Southwest Hawaii flights are shaking it up once again. With seven new routes overnight launching next spring, their travelers will gain unprecedented overnight access to the U.S. mainland. But even as these promise convenience, they signal deeper shifts in Southwest’s strategy ahead. How these changes might impact your next Hawaiian getaway.
Hawaii to Houston Hobby??
The two downsides are you can only fly out of limited airports to Hawaii and SFO is not one of them; and while SWA is very generous with their snacks, its all junk food 😢
Not happy about red-eye route changed from a day time route, Kona-LV. It was perfect flying into LV at 3:30pm. Perfect check-in time to casinos, just in time for dinner and a relaxing evening. Now we have to figure out what to do from 5:30am to check-in time. 😤
So much Southwest on this blog!
Visit Hawaii a lot and they’re not an airline I would fly. Overnight is even less interesting or useful. If I lived in Hawaii I would go to the mainland as seldom as possible.
Would not bother me if SW has plans to corner the Hawaiian Market. Through cheaper flights. There is no loyalty for me. Not for politics. Loyalty. For the businessmen. SW
I’m for the businessmen. Capitalism. I’m not for loyalty to one airline. I’m for business. It is a great deal take it. I think SW which is the bigger airlines is trying run over Hawaiian Air into bankruptcy.
Whoa! Competition. Omni Air International is my airplane to LV. Package deal Vacations Hawaii. Then SW is my second option. Hawaii resident.
I would take a serious look at South Wests maintenence records. Seems to be alot of issues with engines. 5 hrs over water on 2 engines leave little room for errors.
I hate red eyes! It destroys your sleep and impacts your performance (work or athletics). I’ll pay far more tourists Not fly overnight.
Just watch. These red eye flights will become the entry level prices that is available today. This is for the budget traveler. No conveniences, no bells and whistles nothing. IMO what does this do? It makes the price of other flights desireable therefore the price will go up. How much. Probably the same percent as a seat upgrade. Maybe it would be called the Preferred Time Flight Price. The airlines have to make up the difference in costs somewhere for their inconvenience. That’s how the system works.
I hate red eyes and layovers! My home airport is Phoenix and that’s why we started flying Hawaiian vs American Airlines. American only has red eyes home. Hawaiian gives me a small layover in HNL.
Plus I loved the wide body (330) Hawaiian plane better.
Aloha BOH,
Looks like you duplicated the OGG > LAS route.
Thanks for all the great info you keep putting out!
Hi Amy.
Thanks for that! Fix. Much appreciated.
Aloha.
Cautiously optimistic this will work well for us when returning from Kauai. Not crazy about flying to Las Vegas, but it will be nice to arrive LA (Burbank) in the morning instead of 8-9 pm.
I just checked SW for next summer! $2500 for two people??!?!? I thought Delta was high!
The biggest problem with red-eyes are check-out times at hotels and other accommodations. If you must be out by 10AM, you must bring your luggage wherever you go on your last day and where can you go to take a pre-flight shower?
Are there half-days rates at any accommodations to enable travelers to go from their accommodation directly to the airport?
In Maui Zach at Above the Wave has a luggage storage business 5 minutes from the airport and you can use his co-working space at the same building.
Unlike losing all you money in Las Vegas gambling Southwest now makes it possible to catch a flight and throw all your money away in Hawaii. Same result different location. Lets see how much of Las Vegas casino revenue Hawaii can aquire.
As a regular passenger between Maui and Denver, Southwest provided all daytime connecting flights. I checked the extended, new Southwest schedule into mid 2025 and all but one option are redeye flights. Like me I believe many passengers will only select daytime, not redeye flights options. Daytime flights gave Southwest a considerable market advantage. No more!
I don’t get it this; and the change will kill Southwest in the Hawaiian market. With daytime departures from Maui, Airlines can fly and connect into mid-continental markets in the mountain and central time zones arriving before midnight local time.
HNL-LAX red eye also starts on Jun 5.
Well, I used to ask myself, ‘Why don’t the airlines offer red-eyes to HI, particularly for those folks flying from the Eastern U.S.?’. So then here’s Southwest stepping up to the plate. Great! But one thing concerns me, how are they going to get any sleep on the flight with those cramped seats and ‘don’t adjust your seat back practices? Are they going to be too exhausted from lack of sleep to enjoy that first day or two in ‘paradise’? Good luck!
Sorry bring a jacket and use for a pillow. Southwest’s obligation is only to get you from point A to point B. If you don’t think you will sleep then opt to make reservations during an early morning flight or afternoon flight which is way more expensive. One good thing is you get into Hawaii real early in the morning and have a full day on the first day of your vacation. You really don’t get your cake and eat it too. Good luck.
The red eye on DL to Seattle is not the most joyful flight either! It messes up my time but I wish I could go back to HNL and do that red-eye to ATL!
Did you read the article? The red eye flights are eastbound to the US mainland. All of those flights listed leave the island around 9pm, and arrive at the mainland airports around 6am local time.
Southwest seats have more leg room than the United flight (economy class) I took yesterday!