What’s left of the Hawaiian experience? As perks disappear and fees rise, many travelers say flying to the Islands no longer feels special.
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68 thoughts on “Perks Vanish, Fees Climb, Spin Flies: Is Flying Hawaiian Still Special?”
“Hawaii isn’t just a place—it’s a feeling. Flyers have long relied on Hawaiian Airlines to deliver that sense of aloha from the moment they board.”
Feelings don’t make money. That’s why Hawaiian Airlines was headed for bankruptcy.
Many of Alaska’s changes are intended to return Hawaiian Airlines operations to profitability. Although these changes may be unwelcome, they are necessary for the airline’s long-term survival in a hypercompetitive world.
While whistful nostalgia is a nice sentiment, it’s also willfully ignorant of today’s economic realities.
We have been Pualani Gold since 2022. I have been costantlly torn between LAX or LGB and OGG. We tend to alternate our departure point. With flights from LAX on the A330, we are always comfortable even in economy seats as they are just a little (1/2 inch?) Wider. The 2-4-2 main cabin seating means never crawling over more than 1 person to get to the aisle. Restroom access is much easier on the 330. Flyng from LGB the only plane is the 321, but there is a great deal less hassle and stress getting to LGB and through TSA. One thing that we have noticed and I dont know how to quantify it is the attitude of FAs on the 321. While friendly they always appear a bit more stressed, perhaps due to cramped working conditions.
Everything changes – Hawaiian could have filed for liquidation bankruptcy, Chapter 7, but instead Alaska saved them & way over paid for Hawaiian, now they’re doing what’s best for their business model. The moment Alaska bought Hawaiian you just had to know that the Hawaiian wide bodies would be used for other non-Hawaiian destinations. Be Happy that the Hawaiian name lives on for a little bit longer.
Air travel has become train travel, just faster. Speed is the only advantage they now have. Service? You have to be kidding.
10 trips to Hawaii on HA from Australia. Love the feeling of stepping onto their planes. Always took advantage of the extra baggage by spending up on the shopping. Now that they’ve cut the baggage allowance I’ll be flying Qantas. Also changed our holiday destination to Fiji and Thailand this year.
Hopefully they realise it’s not good for their tourism.
After a final trip I’m planning, but haven’t booked yet, to some of the Islands as well as American Samoa, I think my days of Hawaii vacations and Hawaiian Airlines loyalty are over. Alaska is ruining the last great US airline. I’m going to be cancelling my cc before it gets converted to BoA as I refuse to do business with them. RIP Hawaiian
I don’t think Alaska is going to slash & burn the entire HA product; they did roll out Huaka’i for the islanders – similar to our Club 49 in Alaska. Which I think helps soften the blow with Southwest essentially giving themselves a lobotamy and becoming “like everyone else”… now checked bag fees, seat assignments, etc. I’ll still chose Alaska or Hawaiian anyday over Southwest going transpac, there’s just no way I’d want to sit in one of their 737s for that long. At least Alaska has real inflight service & wiif; Hawaiian is slowly catching up to the wifi craze – its a shame their Airbus 321Neos don’t have seatback tvs 🙁
Regarding 2 free bags – it looks like HA/AS is just matching everyone else. Fiji, Qantas, Air New Zealand all have 1 free bag with their non-basic fares. Do I bother to mention JetStar?