If you want to spark an argument among Hawaii travelers, you do not need to mention points, elite status, or airline acquisitions. You only need to ask a much simpler question that people answer from Hawaii travel muscle memory rather than logic: Hawaiian or Alaska to Hawaii, which do you prefer?
Most people answer immediately, then quickly qualify their answer. It depends on the aircraft, whether it is a widebody or a narrowbody, and whether it is Airbus or Boeing. It depends on whether they are flying solo or as a couple. It depends on whether they care more about seat layout, how the aircraft handles, free, fast WiFi, or just getting through the whole travel experience without friction.
That is why this topic keeps resurfacing, even among readers who are exhausted by airline news. This is not theoretical or abstract. It is what your body feels for five or six hours in a narrow tube, and what you remember long after you step off the jet bridge and re-enter post-Hawaii reality.
What Hawaii travelers usually notice first.
Hawaii travelers notice whether one of them is stuck in a middle seat, and by the way, how many middle seats are there? They notice whether they can sit together without sacrificing comfort and having a third person in their row. They check whether the seat has adequate padding, feels too hard, or is worn down. They notice whether the tech works smoothly or becomes another chore layered on an already long mainland to Hawaii travel day.
Then, on Maui flights, some tell us they notice the landing. If you fly into Kahului with any regularity, you know the approach has a personality. Some days it is smooth and forgettable, yet most days it feels like the aircraft is being nudged sideways by invisible hands on that windy approach. If it wasn’t windy there, you wouldn’t have wind farms. That final descent is where some people say they’ve formed strong opinions about aircraft and airlines, even if they cannot explain the mechanics behind it.
One example travelers point to.
When readers explain why they lean towards Hawaii or Alaska, the reasons are often very specific. One of those came from Richard C, a longtime Beat of Hawaii commenter who is also a pilot and has flown both aircraft into Maui.
“I’m a pilot who’s flown on both A321neos and 737 MAX on flights to Maui. I prefer the A321neos. It sits higher on its landing gear, which lends it a better landing craft in OGG’s unpredictable, turbulent conditions. During our last trip to Maui on a MAX, we had to do a go-around because of turbulence and the MAX’s short landing gear.”
He was careful not to make it a blanket judgment, however. “I do prefer the A321neo’s cabin layout over the MAX, but the MAX seems to have better WiFi. We sit in the extra legroom seating on each plane, which seems equal, and some of the A321neos are starting to show their age, so unless I’m flying into Maui, it’s a toss-up.”
That’s kind of a personal line of reasoning that shows up in this debate. Preferences are situational, shaped by route, aircraft, and small details travelers remember. For some, Maui landings are part of that calculation. For others, they don’t register at all. What matters more is that people are comparing experiences, not airlines on paper.
The aircraft reality most comparisons miss.
One reason travelers cannot agree on Hawaiian versus Alaska is that they are often not comparing the same experiences. They think they are debating airlines, but they are really debating aircraft.
On Hawaiian, the experience might be an A321neo narrowbody or an A330 widebody, depending on the route. On Alaska, for Hawaii flying, it is usually the 737 MAX, or it may be a legacy 737. That difference alone explains much of the disagreement.
Hawaiian’s A330 widebody still operates many mainland routes, and for many, it changes the entire feel of economy. For many, the 2-4-2 configuration matters more than airlines like to admit. Couples regularly say they prefer it because no one has to take the middle seat in a row of three, and that alone has helped keep some travelers loyal.
Comfort versus predictability.
Hawaiian often wins the argument on physical comfort, especially on widebodies. Alaska often wins on predictability.
If you read through years of Beat of Hawaii comments, a pattern emerges. Many travelers say Hawaiian can deliver a more pleasant seat experience and friendlier island-centric cabin feel.
Another frequent commenter, Drew808, framed the bigger picture succinctly: “Alaska’s strategy will virtually guarantee that Hawaiian’s A321s are replaced with MAX 10s. It’s a smart move that simplifies maintenance and operations. The only question is whether there will be a dedicated sub-fleet in Hawaiian colors, or whether it all becomes Alaska.”
That is yet another interesting context that matters, but only after readers care about what they may be losing. Simplification makes sense on paper, yet it does not answer what travelers feel when the Hawaii flight experience shifts.
WiFi and the timing problem.
WiFi has stopped being a novelty and has become part of how travelers judge whether an airline feels current or stuck in time. Hawaiian has offered free Starlink WiFi across its Airbus fleet for some time now, including both the A321neo and A330. That is a tangible, near home internet-like advantage today, not a promise, and readers notice when connectivity simply works without friction.
Alaska is moving in the same direction, but installations begin in 2026 and continue into 2027. That means Alaska travelers will live through a long transition in which some aircraft have it, and others do not, which will fuel more firsthand arguments rather than settle them.
Is food part of the equation for you?
For some travelers, it absolutely is. Hawaiian still offers complimentary food on most Hawaii flights, usually a familiar, free sandwich. A small group of readers genuinely appreciates that it’s at least included and sees it as part of the airline’s old-school charm.
For many others, including us, that same offering has become something they actively dread. The sandwiches are often unappealing enough that people pass on them entirely, not because they are picky but because they would rather go hungry than eat what’s served. What used to feel like a perk now feels like a reminder of how far airline food expectations have fallen. We still recall when Hawaiian served real complimentary meals on its Hawaii flights.
Alaska takes the opposite approach. Food is optional and paid for, albeit of higher quality. It can be ordered in advance, with menus resembling airport grab-and-go offerings. Some travelers prefer that model because it gives them control over what they eat and when, even if it means paying extra. Others resent paying for food on a long flight and miss the idea of something included.
That split has arguably changed traveler behavior. A growing number of Hawaii flyers pack their own food regardless of airline, choosing something they actually want instead of betting on what will be served. We’ve written about that shift before in Why we pack our own food on every Hawaii flight now, and the reasons show up again and again in reader comments too.
Why travelers still can’t agree.
This argument never ends because it is not one argument. It is several arguments layered on top of each other.
It is A321neo versus 737 MAX across comfort and performance. It is A330 2-4-2 versus three-across geometry on A321 and 737 MAX for couples. It is smoother seats versus smoother tech. It is free Starlink today versus promised Starlink tomorrow. It is whether you tolerate small irritations for a better cabin, or tolerate a worse cabin for fewer surprises.
People do not decide this strictly on the basis of facts. They decide it with memory and emotion, and they recall how the flight felt far more clearly than what they paid.
If you had to pick one for your next Hawaii trip, Hawaiian or Alaska, which would it be and why?
Photo Credit: Beat of Hawaii at Lihue airport on Kauai.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Starting back in 2018 we standardized on Hawaiian for our trips to visit our son’s family in Lahaina. We live in the greater Los Angeles area with easy access to Long Beach airport as well as Los Angeles (not always easy!) We both prefer the wide body A330 from LAX (currently flight 933). There are times we have found the fare from LGB to be a bit cheaper and fly from there on the A321 neo. I will attest that your comparison above is 100% accurate. I even did a you tube video about comparing the experience of the A330 vs the A321. While the video was done pre-merger, as of our last trip, we had not noticed any differences. I may do another here soon.
As a quoted in the article other than flying into Maui(OGG) there’s not really enough difference between the Boeing or AirBus for us us to choose between Hawaiian or Alaska.
We fly from the west coast just over a 5hr flight time, so I’m more interested pricing including baggage fees, seat choice, flight times and available perks.
Currently we’re book for BI in May booked Hawaiian for flight over Southwest for flight back, again price was biggest factor.
Now if I’m flying from back east I’d have to reconsider which airline and preferred aircraft to be on for comfort.
I agree with you regarding baggage fees especially. We got 2 bags free on Hawaiian using their credit card, but Alaska does not offer the same and we have their credit card also. Also we have upgraded with miles several times to First Class LAX to OGG or KOA. Now you must use miles to purchase the ticket and the miles needed are very high IMHO. Booked flight to OGG in May using free companion ticket so back to Economy for us! We are short, so not even upgrading the seats. Otherwise we were not coming back this year after coming every year for the last 20+ years because the cost of accommodations and food has really gone up.
My number one pick is “Hawaiian”. Especially with the wide body 2-4-2 seatings. Never had any issues with Hawaiian. Wished Hawaiian never had to sell. If they held on a little longer, thing’s could’ve been better.
I certainly agree with you on wishing they did not have to become part of Alaskan. However, I am afraid they might not have been able to get through another bankruptcy.
I still pick Hawaiian. I cannot wrap my head around Alaska going to Maui. I much prefer the A330 to the 737 mostly due to the seating arrangements.
Now that Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska have merged is there any reason for me to keep two credit cards, one for each Airline?
Yeah, pay for the privilege they’d tell you.
Paying a bank to use their cc makes no sense to me.
But I dont pay interest to banks either.
Those that do allow me to receive 2% on everything I buy on the cc I use.
As for miles, I tried that , didnt work for me.
I carry both because I find good value from both. With Atmos status, the Hawaiian card offers me $10 off per inflight purchase (including food) up to $100/year. The Atmos Ascent companion pass is the best value for an annual East Coast trip bar none. If you don’t find ways to take advantage of both, there’s no reason to carry both.
No reason but Hawaiian (Barclays) waived my membership fee so I have it for another year. When I use it, I get Atmos points.
We used to fly Hawaiian whenever possible from the mainland and of course inter-island. However, ever since the whole acquisition thing started over two years ago we went back to our old ways and fly either American or United to and from the mainland.
UA has been flying to Hawaii for nearly 80 years (pre-statehood), and AA usually beats them all on price from Texas, especially in the premium classes and upgrades.
Aloha to all.
My wife and I fly from Seattle to the Big Island twice each year. We stay near Kalapana (Hilo-side.) We used to fly Hawaiian, changing in Honolulu, but the connection has become so unreliable that we’ve started flying Alaska nonstop Seattle to Kona and driving across the island. Usually faster and definitely less stressful than a 1-stop to Hilo. If any airline starts nonstops from Seattle to Hilo (Delta?) we would definitely switch.
I know this is a bit off topic, but I’m not sure where else to put it. Anyway, few years ago I read an article that Hawiian Airlines had reaquired the first plane that a then fledgling airline, then known as Inter-Island Airways, had used to start their service. This same plane was subsequently acquired by another fledgling airline, Alaska, as possibly their first plane. At the time of the article, they were giving rides in it to Hawiian employees. I was just wondering if this plane is still around and flying?
Yes!
It is still flying.
Google: Hawaiian Airlines 1929 Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker (NC251M).
It is still used for special occassion ceremonial flights.
It has been restored several times, once by the Aero Museum of Port Townsend, Washington.
I understand that between AS and HA there will always be some clash or disruptive service situation etc. But there are other airlines like United, Southwest, Delta and American Airlines that fly from the mainland to the islands also. Don’t really matter IMO if it’s AS or HA in the aspect your money is going to Alaska Airlines no matter what. So if you don’t like the back and forth knit picky garbage then quit flying both and select other options.
Love them both, but my main routes are SFO to OGG at least 2x a year and SFO to JFK 5-6x a year, so Alaska really serves both well. I’ve loved their mileage program and I almost always get an upgrade to 1st class, so Alaska quietly nudges it’s way into my favorite!
From a solely emotional point of view, I’d choose Hawaiian every time. I’ve flown Hawaiian many, many times when vacationing on the Big Island and it is like many of your readers have expressed–you feel like your vacation starts as soon as you get on the plane with their warm Hawaiian welcome and service. Unfortunately, Hawaiian doesn’t have direct flights from Portland to Kona and since I now need to use a wheelchair to get around airports, I will do anything to avoid Honolulu airport. I’ve been abandoned too many times. So just from a practical point of view, I fly Alaska since they do have direct flights from Portland to Kona which alleviates a lot of my stress and anxiety. My experience flying Alaska? Well, it got me there and that’s the main thing, I guess.
We prefer the Airbus 330 on Hawaiian nonstop from Seattle to Maui.
The wide body, in comfort economy seats, gives us the space for two large adults.
We snack from the Hawaii sourced food cart. The Kona chips are our favorite.
We can pass on that notorious sandwich, and stop at Leoda’s
on our drive to West Maui for a sandwich and a banana cream pie.
Agree.
I’ve been spoiled flying the 330 wide body planes.
As for the food, I find it terribly wasetful. Lower the price, bring ur own food, or go without for a few hours, what’s the big deal.?
The primary motivation for me is the refund/cancellation policies that differ for the same flight depending on whether you book on Hawaiian or Alaska.
Cancel your flight on Hawaiian, good chance you get no refund, no credit. Book the same flight on Alaska (they are combined now and you can book the exact same flight on either Hawaiian Airlines’ site or Alaska’s) and if you cancel the flight you will at least get a credit for future flights.
For my wife and I, it’s all about the flight availability. Before Alaska acquired Hawaiian Air, we had 2 choices for non-stop flights to Maui. Since then, there isn’t a non-stop to Maui from Portland. Alaska is the only carrier that offers non-stop to Maui, so our choice is made for us. We use Alaska for other destinations, so our miles do add up.