40 thoughts on “Seat Selection Up To $304 | Gotcha! On Hawaii Flights”
David
The airline industry seems to be begging for regulation, though I have little confidence that we will be able to regulate it in such a way that it works. Until we, as a society, begin to value service over greed, we seem doomed to keep going in this unfortunate direction.
There is no “them here.” Them is “us.”
I can imagine that to be true. My son lives in New Orleans and he hates tourists.
The problem is, if you raise all the prices to such a degree, only the rich can experience the holiness and wonder of Hawaii, and who wants that?
I wish the government would charge tourists for certain things and make them free for residents. And I also wish they would make certain areas off-limits to tourists on the weekends so residents can enjoy a less crowded paradise.
I can imagine how frustrating it must be to read all of this. It is for those of us who live here as well. But let’s not be too hasty to cast blame. As an example, look at your own community and your own work. Does it put profit above service? If it does, it is a rare bird in these times. This is not an issue peculiar to Hawaii. Vacation areas everywhere have become overrun. Imagine if your town were suddenly so full of cars, the restaurants booked up, and the natural places around your house were so trampled that the environment was threatened. Would you have some strong feelings even if your town depended on that income?
I’m paying $215 for premium Main cabin on Hawaiian in early September Boston to HNL direct an 11 hour flight. I don’t mind because of the long flight. I would not pay that for lax to hnl. I should mention I am in the tow directly behind first class . No one in front of me.
Mahalo BOH for keeping your readers abreast of what the airlines are up to. Your second graphic for LAX-HNL must be United rather than SWA as it’s a wide body and refers to United’s Economy Plus.
We pay for SW Early Bird check-in to avoid the hassle & get a better number. Last few SW flights we sat at the front of the plane in aisle & window seats. No one took the middle. Lucky break that everyone went past us to fill seats further back. We flew Hawiian last month & paid $19 pp to choose 2 seats in a 2 seat aisle. No extra leg room but did ok because passengers in front of us didn’t push seats back. Price for Extra Comfort seats was outrageous. So yes, we pay extra to choose our seats & cross our fingers it works out.
We have been to Hawaii over 20 times and sometimes even for 3 or 4 weeks and now wonder if we ever go again. No one seems to want us unless they gouge us. Some of the locals don’t want us. The government adds taxes and fees. The hotels and restaurants have raised their prices. The car rentals agencies are gouging. Gas is ridiculous. And now airlines are playing games with the cost of seats.
Maybe all travelers should decide not to travel for this summer and especially to Hawaii.
The airlines aren’t playing games with Just Hawaii flights. They do that with All flights to All destinations. For instance SWA, has that same policy for all destinations. Not just Hawaii. So to infer this is unique to Hawaii flights is incorrect.
We will be going to Kauai twice this year. Yes prices are up because demand is up.
Sure I wish I could pay what I did ten years ago, but that’s not reality.
We always pay for the extended legroom seats and upgrade to First Class
when it’s not too outrageous.
It’s the old adage “You get what you pay for.“ Makes sense that better seats will cost more. What baffles me is the fact that none of the airlines have yet started charging for access to the in-flight entertainment. As long as one brings one’s headphones, the music and movies are still free. That can’t just be an oversight; they must’ve done psychometric studies showing that passengers are more likely to sit still and be quiet if they’re watching the latest Adam Sandler movie. Oh, one more thought: all checked baggage should be free, and all carry-on baggage should be charged. This would make the boarding process much easier because few passengers would be blocking the aisles as they stuff their stuff in the overhead bins.
Hawaiian Airlines is a ripoff. All there non first class seats should have the same leg room.
Southwest seats have great leg room. Yes no seat assigned but get on the plane together and usually you sit together. Also family boarding so you are all together and early boarding after A 15.
Miles make no sense on Hawaiian unless you can snake a first class ticket. By the time you add up seat fees and baggage it’s more expensive than southwest.
The airline industry seems to be begging for regulation, though I have little confidence that we will be able to regulate it in such a way that it works. Until we, as a society, begin to value service over greed, we seem doomed to keep going in this unfortunate direction.
There is no “them here.” Them is “us.”
I don’t understand why Hawaii is pushing tourism like this if they don’t want tourists.
Most Hawaiians do want tourism. They just don’t want as much.
I can imagine that to be true. My son lives in New Orleans and he hates tourists.
The problem is, if you raise all the prices to such a degree, only the rich can experience the holiness and wonder of Hawaii, and who wants that?
I wish the government would charge tourists for certain things and make them free for residents. And I also wish they would make certain areas off-limits to tourists on the weekends so residents can enjoy a less crowded paradise.
All love.
I can imagine how frustrating it must be to read all of this. It is for those of us who live here as well. But let’s not be too hasty to cast blame. As an example, look at your own community and your own work. Does it put profit above service? If it does, it is a rare bird in these times. This is not an issue peculiar to Hawaii. Vacation areas everywhere have become overrun. Imagine if your town were suddenly so full of cars, the restaurants booked up, and the natural places around your house were so trampled that the environment was threatened. Would you have some strong feelings even if your town depended on that income?
Gloria, what’s that got to do with the price of airline seats? Hawaii doesn’t control what the airlines charge.
I could be wrong, but I believe the state of Hawaii is strongly pushing tourism. The hotels are too.
I’m paying $215 for premium Main cabin on Hawaiian in early September Boston to HNL direct an 11 hour flight. I don’t mind because of the long flight. I would not pay that for lax to hnl. I should mention I am in the tow directly behind first class . No one in front of me.
I’m paying $120 for the exact same seat for LAX – HNL
I think that reasonable.
Are you in the dbl seats (by the window) or the quads?
Double window seat , my daughter next to me and son-in-law across the aisle from her
Mahalo BOH for keeping your readers abreast of what the airlines are up to. Your second graphic for LAX-HNL must be United rather than SWA as it’s a wide body and refers to United’s Economy Plus.
Hi Peter.
Thanks for that – it’s been corrected to say United, not Southwest.
Aloha.
We pay for SW Early Bird check-in to avoid the hassle & get a better number. Last few SW flights we sat at the front of the plane in aisle & window seats. No one took the middle. Lucky break that everyone went past us to fill seats further back. We flew Hawiian last month & paid $19 pp to choose 2 seats in a 2 seat aisle. No extra leg room but did ok because passengers in front of us didn’t push seats back. Price for Extra Comfort seats was outrageous. So yes, we pay extra to choose our seats & cross our fingers it works out.
We have been to Hawaii over 20 times and sometimes even for 3 or 4 weeks and now wonder if we ever go again. No one seems to want us unless they gouge us. Some of the locals don’t want us. The government adds taxes and fees. The hotels and restaurants have raised their prices. The car rentals agencies are gouging. Gas is ridiculous. And now airlines are playing games with the cost of seats.
Maybe all travelers should decide not to travel for this summer and especially to Hawaii.
The airlines aren’t playing games with Just Hawaii flights. They do that with All flights to All destinations. For instance SWA, has that same policy for all destinations. Not just Hawaii. So to infer this is unique to Hawaii flights is incorrect.
I agree, I used to live on Oahu and still have family there. Otherwise it is much cheaper to go on a cruise or to the Caribbean.
We will be going to Kauai twice this year. Yes prices are up because demand is up.
Sure I wish I could pay what I did ten years ago, but that’s not reality.
We always pay for the extended legroom seats and upgrade to First Class
when it’s not too outrageous.
It’s the old adage “You get what you pay for.“ Makes sense that better seats will cost more. What baffles me is the fact that none of the airlines have yet started charging for access to the in-flight entertainment. As long as one brings one’s headphones, the music and movies are still free. That can’t just be an oversight; they must’ve done psychometric studies showing that passengers are more likely to sit still and be quiet if they’re watching the latest Adam Sandler movie. Oh, one more thought: all checked baggage should be free, and all carry-on baggage should be charged. This would make the boarding process much easier because few passengers would be blocking the aisles as they stuff their stuff in the overhead bins.
Hawaiian Airlines is a ripoff. All there non first class seats should have the same leg room.
Southwest seats have great leg room. Yes no seat assigned but get on the plane together and usually you sit together. Also family boarding so you are all together and early boarding after A 15.
Miles make no sense on Hawaiian unless you can snake a first class ticket. By the time you add up seat fees and baggage it’s more expensive than southwest.
Price Gouging at its best…Wow!