Summer airfare peaks for Southwest Hawaii service as some routes get tossed. The company made some not-so-pleasing changes to its flight schedule, which runs through November 4. There continue to be more changes while Southwest tries to find the optimal fit in Hawaii across its mainland and interisland routes.
Big price increases have finally arrived at Southwest Hawaii.
We were shocked when checking fares on Southwest between Lihue and Phoenix in early August, to the tune of $650 round trip. We also priced Los Angeles in July at $600+ roundtrip from Kauai. Until now, Southwest and its “Southwest Effect” have had a pleasantly moderating effect. at least so far as Hawaii airfares are concerned. But for this summer, and unquestionably going forward, the prices are up, way up. It has been years since we’ve seen Hawaii airfare so high.
Last summer, as airlines clawed their way back, the same routes were operating in the $99 to $119 range. That while in December, Phoenix was just $129.
These popular Southwest Hawaii routes were just cut.
Starting right after Labor Day, on September 5, 2023, Southwest will eliminate the following routes. The issue is that they are also served by almost every airline flying to Hawaii. That includes American, Delta, Hawaiian, and United. Alaska Airlines is the only other carrier to skip the free for all competition.
1. Los Angeles to Kauai. This is an extremely popular route. Passengers flying Southwest on this route must change planes in Honolulu or on the mainland.
2. Los Angeles to Kona. This is the same situation as with Kauai, wherein passengers must change planes to fly Southwest on this route.
We note that here’s what happens when Southwest reduces nonstop Hawaii flights in some instances. The company moves passengers on the mainland to other nonstop Hawaii flights as an alternative instead of using their interisland flights. That might prognosticate less reliance on and a future reduction of interisland flights, which would not surprise us. — Beat of Hawaii.
Seven more Southwest Hawaii routes were chopped in the last round of cuts.
With the routes below, which were cut last year, we weren’t sure if they might be returning on a seasonal basis. But at least at this time, they appear to be gone permanently.
Phoenix to Kauai/Kona routes canceled. Southwest stopped two popular routes, between Phoenix and both Kona and Kauai. Since then, travelers to and from Phoenix must transit via Honolulu or Maui. That left American Airlines offering nonstop flights to Kona and Lihue from Phoenix, and dare we say they are expensive.
San Diego to Kauai/Kona routes were eliminated. Nonstop service between San Diego and both Lihue and Kona also stopped operating. As with Phoenix, passengers traveling from San Diego require connecting flights via Maui or San Diego. Nonstop flights are available on Alaska Airlines to both Hawaii airports.
Sacramento to Kona and Lihue routes were eliminated. We thought these two routes might have a chance of returning, but in the end, they did not. No other airline is operating nonstop flights on these Sacramento routes.
Long Beach to Maui was canceled then restored. Southwest also has the popular nonstop flights between Long Beach and Honolulu. Hawaiian Airlines continues to also fly between Honolulu and Maui.
Interisland, Southwest Hawaii continues a robust competitive schedule for now.
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Thank you for info . If Southwest Airlines is to survive , like any other company in these times , I’m guessing they have to increase prices from the very low prices offered initially. I’m fine with this , I hope they will not pull out completely.
For people in the greater Los Angeles area traveling to Kahului, why fly from LAX with huge crowds and traffic delays when you can fly from Long Beach? Both Hawaiian and Southwest fly that route. If you want to fly from Ontario, California you can fly to Honolulu, again without the traffic and crowd.
There is a Youtube video that compares flying to Maui from both LGB and LAX. In my opinion, the only reason to fly from LAX is to take Hawaiian’s A-330 wide body. I have not checked in sometime but I do not think any other airline is flying a wide body on the LAX to OGG route these days. If I am wrong, please correct me!
I just did a RT from Portland to Vegas on SW. I can’t imagine flying RT to Hawaii with them. It was like was like being on a cattle car. Give me Alaska any day. And it wasn’t less than Alaska to Vegas, it just had times that I had to have.
I am going to Kauai tomorrow. The dates Southwest flies was not on days needed. I have flown mostly last 6 years on Southwest. It is my first choice if possible.
We on the East Coast never benefited from the Southwest effect, as far as I could tell. Maybe the increased prices from the West Coast will take care of some of the problems with too many visitors/tourists.
Just noticed that the booking on Hawaiian Airlines from Maui to Honolulu, even though the cost of the flight was fair, they make up for it with $35 for the first bag and $40 for the second.
For those who would like to see fewer visitors and less crowding, this might help?
Aloha! Maui to Long Beach and Long Beach to Maui on Southwest is Not Cut ! I just flew out from Maui on March 22nd and flew back to Maui on March 30th…the Flight out was pretty empty 🙂 lucky for me..the flight back to Maui was 100% Full ! My rate was $320 Round-trip :)..ps my sister just booked Southwest to Maui for mid-June for roughly the same price 🙂
Hi Nita.
Thanks. You’re absolutely correct. They removed that they’re from the schedule late last summer and then restored them since then. We’ve updated the article accordingly.
Hi,
Trying to figure out if Southwest cut their non-stop route from Long Beach to Maui. Online, Southwest says they still fly it, but I can’t find it when looking to book. We are looking at February 2024 for our trip.
Thank you!
Hi Tim.
That LGB-OGG flight is and will remain a seasonal route for Southwest. It should be back late next spring.
Aloha.
Thank you for the reply. What are the usual dates for the seasonal route?
Hi Tim.
It appears to end September 4 and should restart around Memorial Day or after.
Aloha.
Taking a family vacation to Maui from Sacramento. Currently the prices are ridiculous flying non-stop to Maui. I have 3 small grandchildren and hesitate to book a flight with a layover. Do you think next month Southwest will reveal a new schedule from Sacramento to Maui? Should I wait to make reservations next month? I have a few points I’d like to use. Thank you.
Hi Linda.
Not sure exactly your question. When they next release a schedule update that will be to open dates further in the future. Will they add more flights or lower prices? Probably not.
Aloha.
Book now. It won’t be getting cheaper. If it does, you can always rebook and get the difference back. One of the good things about SWA.
Well there is a Southwest effect. They raise their prices and the others do to.
To be expected as the FAA has asked the airlines to cut some routes/flights for safety reasons in busy summer travel.
Southwest is intent on bankrupting itself, pure and simple. Why hasn’t the top brass been fired? No one seems to care!
Moving people around on the mainland to fill Hawaiian direct flights is important.
Because of the delays and runway issues in Honolulu I would have thought more direct flights to other Islands from the mainland.
With labor cost rising along with fuel cost all flying will be more expensive.
Chris, Southwest vision for 50 plus years is “To be the world’s most loved, most efficient, and most profitable airline”. That hasn’t changed with service to Hawaii. You might want to check your facts before you bury SWA in the graveyard with other failed airlines.