Hawaii travelers may soon see a major shift in the skies. Leaked A321XLR layouts and renders point to a shift both United and American are quickly building toward. Lie-flat and true premium economy cabins are finally coming to single-aisle flights in Hawaii. For anyone used to the squeeze of longer overwater trips, this marks the start of a very different experience, albeit at a cost.
During a recent meeting with United executives in Honolulu, we asked about replacing the old 777s used on Hawaii routes. The answer was simple. Aircraft availability is the constraint. They did not say the A321XLR will take those missions, but the conversation reinforced our view that Hawaii is in the queue once deliveries ramp up.
What the A321XLR leak reveals about Hawaii flights.
The seatmap shows 20 lie-flat suites, a separate true premium economy section in a 2×2 cabin, and 118 in economy. That is a full three-cabin layout on an aircraft type (A321) that once had standard coach and recliner-first seating. It is also the strongest evidence yet that Hawaii flying is going to change permanently.
We said back in 2022 that premium economy was set to revolutionize Hawaii flights. The new A321XLR proves that prediction right, finally bringing the promise narrow-body Hawaii service into the three-cabin era.
Long, thin Hawaii routes will score these A321XLR planes.
Dallas Fort Worth for American and Denver and Houston for United are examples of some routes where profitability is tricky.The XLR’s range and efficiency make them obvious candidates. These airports also have premium demand and prices (see image above) that can support lie-flat and premium economy fares.
What Hawaii travelers can expect onboard American and United’s XLR.
Polaris suites in the first class cabin will be similar to those on United’s 787s, complete with privacy doors. Behind them, Premium Plus will be a true and distinct premium economy product, with wider seats, better recline, and upgraded service. That stands in contrast to Hawaiian’s Extra Comfort (extra legroom), which many believe was a big miss without real premium economy.
For coach, the story is not as rosy. Single-aisle cabins are narrower, and narrow-body Hawaii flights can stretch to eight hours. Economy Plus will soften the blow for those who pay extra, but everyone else will feel the squeeze. This continues the trend we highlighted when Hawaii economy suddenly became premium at twice the price. The back of the plane gets smaller, while the front grows ever more exclusive.
How this compares to existing Hawaii narrow-body cabins.
United and American A321XLRs introduce three distinct classes on a single aisle: lie-flat suites up front, a true 2×2 premium economy cabin in the middle, and economy that includes extra-legroom rows. Extra-legroom remains part of economy, not a separate premium economy.
By contrast, Alaska on 737s and Hawaiian, Delta, and American on most A321neo Hawaii flights offer recliner first class plus economy with extra legroom or standard economy. There is no true premium economy on those narrow-bodies, and no lie-flat in the front cabin.
So this is not a like-for-like competition. Where the XLR is going to be deployed, United and American will create a new tier that sits above the existing models others are flying. The pressure on competition is indirect and strategic rather than immediate, and it will depend on how quickly the new cabins appear on Hawaii flights.
For travelers, the translation is simple. If you want lie-flat or a true premium economy seat on a narrow-body to Hawaii, you will be looking at specific United and American XLR routes. Everywhere else, expect the familiar recliner-first and extra-legroom economy setup to remain for the foreseeable future.
When Hawaii will see United’s A321XLR.
The first XLRs are expected on transatlantic flights starting in just months , but Hawaii should not be far behind. Denver–Hawaii appears to be a top island candidate, as does Houston to the islands. Honolulu is almost certainly the first choice, with Kauai, Maui, and Kona as secondary options.
This shift fits a bigger pattern. We warned last year that narrow-body first class was challenging widebody dominance to Hawaii. The XLR leak proves that narrow-bodies are not just filling in — they are redefining the standard.
How XLR will challenge Hawaii flights.
For Hawaiian, the challenge is sharp. Its A321neo fleet is efficient but lacks a competitive premium cabin. Alaska faces its own choice: whether to invest in lie-flat seats for long-haul narrow-body aircraft. They may feel pressure once American and United’s new products begin to appear on Hawaii flights.
Alaska has leaned heavily on its Premium Class upsell. That strategy works for economy and mid-tier travelers, but it does not answer the demand for lie-flat seats that other airlines appear poised to unleash as they acquire new aircraft. While Alaska has said it will refurbish the Hawaiian A330 widebodies, which will include true premium economy and industry standard lie-flat, the A321 fleet risks being stranded in the middle with no premium economy.
What questions remain about XLR for Hawaii.
Plenty is still uncertain. When could the first Hawaii aircraft arrive? How aggressively will the new mid-tier premium economy pricing be implemented? Will award redemptions be open or locked down? How will travelers respond if they lose more widebody cabins in favor of these new single aisles?
The trade-offs Hawaii travelers must weigh.
For travelers in lie-flat and premium economy, the experience will certainly rival widebodies, putting that controversy to rest. For economy, it will feel like less. The duality is stark. Airlines are betting that premium demand will offset discomfort in the back. Hawaii passengers will need to decide whether the new premium options justify the trade-offs.
What this means for your next Hawaii flight.
The age of narrow-body lie-flat and true premium economy cabins is arriving, and Hawaii is on the list. United’s and American’s A321XLR will bring more choice, higher prices, and tighter economy seating. Alaska and Hawaiian may be forced to respond, or risk losing premium flyers.
Would you pay for premium economy Hawaii if it felt like today’s domestic first-class, or hold out for a lie-flat suite with a door on a typical five-hour island flight? Have you flown premium economy on other airlines, and would you choose it for your trip to Hawaii? Share your thoughts, please.
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I usually fly AA P/E going to Oahu. No complaints, plenty of legroom (especially on the window bulkhead which I snag by booking early). Deployable footrest and good tilt. The boxed lunch/snack they serve is just fine but I always bring something more substantial. Cost is usually between 800 and 900 bucks. Well worth it to me. United? Nope…
Best Regards
United’s non-stop 767-400 from Newark to HNL only operates from mid about November to April now, just before after COVID, could find seats for $2400 round trip in business, now between $5 k and $8 k 😵💫 , our April trip, wasn’t impressed with the refreshed business layout of 1 – 1 – 1, seats seem much smaller, greatest advantage is a quiet cabin :).
This November s trip has lodging booked, but air travel remains a challenge.
Premium economy at $2600 r/t.
PS, sit on right side going to HNL, spectacular views if lucky enough to approach from Diamond Head end of Oahu.
Years ago I readily flew United lie flat business flights from Newark to Honolulu at a fairly reasonable fare. I would be happy to do it again, especially if it flew nonstop to Maui or Kauai.
I live on the west coast so no need for lie-flat seats however we appreciated Hawaiian Air’s extra comfort seats. We are currently booked on United for our next trip as prices were significantly less than HA. We will miss the HA flight experience.
I might pay for premium economy if it felt like domestic first class. It comes down to $ and amenities. Yes I have flown premium economy on other airlines, but again it comes down to $ and amenities. I don’t think I would fly this class again unless it is upgraded.
Hawaii will never see XLR’s, at least not ones configured like United is planning.
The A321neo that HA already has will go to about Salt Lake city so the range beyond there would bring in new markets that wouldn’t require widebody range.
But the only way the economics of the XLR work is when used on routes that command higher per seat/mile revenue.
Nobody is deliberately putting in lie-flats and premium economy to Hawaii unless they are running out the clock on an airframe as UA is with its original 777-200 non-ER.
Hawaii is a low yield market .
Why am I not jumping up and down with joy about this? Here’s what’s going to happen. The economy seats will be squeezed out by the advent of these luxury seats. That only means fewer economy seats available which translates to their prices going up. I guess the airlines are on board with the state of Hawaii wanting the “more mindful“ traveler.
No. The airlines just aren’t doing what put Hawaiian in a path to bankruptcy.
We flew from LAX to LHR on United, with return on Virgin Atlantic, in Premium Economy (2023). While it was a bit more comfortable than Economy, it was 5 times the price.
Once we were in the air, I walked back to Economy, only to discover that many, many people had whole rows to themselves and were stretched out more comfortably than we were. It left me wishing we had chosen Economy seats with $4,000 back in our pockets.
Since my flights from Maui are always to the West Coast, I would not ever choose a lie-flat seat, especially for the price.
That’s ’cause those people lucked out and flight wasn’t full. If it were, they would have paid to upgrade halfway thru the flight if they could.
You are on to something here.
“True” premium economy is almost never worth buying these days. It is priced too far away from economy, much closer to lie flat. But the quality of the experience on permium economy of most carriers is not That much better than economy, *except* when the flight is totally full. So, if you have flexibility with the dates, book economy strategically and the experience can be better, yes, for much less money.
The current A330 “extra comfort” in Hawaiian Air strikes an amazingly good balance. Hawaiian did something right there, maybe without even knowing it. The price is not THAT far away from economy fares, but the experience is just that bit better, just enough, that it “works”.
P.S. Last month I was stuck in a brand new A350 lie flat, Cathay Pacific, on a 12h segment from Europe to Japan. Row 1, middle section, next to the front toilet. Slam, smell, slam, smell,… Indeed it’s all contextual!