Southwest Hawaii: Flights Cut, Points Gutted. Next: Free Bags?

Southwest Airlines is reshaping its Hawaii service, cutting routes and scaling back the perks that made it a go-to for many budget travelers over the past five+ years. With these changes, and following this week’s huge devaluation in points earning, questions continue to circle the industry about the airline’s long-term commitment to Hawaii. The airline has not yet confirmed if more Hawaii routes will be affected in their continued retreat, but reports suggest a flight reduction beyond what has already been announced, of approximately 15-20% for some popular Hawaii routes, is possible.

While these unprecedented changes weren’t entirely unexpected, they raise questions about Southwest’s position in Hawaii. For those who have come to rely on Southwest Hawaii flights, these reductions may signal a shift away from reliance on the airline for Hawaii travel.

Could the end of free bags on Southwest flights be next?

Southwest Airlines’ free checked baggage policy has been a major draw for years, particularly for long-haul flights like those to Hawaii. However, this beloved perk could soon be on the chopping block.

While Southwest has not confirmed any changes to its free checked bag policy, industry insiders suggest that it’s distinctly possible, if not likely. Budget airlines, such as Spirit and Frontier, charge for checked bags. Southwest may follow suit, eliminating the free baggage perk, at least on its cheapest tickets.

If this shift happens, it could, too, further diminish Southwest’s appeal to already budget-conscious Hawaii travelers. Those traveling to the islands on Southwest would have to factor in baggage fees, which would make Southwest’s total cost less competitive than currently compared to other carriers.

As these changes unfold, it’s worth asking: will Hawaii still be a stronghold for Southwest, or is the airline ready to scale back even further than it has already done?

The impact of points devaluation on Hawaii travel.

Southwest Airlines has significantly reduced the points travelers can earn on all but its most expensive fares, causing frustration among its Hawaii travel customers. Most travelers now earn fewer than a third of the points they would have previously on lower-cost tickets.

This means that a significant chunk of the rewards earned on flights has effectively been devalued, with travelers losing out on most of the points they would have accumulated before the changes occurred.

This shift is particularly painful for those who have relied on Southwest’s once-generous points program to score free flights to Hawaii and other destinations. Where a flight to Hawaii might have once required only 10,000 points, travelers now find themselves needing far more for the same trip. Together with the ongoing devaluation, this is making it harder to get value out of the rewards program. That is not to say that Southwest’s moves are unlike the overall devaluation occurring with other airline reward programs.

As loyalty programs become significantly less generous across the airline industry, Southwest’s once-competitive redemption rates are now just joining the crowd of less appealing options. For frequent flyers, the decision to redeem points before they lose further value or save them for future travel has become more complex—adding another layer of uncertainty for those planning trips to Hawaii who’d hoped to travel here using loyalty points.

Could Hawaii be a holdout for Southwest policies?

Given the competitive nature of Hawaii’s travel market, Southwest may need to retain some perks to differentiate itself from other carriers like Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines, which are the bellwether airlines in our region. Hawaii is a popular destination for Southwest travelers, and maintaining a competitive edge in this market is crucial for the airline to make Hawaii work.

While we await Southwest’s next move regarding Hawaii routes, perks, and points, travelers should expect even more changes and plan to be nimble to avoid surprises. At the same time, the airline may need to adjust its strategy to cater to Hawaii-based travelers in particular, who value budget-friendly options while offering perks that make Southwest stand out in this unique island market. For example, Hawaiian/Alaska have stepped forward with a 20% off discount for Hawaii residents flying interisland.

We’ll continue to monitor Southwest’s evolving policies closely, as they could significantly impact the value of your trip to Hawaii. Your comments are invited.

Lead Photo Credit – Southwest at LIH, Kauai by Beat of Hawaii.