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1,796 thoughts on “Southwest Hawaii Stiffens Competition: 11 New Daily Flights Exposed”
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Can you tell me when flights from Denver will start please?
Thank you!
Ted
Hi Ted.
Stay tuned. Once the non-stops from California are announced, we’ll know about their connecting service.
Aloha.
Planning a trip mid April. Sacramento to HNL.
How long should I holdoff buying tickets?
Would like to get SWA tickets (got the credit card promo for companion pass, planning on using that)
Hi James.
Not sure if Sacramento will be in group of first flights, but we suspect it won’t be. Thus mid-April might not work unless you drive to Oakland.
Aloha.
Hey there Beat of Hawaii. We have a condo booked in Maui for a week starting March 6th, is it safe to say SWA won’t make it that early, We can’t change it and have paid flight on hold until this Friday.
Thanks
Hi Mark.
We won’t know for another week or two. But if you’re asking for our gut call on this, the answer would be no, not that early.
Aloha.
Hello,
I am planning for HNL trip from May 27-Jun 1 flying from LAX. What is the typical price range for this route, and do you think SW will have route LAX-HNL by then? Thanks
Hi David.
Typical is a bit out the window for this year. And not sure LAX will be on by then. We’d suggest just under $400 as the price target. Currently about $50 more. Flying on Saturday is making it higher of course.
Aloha.
I have been reading about planned flights to Hawaii and have these questions:
1) How long in advanced can tickets be booked
2) When will fares be announced to fly from Chicago to make connecting flight to the Big Island.
I plan to fly sometime in Jan. 27, 2020 until Fed. 2 or 3, 2020 to meet and surprise my sons (arriving about that time), but I need to figure the cost so I can be sure my Southwest card will have enough room for the trip. Any and all information will be appreciated.
Thank you
Hi Howard.
1. We don’t know how far in advance they can be booked. It certainly won’t be out to your dates for some time to come. They are currently booking through August 5, 2019 as an example.
2. That will be determined once flights are announced.
Stay tuned with us as this is all revealed. Hopefully sooner than later.
Aloha.
Will SW provide the Northeast price break to CA in order to be able to experience Hawaii with SW? We Will need flight sales from the northeast example Philadelphia please
Hi Vivien.
This (SW connecting flights to Hawaii) should all be revealed sooner than later.
Aloha.
Hi Beat of Hawaii! Thanks for the updates. Wondering if you could please share your thoughts on the SWA timeline in light of the government re-opening? Will three weeks be enough time for them to do what needs to be done to fly by April? Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks.
Hi Darcy.
That’s certainly the question of the day. We hope they will start flying by late March – for spring break period. But no one knows where this piece is at, following reopening of the FAA.
As soon as there is any news of substance, we will be updating this.
Aloha.
I am flying to Honolulu from Tampa in May. I’ve been watching airfares with the normal airlines but have been waiting to see what Southwest will be offering. Will I be able to connect from Tampa in California to get to Honolulu? If not, I’ll not continue to wait for Southwest and book elsewhere. I thank you for your time and hope you have a wonderful week!
Hi Christine.
We’re all waiting to see what Southwest will bring in terms of getting into the air, and how they will connect from non-gateway cities.
Aloha.
Without red-eye flights, returning to Tampa will be impossible on Southwest unless you’re willing to spend the night in San Diego, given that it’s their only Hawaii gateway with a non-stop to Tampa. Delta via Atlanta, American via Dallas, United via Denver/Houston/San Francisco look to be better options. Delta and American even offer free meals in coach on their Dallas/Atlanta Hawaii flights.
I think your prediction that Southwest won’t start Hawaii flights until June is too pessimistic, and contradicts the statement of the Southwest Chief Operating Officer two days ago. He stated that if the government shutdown ended within a week (it ended the next day) they would have a “reasonable chance” of beginning flights by the end of March. There was nothing in his or the CEO’s statements to indicate that if they receive their FAA approval by the first of March, they would still then wait an additional three months to start service. It makes little sense that they would intentionally delay three more months, considering the delays that have already occurred and that they have hired staff who are ready to work essentially now. It’s much more likely they will start service in late March or early April as long as the government continues to operate.
with the government set to reopen, does this mean flights will be back on schedule to start in march-april?
It looks like the government is back open for 3 weeks until February 15th! Do we know if this means they might be able to get any final approvals needed during this time to get the flights up and running by April? *fingers crossed*!!
Wondering the same. We are going to Maui mid April and still have not booked flights waiting for Southwest. Would love to know if this 3 week window will be enough time to get them approval. It’s our only chance I think for an April flight.
I am going to be flying with a party of 5 including 3 kids from Tampa FL to Honolulu on June 7th (Give or take a day for airfare pricing purposes), I fully understand that you don’t have a “Crystal Ball” but when would you recommend that we secure airfare? I was waiting for Southwest to up and running and am still willing to wait for them, but feel that I am going to be cutting it close. Southwest is at the mercy of the FAA and from what I read in your reports, the earliest that one could expect Southwest to be flying to Hawaii would be June. I fear if I wait to long I will be “up the creek without a paddle” and that is not the way to start a 15 year Wedding Anniversary trip!
The government shutdown has been the best thing that could have happened for SW execs on this Hawaii fiasco. Now they can conveniently pass any and all blame for all their missed forecasts and delayed Hawaii dates on that. Doesn’t really help explain why they were falling behind quite nicely all on their own way before the shutdown even began, but that doesn’t make any difference now. It’s all the government’s fault from here on out. They’re probably praying they don’t actually open the government back up this week or they’re going to be right back to having to come up with other excuses for future delays.
A little off topic but since we are talking about the effects of the Trump shutdown and air travel……
it’s becoming abundantly clear that the our politicians now see a government shutdown as a viable
weapon to get whatever pet project they want…..this year it’s a vanity wall, next year it will be some
democratic cause. How can we expect TSA workers and other government employees to think they
have a viable career when their jobs are now going to be used as ransome by an increasingly dysfunctional
government that displays the maturity of a 10 year old? Actually my 10 year old knows not to lie or call people names,
let’s say 6 year old.
I have to wonder if, in the future, due to a lack of manpower, security checkpoints at our airports are going to be more difficult to transverse
than any border state wall could ever be….
Do you tell your child of Santa Claus? The first lie parents tell their children, along with the admonishment that if you are good you get a present and if you are bad you get coal?
The SW saga continues. It reminds me of my first managemet job in sales. (I was making $125 a week.). My boss asked me why I didn’t meet my sales goal. I countered with excuses about icy cold, sleet, snow etc. My boss looked me in the eye and said, “We don’t want weather reports, we want sales.”
SW execs are being paid well north of six figures to get this done. So far their performance is less than impressive.
Thanks for all the updates. We will cross our fingers that SWA will eventually get into the air and actually head towards Hawaii. Sure hope it happens sooner rather than later.
Thanks Colleen.
Always enjoy hearing from you.
Aloha.
SW employees reported to both Honolulu and Maui on January 22, 2019. There are approximately 32 employees at each station.
I love your publication. You guys cover all the bases.
How often do you update southwest to Hawaii?
Should I check in every day ?
Thanks!!!!
Randy
Hi Randy.
Thank you!
You can check every day but it might be easier to subscribe to our email updates. https://beatofhawaii.com/subscribe
Aloha.
Will the Hawaiian airports be installing barriers at the end of the runways before Southwest starts flying to Hawaii?
I’m not the type to write comments but want to let you know that you have had the best coverage and information regarding SW to Hawaii. Quite impressive. Thanks for keeping us locals updated.
Thanks very much Chris!!
Aloha.
So i’m wondering if I am the only one who will stop what they are doing the second a Beat of Hawaii email comes in or posts wondering if this the big announcement??? Come on Southwest…mama needs a Hawaiian vacay!!
Hi,
I am scheduled to fly to Honolulu in April, and holding out to purchase my flight, pending SWA approval.
With the government shutdown, should I continue to hold out? Is it possible for a February approval and flight schedule? Can you please provide your insight and suggestions.
Thank you so much!! V.
Hi Vernita.
We publish everything that we know about it, so the article is current up to today. The second we know more, we’ll be sure to advise.
Aloha.
I have a companion pass for my husband. Will we be able to use it to fly to Hawaii on Southwest?
I just looked up round trip
Tickets and found $407 round trip tickets on Hawaiian from OAK to HNL. You don’t need to wait for Southwest. Low fares are already here.
When you have a companion pass and 200k points burnin a hole in your pocket, yes you do need to wait for SW. 🙂
Hi Y’all 🙂
I’m so happy I stumbled across your blog at12.30am.
We will be traveling from San Antonio,Texas (making connections to California’ airlines) to Honolulu Dec2019 we have plan B just Incase….
Do you think July2019 SWA will have schedule flights in place.
Hi AT.
Yes SWA should all be in place before then.
Aloha.
Will lower air rates be restricted to min/max ,mandatory “stays” at predesignated hotels ?
I am planning a roundtrip from Oakland or SFO to Lihue approx April 1st though April 12th. I have Southwest Rapid Rewards and hope some points might help in booking flight. Have found flight with Hawaiian but if I book it the fare it is non-refundable with hefty schedule change fees. Would rather fly Southwest (hoping for a competitive price) and wonder if I should wait and see if they will post flight availability and schedule within the next couple of weeks? Can you please let me know if waiting is a worthwhile option? Thanks!
Hi Jill.
Probably will work, but no one knows for sure.
Aloha.
The flights to Hawaii will be nonstop from Oakland only?
Do you anticipate Hawaii flights from Portland (PDX) in the near future?
Hi,
We are coming to Hawaii 7/3-7/11 and are patiently waiting for SWA. Should we continue to wait for SW? Hoping to have something booked by February. Any ideas on what you think flights might be?
Thanks,
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer.
Always an expensive time to visit. Southwest should have a beneficial impact, but it won’t be $99. Perhaps from $300’s to $500 RT from gateway cities. Normal is $700.
Aloha.
Do you think flights for July will be out soon?
We are planning to go to Maui from March 1st to 4th. Do you think Southwest will start their service by that time?
Planning for a trip to Hawaii HNL July 3 2019. Should I wait for SWA or grab some tickets now? Tickets are at 648, what price should we expect?
I’m in the LAX area. Wondering if other airlines will drop their prices with SWA getting in, and just taking another flight from LAX to HNL. Otherwise if SWA is cheaper with a flight going out to either San Diego or San Jose, I might just fly from Burbank to SJ or SD and then to HNL.
Hi. I’d like to know how what airport abbreviated name to use when searching for a flight to Hawaii through SW airlines. Also, how soon will travel days be available? By late March?
Thanks
Hi Michelle.
Come again – not really sure what you are asking.
Aloha.
Aloha, I believe that Michelle means “what are the airport codes”? Let me help.
LAX Los Angeles
OAK Oakland
SMF Sacramento
SAN San Diego
SJC San Jose
HNL Oahu (Honolulu)
OGG Maui
ITO. Hawaii
KOA Hawaii
LIH Kauai
I hope this is what you are looking for Michelle, aloha.
We are going to Maui April 13-20th for 2019. Flights from Sacramento to Maui non-stop are $1300 per person roundtrip, why so high? I realize this is at the tale end of spring break but seems so much higher than the weeks before and after. I am hoping southwest with offer flights by then as I have alot of points I can use. Any advice on if I should book or wait for southwest?
Our family is flying home from Kauai to San Diego the beginning of April 2019. We haven’t booked the flights yet because we are waiting for SW. We are thinking we will wait until the last week of January 2019 for SW to post flights. Are we crazy? And suggestions on the best way to be notified when flight are posted? Thanks so much!
Hi Amber.
Suggest waiting a month or so. We should hear something.
Aloha.
Hawaiian Airlines says the difference is the Aloha and hospitality they provide, they dropped flights to Philippines despite the flights always being fully booked every flight. They completely abandoned their customers flying to the Philippines for more highly profitable routes. Tell me where the Aloha is in all that, all Hawaiian cares about is lining their pockets.
Go Team Southwest! Really appreciate the update @beatofhawaii, it’s very detailed and interesting.
Phillipines was not a profitable route for Hawaiian Airlines. Phillipines Airlines flies the same route to HNL and they are government subsidized to the point where Hawaiian wasn’t able to compete. also, politics played an issue.
Remember, airlines are a business, not a charity.
Hi!
Thrilled to discover your site! We are traveling at the end of June 2019 from SJC to LIH round trip (6 nights 7 days). Any guesses as to if or when there will be deals for that route?
Thank you!
Hi Jessica.
Probably plan on mid $400’s to $500’s for that time on that route. Hang on until after SWA announces.
Aloha.
Hi, thanks for the update. We have been waiting for Southwest to start flights to Hawaii since October. We plan on going to Hawaii around the second week of June. We are from Chicago though and we don’t really know whether it would be cost effective to have to fly to California and then fly to Hawaii from there. Is it prudent to wait for Southwest? Will we be able to get reasonable airfare if we wait? We appreciate your feedback.
Hi Jennifer.
You’re coming at a very expensive time as you know. Southwest might help some, but they won’t be giving anything away if they don’t have to, especially in mid-summer. At this point you might as well wait a month and see what happens. Best hope with a connection on SWA might be in $700’s or $800’s.
Aloha.
Without redeye flights, a return to Chicago on Southwest will require an early morning departure from Hawaii. Looking at current schedules on other airlines, a 7am/8am flight from Honolulu with a layover in California gets you into Chicago around midnight. There are more options on other airlines, including the nonstops from Kahului and Honolulu to O’Hare, that involve a redeye. Beat of Hawaii – might be beneficial to note what no redeyes means for flyers not on the West Coast.
Oh boy! I am just waiting for those LAX announcements I have been building up and accumulating so many points for this day! I’m so excited I can’t believe it’s almost here. Turtle Bay here I come baby!!
How does the partical government shutdown impact Southwest ETOPS approval? Is this part of the FAA still working?
Piece of information that might be of interest. I’ve recently seen in an online local neighborhood group for Maui that some realtor has been instructed to help SW personell find housing for relocation to Maui. They surely wouldn’t be looking for housing if they didn’t expect to need these people, soon.