Selecting seats on flights to Hawaii is about to be much like buying concert or theater seats, which is pretty interesting. So glying to Hawaii is getting way more personalized, and editor Jeff, our guru on seat selection, is giving the concept itself, two thumbs up.
This is particularly useful whether or not you are one of those willing to pay extra to select their seats. We are learning that paying for seats is way more common than we ever dreamed possible! See those details below.
A recent enhancement is allowing passengers flying to Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines, WestJet and Delta Air Lines to view detailed photos and descriptions of available seats before making a decision on basic economy, regularly economy, extra legroom, premium economy, or business. This fascinating new feature is just being rolled out, and appears certain to become the airline industry standard. While rapidly expanding, it is first being deployed on two test OTA websites, CheapOair and OneTravel.
To add this enhancement, models may be photographed in each seat, like the image below. Our initial thought is that the photo does not indicate how tall the model is, which can make some seats look roomier than they may actually be. We are also wondering about the logistics of photographing each seat, or just representative ones, and each aircraft model. In addition to the photo, a description of the seat is given. Do you think this will be helpful to you?
This will help all of us make the most informed choice and get the best seat possible, when paying for seats, and when not.
The value of seeing before buying seats to Hawaii.
When it comes to long-haul flights, comfort is a top priority for travelers to and from Hawaii. The ability to see your seat before purchasing is a game-changer, especially when most flyers are now paying extra to secure their preferred spot. This feature is particularly beneficial for those flying to Hawaii, where the journey can be lengthy, and selecting the right seat can significantly enhance your travel experience.
Insights from the art of choosing seats on flights to Hawaii.
“The Art of Choosing Seats on Flights to Hawaii” offered suggestions based on our own experiences selecting the best seat for Hawaii flights, including the importance of seat location, considering factors like proximity to the wing, access to and/or annoyance by restrooms and galleys, and views. Now, with the new-found ability to see actual seat photos before booking, these decisions become even more informed. You can visually assess factors like legroom, window alignment, and seat recline, all of which can impact your comfort during the flight. This will make the role of websites like legacy seatguru and more up-to-date aerolopa.
How the enhanced seat selection process works.
When booking your Hawaii flights, first on Hawaiian Airlines, Westjet or Delta Air Lines, you’ll soon have access to a detailed seating chart, complete with photos, descriptions, and costs. This tool allows you to explore each seat’s amenities, such as legroom, recline, power outlets, and entertainment options. It’s like choosing your seat at a theater or concert, but for your flight—ensuring you get the best possible experience for your money.
Do 80% of travelers sometimes pay extra for seats?
Given that, according to ATPCO, most travelers are now paying extra for their preferred seats, the question arises: Is it worth it? The answer largely depends on your priorities. If you value extra legroom, a window view, or being close to the front for quicker exits, paying extra could be a worthwhile investment. With this new feature, you can better evaluate whether the cost aligns with the comfort and convenience you’ll gain.
Why this matters more for Hawaii travelers.
For those flying to or from Hawaii, comfort is essential on five or more hour flights. The ability to choose your seat with such precision, backed by real-life photos, enhances the overall travel experience, particularly on these long-haul flights. Knowing exactly what to expect can make all the difference in ensuring a more pleasant journey.
As so many of us travelers are now investing extra to secure their preferred seat, this new seat-level content feature is a significant enhancement. For those flying to and from Hawaii, it offers a new level of transparency and choice, making your journey to paradise even more enjoyable.
Most flyers are willing to pay more for seats on Hawaii flights. According to ATPCO, most travelers they surveyed have already paid extra to secure their preferred airline seat. This new technology enhancement, rolling out to all airlines, makes that choice easier and fare-informed by offering real-life seat images and detailed amenities descriptions. This way, you know exactly what you’re paying for, whether flying to Hawaii or returning home to the mainland.
Hawaiian Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Westjet will be the first Hawaii flights.
ATPCO said these are the first airlines to roll out this enhanced seat selection feature, a significant upgrade for Hawaii-bound flights. The ability to choose your seat with such precision is great on long-haul flights, where comfort can greatly affect your travel experience.
How enhanced seat selection works.
When booking your Hawaii flight on Hawaiian Airlines, Delta Air Lines, or Westjet, for starters, you’ll now or in the next few days (we couldn’t get it to work for us today) have access to a detailed seating chart, complete with images and descriptions. APTCO says it has actually already rolled out for twelve airlines globally. This improved customer interface allows you to explore a seat’s cost and amenities, including legroom, recline, power outlets, and entertainment options. It’s like choosing your seat at a theater or concert, but for your flight—ensuring you get the expected and the best possible experience for your money.
Why This Matters for Hawaii Travelers.
For those flying to or from Hawaii, comfort is key. The ability to choose your seat with this level of detail enhances the overall travel experience, especially on our long-haul Hawaii flights. Knowing exactly what to expect can make all the difference in ensuring a pleasant experience when planning your Hawaii vacation.
Will this feature be helpful for you?
If ATPCO is right, with most travelers now investing extra to secure their preferred seat (and I know that BOH editors are), this new seat-level content feature seems set to be a game-changer. For airlines, this should drive additional income from seat assignments. For those of us flying to and from Hawaii, it should offer a new level of transparency and choice, making our trips to and from paradise more enjoyable.
Please let us know your thoughts about the latest innovation for Hawaii flights.
APTCO airline shopper survey below.
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Aloha Guys!
Mahalo for this news – I definitely will use this feature. I’m very particular about my seat when flying long distance. The flight is part of my vacation, so I want it to be as comfy as possible.
Hawaiian Air has always been our go to for Hawai’i travel. Plus the hospitality has always been amazing. We loved the fact you can choose your seats and that my family of four can sit together, that is until our recent return trip from Kaua’i!
They bumped me from my chosen and paid for aisle seat and bumped my nine year old to a totally different row. When asked about this they basically told me to pound salt and that I wasn’t guaranteed the seats, it was only a request. If that is the case then why did we pay extra to choose our seats???
The counter person was rude and basically told me if I wanted my aisle seat I needed to pay for premium.
Unfortunately I have to have an aisle seat due to a shoulder injury so under duress I paid. So, I guess what I’m saying is who cares about pictures of you are not going to get what you purchase.
It’s all window dressing anymore with almost every airline.
We made reservations back in May 2023 for our October 2023 trip to
to LIH from PDX via HNL. Our flight to HNL was on a single aisle A 321
and we paid for extra comfort seats.
Unfortunately HA changed their flight management/reservation
system just after we made and paid for our flights.
Two months later HA changed our flight from PDX to HNL to a 2 aisle
A 330 and in the process totally messed up our seat assignments.
After multiple very long phone calls, we ended up paying over $400
more in order to get our Extra Comfort seats back.
We were told that what we originally paid for extra comfort only
applied to the flights as originally scheduled 🙁
No apologies!
I’m a semi-retired business traveler based in Los Angeles, and over a 40 year period beginning in the early ’90s I’ve traveled numerous times to and from Hawaii as well as Europe. Fortunately, my miles and hotel stays accumulated after the first few years and I was upgraded on most flights and lodging. Much of the travel occurred before September 11, 2001, and I actually looked forward to airline travel as part of the adventure. visiting new destinations and taking great pleasure enjoying the history, culture, food and friendly locals in the many destinations I was fortunate enough to experience. Today, I dread having to take even a short business flight to Las Vegas. It’s a hostile environment at every step. The traffic to the airport, parking, baggage check, ticketing, security, boarding, rude TSA and airline employees…and now, tortuous seating, hostile passengers, violence, arrests, and of course, the ever looming threat of terrorism. I am very sad for today’s travelers.
Unfortunately, I agree. To get the kind of hospitality we once had is a rare exception.
This is just silly. What good is the photo if the guy is 5’4″? Or what if it’s a tall guy, but he has short legs? This is useless.
It’s a great idea – and I am almost 7′ tall, so I was all-in on the concept. But airline photographers are pros at selecting angles that Look like there is more room than there truly is. Add to the mix “models” who might be shorter, or whose legs are shorter, or torsos are longer – there’s dozens of ways to fool you. We purchased “Plus” seats for an international flight using this “innovation” thinking my wife and I would have lots of room. Nope. Yes, we were more comfortable than economy, but not much because the seats were rock hard and seat-backs were uncomfortable (something pictures can’t show). Actual eyeballing it on the flight told me it’ll have to be Premium for flights like that going forward. Don’t always believe what you see.
My husband and I are quite tall and so seat selection is important to us. I like the idea of photos, but as you say, it’s important to know height of the models. How tall are you, Jeff?
This concept is not new. I have used Seat Guru for Years. They supply all the same information, on almost every domestic and international airline. Customers supply photos to the site. To me, this action translates to another reason to increase the base cost of flights.
Mahalo.
I think Seat Guru actually tells you the seat pitch, which is actually useful (assuming similar seat back depths). Pictures are meaningless.
Being able to see a photo of a person in a particular seat would be very helpful, I think. My preference is generally for window seats with extra legroom. In addition to that extra legroom, though, I want to be sure that my “window seat” actually has a window. It’s so frustrating to find out after you board that even though you are right by what should be a window, there isn’t one. Instead, your arm is jammed up next to the wall, and you have no way to look outside.
Photos can be deceptive depending on the angle the photo was taken from and the size of the person in the photo.We haven’t flown in regular economy in many years. We always upgrade to Extra Comfort
or occasionally to First Class.
Yes, I think photos would definitely be advantageous. My last flight on Am. Airlines, I upgraded to seats on the “bulk head”. It was a blue cardboard? partition between us and the seats in front of us. IMO a ripoff.
It might be valuable- but since we usually either pay for First/Business on Hawaiian Airlines or ‘bid up’ from Comfort Plus it may not make much difference. Now, if the Hawaiian -Alaska deal goes through it might make a difference if we choose to fly Alaska Airlines. We have not flown Alaska in many years since we would always have to go through Seattle from Reno and it’s a long layover in Seattle. It might be nice to see exactly what you are getting when you are booking! Especially how close the restroom is…for us nervous bladder flyers 🙂
I’m not happy at all about having to pay extra for comfort for what should have been “standard” in the first place! What your editor Jeff (or any flyer) have to endure on “standard economy” is pure brutal punishment. Booo….!!
And while I’m at it, it’s absurd large bodied people should have to pay for two seats to accommodate their girth. It’s one person, folks! Isn’t it discriminatory to require they pay more? What about ADA? If they hadn’t narrowed their seats some years back, it might be different today. I Hate traveling these days by air.
They just shouldn’t allow fat people to fly. Either fit in the seat, or be on the no-fly list.
Some airlines are like the post office and UPS, they charge by the pound.
Well, since I cannot put in a link I will try to describe where you can go to see United’s seating on the 757-200 we flew in on our trip to Kaua’i in March. Go to United’s website and do a search for 757-200. You will see the seating chart. Then scroll down and you can get 3-D views of First, Economy Plus, and Economy sections of the aircraft. We flew Economy Plus and it was reasonably comfortable considering the flight was from Denver to Kaua’i.
Bill
seatguru.com
I’ve never booked a flight without checking.
Don’t overlook the customer reviews.