adventures and the upgrades to Hawaii flights, for it is going to catch on like Fire….and expediency shall be prosperous…just what we’re been waiting for to happen. Congratulations 💯‼️. Thank you 😊
I surely have the feeling that there’s a lot of wishful hoping and thinking here. First off, all of the airlines have a severe pilot shortage and pilots are not something that grows on trees. And secondly, I think all of the airlines are having difficulty getting aircraft. Those two problems are the reasons you’re seeing a lot of cancellations. The Boeing plant in Seattle is where they make the Max aircraft. The bigger Boeings are coming out of a plant in the Carolinas. That plant has not been able to get an aircraft by either Boeing’s own certification or the FAA certification. It’s largely because building an airplane is a complicated process and takes learning. Let’s hope something does come together.
Aloha
Aloha!
And of greater importance to us midwesterners, Delta is adding a new non-stop flight from Detroit to Honolulu starting on November 19.
Mahalo
Oh great. More touristson the already Over Crowded islands. The destruction resulting to what used to be a real paradise…its lands and culture… is Unconscionable.