Free meals in economy are almost extinct on U.S. domestic flights. Except, of course, on Hawaiian Airlines. That tradition has lasted for decades and continues today, even as Hawaiian loses money and its new parent, Alaska Airlines, ended free meals years ago. Editor Rob still remembers those Alaska meals and the prayer card on each tray.
With the merger in motion and significant changes ahead, many passengers are asking a simple question. Are Hawaiian’s free in-flight meals about to disappear?
What is still offered on Hawaiian flights.
Hawaiian’s economy service includes a complimentary hot sandwich, chips, and a packaged dessert such as a Honolulu Cookie Company shortbread or brownie bite. Drinks such as juice, soda, and coffee are complimentary. On morning flights to Hawaii, passengers usually receive a hot egg sandwich. On return flights, the offerings may be slightly more elaborate.
From a distance, it sounds like a nice perk. But not everyone agrees. Several longtime Beat of Hawaii readers have written to say the food has gone downhill. One reader said the bagel with cheese and bacon on her flight was inedible and questioned why Hawaiian would serve pork without an alternative.
She ended up eating cold leftover pizza she had brought onboard. Others mentioned that they now pack their own lunch and miss the days when it felt special to eat on the flight.
At the same time, some travelers still see value in the offering. One reader said she usually grabs an egg bagel from Peet’s Coffee before boarding, but it is cold by the time she eats it. So she is hopeful Hawaiian’s hot breakfast option might offer a better solution. Another reader, who flies Hawaiian exclusively, said she now plans to pack her own food unless she upgrades to first class, where the meals are still worth it.
Why Hawaiian kept meal service when others dropped it.
Hawaiian has been among the last U.S. airlines to retain free meals in economy on domestic routes. Part of the reason was brand positioning. As we reported in “This Is What Gutted The Final Hawaii Flight Meal,” the switch from full-tray meals to sandwich boxes was not just about money. It was also about galley space on the A321neo, which Hawaiian began flying in 2018. That aircraft has a smaller galley and limited prep area, making traditional meal service impractical. To maintain consistency across the fleet, Hawaiian standardized the offering, even on the wide-body A330s.
Even during periods of steep losses, Hawaiian never eliminated the free meal. It was considered essential to maintain a premium brand image, especially for leisure travelers heading to Hawaii from the West Coast, New York, or Boston.
What Alaska offers instead.
Alaska Airlines passengers in economy receive only two small snacks on Hawaii flights—often a cookie and a pack of pretzels. Paid meals are available and are generally well-reviewed, featuring items such as fruit and cheese platters or chicken curry bowls. First-class passengers receive hot meals, but those in coach are primarily on their own unless they buy ahead.
There is no tradition of free meals on Alaska, even on five- or six-hour Hawaii routes. The airline has leaned into its paid food model as part of a larger West Coast branding strategy. That makes Hawaiian’s offering stand out even more. But also puts it at risk.
Alaska’s evolving food strategy.
While Hawaiian continues to offer complimentary meals in economy, Alaska Airlines is moving in the opposite direction—by elevating its paid food program. This summer, Alaska introduced a new lineup of seasonal dishes for both first-class and main-cabin passengers. The menu features West Coast-inspired flavors and is available for pre-order through the Alaska Airlines app.
First-class flyers can choose from options like Sweet Potato Hash Benedict with Sriracha Hollandaise or Lemon Pesto Gnocchi. Main cabin travelers can now pre-order meals, such as a Sweet Chili Chicken Wrap, on flights over 1,100 miles, or select a vegan-friendly grain bowl developed in collaboration with Evergreens. Alaska has also expanded the availability of its Signature Fruit & Cheese Platter to most routes longer than 670 miles. We’ll be trying their new meals soon and will report back.
The focus is not on bringing free meals back to economy, but on selling better food to those who want it. Meals can be reserved up to two weeks in advance but no less than 20 hours before departure. At least one vegan and gluten-friendly option is always offered. This strategy reflects a different philosophy—one that prioritizes variety, dietary choice, and paid upgrades over broad complimentary service.
What could change under the merger.
Alaska has said that for now, all flights to and from Hawaii will retain Hawaiian branding. That includes aircraft interiors, livery, and in-flight service. But Alaska is also pursuing a single operating certificate, expected this fall, and has been clear about plans to create a unified experience across the combined airline eventually.
The key question is whether Hawaiian’s free meal service will be seen as worth preserving long term. Will Alaska adopt, match, or eliminate it?
One argument for keeping it is that the meals help justify Hawaiian’s slightly higher fares and brand premium. As one poster in a recent forum debate noted, even if the food is average, it contributes to a better emotional experience. However, others described the sandwich as small, forgettable, and not worth protecting. Another commenter pointed out that Alaska’s 737s already have ovens in coach and could match the service if they wanted to—but so far, they have not.
Where this is likely heading.
In the short term, meals are probably safe. Alaska is unlikely to make changes while the merger is still under regulatory scrutiny and its brand identity remains distinct. But over the next one to two years, a few scenarios are possible:
- The meals quietly disappear from coach and are replaced with a paid option, bringing Hawaiian in line with the Alaska model.
- The meals stay but become more limited, possibly offered only on longer routes.
- Alaska invests in improving food quality and standardizing hot meals across both brands—a costly move, but one that could create positive buzz.
Of these, the first is most likely.
The current cost environment does not favor complimentary offerings that do not generate loyalty or revenue. The free sandwich was a nice gesture when Hawaiian was a standalone brand trying to differentiate itself. However, now that it is part of Alaska, the decision may come down to spreadsheets, rather than sentiment.
Reader experience matters.
At Beat of Hawaii, we have heard from hundreds of readers about what onboard meals mean to them. For some, it is part of the magic of flying to Hawaii—something that signals the trip has begun. For others, especially those with dietary restrictions or higher expectations, the current offering no longer meets their needs.
As one reader wrote, she now plans to pack her own lunch unless she upgrades with points. The meal is no longer a highlight, just an expected checkbox. Another said the flight attendants seemed worn out and disengaged, and the food only added to the feeling that things had slipped.
Those details matter. Because in the end, free meals are not just about food. They are about how it feels to fly to Hawaii. And whether that feeling is something worth preserving.
What is your take? Do you still enjoy the meal on Hawaiian, or would you rather see the space and cost used for something else? Let us know in the comments.
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Aloha from Alaska 623 – the longest flight in Alaska’s system. Wanted to chime in on this “super-long haul” offering.
We had 5 options for preorder for First Class, and about 2 hours prior to landing we were offered a warm caprese + mozzarella & pesto with a fruit accompanyment. Wasn’t expecting this as I’ve done a lot of long – haul Alaska flying.
So not all hope is lost. Especially since HA metal are doing much longer flights.
Hawaiian Airlines “free meals” have been horrible for a long time and go uneaten. Why waste the food and the cost? It’s not really free. They incorporate the cost into your ticket. I’d rather bring my own food.
I certainly strongly favor the A-330 vs. the Dreamliner for the A-330’s proven reliability, regardless of its age, esp. when not flying in premium class cabin. Traveling home to Maui from the East Coast w/ my husband is wonderfully comfortable & private in the A-330’s 2-abreast seating starboard & port sides. We never feel we need to share our homemade bentos w/ a 3rd person we don’t know.
Stay tuned: Will not be long before Alaska will paint out our beloved Pualani & replace her w/ an Indigenous Inuit. Alaska never really wanted to grow Hawaiian Air. That’s becoming more & more a farce. Alaska just wanted to buy the Hawaiian Air Dreamliners under the guise of a merger.
I enjoy the hot sandwiches much. People are lucky enough that hawaiin still offers these. Other airlines only offer poor choice of pretzel or maybe a fruit bar. Snack Crackers on a 6 hour flight just doesn’t work. Thanks to hawaiin for caring for all there customers.
I think we’re going to start to see pre-order appear on Hawaiian flights sooner than later; which I think is a great way to augment that crappy lil sandwich.
After Alaska swallowed Virgin, they did a lot of changes to their food & beverage products and I think we’ll see the same with the “new” Alaska/Hawaiian. I believe we’ll still see a small meal option on the longer flights along with Buy on Board/pre purchase and most of the West Coast -> Hawai’i flights will have a slightly enhanced pretzel/snack mix along with buy on board and no more free “mini” fruit plate or soaked 7-11 burger
I really liked the meals and mentioned it to those I was visiting.
I started flying Hawaiian airline in 2019 I moved there to live with my son and family I liked it cause I could fly nonstop to Honolulu from Austin Tx But now that has change as for the meal well the egg sandwich can go its cold and dry so not a loss if they remove that.
We have been flying Hawaiian for nearly two decades. On our recent trip to Maui , the food in premium, extra comfort seats, was inedible. It was a ciabatta sandwich. The bread was too hard to chew,with little meat on it, no pesto as advertised. We plan to bring our food next time.
I remember the iconic Hawaiian tray meals in every class with a drink! With the Hawaiian themed airlines and the mostly Hawaiian crews and Hawaiian Mele playing on the speakers, the entire experience was so special. Sadly those days are gone. We were blessed to have experienced.
It’s not a meal, it’s basically a hot pocket. And they are usually disgusting and high in sodium. Get rid of it and go with the “buy on board” options that Alaska offers & improved after its acquisition of Virgin America. The food quality is Much better.
But they’ll have to think about a better approach on long-haul flights (6+ hours) and international flights. From what I’ve heard, Alaska is working on it as it develops the Alaska long-haul product too.
We always fly Hawaiian to Hawaii. However, the breakfast sandwiches have become one of our least liked and we do try to eat before flying. We did fly Alaska one time and it was a terrible experience. We paid for preferred seating and the seats were lumpy and uncomfortable and the food was also a disappointment. .
The last time we flew Hawaiian trans-pacific was over a year ago on the AUS/HNL route that ended in March. Flight attendants provided above average service, but not what it used to be pre-covid. The meal service was mediocre at best, and the Aloha spirit that Hawaiian has been known for was clearly declining. I must say I did like the egg salad sandwich on both the outbound and return flights. However, you could tell that Hawaiian’s in flight service was affected by the airlines precarious financial condition. To say that HA was a premium Airline post covid is a bit of a stretch. It saddens me to say that, but actually none of the airlines are anything like they were 20 years ago. They all are run by “bean counters,” and you get what you pay for when the public is more interested in cheap seats, rather than comfort and service.
Gone are the days of a real meal and metal silverware (still have some to show the great grand kids). Of course, that was when the customer came first…remember magazines, offers of pillows and blankets for free? Flying used to be a joy, now it’s a chore to survive. Need some enterprising young person to walk around the gate area both in Hawai’i and on the Mainland, with an offer of plate lunches, laulau, lychee cheesecake…I’d rather buy that than what is being offered. Flight would sure smell good!
Great idea but I”m sure it would ‘fly’ with the resident airport vendors !
Just assume “no meal” and be pleasantly surprised until they end meal service. As Beat of Hawaii wrote, it’s one of the last airlines that serves meals in economy. Be grateful. It will likely be going away.
Aloha,
I think we can all agree that the flight attendants are great on both Hawaiian and Alaska. They have to put up with a lot.
Food.. well, it’s all a personal preference. And those old enough can remember the golden era of travel when visitors were greeted with Leis in hula dancers.
I think we are all lucky to live on or visit the Islands.
Mahalo Nui Loa to those flight attendants!
I’ve been flying Hawaiian to Maui twice a year for the last 11 years. Even though the food isn’t as good or as plentiful as years ago, I still look forward to the meal and not having to bring my own onboard. I hope they keep this food service, but I also think it will most likely fade away within the coming years.
I would be happy with something edible. Our last Hawaiian flight in First half the food was purple and covered in different gloppy sauces. A bit cold and not very appealing. My husband and I ate the salads. Thankfully we always bring our own snacks and stop at Tin Roof after getting our car.
We fly between Sacramento and Maui a few times each year in the economy section. In addition to what you have listed, adults are offered a complimentary drink of Koloa rum punch.
Just wants to make you fly Hawaiian does it not?
We just got back from flying Hawaiian round trip, OAK-LIH-OAK. Like two years ago, the in-flight main cabin meal was basically a hot pocket (as another commenter called it). No chips, not really a meal. But it was warm and satisfying. One way the meat was turkey; the other way it was chicken. I don’t eat pork either. I really enjoy the complimentary rum punch cocktail (both ways!). That has a more special treat feel than the hot sandwich. I also like the walk-up galley that opens after the main service is over. I took advantage to get a free Diet Coke. You can also buy alcohol or snacks early in the flight from the cart or later from the walk-up. At the end of the flight we got a free cookie (one way) or chocolate (the other way) that was actually quite good. Food and drinks aside, we found HA to still have a spirit of aloha and fun, to be friendly and efficient. My only complaint: my husband’s seat (for which I paid extra) was too small to fit his 6-ft-tall body.
Sadly I think we all know which way this is headed. Maybe the best we can hope for is a ‘Honolulu Cookie Company’ crumb on Hawaii bound ‘frights’ !
Well, since the quality of food on Hawaiian,is so dismal, I’m fine with purchasing my own before boarding. . I fly from LAX, morning flight to Maui….really, no one wants the disgusting sausage and egg “ steamed”
sandwich……. It’s microwaved, but the bread stays damp..ugh.
Yes, the flight attendants could care less….hardly a smile. If they don’tlike their job, resign.
This is where it starts to get out of hand.
One person says they are plant based and needs certain meals
Another comments about being gluten free and needing meals without this
Another doesn’t like spicey food, so that creates confusion.
Another doesn’t want plant food, but some pasta because its a good carboydrate.
And on and on.
So are you sayin’ ya can’t puhleese everyone ?
… lol
A few months ago, I used miles to get a lie-flat First Class HA seat HNL-BOS. This is a route I fly once or twice a year on HA, previously only in Econ or paying for a slightly better Econ seat. First lie-flat
I was disappointed by the food in First. My chicken was dry and hard, served with haphazardly steamed vegetables, including broccoli. Breakfast was OK but not memorable, except that the same broccoli medley was with the hash which was described as Kalua pork but was 90+% potato.
I was also disappointed that I was not able to sleep any better than I usually do in Econ. The bedding and seat need more padding. It was hard to get comfortable with the seat belt on.
The sandwiches in Econ – meh or worse. Especially the egg salad one, and the cream cheese crackers in the snack bag. I always bring my own food on and cherry pick from what they offer.Tricky for the BOS-HNL because the airport food options are limited – early (7:15 am board) and few- E gate
Folks, let’s face it, the glamour days of flying are gone. As long as we, passengers, are demanding the lowest possible fare, we should not be surprised that airlines need to trim their expenses to compete for the bottom of the bowl. If we flyers want more, we will need to pay for it. That is what the private equity inspired new order is about; cheap and upgrade if you want more. Sad, but I regret true.
Frankly, I think that the Hawaiian pepperoni pocket sandwich is garbage, and that is where mine always goes, unless someone else wants it. From my perspective, they hurt, rather than help, their reputation by giving be something I can’t eat.
Frankly, I think that the Hawaiian pepperoni pocket sandwich is garbage, and that is where mine always goes, unless someone else wants it. From my perspective, they hurt, rather than help, their reputation by giving be something I can’t eat.
Alaska’s meals in first class are pretty much inedible. We end up getting the fruit and cheese plate (which is short on crackers). The other options are usually some sort of rubber chicken or something with Kale.
Sometimes they let you get a sandwich from coach.. but that is rare.
Hawaiian always has great food. But I bet they go the cheap Alaskan rubber chicken/kale route. That will be a sad day!
I feel sorry for the Alaskan attendants that have to serve that horrible food. It’s not their fault.
I long for the days that had 3 course meals!
Gees, remember when Western Airlines had the Champagne punch volcano and Filet Mignon!!
The mascot Wally, smoking and drinking Champagne and singing– ‘o-o-only way to fly’
Now we are eating kale 🙁
Ah yes…… Fond memories of the free champagne on all of Western’s flights in the ’70’s ….. Indeed, ” the oooonly way to fly ! ” …lol
Having recently flown Hawaiian Honolulu to Tahiti with premium seats, the food offering was disappointing and the service was horrible. We fly Alaska regularly and i am always happy to pay for my meal, which is actually good!
My wife and I have been flying Hawaiian airlines, exclusively, from Phoenix to Honolulu/Kona/Lihue and back since 2007. It was always a flight experience we looked forward to. The original meal trays were acceptable. Then one year all we got was the “Hot Pocket” and we thought, “Oops, things are headed downhill.” We are now considering doing what we used to do when flying American from Chicago to Honolulu, stop at Subway the night before for a cold foot-long and bringing it on the flight.
Bottom line is that I would not chose my airline based upon the food.
Aloha, since my husband is GF and I am plant based we cannot eat anything HA provides. So, we like the idea of healthier choices to purchase that align with our dietary needs!
The meals suck. Who wants a big, bready, cheesy, egg sandwich when youre headed to bikini/bathing suit land?
A meal doesn’t need to be gourmet, or heavy, to be a meal. A nice fruit, cheese , cracker (maybe delicious meat option) and a cookie is enough? For longer flights a light pasta with veggies meal and bread stick? I don’t know, but what is served now really is not something to look forward to except for it being a distraction on a long flight.
I think most Americans would decline the healthier options. Look at the proliferation of junk food & unoriginal fast food options in our culture versus the virtual lack of healthier alternatives ( and the corresponding high incidence of diabetes & heart disease )
Personally, I’d rather pay for a good meal than receive a free bad meal.
Subway’s $6 footlong beats whatever the airlines offer for $15.
Wow …. That bar isn’t even low, it’s Sub-terranean !