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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We will be flying to Maui via Vegas in mid February, 2020. Any chance SW will be available by then?
Aloha! I will be travelling to Maui from Kansas City by way of Oakland in September 2020 via Hawaiian airlines but am looking at SW Hawaii for our flight home from Honolulu. When I try to look at September 2019 (just to get a feel of price, times etc) there is nothing. Is SW Hawaii offering flight from Hawaiian islands back to the mainland as well? I assume that since the schedule is on hold that is the only reason why I cannot currently see anything.
Thanks!
Mahalo
Hi Marci.
If you are trying to build that to or from Kansas City, then it will not work (as indicated in post). From Oakland we can confirm it works fine.
Aloha.
Hi, thanks for explaining the SW situation. I’m looking into a trip to Kauai and the Big Island the week of New Year’s 2019. Flying from Washington DC area to Kona/Lihue. Airfare is outrageous right now–any chance it drops or do I need to secure now because of the holiday? Thanks!
Hi Val.
Sorry to say that you probably just need to pay up. Flying on the holidays themselves, or the eve of holidays, can help some.
Aloha.
Aloha
We’re waiting for flights for Sacramento to Maui in September. Currently, Hawaiian is offering round trips for $398 until May 31. Not sure if tomorrow’s release will give me hope of a Southwest round trip. Did purchase a island hopper to Honolulu for $29 each way. 🤞🏻🤙🏼
Mahalo
Hi Sam.
Not sure that they will combine the general release date with a Hawaii sale or not.
Aloha.
Thanks for the response. We went ahead and booked Hawaiian at $398 round trip.
Aloha
Looking into a trip over New Year’s 2019. Airfare is incredibly high–will that drop at all or should I secure now?
Will Southwest be offering non stop flights from Seattle to Maui in Nov. of 2019
Thank you so much for answering my question.
Bonnie
Hi Bonnie.
No they will not.
Aloha.
Could you “Please” provide your best guess on when Southwest will start flying out of Sacramento to Honolulu or Maui?
Thanks
Richard S
Hi Richard.
Best guess is in the November to December timeframe.
Aloha.
when will here about the possibility’s of SWA out of the N W? thanking you
Hi Gary.
If ever, it probably won’t happen for at least two years.
Aloha.
Do you know what nonstop to Hilo will be? Will it be Oakland or LAX? If they do LAX, it may kill off the United LAX to Hilo fight which would be a shame.
Have an anniversary trip planned for Spring Break 2020 and am thinking it is best to purchase my tickets from Sacramento to Lihue asap in order to ensure my family of four secures airline travel. Am I being foolish in this thought?
Thank you!
Hi Christina.
SW does make it a little harder to predict. But they too will definitely try to avoid discounting over spring break. Otherwise, it is best to book spring break far in advance. With this caveat. Unlike end of year holidays, spring break tends to be a moving target. You could buy what is considered spring break at this moment, and as it gets closer, it won’t be spring break any more. Or the opposite could happen. Safest bet, but perhaps not cheapest, is to book soon.
Aloha.
I completely agree with David L. about flying the 737 Max. Until Boeing accepts responsibility for the “known problems” with auto controls and the crashes that killed so many, I will not feel comfortable flying on that aircraft anytime or anywhere! While a $99 fare is tempting, my life and that of my family is far more valuable than the $$$ saved. I sincerely hope the problems can be corrected and flight safety over time will surely encourage passenger confidence. We love Southwest Airlines and look forward to the day we can fly PHX to Hawaii. I’m saddened by the SW setbacks caused by the Boeing 737 Max issues!
Many thanks for your always timely and extremely helpful information!
Linda J
Hi Linda.
Thank you.
Aloha.
Linda – Aloha, but I respectfully disagree. I’ve been flying for business and pleasure for over 30 years (including numerous trips to Hawaii). The recent “problem” with the MAX is a combination of pilot training and the new anti stall system. The reality is IF the pilots have the training, all it takes is literally a flip of 1 switch to turn off/disable the new anti-stall system. If you look at commercial airline crashes in the last 10 years (Boeing and Airbus), it’s been almost exclusively foreign (i.e., non-American) pilots. Our U.S. pilots are better trained and more experienced. I have zero concern flying a MAX with American-based pilots when they are back in the air. Aloha.
When will flights from Los Angeles to Kauai be announced?
Good question
Boeing was such a great company and much of SWA’s success was due to the 737. Now you would really have to have your head buried in the sand not to see how corporate greed trumped quality and has created a monster. Read all the news coming out about it and it’s pretty clear that perhaps Boeing simply pushed the design too far and is getting bit for squeezing the golden goose a little too much……. SWA’s approach to serving Hawaii may be guilty of a little of the same…..Hawaii is feeling the pressure of overcrowding more and more…an over aggressive in your face we are coming in mass airline is not exactly what the the people of Hawaii really want to see. It’s a more common sentiment then some people realize.
I read that Boeing knew there might be a problem with the MAX planes but they released them anyway. I think it was to make money and not be certain that the planes were totally safe. No, I don’t think I’d make a reservation to fly on one of those planes for quite awhile.
The unsuspecting traveler may read your updates about crashes of the Max8 and naming an airline other than the ones that actually crashed, as one of theirs. Can you be more specific? I am long on SWA, and these derogatory comments may hurt its brand and therefore its shareholders who, at least as far as I am concerned, very happy they’re flying to the islands.
Aloha
Hi MRB.
We made a minor change. Our audience is quite aware of what is going on to be honest and you are the first person to even mention that.
Aloha.
Thank you so much for these updates! Based on what I’m reading, I think that I should not be counting on Southwest to be flying to Kauai by our departure date of Saturday, October 5th. In another article, you had some great advice about waiting to purchase airfare for the fall season until about 90 days before departure. Do you think that advice still stands, or should I look at booking airfare now?
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the good work you do!
Hi Maria.
You didn’t say where you are flying from, but generally speaking we aren’t seeing great fares yet, even counting SW out of the max. We’ll be publishing better fall fares as soon as we see them. That could start at any point now.
Aloha.
Oops! Sorry–I’m flying out of Arizona. Mahalo!
We’re flying from San Jose to Kauai the first week of August. Prices are high right now. Should I hold off to see if there are any deals coming or is this is as good as it’s going to get in that timeframe?
PLease clarify: will there be an announcement on May 12 regarding connecting flights from Oakland to Kona? Mahalo
Hi Diane.
5/12 is the start date for flights and the announcement was some time ago.
Aloha.
Hi there – I wrote in about a month or so ago and never heard back so thought I’d try again. We are footing the bill for our kids and grandkids (10 in all) to get to Maui next February. Our arrival and departure days are firm for most of the group. Feb 15-22. It wouldn’t be a group rate we’re looking for since we have some coming from Seattle and some from Portland, OR.
When should I buy is my question. When I look now at those dates the prices are incredibly high through Alaska Air and Hawaiian, especially with decent departure and arrival times and overall travel time.
Thanks so much for all your expertise and information, I’ve been following your posts, especially about Southwest Airlines, hoping they’ll be an option for us also!
Hi Carol.
Sorry that we did not respond timely. So you’re flying weekends and that will keep it significantly more costly. Target somewhere in $500’s RT. Currently much higher so suggest waiting. Might need to be in late summer to fall in order to get that price. Lastly, Southwest will not be an option.
Aloha.
I don’t know if I’d ever be willing to fly on a MAX plane. It’s jinxed, and just a bad design with those giant engines almost dragging the ground and unbalanced on the wing. You can’t make something that aerodynamically compromised and expect it to be safe.
Will be traveling from Oakland to Maui
In April 2020. Do you know when SWA will open up ticket sales.
Thank you
Hi Kristie.
Sorry, we don’t have that information. Once the next schedule release occurs, there should be a posting on the SW site that will indicate the subsequent release. Will be updating that as soon as we know more.
Aloha.
Hi,
Thank you for all the updates in regards to SWA and Hawaii flights. We have a trip planned for August 4th-10th, 2019 to Honolulu. We have been waiting for Sacramento to Honolulu flight announcements to maybe get a good deal since we missed the Oakland announcement in March. Our dates are unfortunately not flexible and we are not sure whether to keep waiting for that announcement or to go ahead and book our tickets now. Any suggestion is appreciated.
Hi Monica.
It’s honestly not looking good to wait at this point. If you were flexible, then by all means you could do so. Since your dates aren’t flexible however, that might not work out with the limited options from Sacramento.
Aloha.
Great reporting as always, Beat of Hawaii. Your insights help us make the most of our Hawaii travel plans. Thank you!
I will have difficulty trusting the 737 Max after its return to service. It seems like there are weekly revelations of new areas in which Boeing cut corners, ignored or concealed defects, or did not communicate critical information to their airline customers. Boeing’s reputation is seriously tarnished in my opinion and it will take time to earn back my trust. I plan to avoid the 737 Max for a good year or so after it begins flying again, until it has proven to be safe and reliable.
Aloha
Hi David.
Thank you! Can’t disagree with you at all. The interesting thing here would be the $99 airfares and whether those will be adequately tempting in order to reduce Max avoidance.
Aloha.
Thank you very much for the incredibly helpful updates. My family is heading to Kauai in late July and can’t find reasonable flights. Any idea when SW will add additional flights for the late summer period? Any suggestions?
Thank you
Hi Robert.
Thank you. If you’re flexible on days of week, there are round trip fares end of July Nonstop from Oakland from high $500’s to low $600’s. Not a bad price. Suggest buying if that works.
Aloha.
I’ve flown the max 8 and feel a little apprehensive that Boeing stating full confidence in the aircraft and domestic industry leaders likewise, and the investigation revealed problems were real. Boeing had issues with the battery system on the 787 that outside engineers flagged early in that investigation. However, I think most from my area will jump in when the rollout offers good connections from the mid-west.
I’d look for the blessing of the pilots association.
Will I fly a MAX aircraft? You bet.
I have a family member who flies for a US carrier and he said he would be comfortable putting his family in a MAX plane on any US carrier. I won’t go into all the details here, but it does appear possibly our US pilots have better training than some other countries. If the auto trim feature is not working, turn it off and fly the plane. Possibly some pilots have become so used to auto pilot and auto features that when forced to actually fly the plane, they can’t.
Matt
Are existing tickets at any risk? Any issues with making or canceling existing flights?
I am planning on traveling to Kona around or on December 23rd until around or on January 2. I know southwest did a sale for flights when they introduced the Hawaii flights. Will they be doing it again when the extended schedule is released at the end of May? I am planning to use points, but I hope it’ll be enough for the flights. Are flight prices cheaper if you are the first ones to buy the tickets?
You state more flights will be release May 5th from San Jose to honolulu. Can you please tell me where I can find these specific flights. Thank you!
Hi Nichole.
That was the start date for those previously announced flights. They can be bought only on their website.
Aloha.
So when the above info shows a flight announcement for San Diego to Honolulu, that is when the flights will go on sale? We are travelling to Hawaii October 6 and I am kinda nervous about waiting to book, but the prices are very high right now. Thanks!
Hi Haley.
It could in fact be very tight. There should be more flights in the air by October, but if your vacation plans are hanging on this, you might be in trouble. Hard to know until Max planes have a date to return to the sky.
Aloha.
I have a flight booked swa Oakland to kona (via Honolulu) and returning Honolulu to Oakland, both in early October. are the flights actually scheduled to occur then? are you saying they may not be up and flying at that time?
I’ve flown SWA from the northwest to the Midwest and northwest numerous times and it definitely is cheaper than the other airlines, I’m curious to know what will the airfares be after a year or so into the transpacific and inter island flights will be, anyone know or is it too early to tell?
Thank you nui loa, and mahalo very much.
Hi Jason.
Anyone can guess and no one knows. Once SW gets going fully in Hawaii, competition should be alive and well for a long time. That will keep prices on their routes much lower than normal.
Aloha.
Please tell me what California cities fly non stop to Honolulu ? On SWA.
Thank You
Hi Maria.
At this point it is just San Jose and Oakland.
Aloha.
Please let us know when the flights are going to be available from Kona to Sacramento we’re planning on flying In June not sure if it’s going to be possible? And when are the flights starting out of Hilo to the mainland? Mahalo
Hi Lori.
We will let you know just as soon as there is more information. That may not occur until a return date is set for Max aircraft.
Aloha.
When are the flights starting from Kona to Sacramento? And when are the flights starting in Hilo to the Mainland? We were planning on June to Sacramento but it doesn’t look possible now!
I was able to snatch the intro fare for Southwest to Honolulu in October and I also have a return flight from Maui. We are waiting to book an inter-island from HNL to LIH and from LIH to OGG during that timespan. Seeing as how inter-island prices don’t fluctuate very much and there is still a chance Southwest announces LIH flights by August, do you recommend waiting? If so, until when? Mahalo.
Hi Rob.
If you are flexible on time of day and are flying mid-week, then yes it would be fine to wait and see what happens. It’s just too hard to call Southwest’s plans until the Max has a return to service date set.
Aloha.
I read that they postponed releasing their schedule for November and December until May 29 now.
Traveling between Kauai and Maui in February 2020, should I assume Southwest will NOT have that direct flight in place by that time?
Hi
When will Lihue Kauai be opened up from San Diego?
Aloha! We are looking to fly to Kauai from any city in California in February 2020. Any idea if direct flights from California to Kauai will be available through Southwest by then? I understand that we may be able to connect through Honolulu, but was hoping for direct. Any idea which cities they plan to start routes from? Thank you for keeping us up to date!!
Hi Monica.
We don’t know the answer, but if you’re asking for our gut feeling, it is that Kauai may remain as an extension until perhaps spring 2020. Hope to know more soon.
Aloha.
Now only if Southwest would drop their fares into OAK/SJC from DCA/BWI…
When will flights be available from Sacramento to Kauai?
What is your guess on when SWA will fly from
Sacto to Maui in 2019?
Thank you
Richard
Hi Richard.
Nothing new on this one. Probably this fall, perhaps October, but it depends on Max return to service.
Aloha.
Good morning,
We have a cruise planed for September 2019 out of Honolulu. We have our fingers crossed to fly SW with better, but hope for GREAT, prices round trip from Oklahoma. Is there a date you would suggest to start earnestly looking at buying tickets. Thanks so much for all of your tips and insight. We’re getting very excited,
Kim
Hi Kim.
If you’re flexible and can travel mid-week, then you should be good to wait up to 30 days or so before. Start looking in June, and have a target price in mind of low to mid $600’s.
Aloah.
Aloha! Thank you for the update. 🙂 Looking for some clarification on what was meant regarding the difference between ✈ Flight announcements from Honolulu to Kauai which you said was coming likely this summer in August 2019 and ✈ Flight announcements from Honolulu to Kauai(inter-island only)in fall of 2019? We have SW flights booked from PHX to HNL in August & back home again to PHX from HNL but will be visiting Lihue in between & need to book inter-island flights from HNL to LIH. I have a SW Companion pass so I would love to use it to save money to travel inter-island if you think that will be a possibility in mid-August or wondering if their will be any possibility of flights from LIH to California then home to PHX??? Any advice you could give me would me appreciated! Mahalo
Hi Jenn.
What post says is announcenent of Kauai Inter-island by August and start thereafter (fall).
Suggest booking Inter-island and not waiting on that. On your last question about Lihue to California – that is not in your time frame, but yes later in the year, via Honolulu, may be possible.
Aloha.
Your update continues to list May 23 as the date that SWA will extend their schedule, yet their web page states that it will be May 29. Are you suggesting that they will have a different schedule extension for Hawaii flights than for all other destinations?
Hi,
Any word on flights from LAX to LIH? Looking to go Mid-September, 2019.
Alaska Air $264 each way Mon thru Thur non-stop. LAX/LIH/LAX
Thank you so much for the updates! I anxiously watch my inbox for Beat of Hawaii emails. Your information on the Southwest roll-out is the best by far.
My family and I are still looking for airfare from Phoenix or Tucson to Kauai on October 5th. Based on your gut instinct, should we wait to see what Southwest does, or should we go with another airline? We’d love to use our Southwest points, but right now I’m finding round trip tickets from Tucson for around $530.
Any advice is greatly appreciated! Mahalo!
Hi Maria.
Hard to call this. There could be connecting flights between Honolulu and Kauai that would allow your plan to work on SW. Then again they may not start by then. We don’t know at this point. So, you can wait and being off-season, fares should not go up by much. Caveat here, however, is that your travel date 10/5 is a Saturday and those are certainly the most problematic in terms of pricing.
Aloha.