As the competition boils between Hawaiian and Southwest, here’s how passengers benefit. SWA learned every trick in the Hawaii playbook directly from Hawaiian.
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58 thoughts on “Hawaiian, Southwest Warring On Everything: Flights, Pilots, Fuel, More”
Really find Hawaiian very true to the spirt of Hawaii….the service was exceptional….and almost took us back pre-Covid. Much prefer Hawaiian.
Southwest wins hands down in my book. I’ve been a Hawaii resident since 1986 and remember the days f coupon books when you could walk up to the service counter & fill in the blanks for the next flight to wherever I was flying. I fly from Maui to Oahu often to visit my son & friends. I love that Southwest Airlines has brought back affordable travel to our Aloha state. Hawaii’s citizens have been fleeced by Hawaiian ever since they put Aloha out of business and became the only choice. Shame on them! Thank you Southwest for bringing back affordable travel. Plus I love 2 free checked bags & surfboards fly free on Southwest!
What are the odds that the current June 2023 Hawaiian Airlines $780 flight from Sacramento to HNL will drop once Southwest opens their summer schedule ?
thanks for your thoughts
Hi Gail.
As we just mentioned to another Sacramento friend, your airport is Hawaii flight-challenged at the moment. If you are talking about anything after the first week in June, we’d say it is highly unlikely that airfares will drop and that is in line with what to expect for summer 2023 at this point. If price is more important than convenience, San Jose has better fares by about $100 each way, or you can do a one-stop from SMF for about the same as a San Jose nonstop.
Aloha.
Hi Rob and Jeff,
This is not good news for SMF customers. Personally, I will take the hop over traveling to the Bay Area to fly hands down though. Since most of my Hawaii family live on Oahu, it’s easy to get a day or two in Oahu this way, and if the cost is virtually the same by taking the hop, then it’s a no brainer for me. This won’t be the case for many Hawaii Travelers, and I could see this being an issue for those in the Central Valley, who are looking for maximum time on the other islands that were cancelled.
Hi Jim.
Good to hear from you! Yes, SMF is challenged for now. Not sure, but we suspect that will change again.
Aloha.
Flew from Austin to Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines. Do all the trivial analysis you want, but Hawaiian still treats passengers with more amenities than Southwest will ever have, starting with reserved seats rather than the cattle call
HA now charges a premium for aisle and window seats in coach. SWA doesn’t, you still have the ability to score a pretty decent seat by checking in 24 hours before departure @no extra cost!
Hawaiian, HELCO, Matson have all been running at a monopoly hence taking advantage of the Kama Aina. It’s too bad we need a mainland business to check these guys.
Aloha. Always fly Hawaiian first-it’s the most comfortable and Aloha of all. That said, going to the Big Isle in Oct Hawaiian did not have the return time I wanted and the fare was over twice SW’s. We are flying Hawaiian to and SW home to maui. A true comparison…..we’ll see.
Hi Ane.
Good to hear from you. Yes please let us know. That’s what we just did as well and the results were surprising.
Aloha.
I’m trying to understand the statement that Southwest is operating at a loss on the interisland flying. SW cost structure is massively lower than HA and their financial position stronger. How did the author determine the “loss”? My bet is that HA has been abusing their monopoly to make up for an inefficient operation and that is the real reason prices were so high. Author: please provide facts to back up your statement.
read this article.
https://beatofhawaii.com/these-hawaii-airfares-will-increase-250-or-more/
Having flown both, Hawaiian airlines is definitely my pick. SWA is a free for all during boarding. I’ll gladly pay a little more for the service and care we received from HA. Enjoyable article, loved seeing the mother daughter duos!
same. free- for-all is a good description. going to do it for inter-island but never for mainland destination
We prefer Hawaiian when traveling to Kaua’i. They have more legroom, small meals and plenty Aloha!
I’m happy that we have
Competing airlines for
Our Hawaiian inter
Island flights. It’s what keeps
The flights affordable and
Helps locals fly inter island
Much more frequently.
Aloha I’m Kamaaina, and I fly twice a month to Oahu. I’m very Happy that SW made it into our interisland skies. Overall to me SW out beats HA, reason for me saying that is HA was charging $250-$300 plus one way from Hilo-Hnl or Hnl-Ito before SW interrupted the interisland skies with there low price of $29 one way (2) free checkin snacks, drinks, free movie and the best service along with a bigger airplane with leg room vs HA tight squishy seats. Other than that I’m pleased that I’m saving $$$$ to be flying back and forth. HA today is more for tourists to use, vs SW alot of our locals are flying and working with them and helping to spread the Aloha to all that comes on board. Welcome SW and thank you for servicing our interislands.
Hawaiian for us!!
Mahalo!