The 737 is the only aircraft that Southwest Airlines flies, and they have been extremely successful for a really long stint. The A320 is a mere 7 inches wider, distributed across 6 passengers and an aisle, so you get an extra inch width – big deal. It is similarly taller, so larger luggage bins, but the luggage you will be putting in them is the same, standardized, size.
Most passengers buy a flight to get there, and take whatever hardship there is rather than pay for business class or first class, which generally is an option.
I am fortunate to be able to fly First Class on Hawaii flights. I am 6’2″ 77 years old and need the room. The bathroom issue comes into play with my head banging on the ceiling on narrow body planes. The 787 Dreamliner flights to and from ORD to KOA were truly a dream while they lasted. Even American 777 KOA to DFW was great while it lasted. I do not fly 737 unless Alaska up front. The choices continue to diminish from KOA, so I will fly to HNL seeking wide bodies. Thanks so much for the B of H information you put forward.
Flew on early 737’s when seating was five across. Now it is six. Legroom was greater than it is today. I wasn’t most pleased then. I won’t fly on a 737 today.
I may be off, but based on balanced field calculations and the 737 Max 10 only having a two wheel truck compared to the 757’s 4-wheel truck, there may be weight limitations on smaller island runways, especially if the FAA ever updates their passenger weight calculations based on the most up to date CDC weight numbers. If pax weights are updated today for say the A321 does that impact current field length calculations on Maui if a wet runway?
The Boeing 737 and AirBus A321 family of short to medium range jet transport were never intended for trans Pac flights to Hawaii. Unlike the Boeing 707-320B and the Douglas DC8-61/62 jet aircraft which were designed for long rang flights like to Hawaii. Not only is the 737 and A321 very uncomfortable as stretched high capacity transports they are dramatically slower then what we could fly on back in the day. The Boeing 747 represented the revolution in jet transportation with tremendous passenger comfort and high speed flight. Both are lacking today. The Boeing 787 may be an exception to a sad business mined set that place small marginal cost of operation saving over comfort and service. The old way faster farther higher is long forgotten
I have to say that my last flight from LB airport to Hawaii was not satisfactory. The space was really cramped, and I’m a small to medium sized person. My other complaint was that the stewardess was very rude several times and had an attitude about her that was not pleasant. I was extremely disappointed ☹️
I must have been on the same flight…LB to Maui on Hawaiian…Completely full and Completely 100% uncomfortable and cramped !!! I swear each flight I take the seats are getting smaller and smaller and I am not a big person (5’7″, 130 lbs). Recently on one flight noise-cancelling headphone fell off & I had to empty 2 rows to look for it under my seat, as there was no way I could look under my seat as I sat there-ugh! I have only flown Hawaiian lately as I await Southwest coming back to LB-Maui route…off-hand I think Southwest is roomier overall and newer planes…Hawaiian Air are old, out-dated and literally falling apart (seats/mesh magazine holder/broken arm rests that don’t stay up…you get the picture)
Russ is correct. Customers demand lower cost flights and eco noisemakers demand lower emissions. This means you must pack more people onto a more efficient airplane. Change the market demands — pay more for an upgrade or start your own airline and provide comfortable seats at 2x the price of the compeition.
I’m not happy with this comment, as it is the reason, prices remain so high. As long as the can-do attitude exists, us can’t do folks that save for 8 years to fly to Hawaii, additional seat preference is equalled to maybe a few more groceries, gas, or spending dollars for the locals while on the islands. If you can afford it, yes, go for it. But don’t bash us lower income for wanting to enjoy paradise with what we can afford.
Increasing seating capacity from 100 to 230 adds an additional 130 people. The “average” weight of an adult is 181 lbs., so that’s an additional 23,530 lbs = nearly 12 tons. Not sure how these jets can get airborne, If trying to fly with their original engines.
Question: when booking flights, how can I know if lying-flat seat arrangements are a possibility?
If you’re starting with Google Flights, which we’d suggest, it will list what business class amenities are included and will specify lie-flat when it is offered.
American and Delta show it on their app when you look at the flights. Seatguru give you a rough guess but it is not foolproof where an airline has many flavors. Also beware of last minute equipment swaps
They aren’t flying with the original engines. The original turbojets were considered pretty anemic. The new turbofans in the – 300 series were a great improvement described as ideal for frustrated fighter pilots. The Max series have even more improved in power and economy engines.
I had a preview of the lavatory problem on a Hawaiian flight to Phoenix in January. Two lavatories on one side of the plane were non operational. That means that everyone on that side not in first class had to use one restroom. They made an anouncement that we could not cross the bulkhead to use the other side, nor could we use the bathroom in first class. We should have all urinated in our seats.
It’s the airline, not the manufacturer who picks the configuration, and the use of new “space saver” (contortionist) lavatories. If UA were smart, they’d configure the Max10 similar to the 757 with mid-cabin lavs to avoid galley congestion.
What goes around comes around. The 737 was a short range jet using 707 sections. Now it is going to become a modern 707. Not been on a 737 max flight yet but the neo minibus did not impress me at all.
Basically All narrow body Boeing (737s) and Airbus (319s, 320s, 321s, etc.) have lousy uncomfortable seating for the passenger who is seated in the coach (Greyhound Bus) section. Even Extra Comfort, Main Cabin Extra, and Economy Plus seating doesn’t do much to improve the in-flight experience beyond a few inches of leg room.
Southwest is the worst.
Doesn’t Southwest offer more seat pitch/legroom than all the other carriers in economy? If that’s true than in what way are they worse?
One think I like about Southwest is as soon as you board, and all through boarding and de-boarding you can watch movies. Got stuck on the tarmac and helped kill the time. When I caught the return flight it picked up the movie right where I left off.
At least you’re not priming the reader to hate this airplane in the title of the article without having set foot on a single example of this variant.
The 737 is the only aircraft that Southwest Airlines flies, and they have been extremely successful for a really long stint. The A320 is a mere 7 inches wider, distributed across 6 passengers and an aisle, so you get an extra inch width – big deal. It is similarly taller, so larger luggage bins, but the luggage you will be putting in them is the same, standardized, size.
Most passengers buy a flight to get there, and take whatever hardship there is rather than pay for business class or first class, which generally is an option.
I am fortunate to be able to fly First Class on Hawaii flights. I am 6’2″ 77 years old and need the room. The bathroom issue comes into play with my head banging on the ceiling on narrow body planes. The 787 Dreamliner flights to and from ORD to KOA were truly a dream while they lasted. Even American 777 KOA to DFW was great while it lasted. I do not fly 737 unless Alaska up front. The choices continue to diminish from KOA, so I will fly to HNL seeking wide bodies. Thanks so much for the B of H information you put forward.
Hi James.
Thanks. Happy travels!
Aloha.
Flew on early 737’s when seating was five across. Now it is six. Legroom was greater than it is today. I wasn’t most pleased then. I won’t fly on a 737 today.
The original made around 15,000
pounds of thrust.
Modern version, close to 60,000
How does this meet the ADA Disabilities Act? If you are disabled, you can’t fly??
I may be off, but based on balanced field calculations and the 737 Max 10 only having a two wheel truck compared to the 757’s 4-wheel truck, there may be weight limitations on smaller island runways, especially if the FAA ever updates their passenger weight calculations based on the most up to date CDC weight numbers. If pax weights are updated today for say the A321 does that impact current field length calculations on Maui if a wet runway?
Hi Mark.
That’s really interesting. If that were to impact Maui ops, then what about Kauai with almost 2k feet less runway?
Aloha.
Aloha.
737 great plane. Terrible passenger plane
The Boeing 737 and AirBus A321 family of short to medium range jet transport were never intended for trans Pac flights to Hawaii. Unlike the Boeing 707-320B and the Douglas DC8-61/62 jet aircraft which were designed for long rang flights like to Hawaii. Not only is the 737 and A321 very uncomfortable as stretched high capacity transports they are dramatically slower then what we could fly on back in the day. The Boeing 747 represented the revolution in jet transportation with tremendous passenger comfort and high speed flight. Both are lacking today. The Boeing 787 may be an exception to a sad business mined set that place small marginal cost of operation saving over comfort and service. The old way faster farther higher is long forgotten
I have to say that my last flight from LB airport to Hawaii was not satisfactory. The space was really cramped, and I’m a small to medium sized person. My other complaint was that the stewardess was very rude several times and had an attitude about her that was not pleasant. I was extremely disappointed ☹️
I must have been on the same flight…LB to Maui on Hawaiian…Completely full and Completely 100% uncomfortable and cramped !!! I swear each flight I take the seats are getting smaller and smaller and I am not a big person (5’7″, 130 lbs). Recently on one flight noise-cancelling headphone fell off & I had to empty 2 rows to look for it under my seat, as there was no way I could look under my seat as I sat there-ugh! I have only flown Hawaiian lately as I await Southwest coming back to LB-Maui route…off-hand I think Southwest is roomier overall and newer planes…Hawaiian Air are old, out-dated and literally falling apart (seats/mesh magazine holder/broken arm rests that don’t stay up…you get the picture)
I always fly Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330
Wide body comfort
Art B
People want inexpensive. Even though they act like royalty once on an airplane.
Accept what you purchased. Or upgrade.
Russ is correct. Customers demand lower cost flights and eco noisemakers demand lower emissions. This means you must pack more people onto a more efficient airplane. Change the market demands — pay more for an upgrade or start your own airline and provide comfortable seats at 2x the price of the compeition.
I’m not happy with this comment, as it is the reason, prices remain so high. As long as the can-do attitude exists, us can’t do folks that save for 8 years to fly to Hawaii, additional seat preference is equalled to maybe a few more groceries, gas, or spending dollars for the locals while on the islands. If you can afford it, yes, go for it. But don’t bash us lower income for wanting to enjoy paradise with what we can afford.
Increasing seating capacity from 100 to 230 adds an additional 130 people. The “average” weight of an adult is 181 lbs., so that’s an additional 23,530 lbs = nearly 12 tons. Not sure how these jets can get airborne, If trying to fly with their original engines.
Question: when booking flights, how can I know if lying-flat seat arrangements are a possibility?
Hi John.
If you’re starting with Google Flights, which we’d suggest, it will list what business class amenities are included and will specify lie-flat when it is offered.
Aloha.
American and Delta show it on their app when you look at the flights. Seatguru give you a rough guess but it is not foolproof where an airline has many flavors. Also beware of last minute equipment swaps
Hi Rich.
Seatguru is highly inaccurate. Aerolopa is the go to now.
Aloha.
They aren’t flying with the original engines. The original turbojets were considered pretty anemic. The new turbofans in the – 300 series were a great improvement described as ideal for frustrated fighter pilots. The Max series have even more improved in power and economy engines.
I had a preview of the lavatory problem on a Hawaiian flight to Phoenix in January. Two lavatories on one side of the plane were non operational. That means that everyone on that side not in first class had to use one restroom. They made an anouncement that we could not cross the bulkhead to use the other side, nor could we use the bathroom in first class. We should have all urinated in our seats.
It’s the airline, not the manufacturer who picks the configuration, and the use of new “space saver” (contortionist) lavatories. If UA were smart, they’d configure the Max10 similar to the 757 with mid-cabin lavs to avoid galley congestion.
Hi Drew.
We expect to see a front of coach lav on that plane although with that many potential extra passengers, we can’t say how much it will help.
Aloha.
Time to re regulate the airlines, this is ridiculous.
What goes around comes around. The 737 was a short range jet using 707 sections. Now it is going to become a modern 707. Not been on a 737 max flight yet but the neo minibus did not impress me at all.
Basically All narrow body Boeing (737s) and Airbus (319s, 320s, 321s, etc.) have lousy uncomfortable seating for the passenger who is seated in the coach (Greyhound Bus) section. Even Extra Comfort, Main Cabin Extra, and Economy Plus seating doesn’t do much to improve the in-flight experience beyond a few inches of leg room.
Southwest is the worst.
Doesn’t Southwest offer more seat pitch/legroom than all the other carriers in economy? If that’s true than in what way are they worse?
One think I like about Southwest is as soon as you board, and all through boarding and de-boarding you can watch movies. Got stuck on the tarmac and helped kill the time. When I caught the return flight it picked up the movie right where I left off.
what did you expect from boeing?
Airbus is no better. Nada.
They really want tourists Not to travel to Hawaii.Keep making it more and more difficult and people find other places to go
While many are discouragine our travel especiialy to Maui, I travel world wide and this is a world wide issue, not just hawaiian islands!