Would you pay for this? While “Extra Comfort” is clearly differentiated throughout the experience, “Preferred Seats” are not.
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53 thoughts on “Hawaiian Adds $19-23 Fee for Many Economy Seats”
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Would you pay for this? While “Extra Comfort” is clearly differentiated throughout the experience, “Preferred Seats” are not.
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Looks like We shall be paying extra no matter what, I am disabled and require an aisle seat, my wife either sits window or opposite me on the other side of the aisle. We choose our seating to accommodate me and so that she can help me if there’s any issues. This just adds more money to the trip without any added benefit. When Oahu decides what it’s doing then again added money without any benefit. Reevaluation time seems to be nearing quickly I Fear!
If that’s not bad enough , I just looked at flights for next year and on some flights where the premium seats were a $92 to $102 extra cost they are now $150 extra on some flights. Yikes ! what’s next !!!!
Money, money, money. No more Aloha. HAL is not a Hawaii Corporation. Just another Mainland Shark. I’ve flown HAL my entire life. Now 86 years old I’m glad my flying days are near at end. 👎
Wow. We’ve been flying Hawaiian for 20+ years. Even have the HA credit card. These jerk moves will force us to reconsider our loyalty. I expect our next flights will be on Southwest or Delta.
On a related note, I am a Hawaiian Airlines credit card holder. and the last time I flew Hawaiian on the economy fare, I called the airlines to see if I had to pay to check a bag. I was told “yes,” yet when I check in, I was told it was free because I had the credit card. Not sure if the agent was just doing me a favor or what.
Your first bag is free as long as you pay for your ticket with your Hawaiian Airlines credit card. Otherwise you pay!
An annoying pattern I’ve noticed is that before when 2 people traveled they usually took aisle/middle or window/middle seats. What’s happening now is each person taking aisle seats across each other.
We usually take the window and aisle and hope no one sits in the middle. If someone does, we offer him/her to trade.
For Some who are Truly Disabled there is, or may be, a good reason. Two opposing aisle seats are important in case I have a problem.
I love flying Hawaiian to the islands. It puts you on Aloha time from the start. It’s “usually” cheaper to fly on them from the Bay Area but with these pithy add-ons they are not only starting to resemble other airlines but will match them in cost. And that’s not a good thing if you’re trying to stand out from the crowd.
Hawaiian Airlines, again trying to bankrupt another airlines.! The raise the the prices to unrealistic amounts.
This is sad to hear. Sounds very restricted & that now Hawaiian is now going to cater more toward people who have more income to spend. When flying we look for the best prices with the least add on fees so that we can afford to travel & still have a good time. We will not be flying Hawaiian anymore with these restrictive inflated price rules that will allow them to make 10-15 million dollars more. We will take our loyalty a different airline that does not appear to practice discrimination based on the income you make.There is always southwest,and Alsaka which are great.
Sad been flying Hawaiian once or twice a year for over 30 years always thought of them as we care airline, guess the bottom line passengers not so muchwins
Prior to COVID we were at to go to Hawaii via Hawaii air.
I finally able rebook it because it will expire12/31/22.
I was put on hold, transferred, disconnected.
I was informed I had to pay additional $28 each which I was fine with it.
I end up speaking with another clerk and asked to pay $99 each.
Took another 45 minutes of my time.
I should not pay any additional co
Hawaiian air is just trying make any cent from their customers.
It’s too bad that Hawaiian has copied a bad idea from other airlines just to boost earnings. A better idea would be to increase prices for all economy seats by a small amount ($3 to $5) which would be imperceptible to almost everyone. This would allow Hawaiian to differentiate itself as a premium airline.
If they want people to feel apart of their ohana, then charge commensurate with the services provided, which is fair.
That would make sense to Us and would have been preferred, instead they do this and it’s totally nonsense, why upset the customers when everything would have been fine. They try and make it sound like you’re really getting something for the extra!
I’m planning to book Sydney to Honolulu and a few days later on to JFK. It was a no brainer before but now I’m ready to shop around. Too bad!!
I hate Hawaiian and use any other airline whenever I can! I still miss Aloha Air!
All Hawaiian cares about is wringing as much money as they can out of you.
I also sold my stock and cancelled my credit card! We need more competition! Fly SouthWest, way less fees.
As much as we hate the changes, Hawaiian Airlines has lost a ton of money the last 2 years. They are a business, not a charity, so they have to make it up somehow….Its the way it is. At least, it gives us choices, to rough it and save or elect to spend more for more preferences. If private jet flights are up substantially in Hawaii as they say, some people obviosly have the cash to splurge.
I don’t care what new scheme Hawaiian Airlines comes up with, I avoid flying them at all cost. The only advantage they have is the terrible meal they serve you. I always bring my own food so this is not an incentive for me. I prefer the other carriers over Hawaiian. I feel American, Delta and United have newer more comfortable airplanes and they are more than happy to upgrade me to an exit row for no charge right before boarding. I prefer the back of the plane as it’s usually less crowded. Bring your noise canceling headphones with you and it won’t matter where you sit or if there are any upset noisy children.
I think this is awful! As, a disabled kupuna you’re forcing me to suffer and be uncomfortable by sitting farther back and not being able to board early since on my limited income I can’t afford extras! I’d rather fly on another airline! Recently, due to changes Hawaiian has become my least favorite!
Does the back of the plane still get there at the same time as the front if I get Main Cabin Basic?
So if I have to pay extra for a window seat, can I keep the shade up to stare outside?
Looks like you have lowered your service down to Southwest Airlines???
Too Bad??? I enjoyed your service from HNL to LBG
Main Cabin
Except SWA never charges extra for any of their seats, and if you check in 24 hour before departure you can usually get a pretty good seat!
We like to sit way in the back the last 2 or 3 aisles. We also pay extra to have those seats. And we are the last group to board even after paying extra to get that seats. Then the over head bins are full already no to accommodating.
So if you already paid for your flight (in Nov), and picked a seat already…what happens? Will we need to pay extra, if our seats happen to fall within the “preferred” section?
Thank you!
Hi Susie.
Hawaii said in their call today that those who already had already purchased tickets and had those seats assigned would not be charged.
Aloha.
Thank you for the reply! Now I’m curious where we are…😂
Personally I am disgusted with air travel. Unfortunately Hawaiian is going to the American Airlines model (which is the bane of the air traveler). Airlines continually nickel and dime the traveler over and over and they are oblivious to the fact that they are notoriously hated. I absolutely never ever fly American, Delta, or United. I won’t travel if that’s the only option. I’ve always traveled Hawaiian to and from Hawaii. Thank god I moved here so I dont have to deal with them anymore.
Yes, air travel used to be glamorous with crew who treasured you as a passenger. Service was exceptional. Believe me, I was there.
Of course, we paid much more for the pleasure.
Things like this are why I’m glad Southwest is flying Hawaii and sticking to it’s roots. Sure it has its gimmicks but the pricing is fair and transparent as it gets in the airline industry.
Eventually all services for Hawaii including hotels, rental cars and now airlines will find their customer base going elsewhere and enjoying those experiences for far less money. This is nothing more than an egregious money grab from the airline synonymous with the Hawaiian islands. I’ve come to make it my fist choice but it’s another reason to take my thousands and thousands of dollars elsewhere. We are the tourists they are looking for but we may not be looking for them.
I fly exclusively on HA. I just booked one of these seats on a trip back to the mainland to visit family. I am short and don’t need extra leg room but do like to sit in the aisle because I want to get up if I need to stand or whatever. I like to sit in front of the wing because it seems quieter. It seemed a minor charge for getting to sit where I like. I’m not a big fan of Long trips anyhow so this seems minor for my comfort. If I could, I would sit up front, but, since the whole plane does get to the same destination, I will save my money for more important things.
It is absolutely insane that both you and your partner would have to pay extra to be guaranteed to sit together. This should be a given. Airlines are getting out of hand and need to be stopped with regulations.
This is sad for such a great airline I love to fly. Maybe get ride of the free punch instead.
Hawaii is getting so expensive and may soon be a destination for the rich and famous. The average person can no longer afford to vacation there. From extra expenses for air, accommodations, car rentals, and all the extra taxes being charged, people can no longer afford to vacation there. I think many will be looking for new destinations!
Hawaiian Airlines must be the last company to charge for Preferred seats. The rest of the airlines have been charging for seats from the first 10 to 15 aisles. I have seen in some cases the middle seat might not have a charge. Didn’t I read American Airlines had a quarterly profit north of $400. The airline corporations are listening to their investors.
Hawaiian already charges for the comfort plus seats. This is the regular seats that you now have to pay for if it’s a window or aisle. The basic fares are a scam to mask the true cost
No more than 2 hours ago we were having coffee with good friends who frequent Hawaii as we do. We all discussed the fact that the cost to travel to Hawaii for vacation is just too much and the value isn’t there. We agreed that maybe in 2-3 yrs the airlines, hotels, condo owners and car rental agencies will see that they went too far. But will it be too late. Our alternative is eurpoean river cruises which we feel has more value for the dollar.
Thank you. I’ve heard that air travel was once a glamorous affair. This feels more like a cattle car affair. And it feels like lemon juice on the proverbial paper cut, given all the other additional expenses that have been added to an already expensive vacation. Hawaii is a special, magical place, but I feel it slipping further and further out of my reach.
Thanks for this update. Hawaiian was always our preferred ‘last leg’ to Hawaii. But we will definitely check out all the airlines seats/pricing from now on. Looks like ‘birds of a feather……’ – they are all nickel and diming their customers to death and no end in sight! We thought Hawaiian Airlines was above this. Fees for this and fees for that. Very sad indeed.
Yes…noticed when I tried to make reservations last week. But what is even worst…online reservations…some days there are No Flights. That is even if there is airfare showing but when you click on that day…No Flights. So I gave up…maybe have to give up traveling with Hawaiian Air. Not the first time this has happened.
I guess I should not be surpriprised. We stopped flying United to Hawaii years ago because of their attitude and other issues. My wife and I really enjoy flying Hawaiian, mainly because we can fly out of Long Beach and avoid LAX. Very sorry to hear that Hawaiian is going this route. As if they are not making enough money as it is, its now lets screw our customers out of more money. Reminds me of Spirit Airlines????
That’s one reason we fly Hawaiian. They have a non-stop out of Ontario to HNL.
Before Ontario, we would drive (from the hi desert) to San Diego and even Las Vegas to avoid LAX.
I love Hawaiian Airlines, and fly on it at least three times a year—but this is getting crazy. I wonder how much of this people will continue to pay. We usually book extra comfort seats because three of our party measure over 6 ft., but how long will it be before they up the price on those too? I may begin to check out the other airlines. We took Alaska last November because it was a direct flight to Kona, but it wasn’t as comfortable as on Hawaiian even with extra comfort.
Thanks for keeping us up to date on the craziness.
Hi Lee.
Thanks. Yes, it is a different world. Happy travels!
Aloha.
Shocking. I’m aghast
Service is an archaic word sadly
HA is now a dismal member of a pathetic trend
It’s great – you get a seat that would not have had an extra charge one day, but a $19-$23 charge the next day.
This is what passengers hate about the airlines – nickel and diming their customers to death.
This reminds me of hotels adding a resort fee. My policy: for a hotel to be considered a resort it must have an on-property swimming pool and golf course. Otherwise, it’s just a hotel.
Can’t these people just charge us the full price and stop playing games.
Same as other airlines have been doing for years, but, Hawaiian from HI to the mainland often charges more than competitors for many routes so…I doubt I would fly them, I’d go Alaska Air (which does this to a limited degree) instead.
Unfortunately Alaska abandoned Sacramento to Hawaii.. we only have Southwest which sucks because they just have one drink service vs 3 for Alaska..Hawaiian is now the only real choice but even if you are a platinum member you can’t pick the extra legroom seats until the day of departure