Lastest news on Southwest schedules and fares. Some routes continue to have great deals for summer. Find out more in today’s post.
1,796 thoughts on “Southwest Hawaii Stiffens Competition: 11 New Daily Flights Exposed”
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Home » Blog » Hawaii Travel News » Southwest Hawaii Stiffens Competition: 11 New Daily Flights Exposed
Now a senior citizen, I arrived in Hawaii, age 7 with Pan Am, the original Pacific routes carrier. I can hardly describe the ups/downs & in betweens Ive seen in my lifetime concerning Hawaii’s air carriers. From Pan Ams first flight by Captain Ed Musick in 1935 through its last departure from Honolulu in 1991(by Captain Ed Karasek), the airline pioneered the Pacific Routes for all who followed. Inter-Island routes were already being pioneered by Inter-Island Airways beginning passenger service in 1929, initially to Hilo aboard one of thier two amphibian planes which would later be known as Hawaiian Air. Over the past ninety years of Hawaiian aviation, Honolulu has shared our Aloha to many cockpit crew members, cabin crew members and planes full of anxious passengers. Southwest is the latest or newest member of our Hawaii aviation ohana. We welcome them, wishing them blue skies and pleasant ka’ahele.
Hello
I am hoping to fly from Sacramento to Honolulu on March 30 returning April 7th. Do you thing Southwest will offer flights for this time frame. I always travel on Southwest and would really to plan this travel with Southwest rather than to buy the tickets through another airline. I hope you can answer this question for me.
Thank you,
Karen M
Hi Karen.
We’d say that odds are in your favor. More information will be coming out within next week at latest.
Aloha.
First off, thank you for the continued updates!
Do we know if test flights will continue this week?
My wife and I are going to Maui with her family March 30, and I have not booked any airfare because I have the companion pass… Any insight on new projected flight dates?
Thanks again!
Hi Matt.
Nothing to update since yesterday. More information soon.
Aloha.
thank you for these updates. Can’t help but notice the increase in prices to Maui this year. I usually go in November and for some reason prices are 1k plus right now a piece. I really hope this makes prices competitive.
Thanks much for the thorough updates! We are having a family reunion on the Big Island in August. I’m unclear about the Kona plans: will there be direct flights to Kona from the mainland or just inter-island connections? If just connections, should we purchase the cross ocean flights right away to score the great prices or wait for the Kona fares?
Hi Laura.
There will be nonstop flights to Kona, we just don’t know when those will start. We hope to know more soon.
Aloha.
Thank you for the updating frequently and keeping us informed. We are planning our first trip to Hawaii (Kauai) and I have been checking this site daily on new information. From what I have been reading it looks like the trips to Lihue won’t be until the end of the year. We are traveling end of June and returning first of July. What are your thoughts on SWA traveling by then to Lihue or should we be booking other flights that already are flying there? TIA
Thank you Kyle.
We don’t know when they’ll have either direct flights or extensions to Lihue. Hope to know more within next week at latest. I’m sure you know that you’re traveling at one of the most expensive times, so still expect to pay perhaps $500+ no matter what.
Aloha.
I keep coming back to your site for updates on SWA coming to Hawaii. Thanks for being on top of it!!!
My question is, with the timeline looking to be so close to our trip date, should I just bite the bullet and buy my tickets elsewhere? We travel mid-April, the week leading into Easter. We would normally fly out of LAX but will go SAN if SWA is ready. But I’m seeing prices start to rise again and I’m getting nervous. We’ve waited much longer than we normally would to book our flights. Any thoughts on a price drop before April?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Becky.
Thank you. It looks like LA is going to be running $100 or more higher than San Diego. There are good mid-week fares throughout April. Weekends, not so much. With Southwest announcing it should bring those San Diego fares down further, including for your dates. No one knows for sure, but our sense is low $200’s round trip for mid-week travel.
Aloha.
What do you expect weekend rates to be like for Southwest? Our stay is a Saturday to Saturday and right now the rates are $1400 plus for non-stop for our mid-April dates (13th-20th). Also do you have an idea of how many points a roundtrip flight might be from SMF to OGG? We are anxiously waiting for southwest and hoping they will fly before our dates, I have never waited this long to book a flight. Thanks again for all you updates, I check your site everyday!
Hi Lori.
I think pricing and competition from west coast departure cities are anyone’s guess right now. We’ll have to wait and see. Perhaps $99 and that could or could not include weekends.
Aloha.
When SWA starts selling tickets, how long out do you think they’ll put routes on sale? Am planning on going from SAN to OGG in October 2019? When do you think they’ll have those flights on sale? Love your updates and have been reading them nearly daily for quite awhile…very helpful information. Thank you!
Hi Linda.
They are currently selling tickets to October 1. At some point the’ll get the Hawaii sales in line with all the others. On march 14 they are due to extend schedule by one month.
Aloha.
Can’t wait to plan another trip to Hawaii! 🌴 We were there there last January and plan to go back again. Can’t wait to be on board Southwest!
Thank you so much for the updates! I’m anxiously awaiting to go visit my Military family (Daughter, Son in law and 2yr. old Granddaughter). I miss them so much, I just can’t wait to see them. I will use my points and Companion pass so that my Husband and I can go visit. We’d fly from our home base, Indianapolis to Oakland I assume then on to Oahu?
Your updates keep me hopeful that we’ll be together soon! I would LUV to be on the first flight out!
Grateful,
Julie H
Hi Julie.
We hope it all works out well for you and your family visit. We don’t know how SWA will handle flights from across the US. That’s one thing we are watching for, and how it will be possible to get to and from the east to connect with the Hawaii flights.
Aloha.
Woohoo! Excited to read this update about SWA!
However…their plan says “later in 2019” for flights out of Los Angeles. Do we have any idea what “later” means? I plan to travel mid-May from Los Angeles so I’m wondering if I should continue to wait for a price drop or not…
Any insight on this?
Thanks!
Hi Melissa.
That’s anyone’s guess. Our crystal ball says it is doubtful for mid-May. Maybe for summer.
Aloha.
Ah, ok. That’s what I was thinking.
Follow-up to that: Even though SWA may not be flying out of Los Angeles by mid-May, do you think the release of flights as a whole would cause other airlines to drop their prices? Or should I just book now?
Thanks!
Hi Melissa.
Good question. We’re in uncharted territory, so it’s just a guess. There are fares under $400 early in May and more of that, and even perhaps lower, for later in the month are still to be announced. It could not hurt to wait. Let us know how it turns out.
Aloha.