Starting December 4, Southwest Airlines’ Hawaii inter-island flight passengers will face a stark new reality. A just-announced policy change will alter what travelers can expect during these shorter flights between Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island, eliminating even the most basic services such as water.
The policy, implemented across Southwest Airlines, requires the cabin to be prepared for landing at 18,000 feet instead of the traditional 10,000 feet. On Hawaii inter-island flights, which typically cruise at no more than 15,000 feet, this effectively means that passengers will remain seated from takeoff to landing with carry-ons stowed and seats left in their upright and locked positions.
What this means for Hawaii travelers.
Hawaii’s inter-island flights, which average twenty to forty minutes, have long been known for their efficiency. However, under the new rules, passengers will see significant changes to their flying experience. The seatbelt sign will remain illuminated throughout the flight, and larger electronic devices must stay stowed.
Perhaps most notably, Southwest’s flight attendants, who previously offered affable albeit limited complimentary water service on these flights, will remain seated for the duration. This decision, aimed at reducing turbulence-related injuries, eliminates the opportunity for brief inflight interactions.
For Hawaii residents and island travelers, this shift might feel like a step backward in Southwest’s long commitment to quality customer service. There’s no doubt, we, have enjoyed the interaction with their flight attendants, even just for water service. Many inter-island passengers, including us residents, rely on these flights for quick trips between islands, and even small conveniences have been enjoyable.
Why Southwest is making this change.
Southwest Airlines has stated that the new policy is a safety-driven measure based on years of research and data from its Flight Data Analysis Program. According to the airline, securing the cabin earlier significantly reduces the risk of injuries to passengers and crew during turbulence, a growing concern in the aviation industry. Recent incidents cited by Southwest, during which turbulence risked injury to passengers and cabin crew, plus data points, led to the conclusion that preparing the cabin earlier could prevent such occurrences.
“While the safety benefits are clear, the impact on passengers’ experience flights is equally clear. We can’t help but wonder if this will remain an isolated change just at Southwest, or whether it will become the new standard of the U.S. airlines industry.” — Beat of Hawaii.
How this will affect your Hawaii flights.
While Southwest remains one of the two options for flying between the islands, the absence of in-flight service and other restrictions could sway some travelers toward competitor Hawaiian Airlines, which does not currently have the same rule. We aren’t actually aware of any other U.S. airline with the 18k foot enforcement policy.
Hawaiian Airlines can emphasize hospitality, at least for now. It still provides complimentary beverages on even the shortest flights. There’s coffee in the morning and POG and water throughout the day.
Comparing Southwest and Hawaiian Airlines interisland.
Southwest and Hawaiian Airlines offer somewhat different experiences for inter-island travelers, and recent changes highlight these contrasts even further. Hawaiian Airlines operates a fleet of aged Boeing 717 aircraft dedicated to inter-island routes, featuring a 2-3 seating configuration. This allows couples or small groups to sit together comfortably without a middle seat. They also offer both free and paid seat assignments.
Read: Southwest vs. Hawaiian: Comparing Hawaii Interisland Flights.
Meanwhile, Southwest uses larger Boeing 737 aircraft with a 3-3 seating arrangement, catering to a different scale of operations. Hawaiian charges for checked bags, although those will be included free for residents starting in 2025. Southwest always still provides two free bags interisland, which are extremely helpful for residents’ shopping. Southwest doesn’t yet have seat assignment options, but those will be available in 2025.
Recent reductions in Southwest’s Hawaii interisland routes also add a layer of complexity for travelers. As much as 30% of Southwest interisland flights were scaled back, leaving travelers with fewer daily options than Hawaiian Airlines’ more robust inter-island service.
While Southwest emphasizes affordability, safety, and the most legroom, Hawaiian Airlines delivers perhaps a more traditional experience.
If you’ve recently flown on a Southwest inter-island flight, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Are the changes worth the safety improvements, or do they fall short of meeting the needs of Hawaii travelers?
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Who cares? Its 25 minutes in the air. Takes longer to load and unload
Must be typing with fat fingers. Meant as well as, and have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving.
Not even tofu turkey or turkey on thanksgiving. Wow. Just wanted to wish Rob and Jeff as will as all the Hawaiians, locals and tourists that visit the islands during the holiday to have a save and wonderful Thanksgiving.
Hi Don.
Thanks! Much appreciated. And Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Aloha.
J/R
Just wondered any special Thanksgiving special traditional dishes or deserts in celebrating the holiday like let me guess Hawaiian Coconut Creme Pie topped with broken macadamia nuts and dehydrated pineapple pieces Hawaiian Style? Thanksgiving Island Style Barbeque’s etc. I know don’t ask just come and find out yourself. Sounds like a new topic.
I wonder how many actual injuries have occurred during inter Island flights over the last few years.
Another example of the many things wrong with this. Hydration while traveling is an important issue. The curtesy of offering a cup of water is a nice touch and often appreciated by many, especially here in the tropics. This is just one more example of a clueless decision about Hawaii being made in Texas.
A good example of the reality of the numbers driven corporate raiders is being playing out by Elliot at SWA. cutting back inter island will make SWA’s ‘inter-island” operation even less convenient to use. I suspect they will lose more revenue than the expenses they will save. Just like Corporate raiders Ichan at TWA, Lorenzo at Continental etc etc, it never works out in the long term for the airline and it’s employees , but they make a lot of money doing it.
I keep seeing people saying that WN is cheaper between the islands.
I looked at fares 2 weeks out and both companies had the exact one.
WN will save you $ if you check a bag but if you don’t then the fare is the same.
We all know it’s to save money. Stop misleading customers. It will not work out for the airlines. Too bad they think the customers are fools and will see sales diminishing quickly. Trying to recover from that self inflicted wound would be sad to see. Educate the marketing genius before its too late.
Only in Hawaii are we backwards enough not to have a vibrant ferry service between islands with a vehicle ferry option as well. Dumb and dumber.
SWA operates inter island from the mainland without a clue about the nuances of it. They are applying a blanket rule from their whole airline to inter island. This same lack of experience in Hawaii rears its head over and over again with their operation. Bad weather, volcanoes even the pronunciation of Hawaiian words, they are bit clueless.
Southwest is scaling back because of cost. About the 18000 feet buckel up n prepare the caban for landing i think the flight Attendace want free time and tuberlance can haapoened at any altitude im a pilot n A&P mechanic flew for the Air Force n United Airlines commercial airlines of 41 years
If you can’t go 40 minutes or less without a drink of water, bring an empty bottle through TSA and fill it before getting on the plane. Not a big deal. Fewer trips to the bathroom too.
Just let’s be clear. It is not Southwest per se coming up with all these new ways, may I say customer unfriendly ways. It is the Elliott Hedge Fund flexing it’s muscles and SW really has no choice. Elliott doesn’t care about passengers not even in the tiniest bit. They will squeeze SW for all they have until everyone walks away and the airline is history. By then Elliott are the only one left laughing. Seen it before.
Sounds like a lot less work. The plane don’t have to be loaded with any beverages and the flight attendants don’t have to serve plastic cups and then come through again to pick them all up. If Hawaii inter island travelers expect a cheap airfare then the airline has to cut costs somewhere. It may just have to do with Southwest’s discount deals and fare wars to stay competative with Alaska/HAL pricing for only Hawaii residents. IMO if you don’t see the word Complementary listed then don’t expect it available.
LOL, this article made me laugh. I’d choose to fly either of these aircraft inter-island and not fly the 8 seater Mokulele Airlines planes that I fly from Oahu and Maui to MKK- there’s never been any services offered, no bathroom on the plane or a flight attendant. Barring emergencies, if we can’t be seated for :25-:30 without water, POG or our ‘large electronic devices’ then there’s something wrong.
I have flown Hawaiian (one of the few who have never flown SW anywhere) for decades inter-island and it’s nothing special; the special part is the :25-:30 plane ride compared to the 13+ plane trip to get there from the East Coast.
I take the safe flight for $100 please, Alex……………….
Aloha – Well if you think Southwest is light on refreshments you should fly Delta. I just flew from New York (JFK) on Delta, Premium Economy to San Francisco, (SFO). We were offered a limited variety of basically candy bars and water shortly after taking off and that was about it for meal/drink service for the whole flight. The flight attendants (6) just stayed in the front and rear of the plane and talked. Finally after hours of having our water glasses on our table I got up and took them to the back of plane and tried to hand them to a flight attendant but she was not going to touch them, directing me to an over flowing trash bag hanging in the rear of the plane. First class never got a meal but got cocktails when they put their light on for service.
The bag of crackers and cheese Southwest gives seem luxurious at that point as does the “football” of sandwich Hawaiian gives you.
1) Southwest show us your data to support this.
2) If this is “true”, then this implies other airlines are not as safe or don’t care about employee safety – which we all know isn’t true.
3) Let’s pretend this isn’t directly related to the pressures of the hedge fund, Elliot – trying to steer SWA management.
SWA’s simplicity, affordability, & employee-friendly culture are at risk from Elliott’s known activist approach. Known for prioritizing short-term gains, they often focuses on cost-cutting & financial engineering, potentially reducing investments in customer service & operations.
IMHO, proposed changes, like assigned seating or premium options, could alienate loyal customers & erode Southwest’s no-frills identity. Leadership instability & employee morale issues, may lead to operational disruptions, delays, or diminished service quality, impacting customer experience. Then we all suffer, specifically here in Hawai’i.
My guess? Elliott will ruin SWA.
Pure Conjecture Bill.
If Hawaiian had a driver like Elliot demanding efficiency gains they wouldn’t have been forced to merge with Alaska Airlines to avoid bankruptcy. IMHO
It would have taken a lot more than efficiency gains for an airline the size of HA to survive Covid. The biggest hit was the loss of their lucrative Asian market, but prolonged runway closures, the NEO engine issues and a predatory fare war by SWA didn’t help. HA lost close to a Billion dollars. Interesting that elsewhere it’s been speculated that SWA has lost about a Billion dollars flying to Hawaii so far. They are big enough to swallow that for awhile, HA wasn’t.
I dont believe SWA for a minute. It’s less about safety and more about cost cutting for the airline. I only flew SWA once from BI to Oahu it was a horrible flight. I did it because of the cost, but I will spend more money and fly Hawaiian every single time. SWA is terrible.
This is literally a tempest in a teacup. If you can’t manage 20 minutes without a cup of water, you have bigger problems than just the lack of amenities.
I fly HA because their aloha on interisland flights goes far beyond the 20 minutes we’re up in the air. Their higher frequency means that if I get to the airport early, there’s a good chance I might get on an earlier flight Or, if I’m running late, there’s a good chance I can get on a later flight. Now, if only the app would facilitate those flight changes!!!
This could not be a less relevant issue from my perspective. On a 20-30 minute flight, is it really necessary to receive hastily-served (and consumed) water service by the flight attendants?
Give me the two free bags anyday.
I get that safety is important. These are already short flights—so it’s sad to take away the little comfort we had left?
At least Hawaiian still serves coffee and juice. Southwest is starting to feel even more like a mainland operation that doesn’t quite get Hawaii.
OMG! A half-hour flight without water – the horror!
Life is full of choices. If you don’t like the WN policy, fly another carrier. We always fly HA between islands in Hawaii.
People who keep flying Southwest because it’s “cheap” are missing the bigger picture. Comfort and service matter, even for short flights. Hawaiian may cost more sometimes, but to me it’s worth every penny.
I fly inter-island for work regularly, and this will make it somewhat harder to get anything done on board. No electronics and no service? Might as well drive or take the ferry—oh wait, we can’t.
This is just another example of airlines prioritize things over passengers. Safety is important, of course, but other airlines manage to balance safety with service. Why can’t Southwest do the same? Not sure what’s going on here.
I fly interisland on both SW and Hawaiian. First choice is always SW. I like the extra legroom. My wife and I always fly together and I can’t remember if we’ve ever shared the third seat. Another feature we love are the movies. On a quick trip to Honolulu we usually can see an entire movie, half on the way over, half on the way back. As soon as you enter the plane you’re connected. Waiting on the tarmac, slow boarding visitors, etc are a bonus if watching a good movie.
If flight times don’t work out with SW, there’s always Hawaiian.
We bring our own water and skip the sugar drinks.
All under the guise of “safety.” The real issue is that people prioritize the cheapest option at the expense of comfort and experience. Airlines are no different from other businesses—they simply provide what their customers demand.
Seat pitch on Hawaiian is 29″ (industry worst economy)
SW 32″ (domestic industry best economy)
Seat pitch is you don’t know is how far seats are spread apart.
Just keep drinking the kool aid.
Flight attendants are always the most at risk during turbulence. When the top came off an Aloha Airline flight, only a flight attendant died because she wasn’t in her jumpseat. A rare incident, but never the less…
“omg”, what happens if one has “intestinal issues” during these flights & has to get to a restroom, fast.