As narrow-body jets increasingly take over most routes to Hawaii, passengers discover that not all first-class experiences are created equal. While economy seats continue to shrink, the value of a more comfortable first-class seat is something worth considering, especially on long-awaited Hawaii vacation flights that stretch over five hours crossing the Pacific.
In contrast to our recent review on Hawaii First Class Comfort at Economy Price, where we explored our affordable way to upgrade your flight experience, today focuses on full-price, narrow-body first class without lie-flat seating.
We’ll compare the top airlines flying to Hawaii that offer this service: Alaska, Delta, Hawaiian, United, and American. Each has its take on “luxury” in the skies, from service quality to seat comfort.
We’ll also have a special look at United’s rare legacy jet, the only narrow-body to Hawaii featuring lie-flat first class suites, which offers a unique option on select routes.
So, which airline stands out as the best first-class experience for narrow-body flights on your Hawaii vacation?
Alaska Airlines: the best overall?
Alaska Airlines has earned a solid reputation for offering one of, if not the best, first-class experience on narrow-body jets to Hawaii. With comparatively spacious seating and respectable legroom, along with a generally well-maintained cabin, good service, and upgraded meals, Alaska sets the standard for comfort on these long-haul narrow-body flights.
Passengers often give kudos for the airline’s friendly and efficient in-flight service and excellent app that includes pre-ordering quality meals—little touches that consistently make the journey more enjoyable.
Compared to its competitors, Alaska offers a first-class product that feels more polished overall, with consistent quality in both service and comfort. For many travelers, including us, Alaska Airlines consistently provides the best overall value for flying first class on narrow-body jets to Hawaii, combining comfort with an upgraded customer experience.
Delta Airlines: promises and pitfalls.
Delta Airlines offers its narrow-body A321neo first-class product on flights to Hawaii, but despite a few highlights, it falls short in several key areas. One of the standouts for Delta is its digital customer service, which allows passengers to handle many in-flight requests via the Delta app, a convenient option that some competitors don’t yet offer. The first-class winged privacy headrests are another nice touch, giving passengers more comfort and personal space.
However, the seat comfort and legroom in Delta’s A321neo first class are underwhelming, particularly on a flight of this length. Onboard Wi-Fi, a crucial amenity for many, has also repeatedly failed us during our multiple review flights, adding to the frustrations. While Delta’s entertainment options and digital features are strong, the physical comfort of the seats, including more ingress/egress difficulty for window passengers and poor meals, make it hard for this product to compete with Alaska’s.
Hawaiian Airlines: where Hawaii starts in the air.
Flying with Hawaiian Airlines has long offered a unique cultural experience that many travelers love and return for. Hawaiiana touches throughout the flight—from the warm Aloha spirit to the island-themed meal options—give passengers a taste of the islands from the moment they board. And that is the intention! On their A321neo first-class product, these touches are evident and appreciated, but the overall experience leaves much to be desired.
Though the service and hospitality stand out, the seating in Hawaiian’s narrow-body first class feels very cramped, on par with the other airlines flying the A321neo. There is limited legroom and less seat space compared to Alaska or United. The in-flight meals, while local in theme, don’t match the quality or variety that some travelers expect in first class, and the lack of ability to pre-order is a fail. There is good news with free, excellent WiFi, although the rest of Hawaiian’s technology is sorely awaiting an upgrade from Alaska.
Now that Hawaiian is owned by Alaska, much is likely to improve. If you’re flying Hawaiian, you’re likely choosing it for the local flavor rather than pure physical comfort, and that will hopefully not change.
United Airlines: a very mixed bag.
United Airlines presents two distinct first-class experiences on their narrow-body jets to Hawaii, and they’re worlds apart.
Current 737 MAX 8 experience. The current United narrow-body product on their 737 MAX 8 jets offers a fairly standard first-class experience. Entertainment options are superb, and the airline’s digital service component, which allows passengers to manage their experience via their leading app, including pre-ordering of so-so meals, is a nice touch.
However, the seating itself doesn’t impress—tight legroom and minimal comfort make it less appealing for long flights to Hawaii than other options.
Legacy United narrow-body with lie-flat suites (special mention). United still operates its narrow-body Boeing 757 jets on select routes that offer a rare treat—first-class suites with lie-flat beds. This experience is significantly more luxurious than the standard narrow-body product. It is comparable (albeit shorter) to the long-haul first-class offerings typically found on wide-body jets.
While availability is limited, this option is a gem for those who don’t mind flying on three-decade-old planes and are fortunate enough to fly on one of these routes. If comfort on a narrow-body is your top priority, this United aircraft is one to watch.
American Airlines: standard but uninspiring.
American Airlines’ A321neo narrow-body first-class product is a typical domestic first-class experience, and unfortunately, it doesn’t rise above that. While American offers lie-flat seating on some wide-body routes to Hawaii, their narrow-body A321neo falls short, especially on long flights.
Service inconsistencies are a common issue we’ve encountered, with some flights having attentive crews while others lagged in quality entirely. Neither the WiFi nor the entertainment options worked on our most recent flight.
American neither announced nor made any excuses for the failure. Seat comfort is also lacking, especially compared to Alaska, which has limited legroom and poor seat comfort. All in all, American’s narrow-body first class offers nothing special for those hoping for a premium experience.
The Verdict: Which airline tops the list?
After comparing the first-class products across these narrow-body jets, Alaska Airlines stands out as the top choice for first-class travel to Hawaii. Its spacious seating, reliable service, and overall cabin comfort make it a clear winner for those seeking a premium experience without compromising value.
Delta offers strong digital features and privacy touches but falls short in terms of physical comfort.
While embodying the local spirit, Hawaiian can’t compete in seat quality and overall first-class amenities.
United’s modern product is just average, though the legacy narrow-body configuration with beds provides an exceptional experience for those on the right routes.
American comes up short, with a service that feels too standard for first-class.
Choosing the right first-class experience for your journey to Hawaii can make all the difference, especially on long-haul flights aboard ubiquitous narrow-body jets. Whether you prioritize legroom and in-flight service or want the best value for your money, Alaska Airlines emerges as the best choice for first-class travelers.
However, with unique options like United’s legacy lie-flat seats or Hawaiian’s island-themed hospitality, it’s important to consider what matters most to you when booking. Whichever airline you choose, rest assured that the beauty of Hawaii awaits you at the end of the journey.
Beat of Hawaii paid for all of its review flights.
We welcome your thoughts!
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I can say that the first class seats on the 321 neo are not worth the price if you are over 5’9″ tall .
I can additionally say if you are not flying on a plane like a 767, 777, 787 or simular in size the comfort in first class is not very good.
The airlines have made fly no better than riding on a bus
I’m just going to repeat (ad nauseum)my previous assertions: No way am I flying a narrow body from the SE (yes, I Have done it). Too tough on the old knees. Wide body premium econ and occasionally FC if sensibly priced to HNL. Lie flat FC on the way back to get some sleep. 10 hours in the air is tough enough without being crammed into a tiny, confining space and that’s FC in a narrow body. I genuinely sympathize with those riding economy…
Best Regards
When my wife and i upgraded to business +class our planes did not look like the planes in the pictures. Ours looked like and airline run by Sandford and Sons
aloha, and thanks again for a great discussion.
We recently flew 1st class on Hawaiian and it was Amazing!! all around. I am confused by this and I am guessing it is the type of aircraft that makes the difference. when you are making an on-line reservation how can you tell which type of plane (and therefore comfort) you will be on. I mean, it sounds to me like I would not choose 1st on these newer planes but use your 3 seat option.
Thanks again
Ane T
Look at the “Flight Details” link and you’ll see the aircraft type.
Well, truth be told, the so-called “First Class” flying today is Not! It’s barely low-end business class, just with first class prices. Perhaps the airlines are making things so uncomfortable/miserable in Economy so as to make first class a choice of desperation. Pay a lot more to get not-much-more. Then, to save money, the airlines down-grade the first class section to make it less costly (for them), and voila! They save even more money, with the flight attendants trying to smile and say, with sincerity, “Hope you enjoy the flight!” I keep asking myself, ‘How bad is it going to get? Is there no end to the lack of service and crappy food and banging knees on seats ahead of you?’
I agree 100percent with the comments expressed by Dennis. We live part time in Kauai and make two round trips each year. 23 years so far. Hawaiian service along with the limited food and the basically no Aloha attitude makes it miserable to fly from Oakland to Lihue on Hawaiian even in first class! We used to fly Alaskan until they changed their schedule. We will fly with them in the future. Although supposedly the same!
I read your review of the narrow body first class. Our family travels to Hawaii twice a year. We usually go to Maui. We always travel on a widebody jet. We’ve flown to Honolulu and then on to Maui just to make sure we’re on widebody chat.
Our last trip we took United 777 from San Francisco to Maui. We now see that that plane is being taken off and substituted with a 737 max.
I think I’m going to find a new place to go on vacation. I’m not going to ride 5 1/2 across the Pacific and a narrow body plane .
Palm Desert Palm Springs come to mine. It’s only an hour away.
I was going to book a flight thru HNL on the way to OGG last April, just so I could ride a wide body instead of a ‘sardine can.’ Didn’t, but should have. We’ll see next time, if Hawaiian/Alaska haven’t taken the wide body off the route by then. Ugh!
I noticed that Alaska uses two versions of the 737 on its San Francisco to Honolulu route. I find the new one, the Max, more comfortable in that it has a foot rest under the seat in front of you. I’ve been on Hawaiian’s 321 neo several times when I routed myself HNL to SFO via Maui. I prefer Hawaiian’s 321neo where I find the forward cabin seats much more comfortable than all versions of Alaska’s 737s. I was on an old United 757 in April from HNL to SFO. It did not have the lie flat seats and for 5 hours we experienced “shake rattle and roll” and wondered if the equipment was even airworthy. Nonetheless, it was one of the best flights because we had two amazing United flight attendants. I continue to believe that equipment is half the experience, and the other half is the caliber of the flight attendants.
We have only flown 1st class on Hawaiian and United and there is no doubt that Hawaiian is superior. United is a sad excuse for First Class. Tried it twice. We would like to try Alaska but the schedule to and from LAX has not worked out for us. Maybe next year. Thanks for the review, very helpful.
Hi Nancy.
We appreciate that and your many many comments.
Aloha.
Hawaiian wide body is far better.
I’ve flown United’s 757 with lie-flat seats. It was night and day compared to the usual narrow-body first class. If you can snag one of these, go for it. It’s the only time I felt like first class to Hawaii was truly worth it on a small plane.
How to put this nicely. Narrow-body planes for Hawaii flights should be outlawed! First class on an A321 feels like a punishment, especially if you’re stuck in a window seat. Alaska does a decent job with what they’ve got. The legroom is better than most, and agree the pre-order meal service is a step up.
Flying Hawaiian is always special. No, the seats aren’t the most comfortable, but the local touches—the meals, the music, the spirit onboard—make up for it. And now the Wifi. You start feeling like you’re in Hawaii before you even land. To me, that’s worth more than a few extra inches of legroom.
Let’s face it, narrow-body first class is just a glorified economy with bigger seats. For a flight to Hawaii, it feels cramped, especially if you’re used to flying internationally. None of the U.S. carriers really get it right, and the legroom just doesn’t compare to wide-body planes.
Honestly, Alaska Airlines is overrated. Sure, the seats are a little better than some of the other airlines, but for the price, the meals are lacking and the service can be hit or miss. Last time, I had a flight where the flight attendants barely checked in on first class after serving the meal. I expected more given their reputation and the cost.
My wife and I flew business class on Alaska Airlines to Seattle for our Alaska cruise. I’m used to the Lufthansa business class trip we take to Europe so the Alaska Airlines first class experience was very disappointing. Their lounge in Seattle was just as disappointing considering they dominate that airport.
Agree that overall Alaska’s first class product to Hawaii is best. However, I just booked an early 2025 round trip from the west coast on United. This itinerary is on an older 777-200, with lie-flat seats in the older 2-4-2 configuration that was used in Continental’s Business-First product. This requires connecting in HNL to LIH on Hawaiian, but at just over $600 each way, a good deal when you’re 6’3″
Aloha to all.
We have always found the service exceptional on Hawaiian first class
On a recent Alaska first class flight the attendant never showed her face after providing one drink and our meal. Service was atrocious
BOH often mentions how long 5 hr flights are to Hawaii. No matter the airline, Delta, United or Hawaiian, I have never found a 5 hour flight from San Francisco to Hawaii overbearing or uncomfortable, even though I only fly economy. The issues I have with these airlines have not been while inside the plane but administrative issues before getting on the plane such as delays, cancellation, check-ins at airport and boarding. Walking through Hawaiian or United First Class to my seat in economy and just looking at the first class seats and accomodations convince me to never go first class Secondly, the drawback of first class is the extra expense, I can use the money I save for expenses once I arrive on the island to cover the now exhorbitant, gouging prices charged on the ground by just about everybody. No, no first class for me period.
American has better 1st class seats than United on the wide body’s. American uses International aircraft on the Hawaii route whereas United uses Domestic aircraft on the Hawaii route. Big difference in seat comfort. American’s service as you mentioned is hit or miss.
SW was very comfortable flight back to mainland…Honolulu-Las Vegas. Plenty room, comfortable seats and A/C worked great. Food? Just snacks…I brought my own tuna fish sandwiches.
We just returned to San Diego on Hawaiian, our flight to Maui was on Alaska. Both 1st class cabins were great, very comfortable and decent meals. Our nod this trip goes to Hawaiian. The Mai-Tais, Mac nuts, Starlink wi-fi, and our attendant named Russ put them on top. Aloha!
We stopped flying first class when widebody planes were not traveling to the Big Island anymore. Even getting into Honolulu out of Los Angeles often times there were planes. I just don’t think there’s value in first class anymore. The airlines are nickel and diming everyone. Service isn’t like it use. I really want an experience, not just transportation.
Oh for the days of 747 flights to Honolulu 🥲
Oh yeah JB, you are so right on! Unfortunately the 747 “Queen of the Skies” are almost all just a fond memory today, but what a pleasure it was to fly the 747 to Hawaii. I remember the old orange Braniff International 747, called the “carrot” that flew daily between DFW and HNL back in the day!