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1,796 thoughts on “Southwest Hawaii Stiffens Competition: 11 New Daily Flights Exposed”
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I am curious, if Southwest will enter smaller market like Sioux Fall, SD and/or Moline, Il. If I am not mistaken both those were destination from Airline that SW took over.
i am 6 foot 5 inch its hard 4 tall guy sit in airplane for certain hours of flight
especially on 757 plane just need more leg room i wish every airline had airbus
My husband I have traveled to Hawaii several to Maui several times. Now I am very disappointed that Hawaiian Airlines does not fly non-stop to Maui. I will not fly American Airlines to go to Hawaii. I love Hawaiian Airlines and now I guess I won’t be going to Hawaii anymore for that reason. Hope Hawaii Airlines will go back to the way it was NON-STOP. Please come back that way.
It does out of Oakland and has been doing this for many years.
I miss the nonstop from Portland to Maui as well, however we went in January and flew nonstop from Seattle to Maui it was great and only a short drive up the road, well 2hrs but it saved us tons of money and we flew Hawaiian.
Hawaiian Airlines DOES fly nonstop to Maui. At least from LAX the do.
When is most likely time period for Southwest to begin flights to Hawaii?
Hi Mike,
Please stand by for this. We will reveal more shortly.
Thanks.
I would never put myself on a 737 to Hawaii.. Would be nice to SWA put a real long haul plane on the Hawaii route. 767/777/787. I prefer Hawaiian airlines. They have a great priced first class seat to the islands
I’ve flown to HI on a narrowbody 757, and the newer 737s have the same flight profile and range as the 757. So what?
The 737-800 is comfortable enough for a Hawaii flight. If Southwest used the 737-700 or below, I agree it would not be comfortable. The 800 definitely have more leg room than the 700. I just flew on the 800 from Dallas Love to Phoenix. It’s a mute point on the 700, because it doesn’t have the over water certification, or at least I assume it doesn’t based on the readings on this website. The bottom line, Southwest flying to Hawaii would help keep the other airline companies in check on their prices. Competition is a good thing.
Alligant airlines was great. The only hard part was trying to get to Oahu from the outer islands. Hawaiian air made sure their prices were highest around the time you needed to get in to Oahu for your connecting flight. Not to mention getting your bags then having to lug your bags to mainland departures, check in again then doing the same thing on your way back home. With that being said SWA will need an interisland flight.
Please do a Kahului, Maui to Seattle flight!!! Hawaiian and Alaska are both extremely expensive 90% of the time!! Please consider! Hope it’s not only Hawaii and California flights :(. Please fly to Seattle!!!
Unfortunately, they wont fly to Seattle as Southwest has minimal presence there (Alaska and Delta own that market). However, flights connecting through Oakland or LAX might be cheaper than the direct flight.
Another vote for flights from Seattle, please! Trevor isn’t wrong in that Alaska (and Delta, in the case of flights to Hawaii) are most prominent, but there is definitely room for Southwest. SWA has a plethora of dedicated customers in the Seattle area who would love to show continued loyalty by flying SWA to the islands. We love SWA’s business model–profit for company, value for customer–and its ability to implement the model with excellent customer service. (Allegiant failed because Allegiant lacks all of these things, simple as that.)
PLEASE consider service from Seattle… or Everett, when Paine Field opens for commercial flights!
Oh, yeah! Everett to Kauai!!! I live in Snohomish and it would be so nice not to have to do that crazy drive to Seatac airport. You never know what the freaking traffic is going to be like- makes me a nervous wreck by the time I get to the airport, or else I go hours early.
What about Portland? How’s the market here I’m consistently seeing SW fly in and out.
Allegiant didn’t do well because their service sucks and their planes are so uncomfortable. They aren’t even in the same class as Skywest. Hawaiian Air has routed all their reservations to the Phillipines and has been hell since. Skywest please do a Vegas to Honolulu route. Hawaiian Air is raping the customers with outrageous prices.
Sorry I meant to say Southwest not Skywest
When SWA added the west coast cities to it’s destinations in 1982 expansion, there was serious talks of purchasing then defunct Braniff’s 727s for shuttle service to Hawaii from Los Angeles and San Diego. We came within a wisker of implementing, and then blinked and backed out. Right call at the right time. So here we are over 30 years later. Is the market saturated, are fares suppressed, maintaining a station cost in Hawaii……. can it be profitable now or as profitable as utilizing those aircraft in the Caribbean? I won’t hold my breath. I can tell you this is “all or none” if SWA enters that market…..minimum of 8 flights daily to start from mainland to Hawaii, most likely Oakland and Los Angeles……possibly San Diego too. My guess is they will hold off for financials from the Caribbean expansion and if SWA is health after expansion, then maybe Hawaii in 2017.
I would love for Southwest to offer flights from RDU to Hawaii as a straight flight, but I know that maybe asking too much. I was on a southwest airline about 2 years ago and I asked if they had flights to Hawaii; the sturdiest replied it was something southwest was working on. I’m glad to see that happening, but don’t think it will be before I plan to visit (May 2016). I’m praying that it will be announced early next year with flights leaving RDU.
Hopeful
Southwest does not have the aircraft to offer RDU-HNL service. The only type of aircraft that Southwest operates is the Boeing 737, and that aircraft doesn’t even come close to the range required for a RDU-HNL flight.
You can fly Alaska from RDU to Seattle and then to all major island airports. Great service and easy routing!
I moved to Oahu 18 months ago. In that time I have made 6 round trip flights to the mainland. I will do everything in my power to schedule my flights with Allegiant, because it hurts me to my core to give Hawaiian Airlines my business. When I have had to fly with them due to flight schedules, I have had a problem every time. Not only are the prices insane, there customer service is horrible. Allegiant has been easy and dependable, and on most flights quite a bit cheaper. I would love to see SWA come to Hawaii, specifically flights in and out of Las Vegas. Until that happens, I will stay loyal to Allegiant whenever possible.
Wow! Thats crazy! I flew Allegiant twice, and I would never do it again! I,personally, think Hawaiian Airlines has amongst the best customer service Ive ever received! And although their prices are not the exact cheapest, generally they are very competitive!
I will avoid any airline that tries to escalate the airfare for things like LUGGAGE! I love Southwest for that reason and their REASONABLE fares most of the time. I don’t understand how all these lousy airlines that offer nothing stay in business. Frontier used to be good and then decided to go the Spirit route and charge for anything and everything.
Another consideration for Southwest will be the need to operate red-eye flights from Hawaii in order to provide sufficient connections in Oakland or Los Angeles. Current, Southwest does not fly any red-eye flights. The have recently added departures prior to 6am and arrivals after midnight, but they don’t have any true red-eyes.
I have a couple hundred thousand points that I have been putting away in anticipation for Hawaii. It seems that everytime I check my points to see where the family can fly to, it’s getting closer and closer.
Is there point inflation? Is there a fixed conversion rate between dollars and points? It seems to me that points are becoming worth less and less.
At this rate, I’ll only be able to fly my family from LAX to SJC and back.
Couple hundred thousand, is that all. I gave away nearly a million last year. I am going to use 200,000 point from southwest and take my wife to Hawaii for our anniversary on a United flight direct from Houston. Points don’t have to be spent on Southwest flights. You can redeem for flights on United, Alaskan, American, Delta…
Tumbleweed, what’s your point ? That I only have a couple hundred thousand? Or that you gave away close to a million?
Hey Valleybilt, Tumbleweed’s apparent overcompensation for lacking anatomy aside, YES, Southwest has devalued their points, twice in the past year. They most recently changed from a fixed points/$ ratio to one that floats based on demand. They used to be worth about $0.016/point, now it’s $0.014, best-case scenario (low-demand flight).
As a former employee of Aloha Airlines for more than 20 years… I cannot wait for SWA to make a move to our inter island market as well as the west coast connection. HAL is a good company but, they need competition, the locals and tourist need another choice. My former employees and all my friends would love an opportunity to apply at SWA….because there is only one show in town (HAL) and thats just not good for the people of Hawaii, we need you and welcome you SOUTH WEST AIRLINES…Please hurry!! Please let me know if you are in deed going to hire some awesome Hawaii people… there is a lot of great former 737 experienced people here that are not getting opportunities. The people of Hawaii and former Aloha people welcome you !!!!!!!!!! Keep us posted, Aloha!!
Bob
I concur with Bobby D. I too am a former flight attendant from Aloha Airlines. Actually worked with Bobby. There are many wonderful, hardworking people from Aloha that would love to work for South West Airlines. I will definitely apply when SWA comes to Hawaii!
Hmmmmm, im intrigued for everyones luv of SWA! HAL does amazing with their inter island service! And I dont see the need or point to take away from them! I only moved to Hawaii 4 years ago, and I am a former Alaska Airlines FA, although I think AS does great, I would always choose HAL over AS, and SW…. is ultimately never (or last case scenario) an airline I would choose
We would have booked SWA to Kona had they already been up and running. Did book them to PHX where we will catch the Hawaiian Airlines flight to Kona.
We have flown American and got stranded at 11 p.m. with blue collar flu in LA and they put us in a hotel a half hour from the airport in a very ‘questionable’ area. Think SCARY! Basically, screwed up our vaca, car rental, condo, etc. Cannot recall, but seems that there was no compensation either.
THEN, the next trip, we flew United and they left us stranded in Chicago, running from gate to gate trying to find a flight home. No comp there either, just a night at the airport.
Major Carriers? Don’t you mean Major headaches. Have flown SWA a dozen times and always on time, courteous, free checked bags – basically non problematic flights. And anyone has the right to fly – even babies and backpackers. Yes, a crying baby on an all night flight home from HI is not pleasant – been there – done that (not our baby, even). But, what can a person do? We all need to be just a little kinder and tolerant.
Sure, if SWA ever flies to HI and we can muster the fare – we will give them a try. In the meantime, decided to go with Hawaiian. Get a little ‘pre’ Aloha going.
But why insult those who fly SWA instead of a Major Airline? I would never equate the ‘Major Airlines’ with Class. The things they have done to our family were far from ‘classy.’ I use my AAdvantages miles for magazines. :0) Same with United. Would only fly with them if I was given a free ticket. Hope your experiences with them have been better. Maybe they just screw up our flights, ha ha!
I’m right there with you . . . Except for the “anyone (everyone?) has a right to fly” comment! Actually, I believe flying is a privilege and for people to subject everyone else to a crying baby, albeit a 30 minute flight or a 10 hour flight half-way around the world, is simply wrong. If your baby is flying and crying, you best have a way of quieting them out of respect to everyone else . . . Well that, and the 300-400 pound folks who can’t come close to sitting in a single seat!
Wow Fred – Stay classy!
Wow!!Can’t wait till you have kids and go on vacation. Wait make sure they are nursing, have possible ear infections, no place to let of ALL the energy they have, can’t sleep because the altitude changes are bothering them, oh and they throw up on you. Our lives as parents don’t stop because we have kids they continue on and we do the best we can. Trust me when I tell you that parents don’t like it either but it is a part of life and YOU can bring earplugs!!
I also will never fly AA or UA unless its free!! LOL. Delta…. Its hit or miss, id pick them over the other two. SW and JetBlu are both pretty good, however with them I wish they had a little more class! When I look at flying, Im old school! I picture it to be a glamourous thing! Which is generally why I dont choose SWA. I love HAL, and I love AS! Im excited that Virgin America is starting to come to Hawaii next month because they are pretty decent as well!
Big deal. I would never get on one of their overcrowded, frustratingly non-aerodynamically slow, cramped 737s that have too few bathrooms and its blue collar Greyhound crowd aboard. Though it sure will be nice to get the backpackers and families with babies off of the classier, major carrier’s flights!
I wouldn’t normally reply, but your comment is so out of line. “Major Air Carriers” who don’t get you there on time, who have no Customer Service, and charge for everything. SWA is no more cramped than other airplanes, and their Rapid Rewards Program is the BEST in the industry. And they don’t charge for bags. People with backpacks and babies are part of the American flying public.
Ron’s email is not only out of line…but wrong. As someone who has flown every “major” carrier in the USA as well as many intercontinental airlines, Southwest is the best. I can’t wait to give my Hawaii flights to them as well.
Are we sure that southwest is going to offer a flight destination to Hawaii soon>
Hi Dallon,
That is the latest information.
Aloha.
We are planning a family Hawaiian vacation in 2016. We are committed Southwest fliers, and I see great advantages – we get Rapid Reward miles which would go toward A-List, Companion & A-List Preferred. I doubt that they will honor Companion pass holders for Hawaii routes, but I’d fly them anyway. How do I keep in touch to find out Southwest’s plans? We are more than 330 days out from our trip and I guess that I could purchase Refundable tickets on Hawaiian Airlines and hope that Southwest enters the market. Any advice?
Hi Sandra,
We’ll be updating as soon as there is more information on Southwest. If you’d like to subscribe to our updates, you can do so here: https://beatofhawaii.com/subscribe-by-email/.
Aloha.
Southwest evolves extremely slowly. The AirTran integration took almost 4 full years for crying out loud! So if you’re counting your departure in days, I wouldn’t bank on SWA. Who even knows what city they’ll fly out of. I personally doubt that it will be a CA airport, as those fares are already so low. Think further inland on their new planes they’re getting in 2017…
Allegiant has significantly lower rates but they are unknown to the masses. They also have a very bad review and they have countless customer complaints of being nickel and dimed and bad customer service. They haven’t really affected the air fare prices to Hawaii.
On the other hand, Southwest is know also be a no frills airlines, but have a good track record and good customer service. When booked in advanced on SWA website, SWA has lower prices compared to the big airlines No check in bag fee is a plus. .considering it can cost a family of 4 $100 for 4 bags one way. Lots of people are eagerly anticipating SWA entry to Hawaiian market, especially those who have lots of Rapid Rewards miles to burn.
It isn’t Southwest fares that would make Hawaii a success, it is the no fee factor. Southwest has great advance purchase fares but a high percentage of passengers make changes and even without a change fee the fare difference is the bread and butter. Southwest would not flop in Hawaii, people love them for the little guy aspect. Keep it that way.
This article is pure speculation.
Unfortunately, I am not convinced that we will see giant savings if Southwest flies to Hawaii. We have flown Southwest domestically for years and watched the fares go up,up and up away – just like everyone else’s.
Southwest has great customer service – no hassle and no cost ticket changes, etc. and great employees. But, just check some of the itineraries and you will soon see that their fares are right up there with most of the other airlines. They have cut their non stops down just like all the other airlines.
I really don’t expect gigantic savings when/if Southwest flies to Hawaii. We can expect good service and great customer service.
Hi Colleen,
Why would we expect SWA to give more deals to and from anywhere than are absolutely necessary?
All the airlines are in business to make a profit and it ends there. The name of the company, whether they are technically a low cost carrier or not is essentially irrelevant. When there is strong competition the prices drop and without it, they are high.
All the best to you! Thanks for commenting.
Aloha.
Isn’t that Colleen’s point–so what if SWA flies to Hawaii, if the fares are the same it doesn’t matter much to most. Within the 48, SWA is often NOT the least expensive carrier. They only make sense for baggage (if you don’t have status with a legacy carrier or a credit card to make your bags free), change fees, or loyalty. The only hope for people is that they bust open a couple currently expensive routes, as they have occasionally done.
As a retiree of SWA I can honestly say that our prices go up due to higher fuel costs. Although we lose millions a year in baggage revenue Gary will not add that extra expense to the flying public. Low fares are frequently offered but they are bought up quickly. I luv SWA and can’t wait till they hit Hawaii. I now live in Oahu but commuted for almost two years while still working in Las Vegas. As an employer SWA is the absolute best in this country.
SWA is incredible to their employees, and they do have great customer service! I do luv my SWA crews!!! I am a former AS flight attendant, and have many friends that have moved to SWA or have been SWA! Theres a reason why they are in the top ten of fortune 500 companies! However, as a passenger, I just dont care for the style of SWA….. I have high hopes though! They have changed their uniforms, and are becoming slightly more classy, which makes me happy! i love to see a classy FA, its part of the glamour of flying!!
Hawaiian Airlines does have good service. However, Southwest would not support the local businesses any less than Hawaiian Airlines does, and they would provide more jobs to the island. Any business being taxed and doing business in Hawaii is supporting the local economy. In most cases the positions are filled by local people. Southwest will come in and offer fair rates to the local people, and tourist coming to the island. The other airlines will drop their rates to what they should have been charging all a long.
To Mike Ng,
Most Asian carriers are heavily Government subsidized whereas most US carriers are heavily taxed by our Government. Thus brings a whole new variable into the affordability equation.
Brad, Flying to the Caribbean and Mexico has nothing to do with “ocean” flying. We currently do not have 180 minute ETOPS certification which is what is required to fly to Hawaii. Sometime in the future I’ll be willing to bet we will service Hawaii but it’s not in the short time plans.
Southwest already flys to Cancun, Puerto Rico and Aruba, so they are ocean certified… and bags fly free there, too. I would definitely fly with them to my Aloha!
We are only 1 family that wants South West to come to Hawaii! We have flown them before when we lived on the mainland and were very happy with their service. Hawaiian airlines does fly people to the Big Island but it is hard to get a flight out of he Big Island with them we have to do layovers either in Honolulu or Maui doesn’t make sense?? Their fares are so high too. PLEASE HURRY TO HAWAII!!!!!!!!!!
Betty Randall
seem like US citizen always get the crappy plane flying domesticly.
I flew about an hour on 777 singapore airline between singapore and penang . so if singpaore can fly such big plane in a short distance I would expect US airpline to do the same atleast from west coast to Hawaii.
I was sure bags fly for free how about now for hawaiian bound flights, I smell fee’s are the profitable way now. Hmmm.
You’re right. SW will probably CHG bag fees…HA has made millions doing this.
I smell them too.
I’m sorry but I will continue to fly Hawaiian airlines they have the best service and it supports a local business in hawaii
K. Tamure,
You gotta be kindling me….one choice for inter island!! how about another major carrier flying to the islands and west coast. Hawaii needs another choice, HAL is now a monopoly with no one else offering competition. WE NEED ANOTHER CARRIER IN OUR HAWAIIAN ISLANDS… please come over SWA !!!
Aloha,
Bob
There is no reason why SWA would have to only utilise CA airports for flight to Hawaii. Aloha flew from Las Vegas using the 737-700 before they folded. Those flights, as with both HA flights, were full both directions. I used to fly SWA when I was traveling for business because of their low fares, but anymore that is not the case. Flights on AA or other carriers are right in line with SWA prices. But even if they do start flying from here in KLAS, I’ll still fly HA. They are by far, the best carrier IMHO. And since I travel to other islands, it’s nice to just check my bags once and not have to worry about transferring them once in HA.
Hi Jerry,
Aloha was not able to successfully fly that route and sometimes had to stop. Later the route was amended to include the stop (@ OAK). Obviously the route and the airline failed. In addition, it isn’t the same plane, and the way in which the SWA -800’s are configured (additional seats) presents issues for even the west coast. Las Vegas can’t happen until 737 MAX.
Aloha.
YES PLEASE ..SO tired of driving to Lax for flight to Hawaii…
We love SOUTHWEST AND WOULD YOU TO GO TO IS
AND..WE FLY TO HAWAII YEARLY…
PLEASE CONSIDER ONTARIO CALI AS YOU HUB
I love Alaska Air. I live in San Jose, about 10 min. drive to the airport. I take Alaska non-stop to Lihue where I have another home. That’s another 20 min. drive from/to the airport. Alaska is the *only* airline that has non-stop service between SJC and LIH. Plus they have excellent prices, especially during the year we go, which is in the winter. Plus there’s the $99r/t companion air fare we use once a year. Plus Alaska Air partners with AA where I have a lot of air miles. And AA partners with HA when we decide to go to a different island using AA airmiles. What really bugs me is someone living in Florida needs the exact amount of airmiles to fly to Hawaii as I do, and I’m in CA. Not fair!
SWA has what it takes to fly to Hawaii. Alaska Airlines uses the 737-800 aircraft for all its Hawaii Flights between SEA,PDX.SMF,OAK,SJC and SAN and winter time from ANC and BLI so there is no excuse for SWA not to come to Hawaii now if alaska can do it so can they and remember people in San Diego Alaska Airlines is the only airlines to serve Hawaii from SAN year round.
I think Southwest should focus on ONT as their main hub to Hawaii. This could also help wrangle ONT from LAX control and bring back the much needed passenger traffic lost over the years.
I hate going into LAX to fly to Hawaii, I hate even more the ridiculous prices and current flight options from ONT to Hawaii.
Ed
Not sure why so many people are clamoring for Southwest to enter this market. Hawaiian Airlines is far superior in every way to every domestic carrier flying to Hawaii and their fares are very competitive on the non-stop routes. They are the only airline that uses wide body jets to Hawaii. 757s used by AA, DL and UA are bad enough but a 737 is just too small an aircraft for a 5 + hour overwater flight. The only thing that would make me want to fly another airline to Hawaii is if they offered flights on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. That would be interesting news.
I fly Southwest often for their cheap fares, but nothing beats a Hawaiian Airlines flight. I always fly Hawaiian when I go to Hawaii. You always feel the aloha spirit when you board on of their planes. The inflight entertainment with cultural features, complementary hot meals, and complementary rum punch really get you in the mood for vacation. That’s why they are always rated #1. Plus they have great on-time arrival records and good customer service. When Southwest enters the Hawaii market, I hope Hawaiian flights drop in price and are just a competitive.
I fly Soutwest a bunch. A-List Preferred + Companion Pass. Vacation this year will be in Nassau thanks to the Air-Tran purchase 🙂
I would rather vacation someplace where planes are not being shot out of the sky. I surf, I love Hawaii we did go last year and used United. I look forward to Southwest to Hawaii. It would be the only Airline I would use.
Wouldn’t it be very sad if SWA only used their ETOPS certified planes to take over the routes already flown by Air Tran to Mexico? Now, that truly would be sad after all this waiting and hoping.
SWA to Hawaii – no matter from WHAT city – will be welcome news to us. We are in the Midwest and always have to fly somewhere else for a connecting flight anyway. Although SWA does fly out of our airport.
In the meantime – there are other places to visit – and we are waiting to see if/when fares will ever come down far enough to get us back to Hawaii. Soon, we hope.
Mahalo Colleen!
just having read this in its entirety, and not seeing this question addressed: is flying out of seattle (sea) a possibility, rather than lax once this hawai’i route gets up and running???
thanks …. darlene