Lastest news on Southwest schedules and fares. Some routes continue to have great deals for summer. Find out more in today’s post.
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1,796 thoughts on “Southwest Hawaii Stiffens Competition: 11 New Daily Flights Exposed”
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Do you know of future plans for Maui -Las Vegas non stop route?
If you do, please let us know. If my memory serves me right Aloha and ATA had direct flights which was extremely convenient for many of of our seniors.
We need to fly from San Jose to Kauai on July 30 and then from Kauai to Honolulu on Aug. 3. I’m getting nervous wondering when the Southwest SJC to Lihue flights will be announced. I’m wondering if I should be patient for the Southwest announcement or book Alaska Airlines instead. I was able to get reservations for Honolulu to SJC with Southwest. Would you wait for Southwest or book Alaska from SJC to Lihue? Also do you think I should book interisland flight from Lihue to Honolulu for Aug 3 now?
Thanks
Hi Richard.
If you have a specific time for Inter-island would suggest booking now. Also not sure on SW for your dates, so probably safest to not wait.
Aloha.
Hi,
Thank you so much for all of this information, it has been extremely helpful. I have been waiting for Southwest, San Diego to Honolulu for the dates of June 13th to June 21.
In reading on your blog it looks like San Diego to Honolulu dates will start in August?
Thanks,
James
Hi James.
We’ll update if we learn anything. As best we know today, that may not happen until fall 2019.
Aloha.
Any up dates on flights from sacramento to Oahu? Thanks very much.
Hi George.
Yes just updated today.
Aloha.
I am I going to Kauai December 14th-19th. I would like to use my southwest points but will they be flying to Kauai by the then? If not when would you recommend buying flights? We are flying from Dallas but can use southwest point to California to get cheaper air fares.
Any idea when SW will announce flying to Kauai??
How is the duration for island hopping with Southwest compared to the smaller airlines? i.e. Can you get to the airport 30 mins before the flight and be OK? I assume Mokulele and other island hopping airlines have the process down pretty good. I would hate to waste a few hours at the airport for an 8 hour day.
Any idea when flights from Boston to Oahu will be starting? I heard it was suppose to be soon, but I cant find any info . Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Caroline.
Do you mean on Southwest or do you mean this: https://beatofhawaii.com/longest-route-in-us-new-hawaiian-airlines-to-boston-analysis/? That flight is currently operating.
Aloha.
We have a group booking from Oakland to Maui late July but we would really love to fly from Sacramento. Do you think we have slight chances that flights may start to go from Sacramento by July 2019.
Thanks
Shelly
Hi Shelly.
As far as we now know, yes that should work. Expect to know more within two weeks or sooner.
Aloha.
Any news on Sacramento flights?
Thanks!
Hi Josh.
We’ll be updating as soon as we learn more. https://beatofhawaii.com/will-latest-max-8-delay-to-august-impact-southwest-hawaii-plans/
Aloha.
We are planning a trip with the family for Christmas 2019. Are you recommending waiting for the Southwest release on May 23rd before purchasing airline tickets? We will be flying from Milwaukee or Chicago to Maui.
Waiting to book my June tix on United from LAX to OGG but concerned that United will bring back the 737 Max earlier than other airlines. SWA already said they were grounded til August. Do you think I’m safe for United in June? Thank you for your help.
Hi Gail.
Airlines are removing Max planes from service until August at this point. United will follow in that regard. So should be fine.
Aloha.
I’m so excited. I’m taking my great niece for her 2020 graduation. Looks like she’s graduating in the number 3 position in her class. I promised her in PreK if she was Val or Sal I would take her to Hawaii. Forget val or sal…we are going!!!!
More than 2. Flight there and back would be good flight back are early morning what if we want to stay the whole day
CEO Gary Kelly said, “we don’t really desire to fly red-eyes right now…. for our style of operation, it would complicate things.”
Not a problem buddy. We fly SW whenever humanly possible for many reasons.
In this case, we’ll gladly cough up the bucks for United nonstop widebody service from Newark.
Hello, Waiting for Oak to Kauai, think anything will be announced this month? Heading to Kauai in Aug and waiting to book.
What evidence do you have for LIH and KOA flights being launched by end of the month? If there is no resolution to the 737 MAX issues, I don’t see why that would happen.
I have RT flights booked to Maui for now, but would prefer to fly into LIH and out of KOA.
Thanks!
Hi Rufus.
That is what we were told by SWA. And that was subsequent to the aircraft issues. Whether or not it ultimately happens, we don’t know.
Aloha.
Any idea if direct SW flights from Kona to Oakland might appear for the fall. Also, I am currently booked on SW in October on a 7:00 am out of KOA to OAK with a connection in HNL. Should I plan on renting a car from one of the companies that open at 5:00am?
Thanks for any input and please have a good day!!
Tim
Hi Tim.
We’ve shared everything we know at this point. Let’s see what happens and if there are more flights announced as was indicated would happen at some point in April.
Aloha.
Thanks, as always, for the inside track! We have accommodations on Maui for August 16-24. Will be flying out of OAK. Better to book now at current prices on SW, Hawaiian or Alaska or wait a few weeks for lower fares?
We also have the option of using points on SW but don’t feel we have to if the fare price is low enough.
Hi Jennifer.
That’s a decision based on your ability to deal with not knowing how it will turn out if you wait. Fares should be much better if you wait, with target of no more than $300 RT. Can’t say definitively that will happen or when, but best guess would be May to July.
Hope that helps.
Aloha.
Before moving to Hawaii last year I used to fly from Northern California about 4-5 times per year. I lived near Sacramento but would sometimes fly from Oakland to save money for our family of four. I’ve never been able to secure a fare of $300 RT during the summer months. I actually keep a spreadsheet of all the tickets I’ve purchased to view the history. Also, this was obviously before SW started flying to HI.
If you input your dates and locations in Google Flights it shows $475 RT is average and $410 RT is low.
I think waiting is okay, as prices will likely not increase in the next few weeks though they also may not decrease. I tend to book 30-60 days out.
Not sure if you know, but HA has a feature where you can pay to reserve a good price. For example, if you see the fare drop and want to think about it you can pay $9 per person to hold the fare for a week. If the fare goes up you’re locked into the lower price. If it goes down you can buy at the lower price. If you do nothing after the week you lose the $9 per person.
I recommend having Google Flights track your dates. They send you an email any time there is a change in fare (up or down, not just down). You don’t have to search every day; they do the work for you. Downside is they do not track Southwest.
Last year I flew from Houston to Honolulu return, with Delta for $350 a person. The first leg of the journey did involve switching planes in salt lake and then in los angeles, but no long waits. The second just had one 30 min layover. We are hoping to snag another deal like that this year. Prices are sky high though so we remain skeptical. Last year was a fluke I guess!
Hi Jennifer,
Please take this for what it is worth. We had added a SW Credit card in my wife’s name to make me her companion for this year. I had a bunch of points in my own name. I knew we were going to Hawaii in October, and was watching daily for flights to open. The Friday flights opened, I jumped on flights from BUF to OAK round trip. I also booked OAK to HNL, HNL to KOA and KOA to OAK. Our complete two week trip. It totaled 81,00 points. I kept watching each day, and I have lowered that total to 46,000 points. Points just go back into the account, no fees, and no time limit on when they have to be used. Just food for thought.
Points bookings have advantages when you want to change flights.
Good Luck,
Tim
Any idea if direct SW flights from Kona to Oakland might appear for the fall. Also, I am currently booked on SW in October on a 7:00 am out of KOA to OAK with a connection in HNL. Should I plan on renting a car from one of the companies that open at 5:00am?
Are they going to have flights from the NW ?
Would you know the best time to book a fare on Southwest in Hawaii (eg. Midnight, 1 am)? I am looking for 10 people to travel to San Diego in October. Thank you!
Hi Raenette.
We don’t know yet – just not enough experience with them I Hawaii. Stay tuned for that.
Aloha.
The Southwest CEO’s answer regarding Red-eye flights is a corporate answer. They are a cheap airline and they dont want to employ people on 2 daily shifts. Someone needs to own up to the fact that is is not really an airline. It’s a part-time job for most ground employees.
“Wi-Fi on Hawaii flights provides gate to gate connectivity. Just don’t forget a charger, as their aircraft do not have any charging capability”
Thanks for the updates. However, in the past you’ve suggested bringing an external battery for devices. Has this changed?
Thanks,
Don
Hi Don.
We changed the language after your question. Yes you need your own power supply/battery, not just a cable.
Aloha.
April 8, 2019
“Wi-Fi on Hawaii flights provides gate to gate connectivity. Just don’t forget a charger, as their aircraft do not have any charging capability”
Thanks for the updates. However, past announcements suggested bringing an external battery, not a charger.
Has this situation changed?
Hey there Beat of Hawaii,
thank you for providing updates on Southwest Airline status on their Hawaii services. It has been a while now since I have heard anything about SW flight from Sac/San Diego direct and service to LIH. just wondering if you have any new news to share. Love your page.
Thank you!
Hi Scott.
We just updated that on Saturday here: https://beatofhawaii.com/southwest-effect-hawaii-airfares/
Aloha.
What time does Southwest usually start selling tickets on these new routes? Midnight Hawaii time?
Great site. Thanks for keeping the news flowing! Losing faith however that Southwest will announce new direct flights to Hawaii anytime soon now with the max-8 issues plus a general fumbling of the roll out. I think this dog has been all bark and no bite. Fares to the islands now are so much more expensive than other airlines (See delta, Hawaiian, AND Alaska). I have been hearing that the new direct routes from SD are coming any time now for nearly 18 months. Believe it when I see it. A little clear communication to customers might be a good idea so that people know how to plan their Summer.
Hi DJ.
Thank you! What we were told was that additional routes would be announced by end of April and today is only the first. Understand the frustration, but hopefully that will all pan out.
Aloha.
The prices on Southwest for flights to Hawaii are ridiculous. Literally every other carrier is significantly cheaper not to mention Southwest 737’s aren’t built for comfort so I can’t imagine a 7 hour flight on those planes considering the seats are a joke. I won’t be flying on Southwest to Hawaii. Look elsewhere for better deals and better equipment.
Aloha, just found your site after doing some early research about a trip we’ve promised our kids and grandkids (10 in all, not including my husband and myself who hope to leave a week or so earlier) to Maui for Feb 15-22, 2020. We have a timeshare booked and told them we’d cover the airfare. Four are coming from Portland and the rest from Seattle. While looking at Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian flights I was shocked how expensive – over $1000! Is it because the dates are too far out? With this big of a group I need to make sure we can get everyone there on those dates- should I just sit tight and look again in a few months? We hate to go back on our word to the kids, although they would understand, I’m sure. 🙂
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated – such as when I should book for presumably best fares. Have signed up for future emails. Thank you!! Carol M.
Hi Carol.
Yes it is too early for February. Also, you’re flying on Saturdays, which are almost always higher priced and rarely on sale. For your exact dates, target price is to mid $400’s and for mid-week, perhaps $100 or so less. When to buy is mostly likely late summer to fall. We’ll be posting a lot of sales and they almost always include Pacific Northwest.
Aloha.
Southwest cancelled one of their two flights today, SWA Flt 5700, HNL-OAK. They stranded all of their passengers with no rescheduled flight yet
actually I believe they put all passengers up in a hotel and flew in a rescue aircraft… thereby not “stranding” them.. rather delaying the departure.
Any possibility that Portland will be a West Coast port for PDX – Honolulu or other islands?
What about Sacramento to Maui? Any plans on that at this time? Family planning a trip in Jan 2020
When will flights from the SF Bay Area to Lihue become available? Also, inter-island to Lihue?
Planning to fly Sacramento to Kauai on Friday August 16, then to maui on August 23, and back to Sacramento August 30. What are our chances for decent prices?
Do you know anything about when Lihue flights will begin? We’re planning a group trip to Kauai on July 29th.
Thanks!
Hi Dave.
We have included everything we know at this time. Gut feeling is good on this.
Aloha.
I am hoping flights to Lihue start real soon too. Going in June.
Thank you
Hi Lisa.
We’re all waiting to know the answer to this. Chances are good, that’s all that we know.
Aloha.
I’ve already booked OAK-HNL for June 20th. Hoping to reschedule to LIH as soon as the flights are posted.
I check 2-3 times each day, hoping to catch the best price and use the extra credit to book my LIH-HNL flight on the 27th.
Please, When will South West start flying from Maui to Kona and Kona to Kauai and estimate of fares. we are going in March – April 2020 from Nashville to Maui then Kona and Kauai and home to Nashville.
Thanks
Hi Gene.
We have stated everything we possibly can right now. More news soon.
Aloha.
Aloha,
My family and I are trying to come back home to Maui this summer for a month or so. We live on the east coast and will take the most affordable flight (read… budget airlines) ANYWHERE on the west coast to then (hopefully) get a good deal on a flight to OGG. I’m having a heck of a time trying to find any deals at all. We really don’t have any preference on departure airport. We could fly from San Diego all the way up the coast to the out of the bay area or even out of Portland or Seattle if that’s more affordable. Any pointers for us? There has got to be better deals that $400 per ticket round trip?! I was really hopeful with SWA entering the market I’d find some deals.
To be more specific… we are looking to leave the west coast for Maui the last week of May and then leaving Maui around the last week of June or the first week of July. Thanks for all of your expertise and advice. Aloha 🌺
Hi Taylor.
There should be lower airfare prices coming out in next two weeks for spring. And that will cover most of last week of May, except towards the weekend. The return however, won’t be included and won’t be cheap – end of June/beginning of July is going to be expensive. See what happens on the outbound. Likely best-priced west coast cities remain San Jose, Oakland and San Diego.
Aloha.
Thanks so much. I really appreciate the response.
Aloha 🌺
When will there be flights from Honolulu to Kauai?
I am looking to book from San Diego to Oahu in June. Should I buy now or wait? Prices seem pretty high now and I keep waiting for sale flights but don’t want prices to continue to rise. Please advise
Carrie
Hi Carrie.
We’ll probably see better prices in the next couple of weeks for mid-week travel the first week of June. After that we’ll move into high season and really you can’t expect any improvement. Best guess for that mixed high and low season trip is about $500 or for mid-June and beyond high season airfare will be in $600’s.
Aloha.
Hello,
I emailed you a few days ago but I forgot to add which city flying out of . I resubmitted but it didn’t seem to go through. I thought I’d try again. We are looking at Dec 27 2019 – Jan 3rd 2020 From Portland Or to HNL. What kind of rates do you think I will find as I get closer?
Thank you for all your great Info.
Wendy
Hi Wendy.
We did reply and it was as follows. If we’re missing anything though, please advise.
Aloha.
Hi Wendy.
$468 nonstop on Alaska. If you’d rather wait, then there’s room for that to “possibly” come by by up to $100. On the other hand that might not happen in your market, and if it doesn’t, inventory/choices might be less.
Aloha.
I’m interested in traveling to Tampa from Honolulu. When will Southwest do connecting flights from Oakland? I will be traveling in June 2019. If there are no connecting flights I will need to pick up my bags at baggage claim in Oakland and bring it to their ticket desk and check in again. I tried to book a flight to Tampa but it didn’t work. Could you please find out when I will be able to book my flight all the way to Tampa from Honolulu. I would really appreciate it. Thank you!
Hi June.
We’ve already answered your question specifically. That will not be happening now or at any time in the near future. It could be many months to years.
Aloha.
Fly Alaska Airlines.
Thanks for all the great info! Any plans for SWA to add Seattle to Hawaii flights? Thank you.
Hi Kevin.
We have not heard of any plans for Southwest to add Seattle or Portland.
Aloha.
I recently found your site and can not thank you enough for how informative it is. I am trying to book a vacation from Denver to Kauai in late June/early July. From what you have seen with Southwest so far, is it advisable to wait to see if they fly to Kauai or should we book to another island and just take an inter island plane over to Kauai? Flights have been increasing so I am nervous to hold out much longer.
Thank you!
Hi Monica.
Thank you! We’ve said everything we know and what we think could happen next. That is, that those flights “should” be announced by the end of April. Sorry we don’t have any more information.
Aloha.
Love this site! We are also flying PHX-HNL-KAUAI-PHX, June 3-13. Booked our outbound & return with AA miles because the really good SW deals go so fast. Hoping to get HNL-> Kauai (LIH) thru SW, but best flt times are already gone or $$ on Hawaiian.
I have vacation planned to Maui early October, do you know if SWA will have direct flights from Los Angeles to Maui before October?
Hello!
Mahalo for all of this great information! I have a question: we have a trip booked to Maui (condo so far) in June 3-15, but are waiting to see if better rates come up (theyre now in the $600 range). Travelling from San Jose to Maui. Do you think better fares will be available soon during that time period?
Thanks!
Maya
Hi Maya.
Yes price could well come down. Big problem in that regard because you are traveling Saturday 6/15, and that day will remain very pricey and could even become unavailable.
Aloha.
Thank you for your reply! We can change the return date to Friday vs Saturday. Will that help?
Thanks!
Maya
Hi Maya.
Returning on Friday brings it down to $516 nonstop on Hawaiian.
Aloha.