One small consolation amid burgeoning Hawaii vacation costs is that some airfares will remain suppressed for the foreseeable future due to fierce and unending, multi-faceted competition between Southwest Airlines, bellwether Hawaiian Airlines, and others. But that’s just the beginning of the news, as there’s also a significant shift in Southwest’s Hawaii focus that’s in process. Plus, you won’t find some of Hawaiian Air’s flights on Expedia any longer.
Southwest drops 10 routes. Mainland to Hawaii cut 38% from the peak.
While their flights in Hawaii are expanding, Southwest is cutting back significantly on its flight schedule between the US mainland and Hawaii. They will operate just 23 daily flights, which is down from their previous high of 37 Hawaii flights.
Flights that are canceled include:
- Los Angeles to Kauai
- Los Angeles to Kona
- Phoenix to Kauai
- Phoenix to Kona
- Sacramento to Kauai
- Sacramento to Kona
- Sacramento to Maui
- San Diego to Kauai
- San Diego to Kona
- San Diego to Maui
$39 airfares guaranteed through December or longer.
While Hawaii airfare sales have traditionally been for reasonably short periods and don’t cover holidays and weekends, that has also changed. Here’s what’s going on.
$39 airfares are valid every day on every interisland flight on Southwest Airlines and most days and flights at Hawaiian Airlines. This comes as Southwest adds a ton of new interisland flights and is poised for head-to-head combat with Hawaiian. Southwest’s lineup includes:
- 5 flights a day, each way, from Honolulu to Hilo.
- 6 flights a day, each way, from Honolulu to Kauai.
- 6 flights a day, each way, from Honolulu to Kona.
- 11 flights a day, each way, from Honolulu to Maui.
- 1 flight a day, each way, from Maui to Kauai.
Hawaiian Air joined Southwest in pulling interisland flights from Expedia.
If you ever looked for Hawaiian Air interisland fights on Expedia, don’t bother now. The airline has removed those flights, and the result is you won’t be able to search or book there. Priceline and Booking, however, have struck a marketing deal with Hawaiian, so you will still find Hawaiian Air’s interisland fights there. Southwest also does not permit booking through these online travel agencies. The only Hawaiian interisland flights found will be those that are code-share ones associated with other airlines.
How Southwest Hawaii hones its chops at Hawaiian Airlines.
Southwest’s Executive VP and Chief Commercial Officer Andy Watterson came to Southwest directly from Hawaiian Airlines. He is responsible for Southwest’s network planning, marketing, revenue management, and pricing, among other things. Andy is a large part of the fast-changing Southwest Hawaii plan.
Andy was previously VP of Planning and Revenue Management at Hawaiian. He said recently that Southwest’s goal right now is to get people here in Hawaii to understand Southwest better so that they will choose them for future flights. That says that while Southwest is a strong choice for its California frequent flyers, it is far less true of those of us who live in Hawaii.
Hawaiian Air “to Mahalo Members with Double Hawaiian Miles.”
Hawaiian is taking this competition very seriously. One added thing they’re doing is to offer double Hawaiian miles on every interisland flight through 2022. The only thing here is that getting 200 miles instead of 100 miles only amounts to $1 in additional value based on the traditional one cent per mile. For long-term Hawaiian Air travelers, you will remember that the airline once offered a minimum of 500 miles for interisland flights.
Southwest airlines dropping their 2 flights to Las Vegas in September, I’m not too sure about Lax. Swa will have only 1 non stop flight to Las Vegas daily.
Just found your site. Thank you for all the tips and information.I just came back from Maui and your TSA app tip helped a lot. Thanks again
Hi Karen.
Thanks very much. We hope you had a great time on Maui.
Aloha.
Wouldn’t you think they are cutting flights because summer is ending. Because of low interisland flights on hawaiian, I fly at least once a month from Kona to honolulu for shopping, eating and hanging out with friends. I can’t stand southwest and neither can my daughter. It’s not the staff, the passengers. Hawaiian has very polite employees and it reflects on the passengers attitude
For us who fly out of Sacramento Southwest entering service to Hawaii has actually cost us several direct flights from other carriers and now they’re dropping their direct flights.
Feels like Sacramento has stepped back 20 years in time when it comes to traveling to Hawaii.
Hopefully a carrier like Alaska can reinstate their direct flight to Maui from Sacramento which they dropped after Southwest entered the market. I always enjoyed that flight.
I agree, Richard! We flew Alaska from Sacramento to Maui many times…flights always seemed full! We were so disappointed when they discontinued that flight. And now SWA!!!
Me too.. very disappointed that Alaska fled Sacramento to Maui because of southwest.. they even abandoned Oakland to Maui. If Alaska wants to be dominant in the west they need to invest in Sacramento.. most of the flights to Maui on both hawaiian and southwest are full and I travel every few weeks.
It sounds like SW has made a wise “Acquisition” from Hawaiian by coaxing an intelligent and competitive employee from them. Hawaiian Airlines has had an advantage over competition until this year when announcing profit motivation. SW now, more than ever, is poised to make up ridership and compete better with inter-island travel. The price point through EOY 2022 and hopefully beyond will benefit travelers of all types as well as putting pressure on Both to be Customer Friendly and Oriented. Who will Win? Hopefully the Passengers.
The fact that SW got someone from Hawaiian said everything.
Aloha.
Hi do you know when the route cancellations go into effect? I’ve just looked up the flights and the route from Los Angeles to Kauai is still open in early March 2023. Thank you!
Hi Trina.
This goes into effect next month. There are no nonstop flights in March or at any point in their schedu;e. Those are all connecting flights.
Aloha.
Sure wish they’d start a fare ware for the East Coast – sigh!
I seen a Southwest Aircraft livery plastered with what was the Maryland flag… It was impressive. Then, there is Alaska Airlines’ mascot bedecked with a lei. Southwest utilized in their color scheme (red, blue and yellow) in a ‘floral motiff, which would be nice to be plastered on some of their island bound aircraft. I find it baffling that not more Hawaii resident travelers are aware that Southwest ground staff are ‘local minded’. As for the inflight staffing on Southwest inbound and interisland, they got to be recognized for great hospitality service rendered. It mystifies me to think that island bound travel on United, American, Delta is viable with Hawaii resident travelers, and somehow Southwest is not a top choice.
Aloha BOH Boyz. Any insights into Holiday travel yet?
Hi James.
Where are you heading to? And from Kona? Just looking at LAX for starters, it is quite a bit lower than normal. From $350 to about $600 roundtrip.
Aloha.
Did someone already noted of two che ked bags on Southwest flights. Which is a hefty additional expense on a trip. Unless, you are a loyalty member of another airline or active military, the checked bag charges are a great impact in the overall cost.