246 thoughts on “Hawaiian Airlines Lawsuit + Fast-Paced Changes | What You Need to Know”

  1. all of this is very confusing. We want to take advantage of any discounts and plan to come anyway so we wont be asking for a refund unless we cannot get special rates. Love you all be safe over there!

  2. With the unprecedented current events, I think that the airlines should loosen restrictions on rescheduling throughout the Summer vacation season. By not waiving change fees, it makes it harder to plan and reschedule trips, I have a flight at the end of June I want to move, while there is availability at hotels, and airlines. When dealing with flights from 5+ hours to 12+ its a little different than planing a short trip on the mainland.

  3. Aloha,

    Our Hawaiian Air flight has been cancelled.
    We have been using their credit card for years in order to pay for this trip with mileage points.
    Do you know what the policy is for rescheduling when we used miles?

    Thank you for your help.

    1. Hi Cathy.

      It is our understanding that HawaiianMiles award redeposit fees will be waived. Let us know how it goes.

      Aloha.

  4. We ended up having to contact the DOT for refunds using this form: https://airconsumer.dot.gov/escomplaint/ConsumerForm.cfm

    We didn’t want to have to do that, but with my husband being out of work due to this, we really needed the money back and were not getting help. Once submitted, we got refunded almost immediately. The beautiful islands of Hawaii will definitely get it back (and more) when we rebook in the future. I’m absolutely heartbroken that our trip is not happening anymore this year, but rest assured I’m already planning our return.

    Mahalo, The Martins

    1. Hi Erin.

      Thanks for this and all of your other comments! It is very helpful for others int he same situation.

      Aloha.

    2. Hi Erin,

      I am in the same boat as you are. My family and I go to Hawaii ever year. With this going on it hard to predict what will happen in the future. I was just wondering you mentioned you received a refund immediately once you filled out the DOT form. Did you also have to call them or just fill the form out and how long does it take when you got your refund? I am still waiting for my hotel refund per Hawaiian airlines it can take 30days. Any information will help. Thank you. Stay safe.

      1. Hi Arlene, I filled out the form on 3/30 and a representative from the DOT emailed me back on 3/31. They said they would pass along my concerns to Hawaiian Airlines as they are required to. A resolution coordinator at Hawaiian Airlines messaged me that same day, 3/31 and said they sent refunds to my card. I’m still waiting to see the deposits but I understand it can take a whole billing cycle. I hope this helps. Mahalo, Erin

        1. Hi Erin.

          Thanks again for sharing the details. That will be of help for others.

          Aloha.

        2. Hi Erin,

          Thank you for your response I really appreciate it. I hope you and your family stay safe during these times.

          Sincerely,

          Arlene

    3. I have/had a flight leaving May 5th. Should I just go ahead and fill out the DOT form. I hear it can be difficult to get Hawaiian on the phone and I get the feeling they will not be helpful in getting me a refund. Did you contact them first or just go with DOT?

      1. I would go ahead and fill out the DOT form. I was on hold with Hawaiian Air for nearly 4 hours and still did not get a refund!!

    4. Thank you Erin & Beat of Hawaii! This website has given me more clarity than the all the others for the past 3 weeks. My family and I were supposed to be flying out to Hawaii tomorrow, 4/8/20. When I got news that all flights from the mainland were being cancelled except for 1 flight a day from LAX, I called Hawaiian to try to get a refund and was refused, she asked if I wanted to cancel my flight, I said “Well, I have no choice right?” She did not respond. They are trained to not issue refunds or make any comments, to make it as if it’s their fault. I never got an email though for my canceled flight, so I disputed it through my credit card co. Should I still fill the form from US Dot? Please help, I lost my job and could use the $1800 To pay my bills. Thank you so much, all of your comments have been so helpful!

      1. Hi Carrie.

        Thank you. If the credit card company is able to handle it, you may not even need to go through DOT. But if there is any problem, at least you know how to pursue a DOT complaint. It is entirely up to you.

        Aloha.

    5. Hi Erin M. When was your flights supposed to happen and where were you flying from? We have flights scheduled from May 9-16 and flying out of Sacramento. I argued on the phone with them for an hour yesterday and no luck 🙁 I did submit a claim to DOT and Hawaiian Airlines consumer affairs. Waiting to hear back.

  5. Thank you for all of your updates!

    So my situation is a bit different… I cancelled our flight when they were only offering “waive changing fees, credit for your flight”, when all this started (end of March). Since then, they have canceled our flights, offering options of refund or credit, and now full refund or incentive for credit… I’m wondering if I can (should?) call and just get a refund, since I’m not even sure when we can realistically travel (use the credit), with what’s happening and all.

    Any insight you can provide is greatly appreciated! Thank you always, for keeping us well informed! 😊

    1. Hi Susie.

      Thank you. Yes, that is a bummer of a situation and why of course we’ve been saying to wait as early as we saw this coming. We aren’t expert in the legal aspects of all this but perhaps you can use the DOT form, explain and just see what happens. Please let us know.

      Aloha.

  6. Aloha, I have reservations for May 8 on Hawaiian air and called today requesting a refund since I cannot rebook within their parameters. I was informed I would have to request a refund via their consumer affairs office and it is only on approval. This is not according to us dot as I understand it.

    1. Hi Marilyn.

      We did not see this before replying to your other comment. Yes, you’ll note that another comment from today mentioned they had use the DOT complaint form and had received an almost immediate refund.

      Aloha.

  7. I have 5 tickets on United Airlines (2 of which are First Class tickets ) to come to Hawaii on May 16th for my daughter’s wedding which has now been cancelled. I called United and they refuse to refund me. I live in NJ and we are in the epicenter of this pandemic and are in lock down for the foreseeable future. What can I do to get a refund ?

  8. My husband and I have our 5th trip booked for July 1, 2020 the ticket was purchased in February 2020. My husband is a teacher so if we cancel our trip we would not be able to take another trip till next year 2021 we come from the east coast. We have not cancelled yet because we are waiting to see our options.

  9. I bought two tickets, one for my son and one for his wife to fly SJC/LIH/SJC Alaska Airlines Feb 24 to March 9. I even bought Alaska Allianz flight insurance. My son and daughter in law decided it best to not fly. I called Alaska, “sorry, but you bought “Saver” tickets, so no refund. I called Allianz, they said: “sorry, you FIRST have to get sick, and THEN file a claim.”
    So, for now, I’m out not only the airfare but the insurance too.
    Eddie

    1. Hi Eddie.

      Thanks for all the comments you have left over the years.

      So flights were not cancelled yet, which is one of the issues. The Alaska policy would cover tickets for March 9 from our read, so you might want to call them again. That won’t be a refund as that is only for cancelled flights, but perhaps putting the money into your wallet with them.

      As for insurance, just like with car, homeowners, and other policies, insurance policies are a very specific set of coverages, terms and conditions. We try to read them all very carefully before buying or during the free look period just after. And we never thought or realized that what we are going through now isn’t covered by trip insurance. And likely we aren’t alone in that.

      Aloha.

  10. Aloha and mahalo for a great blog. I read it every day. My wife and I have (had?) round trip tickets on Hawaii Air from LAX to Lihue, leaving LAX on May 9 and returning on May 23. So according to your blog, our first flight (5/9) was cancelled, but what about our “return” flight (5/23)? We haven’t heard anything yet from Hawaii Air. I have plenty of time to cancel our two hotels (North Shore Westin Princeville and South Shore Sheraton Poipu).

    1. Hi Tom.

      Thank you! Yes they are only working through May 20 at present. Not sure when we will see more. It might well work to cancel the whole trip and get a refund if you want – give it a try. Or, if you are thinking of rescheduling, see if you can get to workable dates without a fare adjustment.

      Let us know how it goes.

      Aloha.

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