The giant Hawaii newcomer, Southwest Airlines, plans to significantly improve its Hawaii flight experience in 2023. When choosing between Southwest and its competitors: Hawaiian, Alaska, American, Delta, or United, will these upgrades matter to you? Here are contrasts between airline offerings and customer perceptions.
First, the four big ways Southwest Hawaii flights will improve starting in 2023. These come on the heels of the family boarding concept currently being tested that allows early boarding for families with children without regard to boarding position. Beat of Hawaii visitors are passionate about the Southwest family boarding test, as was reflected in countless comments.
1. Much faster WiFi is being rolled out.
Within the next sixty days, Southwest says that about half its existing 750 aircraft fleet will have upgraded their WiFi significantly. Last week the company reported that they’d completed 260 upgrades to date with hardware and software from their long-time tech partner Anuvu. This is reportedly ten times faster than the current WiFi.
The agreement announced last summer would allow passengers to access sites like HBO Max and Netflix, among others. Anuvu said, “The upgraded hardware, coined Dedicated Space™, employs software intelligence to make the most efficient use of available bandwidth in real-world conditions, giving passengers a more reliable and stable internet experience.”
The new Southwest WiFi solution was selected as a finalist for the Crystal Cabin Award, the international award for excellence in aircraft interior innovation.
At the same time, Southwest has partnered with Viasat for its newly delivered planes to have very high-speed WiFi. Those deliveries started this fall using next-gen Ka-band satellite connectivity. With speeds typically over 20Mbps, travelers can stream content, watch live TV, and more.
Does Southwest’s faster WiFi matter?
Our take is yes, the current WiFi on Southwest has been slow, spotty, and clunky when flying to and from Hawaii. The bar here will be set by Hawaiian, which will upgrade its fleet next year to offer WiFi for the first time. Hawaiian Airlines’ Starlink is a free WiFi offering available in 2023 on its entire trans-Pacific fleet. Read Hawaiian Airlines WiFi Announced: It’s Free and Fast.
And the bonus: Airline WiFi on flights to Hawaii is heading from $8 to free!
Southwest has not yet made the move to offer free WiFi, but that is a work in process. The airline said that while it doesn’t need to alter its $8/day pricing, it is aware of the trend toward offering WiFi for free. One concern Southwest has is whether the $8 charge acts as a needed deterrent to excessive WiFi usage beyond what their technologies can support.
On the price point, it’s not just Hawaiian. Delta also has said it plans to offer free WiFi soon.
2. Every Southwest seat will now have USB-A and USB-C power ports.
This has been a significant complaint among Southwest passengers, who had to bring their chargers to keep their electronics working onboard. But that won’t be the case for much longer.
Does USB matter? Oh yeah.
Editor Jeff packed his power pack for his phone when he flew recently on Southwest returning to Hawaii. It’s infinitely more convenient to have a power plug on the plane than to bring a battery “brick.” Southwest is the last one to the USB seat power party, which is long past due.
3. Larger overhead storage bins.
Starting early in 2023, Southwest will be adding larger overhead bins to its new planes, bringing easier access to store and retrieve luggage onboard. The larger overhead bins will be installed on aircraft deliveries early next year. The company has not indicated if it plans to retrofit its existing planes with the new bins.
Are these larger bins important?
We’d’ say yes, but to a lesser degree than on other airlines. Why? With Southwest’s free bags, carry-ons aren’t quite as critical as they are on airlines charging for checked bags.
On the other hand, we loved when Alaska started installing these Boeing space bins on its 737-900 planes and all of its new 737 MAX fleet. Boeing said that the Space Bins “Hold six standard-sized bags, two more than the large current Boeing Sky Interior pivot bins installed on many Next-Generation 737s.”
This change is expected to reduce boarding time and let planes turn around faster while alleviating stress about not being able to stow carry-on bags. They also open somewhat lower to make loading and unloading and seeing what’s up there easier.
4. New entertainment and beverage choices.
The airline said earlier this year that it is doubling the number of movies offered on its free entertainment system, which utilizes passengers’ electronic devices.
It is also upgrading beverages to include ready-to-drink cocktails, a bloody mary mix, rose wine, and hard seltzer.
Do these additions matter?
No, we’d say that they are of minimal importance to most passengers.
Okay, Southwest fans and others who aren’t fans, please chime in on these changes.
Our take is that these won’t make a difference to customers when deciding whether to fly Southwest or another airline on Hawaii flights. On the other hand, for Southwest loyalists, these are incremental improvements that make the experience better.
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Yeah ! Good for SW. It helps keep the competition balance same with the other airline
Continually Improving your Brand and Product as SWA slowly does is what keeps them viable for the long term. Regardless of the money they have accumulated over time SWA waits until they identify improvements, the costs, and move forward when they feel that is budgeted for but then again what do I know 🤔 Remember that SWA has more reasonable prices and has been known as “No Frills.” Makes many wonder why other, much more expensive (HWA) airlines cannot do better. HWA has had, as many have stated, the Largest Piece of Hawaiian Air Travel for Decades. Maybe the Competition will force HWA to reexamine, to better focus on its Commitment to Hawaii, to become a Stronger Airline in the end. Time will tell!
Love Southwest! Always thinking of their customers. They need to fly to/from San Luis Obispo!!
The space between rows and seat comfort is most important. On Southwest there’s no business class so they need to provide extra comfortable seating!
I feel these changes would be an asset to the company. I fly to Hawaii at least 2 times a year and will appreciate southwest changes.
Actually those changes don’t make a big difference for me. If the could have some editable food it would. United food was terrible
Waited with baited breath for SW to announce they are taking over the soon to be discontinued Los Angeles to Hilo route 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
What about unlimited cake and ice cream?
How about Prime Rib on Brioche Buns with a side of double coated french fries for an awesome meal too?
Leg Room as well as these future enhancements is critical. If SWA is using 737 -800 leg room problem solved. SWA needs to have more layover time or improve on time take offs.
Over the last 3 decades, I have noticed the airline works to continually improve there product and customer relations. I do not work for SWA but I am a weekly customer.
Not sure why families will board before As, I pay early bird on every flight I take with sw. I only like an aisle seat now that u offer upgrades at airport it seems like my earl bird has gone from A20s to late A30s or 40s.
You do realize that currently, Family boarding boards after the first 60 people / 60 seats. The new way they are proposing them to do it would have them sitting after the first 90 seats.
15×6 = 90
That would mean More seats available up front.
However, Business customers and A-Listers are paying the highest fares, not Wanna Get Away Fares. If Southwest wants to remain competitive, they need to value their Business Select and A-Listers, first and foremost. Allowing families who didn’t pay an extra dime to board, and to get preferential treatment over the weekly traveler that spends way more, isn’t going to bode well with many flyers.
Don’t know if you realize this but currently families board after A group… that’s after the first 60 or so people. The proposed method is to board them first but make them take anything after row 15. That’s 90 seats left empty. How is that worse then the current way?
Because you can almost guarantee that all families will not follow the policy. Families will definitely take advantage of the family boarding. But once onboard, it is open seating, and an airline with an open seating policy, cannot and will not dictate where people can sit. And not all frequent fliers and business customers want the exit row. They are the ones paying the premium fares and should have priority where to sit on the airplane before anyone else.
I agree 100% IF they don’t enforce the the row 15 restriction. If they do, then it should be a problem.