Redeye flights have taken over much of Hawaii air travel, leaving many visitors exhausted and frustrated. But we decided to skip them entirely, and it is working. With a little extra planning and sometimes even an interisland hop when needed, we arrive rested and ready. That proved avoiding redeyes is possible, even if it feels old-school.
More than half of all outbound flights from Honolulu, both mainland and international, now depart between 6:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. That schedule may be efficient for airlines, but it is punishing for most travelers.
Beat of Hawaii editors had early meetings scheduled on the mainland and did not want to show up wrecked. Our lowest cost nonstop option from Lihue to Seattle was an Alaska Airlines narrow-body redeye. The thought of a midnight departure and a restless night in a tight seat did not sound appealing. So we built a workable workaround.
Why we rerouted through Honolulu.
Instead of flying overnight, we booked Hawaiian Airlines’ afternoon nonstop from Honolulu to Seattle. It leaves at 1:15 p.m. and arrives in Seattle around 9:45 p.m. That meant a reasonably timed and quick morning interisland flight from Lihue to HNL, a brief layover there, and a longer day overall. But it also meant better rest, a reasonably timed evening arrival, and no redeye recovery the next morning or longer.
Not only did we avoid the dreaded midnight departure, but the layover in Honolulu saved money and gave us a chance to enjoy an unhurried lunch in the HNL cultural gardens. By the time we boarded our afternoon flight, we felt refreshed and ready for the journey.
We have done this more than once. Sometimes it was just a quick transfer, other times we enjoyed the stopover. It is not ideal for every schedule, but when time allows, it has been the surest way to save money and feel human again on arrival compared with a redeye.
Hawaii’s more expensive and limited daytime options.
While most airlines now send many of their Hawaii flights back to the mainland overnight, there are still daytime choices if you know where to look.
Airlines operate morning, midday, and afternoon flights to cities along the West Coast, including Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and more. These are definitely becoming more scattered, limited, and costly, but they still exist. Some depart from Kauai, Maui, Kona, and Honolulu, although you will need to check carefully by date and season, as many Hawaii-to-mainland flights have switched to being redeyes.
To avoid an overnight stay, we use the trick of searching for departures before 3:00 p.m. on Google Flights or a similar tool. Some daytime services can sell out earlier than overnight flights and are generally more expensive.
In our case, the tradeoff was extra time, but the benefits were real. By routing through Honolulu, we not only ended up on a wide-body flight instead of a narrow-body redeye, but we also saved $160 per person, even after adding the inter-island flight. The specifics will vary, so you have to check your own particulars to know if this is worth it for you.
This follows our July report, Redeye Flights Are Taking Over Hawaii Travel, which outlined how airlines have reshaped their Hawaii schedules to maximize overnight returns. And last week, we offered tips on Leaving Hawaii On A Red-Eye? Here’s How To Make The Best Of It.
The difference it makes.
We have taken many redeyes from Hawaii. The difference between a daytime flight and a nighttime flight is dramatic. You arrive feeling functional, rather than flattened. For visitors, you avoid the 11:00 a.m. hotel checkout followed by 10 hours of limbo before boarding. You do not sit at the gate hungry and exhausted, waiting for a midnight boarding call. And if something goes wrong, you are not stuck in a closed terminal with nowhere to go.
One traveler recently told us, “We flew to San Diego on a 10:30 p.m. flight and landed just after 6:00 a.m. I could not sleep at all, and we had a four-hour drive after that. It completely ruined our return.”
That has become a familiar refrain. Readers describe overnight flights that feel cramped, chaotic, and more likely to unravel when even a slight delay occurs. A recent survey of U.S. travelers found that nearly seven out of ten dislike redeyes due to poor sleep and increased stress.
Why airlines favor Hawaii redeyes.
The optimization of aircraft and crew resources drives the use of redeye schedules. Hawaii flights skew heavily toward leisure, not business, so there is less pressure to arrive at convenient hours. Instead, airlines aim to maximize flying time within each 24-hour cycle. Overnight returns enable them to optimize aircraft usage, maintain morning mainland arrival slots, and free up planes for busy domestic runs later in the day.
Redeye flights allow airlines to keep planes in the air when they might otherwise sit idle. That efficiency works for the carriers. For passengers, however, it can feel like convenience has been sacrificed.
A longtime reader, Jim, summed it up this way: “As long as we can still get a lie-flat seat with Hawaiian using upgrades, we do not mind flying overnight and in fact like it. But if that goes away, all bets are off.”
That captures what many travelers are now calculating. Comfort can make or break a redeye. When reasonable comfort is not available, some are choosing to opt out entirely.
When the workaround is worth it.
If your schedule is tight, this strategy that worked may not be suitable for you. However, if you have a few hours of flexibility, connecting in Honolulu as we did can still allow you to catch a daytime flight. We have used this to arrive rested and to avoid showing up at mainland meetings on no sleep. And we have used it to feel a little less like airline cargo.
While this strategy may add cost and time, for us, the benefits outweigh both. We arrived ready instead of ruined. That is one of the trade-offs many travelers may be willing to make as redeyes take over Hawaii’s skies.
It may not be the fastest way to go, but in our experience, it is the one that gets us there in better shape. Have you ever skipped a Hawaii redeye, and what is your go-to strategy for avoiding overnight flights?
Please share your tips and experiences in the comments.
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There is day time flight, Alaska 840 sched to depart LIH at 11am and arrive Seattle 7:49pm.
It is wonderful that we have choices. You take your red-eye, I will take longer and sleep better … for me.
I moved to the no “red-eye” flights some years ago and it has made all the difference. BTW, United and SouthWest also have daytime flights to the West Coast. I usually fly out of LIH and Hawaiian, SouthWest, and United all have daytime flights, including a few non-stops. If I am flying further East than LAX, SEA, SMF, SFO, OAK, and SJC I would rather pay for an airport hotel and take a morning connection than to bear the overnight jet lag. Premium Economy and a hotel are much more relaxing and affordable than First with a “lay-flat.”
BTW, one more benefit of daytime flights, especially on Hawaiian with Starlink, is that I can actually get work and real-time email done. As for the airlines that do not have reliable open Pacific satellite coverage, they are not an option!
Safe travels to all. Be sure to buckle-up!
John
I’m with you. I don’t like red-eye flights. I feel like I wait all day just to get to the airport and have nothing to do.
I also don’t like that after 9pm most of the airport retailers and restaurants are closed. If the airport allows these type of flights, why don’t retailers capitalize on potential sales? I’m there for two hours before boarding and would like to do more than play games or watch videos on my phone.
Another foolish claim that narrow body has “a tight seat” as compared to a widebody. Maybe if you are in business class. . .
I love red-eye flights! Why would I want to pay more, take longer, waste work/vacation days, and be awake for a long daytime flight when I can simply sleep through it overnight? And then pay for a hotel room an extra night on top of all that?
Many passengers (myself included) are unable to sleep on planes.
I won’t do a red eye as I wouldn’t sleep, so have to fly out of SEA (we’re from Vancouver). It works well for us and we don’t feel like garbage when we get home. Not sure what I’d do if we couldn’t get an early PM/late AM flight OGG to SEA.
No definitive answer to this one. Last year I flew back direct from HND to KOA @ 11:55PM ( not that there were any other options). On the last day we did Tokyo Disneyland.
I used to prefer the SW direct from KOA to LAS 7:00AM departure (arrive LAS 3:40PM).
Wife doesn’t like to get up that early (says she’s on vacation). So we take a later interisland and end up in LAS at 11:59PM.
The red eye actually costs more and arrive in the morning when hotel rooms might not be ready.
My preference is to arrive around 2:30-3:00PM so I can check-in to the hotel.
Different strokes. 🤷♂️
Agree. A thing to consider for morning flights to the west coast, namely LAX is the arrival time which will be during peak afternoon rush hour traffic making early afternoon flights out of Hawaii the best, at least for me.
We’ve been avoiding the red eye overnight flights for years. We fly to the west coast (usually LAX or SFO) from Lihue on a early afternoon flight with an evening arrival. Overnight at the Hyatt Regency LAX or SFO using points, then the next day an afternoon nonstop to SAT or AUS. If you can plan early, you can get some really good pricing on first class seats, and the return flights are then very enjoyable. The only exception was when we were able to fly Hawaiian HNL to AUS nonstop, but that’s no longer an option.
I have never flown out of Hawaii earlier than 10:00 pm, and never will if I can help it. I don’t want to arrive home fresh and rested if it’s going to cost me those extra 6 – 8 hours in paradise that unlike the authors, I do Not sit around waiting in limbo to board a plane. I almost spit out my coffee when I read that! In Maui, I did the butterfly tour on fly home day. In Kauai, I went mountain tubing. On the Big Island, I drove to Hilo to tour the botanical gardens. To each his own but I’m not giving up Hours in Hawaii just to avoid jet lag and/or feeling like crap for a couple of days. Where I’m from, it’s called a damn good vacation when you get home and need a vacation to recover from your vacation. Yes, flying from Hawaii to Michigan sucks, but it sucks more to leave Hawaii, so I stay there until the fat lady sings. lol
Hey Rick, reading your post makes me feel exhausted, old, and envious, as you must be 30, 40, or 50 years younger than me! (76) Some of us old timers are beyond such energy intensive itineraries on the last day we’re in Hawaii. Just checking out of the condo, loading up the rental car, driving to the airport, and after all the car return/check-in/security formalities I’m ready for a nap then happy hour.😃
I am 57 (my honey is 53), and since my first flight to Vegas 29 years ago, we fly out of Michigan as early as possible, and fly home as late as possible. Maybe someday, when I don’t have to go back to work on Monday, that will change. But for now, it requires no extra effort on our part. My experience on Fly Home Day is the cappuccino to a 7 course meal. We are not rushed, there is no stress nor any negative connotation whatsoever. It’s a long kiss goodbye, something we plan for and have come to appreciate.
Cheers!
I’m with you Rick, all the way…Aloha!
Unfortunately they are the norm when leaving international destinations in Asia especially India. Most of the departures are between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. and absolute horrible time. That’s when the airport is the busiest.
Because Indian airports don’t have a curfew these international Airlines utilize their plans to send them to such countries.
Red eyes from Maui make me feel sick for a week. I don’t do it.
I have championed additional daytime non stops from Maui to Denver where I frequently terminate. Non stop flight time is 6 to 7 hours, so arrival time for an early departure is late afternoon to early evening. This enables same day connections everywhere in the Country. This would be great for passengers terminating in Denver, and many destinations further East. This is an untapped growth opportunity for airlines.
I was on a red eye flight one time. We boarded the plane at 10:30pm. I settled into my window seat and fell asleep when the lights went off. Suddenly, the lights came on and I thought we were arriving in San Francisco. Surprise! the announcement said that there was a mechanical issue and we were going back to HNL. It was 12:30pm. We arrived at the gate at 3:30am HST. Most passengers had already grabbed the 30 hotel rooms that Alaska offered. I spent the next 2 1/2 hours trying to find a hotel after I got rebooked for the Monday afternoon flight to SFO. I had texted my boss to inform him of the cancelation and that I had to miss a day of work. It was the worst situation and I found out later that the crew had “timed out” and had to return because they were delayed coming to Honolulu to start with. I got reimbursed for the $500+ for the hotel, taxi to and from HNL and SFO, but my arrival at SFO was 3am on Monday, the stress isn’t worth the price!
Once again this is a perfect example of paying more for less. I fly from PHX to LIH direct as I despise connections. It’s nice flying from PHX to LIH but on the way back those Rey Eye flights are absolutely brutal. Sadly my only viable choice is American and their First Class tickets are not only ridiculously expensive but they’re not even truly first class nor are they worth the cost. If they had lay flats then it’s an easier pill to swallow but a 4 figure flight for just a wider seat and horrible food is difficult to justify. When I lived in the Bay Area the Alaska flights from Oakland to LIH and OGG were amazing. First Class still wasn’t truly first class but it was a 5-5.5 hour flight and the flight times were great. I’ll be back in Kauai in November and thankfully I have a First Class ticket (used points) but even then I feel as though the value isn’t there. You arrive home absolutely exhausted. Red Eyes need to go away!
Good morning BOH. Thanks for giving us a workaround option. However, I don’t think that will work for east coast travelers. The only workaround that we have found is flying to the west coast and spending the night. Many times this also adds another connection on the second travel day. We also have a 2-hour drive once we land on the east coast. The trip home is a killer no matter how we do it. We still prefer to just go for the redeye and get it over with.
This strategy will work for flights to the west coast, but for those whose final destination is Denver or further east, an extremely long day or a red eye is unavoidable. A day flight and an overnight in Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Seattle will provide a more restful return, but with an added cost.