Hawaii First Class Comfort At Economy Price

When it comes to long-haul domestic flights to and from Hawaii, many travelers dream of flying in first or business class. The allure of lie-flat seats, premium meals, and extra service is strong. However, the reality is often very different from that perception, especially on narrow-body aircraft (B737 and A321) that are used on most Hawaii-bound routes.

After years of experimenting with different ways to fly comfortably, we’ve settled on a better strategy when lie-flat seats are not offered—flying with “three” economy seats for two travelers. Surprisingly, this setup offers benefits that, in our opinion, beat out first class seats, especially when combined with extra legroom seats. Here’s why we’ve been doing it repeatedly and why it may be the perfect option for your next Hawaii trip.

Note: There are good questions about the process that we answered in the comments below.

Comfort over perceived luxury: more space without the sticker shock.

It may seem counter-intuitive, but booking three economy seats on narrow-body Hawaii flights provides a comfort level that rivals first class. Here’s how: by guaranteeing that we have the middle seat to ourselves, we instantly create more personal space for each traveler. We’ve found that having the entire row for two people, with the extra seat as a buffer, allows for more freedom to stretch, store personal items, and move around without feeling cramped.

First class comes with certain perks and a wider seat, but the ability to have a row to ourselves gives us far better control over in-flight comfort. Plus, with the narrow-body aircraft most often used on domestic Hawaii routes, the difference between first class and economy isn’t even close to what it is on widebody flights.

Maximizing savings: comfort without the first-class price.

We can’t deny that one of the biggest benefits of this strategy is the cost savings. Flying first or business class to and from Hawaii comes with a hefty price tag, even on narrow-body aircraft. Typically, first-class tickets range from $600 to $2000 one way, meaning for two people, that’s easily $1,200 or more per flight.

You can save significant money while enjoying ample comfort by purchasing three economy seats instead of two first-class tickets and buying them when they are on sale. For example, on a recent trip between Kauai and LAX, we paid under $200 per economy seat each way, making the total cost for three seats just over $500. This resulted in well over 50% savings compared to first class, with the added benefit of having extra space in the middle.

Flexibility and availability: how we make this strategy work.

This three-seat strategy works best when we can find flights with available seating flexibility. In the past week, we’ve tried it on United and American Airlines and learned a few tricks for securing the best possible seats.

Book early. The earlier we book, the better our chances of finding three adjacent seats in an extra-legroom row. We could book an extra seat online with United but had to call American to add the third seat.

While it’s not always possible to upgrade the seats to extra legroom, as was our case on a sold-out American Airlines flight, having an extra seat made a huge difference despite the very tight 30″ legroom.

Check airline seat maps frequently. We regularly check airline seat maps as the flight date approaches. Sometimes, more desirable seats open up as other passengers change their plans, leaving better seating options to choose from.

Consider less popular flight times. We find that less crowded flights, either during off-peak times or midweek, have offered a better chance of securing three adjacent seats.

Extra legroom vs. standard economy: a big perk.

For an even better experience, when feasible in terms of availability and incremental cost, we aim for extra-legroom seats whenever possible. These seats sometimes come at a reasonable additional cost compared to upgrading to first class. The extra inches of legroom combined with the extra seat in the middle create a spacious environment that makes the long flight more bearable.

However, even when it isn’t possible to snag extra-legroom seats, this strategy still works well in standard economy. That extra seat makes a noticeable difference in comfort despite tight legroom. You can spread out, rest comfortably, and even recline without feeling cramped beside another passenger.

Perfect for long flights to and from Hawaii.

One key reason this strategy works so well is the length of the flights to and from Hawaii. With flight times averaging 5-6 hours from the West Coast, comfort becomes more critical, especially on domestic flights where first-class service and seat offerings can be largely underwhelming. The three-seat setup gives us the extra space to enjoy the flight far more without feeling like we’re compromising on comfort.

Why this might be better than premium economy or first class.

Some might wonder how this setup compares to other seating options like premium economy or first class. Here’s our take:

First class costs more without adding much value on narrow-body domestic flights to Hawaii. While first class typically offers better service, the overall experience on these flights is often disappointing. Service is limited, meals aren’t anything special, and the premium pricing just doesn’t seem to add up. The comfort of three economy seats, with the middle seat free, gives us comparable space for a fraction of the cost.

We always bring food and beverages onboard. Another reason first class feels overrated is the largely dismal meal service on domestic flights. Whether we’re flying in first class or economy, we prefer to cater our meals and water, so the “premium” food offerings aren’t even a selling point for us. When we’re already bringing our own, paying more for the in-flight food doesn’t make sense.

We use this strategy across different airlines. On United, we managed to secure extra-legroom seats, while on American, we didn’t get the upgrade but still found the extra space from the three-seat setup more than sufficient. We’ve consistently been impressed by how much more enjoyable the flight becomes with this infrequently used approach. BOH editor Jeff has been using this for at least thirty years.

If you’re interested in more detailed reviews of these airlines, please check out our United Airlines economy and economy-plus review and our tips on choosing the best seats for Hawaii flights.

This works on all airlines flying to Hawaii except one.

Southwest does not currently allow you to buy an extra seat but all the other airlines do. That will change when Southwest goes to assigned seating soon.

Final thoughts: is this strategy right for you?

If you’re looking for a way to fly comfortably without breaking the bank, booking three economy seats could be the perfect solution. Whether traveling together for business or personal, more space makes long flights more bearable. This strategy never fails to deliver flexibility, comfort, and savings that are impossible to beat. It may not have all the bells and whistles or prestige of first class, but we’re convinced this approach is the clear winner for domestic Hawaii flights.

Please let us know your thoughts on this strategy and what else works for you to achieve greater comfort in a shrinking airline seat world.