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
Southwest cancelling a dozen or so mainland to Hawaii flights while adding more interisland is seen as desperation to me. They overestimated their performance on mainland routes, so now they are increasing their neighbors island flying as a last resort. They can fly all the empty 737s they want.
A market is a market. Not only SWA brought interisland fares down through competition but so did several others through the years. It’s not a Hawaii thing it’s an airline market thing. All businesses must leave unprofitable markets if they expect to stay in business!
Southwest just cancelled our non-stop flights both ways from PHX to KOA in June. That is the only reason we booked with Southwest, not happy! Colleen
Thanks for that info. So, not being experienced with all that…can I ask…what does one/you do then- what I mean is, did you find another different airline, or cancel trip, what. We were making future plans with friends, but we don’t know how to handle that, and don’t want to be left either at home or in an airport with NO air to go.
I know this all sounds very dumb, just not experienced with southwest or with Hawaii air, etc. but we just are looking for mahalo type help.
We would be traveling from the east coast USA, and currently, southwest announcements all are about cancelling, safety issues due to lack of pilots or overtime, etc.
Thank you so much.
An airline won’t just leave you hanging to dry. They may cancel your booked Itinerary… do you what ever reason… but they have to get you to your destination. They will rebook you. It’s not ideal but you’re not going to be left to fend for yourself
Interesting BOH starts out “Southwest has been in the news recently with canceled flights, technology issues, and today a Southwest passenger who couldn’t keep their pants on and was arrested by the time they got to Phoenix”. Southwest has offered low fare, safe, and fun travel with lots of luv for 50+ years. Your bias for Hawaiian is very obvious. Remember when interisland fares were always 200 dollars plus. SWA has heart that goes much deeper than most people understand! LUV and Aloha to SWA!!
This is site about Hawaii, I don’t think you could say BOH is biased. SWA is new, to Hawaii and frankly have acted like the airline equivalent of someone moving here and speaking pidgin. Their inter island flights are staffed by crews here for a couple day layover and it shows. They have been aggressive and disrespectful in the way they came over here and have prioritized growth at the expense of the state. We are a different market then MCO or LAS. SWA doesn’t get that.
John. You hit it. HAL flight crews bring you to home with them. LUV and all other carrier crews wear plastic lays and are on vacation too. Nothing wrong with that, but there is a distinction that’s hard to quantify.
Side from that. This website is about Hawaii, but this SWA parade is clearly paid for by SWA.
I’ve had nothing but very nice crews on neighbor island flights. Mainland flights too although some are more lazy than others, but I still have great experiences on Southwest. I get free snacks better legroom free movies and texting… I get my bags checked in… FOR FREE and I usually enjoy a free drink just for being nice. They seem to care. I like that.
And when their fares were $200 bucks, did you fly Island Air? HAL had a virtual monopoly of less than 18 months. SWA came in to run HAL under with unsustainable prices and do as they do everywhere else when they take over, charge an outrageous rate. They didn’t become a juggernaut hit with luv, but rather with blood.
Remember HAL is Hawaiian legacy, Aloha, Island Air, and all other defunct local carriers. If it wasn’t for HAL all those families would have been displaced.
For us Midwest people, Hawaiian air has no bargains for us but Southwest keeps us flying to Hawaii. We are bringing 7 to Maui for the first time in October. Two coming from
SC so this is challenging but SW has so many options, it makes it easy to work, make changes and find ways to get us all there. Without SW, it would make it difficult for many of us to Hawaii these days!
Hi.
I read with interest your comment. Now, I would appreciate very much if you are able to followup, due to the SW cancellations and staffing problems…are you still able to fly then? Are they still reserving your reservation? We were about to meet friends there, but we see all flight reservationsfrom east coast cancelled at this time. None offered. Any reply is really appreciated very much. ?
All airlines are cancelling flights right now, this isn’t just one airline. A combination of typical summer weather and continuing staffing issues from early retirements offered during COVID contribute to the problems. If you have a canceled flight, airlines rebook you or refund your money if you choose. There are no flight pairing on Southwest from the east coast that get you to Hawaii in one day, that’s why you are having problems with online reservations. Try flying into LAX, SJC, OAK, LAS, PHX, SAN to name a few, spend the night and take first flight out to Hawaii the next morning. Many destinations. Flights are still going! If you have issues, I suggest calling reservations to help you.
So I’m having issues finding flights with Southwest after May this year. I’m flying from Boise, Idaho and they don’t have any flights to Kona after May. I’m imagine it’s due to no longer flying from those California cities listed 😞
I just checked flights from LAX, SJC for California, and PHX and LAS. All show flights to KOA on the southwest website for random days in June. Early June had connections from BOI for same day arrival. Perhaps their website was down when you looked?
When will they get some great fares for those that live in the middle of the states (the South and the Midwest areas) as well as from the East coast?? I Know stopovers would most likely have to be included, but we want some deals, too. As it is now, we have to go somewhere we don’t want to, probably overnight, just to catch a flight out there. Maybe I’ll start going the other direction to the Bahamas or something. The main reason I go to Hawaii is to visit my parent’s grave… and it’s Aloha. Th
Ditto. Nothing available shown now from Newark ewr airport.
Aloha guys! 🙂
Thank you for the Southwest updates. I cannot say I am surprised by “LUV” cancelling their non-stop flights from SAN/KOA. We used them when the flight times were more convenient than Alaska. One flight we took from KOA to SAN last Sept. had a total of 22 passengers and another flight were on about a week ago had 55 passengers. It was great that my husband and I each had a row to ourselves on both flights, but I cannot believe this would have been sustainable long-term.
Hi Cheri.
Thanks for your update on flying that route. We appreciate it.
Aloha.
I don’t care how cheap, and how many flights Southwest has, I will always be loyal and fly Hawaiian Airlines. They are the best to Hawaii.
When you buy a ticket on Hawaiian the money goes back to Hawaii and supports the local economy, which in turn makes Hawaii a better place.
Money spent on another airline goes back to the mainland.
I agree. I will only fly Hawaiian. American was not great. Southwest is a mess of cancelled fights. You get what you pay for.
Southwest has cancelled their non stop flights to Kauai from San Diego. I was holding flight they rebooked, taking me from a 5 1/2 hour nonstop to a total of 11 hours travel time with layovers. Ridiculous! I see you say they have them–did they reinstate them today? It is so frustrating to have them do this–they have done it before. Of course, the time for cheaper fares on other airlines was when I booked with southwest, and now its too late.
Hi Lori.
Yes, thanks for that. Both LIH and KOA nonstops are disappearing from the SWA schedule.
Aloha.
Your experience with SWA isn’t unusual….I don’t see the bargain in using them when you can get a bargain on HA just as easily??
Hawaii is just an extension for the mainland airlines and vulnerable to mainland delays effecting their Hawaii route. Hawaiian just flies to Hawaii
so is less likely to be delayed or cancelled. There is a lot to be said about that “you’re in Hawaii when you board Hawaiian, everyone else you have to wait till you land”
I don’t understand that expression. You know HA flies in the mainland and Asia? Also the revenue is distributed to all the airports and ticket selling locations HA flies. I’m for free market economy to minimize monopolies from taking advantage of us!
Aloha MJ, the point was Hawaiian is based in Hawaii. The money from their tickets goes to Hawaii and supports families living, working and spending in Hawaii. Hawaiian employs 7000 people mostly in Hawaii. Other airlines can’t say that. Buy a ticket on them and most of the money leaves Hawaii. It’s the same as the “buy local” principal. You are supporting Hawaii by buying/flying local.
In the latest schedule there is no longer a PHX LIH non-stop. Very disappointed about that. Planned out a trip based on the non-stop flights but will have to settle for a layover at HNL.
Any idea why this is the case and if it’s just adjusted for seasonal travel?
FWIW and this is strictly anecdotal, but SWA leads the pack in canceling or changing flights. I’ve known a few people that have had to deal with plans drastically altered by them. (Inter Island is REALLY sketchy) They are the newbies and still trying to figure out the market is my guess.