Hawaiian First Class Vs Alaska Economy: The Surprising Winner

It has been a while since Beat of Hawaii editors have had the chance to fly a couple of aircraft that have both taken on new importance in the ever-evolving saga of Alaska Airlines’ purchase of Hawaiian Airlines and the imminent integration under a single airline operating certificate this fall.

The outbound, on a Thursday night, was Hawaiian Airlines’ 9-year-old A330-200 in first class from Honolulu to Seattle. The return, just three days later on Monday evening, was on Alaska’s 17-year-old 737-800 in exit-row economy.

BOH editors never know how these reviews will turn out, but if asked beforehand, we would have said Hawaiian would win hands down. Recent reader comments about Alaska’s service from Hawaii aficionados have often been less than favorable, so expectations were already low.

What happened on Thursday night aboard Hawaiian, and then on Monday night with Alaska, left the editors just as surprised as anyone reading this. As a point of reference, we always pay for anything we review, including these flights, in full.

These flights ultimately resulted in a highly interesting back-to-back comparison. On paper, a widebody lie-flat seat in first class should easily outshine a narrowbody economy seat. In reality, the gap between them was not just literally narrow. On some points, it flipped completely.

Fare and value.

Our one-way journey in Hawaiian’s A330 first class from Honolulu to Seattle cost 70,000 miles per person, which we value at roughly $700. While not the best redemption value ever seen, nor the best price, it felt fair given the lie-flat seat, meal service, and overall comfort on an overnight Hawaii-to-mainland flight.

For the return, we opted for three exit-row seats on Alaska’s 737-800. We refer to that as our 3-seat trick, and it always provides a great comfort alternative. Those cost 35,000 miles each for a total of 105,000 miles, worth about $1,050 in our valuation, or a total of $525 per passenger. Some may argue Alaska miles hold more value, but in any event, this was an acceptable price for extra legroom and an incredibly comfortable economy experience.

Check-in and customer service.

Check-in for the Hawaiian flight in Honolulu was quick and uneventful, and obtaining boarding passes was seamless. The counter was staffed, there was no wait, and bags were tagged without delay. Boarding at the gate in the still-new Mauka Terminal at HNL, Gate 6, was well organized, and first class boarded through a dedicated door.

Check-in for the return on Alaska was far less straightforward. Both of us had issues with the Alaska Airlines app. The reservation appeared on both the website and the app, but when it was time to check in, select meals, or access boarding passes, the system repeatedly refused and instructed a visit to an agent at the airport. That was an anomaly in our experience, but it nevertheless prevented a better start.

In Seattle, the helpful and friendly agent could not explain the problem either. She was unsure if it was related to booking three exit-row seats or something else entirely. Either way, it required a manual process to complete the check-in.

Additionally, editor Jeff’s Alaska Mileage Plan number was included in the reservation but did not integrate with his TSA PreCheck. That required another trip back to the agent to get an updated boarding pass with that included.

The Seattle airport itself was very busy and quite chaotic, with large crowds and ongoing construction, making for a far less pleasant start to the journey compared with Honolulu’s smooth experience.

Cabin and aircraft condition.

We had not flown Hawaiian’s A330-200 since last fall, and frankly, we remembered it somewhat more fondly than what we encountered this time. At just nine years old, the aircraft should have felt relatively fresh, yet it seemed well past its prime.

The first class Optimares lie-flat seats were visibly worn and frayed in multiple places, and the padding was uncomfortable for an overnight flight. The seat remains uncomfortable and non-standard for lie-flat use, especially for those who are not short.

The soft product was equally disappointing. The blanket was the thinnest, most threadbare airline blanket we can ever remember, and even the flight attendants seemed embarrassed to hand it out. The minimal pillow was no better, flat and worn to the point of being useless.

Hawaiian also provided a small amenity kit, but instead of a fabric pouch, it came in a plain paper sleeve that looked more like fast-food packaging than first class. It was a striking contrast to the elegant new amenity kits we have recently received in United’s Hawaii first class.

From the bathrooms to the overhead bins, everything looked surprisingly dated and tired. The plane rattled noticeably during takeoff, adding to the impression that this was not the same polished A330 we had flown countless times before.

By contrast, Alaska’s 17-year-old 737-800 felt like it was in far better shape. The first-class seats looked newly installed, and even in economy, the seats featured fresh, modern upholstery. The carpeting seemed new, and the cabin carried that recently refreshed feel, whether from actual refurbishment or simply better upkeep. The only visible sign of age was the heavily scratched windows, a sure giveaway of an aircraft’s years in service.

The overhead bins remained the older style (similar to the A330) rather than the newer, larger pivot bins. However, overall, the Alaska cabin felt well-maintained and, in many ways, presented better than Hawaiian’s newer widebody. The lavatory was a pleasant surprise, not one of the cramped mini designs seen on the 737 MAX aircraft, but a full-size version in good condition.

Food and beverage.

With a departure just before midnight on the Hawaiian flight, the timing of the meal service felt at odds with the menu. Service began around 12:30 a.m., starting with an Asian tofu noodle salad. Entrée options included a spicy lasagna, which seemed like an odd and heavy choice for the middle of the night, and a chicken sandwich.

The food was uninspired and, aside from being edible, offered nothing more. Beverage selection was standard, and service was attentive and consistent with Hawaiian’s traditional style.

Alaska’s economy service included a quality snack mix, Maui Monk mini pretzel braids, along with two cans of beverages per passenger, ice in cups, and a packet of True Lemon for a nice twist. For an economy cabin, it was above the bare minimum and felt a step up from what is often expected domestically. Service was repeated later in the flight.

Crew interaction.

The Hawaiian crew was warm, approachable, and genuinely kind, with the friendly, familiar demeanor we have for decades associated with the airline. It was clear they were doing their best under what seemed to be the challenging circumstances of the airline having been sold. They remained highly attentive, including with beverages, but the overall onboard product still did not match their efforts or our previous experiences.

From boarding to landing, Alaska’s crew delivered exceptional, even surprising service. Passengers were greeted warmly, and the captain walked up and down the aisle before departure, engaging in personal conversations throughout the cabin, which were primarily centered on the destination of the flight.

The exit-row flight attendant introduced herself and delivered the safety briefing in a warm and professional manner. The combination of unusually personable interactions and proactive attention made this economy flight a standout, even compared to Hawaiian’s first class.

Extras, comfort, and wi-fi.

Hawaiian impressed once again with its Starlink Wi-Fi, which worked gate-to-gate and was fast enough for real-time work and streaming. It connected as soon as boarding began and remained reliable throughout the flight to its conclusion.

On Alaska, Wi-Fi was available for $8, which we purchased and shared via mobile hotspot. While the speed test was tricky to run, performance was at least adequate, though not impressive, with only a couple of brief dropouts during the flight.

For crossing the Pacific, where Alaska’s Wi-Fi service has often been spotty or absent, it was a significant improvement that made it possible to work the entire flight, including drafting this review.

Overall impressions and takeaway.

This trip offered a rare, even for us, back-to-back look at Hawaiian’s A330 first class and Alaska’s 737-800 in exit-row economy. While they are different products aimed at different markets, the contrast was striking and not always in the way we had expected.

Hawaiian still delivers on the warmth of its people. The crew was gracious and attentive, the kind of hospitality that feels personal when you live in Hawaii. But the hard product and soft touches have slipped far. The A330 cabin felt tired and dated, the Optimares lie-flat seats no longer measure up to industry standards, and the catering was uninspired. Even basic items like blankets, pillows, and amenity kits fell short of what should be a premium overnight experience.

We are pleased to learn that Alaska plans to completely refurbish the A330 fleet interiors, which will significantly enhance the physical product.

The long-anticipated Hawaiian Dreamliner will not be the answer for Hawaiian passengers much longer. By the time we fly it in October, it will already be in its final days in Hawaiian livery. After that, it will operate under Alaska Airlines’ own branding.

That means the real hope for an improved premium experience lies in Alaska’s planned multi-year refurbishment of this A330 fleet inherited from Hawaiian. If those upgrades deliver on promises, as we anticipate will be the case, including a new first/business cabin, a true premium economy section, and possible improvements in standard economy, the A330 could regain its standing as a competitive long-haul aircraft.

Alaska, on the other hand, surprised us on this trip. The 17-year-old 737-800 appeared refreshed and presented better than the newer A330. The crew, from the captain walking the aisle to the in-our-experience unusually personable flight attendants, offered some of the best service we have experienced in domestic economy.

Small touches like quality snacks, generous beverage service, reasonable Wi-Fi, and genuine engagement made a difference. Comfort-wise, the Alaska exit-row seat was more pleasant for sitting than the Hawaiian lie-flat was for sleeping, which says something about how far behind Hawaiian’s A330 seats have fallen.

If this trip taught anything, it is that good service can transcend cabin class, and an aging hard product can drag down even the friendliest crew. Hawaiian’s brand of hospitality still matters, but until the A330 retrofit arrives, the premium cabin remains stuck in the past, while parent company Alaska’s economy unexpectedly gave it a run for the money.

We invite your comments on both airlines. Mahalo!

Lead Photo by Beat of Hawaii showing an Alaska pilot talking to passengers before departure.