Updated 3/12/20. The company today extended their flight schedule through October 31. Also, Southwest Hawaii summer travel is priced from just $139. Max aircraft return may be delayed once again. And lastly, Southwest has no change or cancellation fees ever.
Summer from $139 + no change or cancellation fees.
We are seeing summer prices, starting from $139 on some routes from the west coast. That’s a great price and represents a savings of over 60% off traditional prices! Will prices go even lower? It is possible, but there are no guarantees. Remember too that fares change up to 5 times daily, so the best prices may come and go repeatedly. Check back.
Hawaiian Airlines has been releasing on-again, off-again competitive airfares for peak summer travel!
Flights through October are now open. Spring from $99.
As of today, Southwest’s flights can be booked through October 31, with many spring dates (April/May) priced at just $99.
If you plan to book travel starting November 1, you’ll now need to wait until April 23. Southwest only allows reservations up to about six months in advance of travel. Other airlines permit reservations up to 11 months in advance.
When will Holiday 2020 travel be available for reservations.
Southwest has indicated that on April 23 reservations will be open through January 4, 2021. That date is subject to change.
Will Max return be delayed again?
Southwest Hawaii expansion remains limited due to the ongoing grounding of their Max 8 fleet consisting of 34 planes. That problem will eventually come to an end, and those planes may return to service later this year. At this point, Southwest has cancelled the return of Max on their schedule through August 10. Until those planes return, Southwest is using 737-800 planes for Hawaii flights.
The latest problem relates to critical component wiring. Boeing just indicated that it will be modifying certain wiring of the Max fleet. The FAA and the aircraft manufacturer began reviewing a potential issue which might have led to a short circuit or worse. Earlier this week, the FAA said it had rejected Boeing’s suggestion to leave those suspect wiring bundles in place.
When will Southwest Hawaii expansion resume and what cities do we expect to see added.
As you know, Andy Watterson, SWA Executive VP and the brains of their Hawaii service recently noted that they are running about a year behind where they originally expected to be. And that even before coronavirus threw a wrench into travel. He also said, “We are very bullish in Hawaii.” The company is clearly pleased with how existing and new customers are responding to their Hawaii flights. Trans-Pacific has exceeded their expectations to date and flights are flying full. The length of time typically required to achieve market penetration that has been greatly reduced due to the pent up demand for Cheap Flights to Hawaii.
When Hawaii expansion resumes, following is our list of possible expansion cities, in the order of likelihood:
Los Angeles
Phoenix
Las Vegas
Denver
Burbank
Salt Lake City
Spokane
Albuquerque
Complete schedule of Southwest Hawaii routes and frequencies effective April 2020:
OAKLAND: Honolulu (2 daily); Maui (2 daily); Kona (1 daily); Kauai (1 daily).
SAN JOSE: Honolulu (1 daily); Maui (1 daily); Kona (1 daily); Lihue (1 daily).
SACRAMENTO: Honolulu (1 daily); Maui (1 daily).
SAN DIEGO: Honolulu (1 daily); Maui (1 daily).
HONOLULU: Oakland (2 daily); San Jose (1 daily) Sacramento (1 daily); San Diego (1 daily); Interisland: Maui, Kona, Lihue, Hilo (each 4 daily).
MAUI: Oakland (2 daily); San Jose (1 daily); Sacramento (1 daily); San Diego (1 daily); Interisland: Honolulu (4 daily), Kona (1 daily).
KONA: Oakland (1 daily); San Jose (1 daily); Interisland: Honolulu (4 daily); Maui (1 daily).
KAUAI: Oakland (1 daily); San Jose (1 daily); Interisland: Honolulu (4 daily).
HILO: Interisland: Honolulu (4 daily).
More Southwest Hawaii deals are clearly just ahead!
Note 1. Why aren’t flights bookable from points further east than Denver and when will they be?
That is because Southwest doesn’t have red-eye (overnight) flights. While the airline has talked about changing that, it could be many months to years away. There are logistical and staffing issues, although the airline’s reservation system has been updated to allow for them. When overnight flights start, that should make Hawaii accessible (without multiple tickets and a layover) from points further east across the U.S. CEO Gary Kelly said, “we don’t really desire to fly red-eyes right now…. for our style of operation, it would complicate things.” Red eye flights are used by other airlines flying from Hawaii to enable the long flights and up to 6 time zones between Hawaii and the eastern US.
When you attempt to book city pairs that require two separate SW tickets to Hawaii, you’ll get a message that looks something like this: “Sorry, we found some errors… Flights from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Honolulu (Oahu) are not scheduled to operate on mm/dd/yy. Please select an alternate date or choose another origination/destination.” That is your cue that two tickets are needed for now.
Note 2. All Southwest Hawaii flights can be changed at no cost.
At this time, SWA has no change fees or cancellation fees. Also, if fares drop, you can re-book and credit the difference back to your account for future travel.
Note 3. Always check Southwest to see if fare gets better.
Remember that with Southwest, you can get a credit for any fare difference should the price go down once you’ve booked.
Updated March 12, 2020.
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yuka says
why are you still bringing people to hawaii? do you know its home for us not just a vacation destination as you think. we have our family, loved ones, kids live on this island. please stop spreading.
Steve M says
Not sure why BOH isn’t commenting on SWA cancelling all but 2 flights to and from mainland and cutting back almost all interisland flights. The State now has 14 day indoor quar antine for all airline passengers entering the state. Police are authorized to stop and charge violators.
ROB T. says
Hi SWA
Any update on when you will be offering direct flights from SAN to LIH?
we are eagerly awaiting this as a non stop way to get out to Kauai:)
thanks
Sherrie H. says
Are you going to stop flights from Sacramento to Maui because of the quar antine. I saw that they want visitors to stay home. If they come they will have to stay in for 14 days.
Chip B says
saw flights from ATL to KOA last week, but they are gone now. Can you explain? Mahalo!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Chip.
Not sure exactly what you are looking for. Schedules are all in state of flux for near term.
Aloha.
Cynthia says
I would love to fly Southwest round trip to Kauai from Dallas but we can’t get back in a reasonable time.
Kirk P says
Any idea when swa might fly San diego to Kauai?
Daniel L. says
The Max plane is dead. Everyone might as well expect a different version of 700 to be created, or SWA will start buying Airbus. These airlines are not going to wait around for the Max Plane forever. Besides people, won’t fly the plane anyway. There is no rush to bring that plane back into service, so at this point, you might as well stop calling it a delay.
jamie l says
was there a major scheduling change in last few days? a few days ago there were routes every day from reno to lihue (thru SJC). now its only on weekends at twice the price
Renee says
Do you think or do sources indicate that only the potential Basic Economy tickets would have no free checked bags, and would lack the no change fees? Or would all ticket price levels be affect? Could you do a special article on how basic economy, once introduced, changed other airlines and how it could change the face of Southwest as I know and love it?
Stephen says
The buildup for SW flights is mildly exciting. Visiting Kauai mid-February and booked my tixs on Hawaiian last July for less than $100 more RT. Peace of mind is important to some flyers, that would be me, and waiting, and waiting, for SW to get their act together doesn’t give me that but perhaps they’ll do better in the future.
Dave m says
Swa has also ordered the 700 max. Those are also sitting with the 800 max right now. It is the 700 max that will have the power and range to start phx, las, den, ect. So its coming. We just don’t know when
Mark says
I understand Southwest doesn’t do red eyes and thus that limits availability from airports east of Denver but why will they not make *any* itineraries from those origins available? The first flights from the East Coast can still get to HNL by dinnertime. Is it because they won’t return a one-way unless it can be booked as a round trip?
Very frustrating at the moment, especially since they stopped nonstop service to SJC from my airport (RDU). Until they add PHX, LAS, or DEN as Hawaii origins, this is going to be a major problem for anyone on the East Coast. Those three airports are faaaaar easier to get to compared to OAK, SJC, SAN, and SMF.