The number of Hawaii flights canceled is mounting up fast. Christmas weekend wasn’t good, and this holiday isn’t looking any better. The number of Hawaii flights canceled is now way more than 100 since last week. While that may not sound like a lot, if it hits you, this can be a big deal.
First, Hawaiian Airlines is suffering from Covid problems as they announced that 175 staff have just tested positive. CEO Peter Ingram said, “it’s been a compounding of those effects that have left us falling short of our own standards, candidly, in terms of what we expect, in terms of reliability.”
Hawaiian flight cancellations are escalating both interisland and on mainland routes even since we published earlier today and now total 27 just for today.
At Alaska Airlines, Covid-related problems have been compounded by weather. Snow at their Seattle hub and throughout the Pacific Northwest significantly impacted their flight schedules. Alaska went so far as to ask Seattle passengers who don’t have to fly this weekend to consider rescheduling. When calling Alaska to rebook, it was reported that time on hold skyrocketed to nearly 20 hours. The airline said in a blog post today that the best thing to do is to rebook online rather than trying to reach them by phone.
The subject of Hawaii flight cancellations first entered our minds when Southwest Hawaii flight cancellations started popping up a couple of months ago. But now the problem has resurfaced and this time it is not about Southwest, but largely our bellwether carriers.
BOH: this type of problem isn’t as severe when you are still at home and can reschedule for another date (especially with airlines’ generally more flexible policies). On the other hand, if you are already on your Hawaii vacation and are trying to get home, or have gotten part of the way either to Hawaii or to home, then it gets far more complicated.
Recent Hawaii Flight cancellations
We just checked on flight cancellations at Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, Kona, and Hilo for yesterday, today, and tomorrow. This is what we found so far.
December 30: United (8), Hawaiian (6), Alaska (3), Air Canada (3), Westjet (3).
December 31: Alaska (8), Hawaiian (7), Westjet (4), United (2), Air Canada (1).
January 1: Hawaiian (4), Westjet (1).
The question of force majeure: problems not within the airline’s control.
If there is an issue deemed outside the control of your airline, as is likely the case in what Hawaiian and Alaska described is happening now, passengers’ rights become severely limited. In each of the airlines’ passenger agreements, such issues, deemed “force majeure,” refer to unforeseeable circumstances that prevent, in this case, an airline from fulfilling its contract.
When cancellations are due to a problem deemed to be within the airline’s control.
Those can include mechanical problems, equipment change or availability, etc. The airlines will typically be more generous in caring for such dislocated passengers. In cases deemed to be the airline’s responsibility, meal vouchers for shorter delays are offered. For longer delays and cancellations, hotel rooms may be provided. Alternate travel, including on other airlines, or a refund may or may not be offered.
Our Hawaii flight cancellation experiences.
We have had both good and bad experiences with flight delays and cancellations to and from Hawaii. On one occasion Hawaiian moved us to American Airlines when a flight was delayed. And on another occasion, we sat parked at Honolulu airport for what seemed like an eternity. And then there have been the shorter, thank goodness less memorable delays. It is also worth noting that domestic, including Hawaii, vs. international cancellations, are handled very differently. Then too, it varies by country. Not long ago, your editors were delayed departing London and received $600 compensation each plus other accommodation from the airline, as required by UK law.
Tips for canceled and delayed Hawaii flights.
1. Purchase tickets directly from the airline rather than via a third party. You will have better direct access to the company and to prompt resolution should problems arise.
2. Don’t head to the airport before confirming that your flight is operating and is reasonably on time. That has never been more important. No one wants to hang out at airports waiting to be reaccommodated.
3. Know your rights. Read the USDOT rules re canceled and delayed flights. Also, read your airline’s terms of carriage.
4. Should your flight be canceled, you are entitled to put on a later flight or receive a refund if you make other plans. Be sure you ask for a refund in that case rather than obtaining less valuable future credit. Also, do your research on what alternatives best suit your needs. Don’t trust the airline to find that for you as they will likely be overwhelmed during a cancellation crisis.
5. Reach out to the airline customer service, or contact them via direct message on social media. Many of you have reported that social media has provided the best results.
Have you had a Hawaii flight delayed or canceled recently? If so, how was it resolved?
Post updated 12/31/21.
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for those planning trip here soon, 1 very important piece of advice from the Lt Governor. do not rely on cloth masks for omicron. use surgical kn95 masks in airports, on planes and in Hawaii.Also Booster will become requirement in safe travels but no date yet, so go get boosted.
Thank you for this timely article. We will be traveling to the islands next week and I’m as nervous as heck. 😬 Here’s to hoping the virus slows down!
Jan 3, 2022- Hawaii’s increase in daily new cases has been 100% in one week according to John Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center. Any official tracking system can provide you quantitative information regarding status of the “virus”. Hawaii’s numbers have consistently been increasing.
5 hours late but made it to Oahu in time for fireworks. Who knows when bags will arrive. Felt sorry fir gate staff. Rough day.
Sounds like Hawaiian Air CEO Ingram threw his employees under the bus….😶
WestJet is also experiencing 10 hour wait times! Always try to rebook your flights online. Unfortunately sometimes you can’t. If you’ve had a schedule change even by as little as 15 minutes, the airlines will often reissue the ticket for their own records. Usually this has no effect on the traveller-except that the ticket has been physically changed and only a representative can help 🙁
I have reservations from the 14th of February to the 17th of March With a prepaid vrbo. 2 years ago even though the airlines quit flying the owner of the condo did not refund my 2 months prepaid rent. I really hope that doesn’t happen again.
Thanks for the update. Unfortunately passengers seeking to rebook on Alaska Airlines are likely to encounter call wait times of ten hours or more, and many calls have been disconnected while on hold. They will be told to rebook online which isn’t possibly unless they are willing to pay 3 times the cost of their original ticket,
I’m relieved I cancelled my vacation to Hawaii months ago out of respect for the locals dealing with Covid.
We just experienced this on Tuesday with Alaska airlines. We were leaving Maui to fly back to LAX. We were on the plane, all ready to go, and 3 minutes before take off they announced that there was a mechanical and we would have to deplane.Finally after 11 hours we were on another airline (Hawaiian airlines) headed home. It was a mess. Flights to the west coast were delayed or canceled. We were given a $12 meal voucher which doesn’t buy much in an airport, and a $200 credit for a future trip.
On our February 2019 trip to Maui, our LAX -> OGG flight was canceled due to mechanical issues. Being experienced flyers, as soon as the announcement was made, we knew to head straight to the customer service center to try to get rebooked. Even though we were unsuccessful, we were given dinner and breakfast meal vouchers and lodging at the nearby Hilton. The next morning, while waiting to board, I was amazed listening to the stories of people who spent the night at the airport.
That’s why smart people don’t fly during the holidays. If your delay is weather related, the airlines do not have to offer you any compensation. Please keep in mind that the airlines are suffering from staff shortages just as many businesses have been
Fair comment Mike but not everyone is retired. Smart would be flying Gen Av with netjets or similar. Since Hawaiian became a monopoly their interisland has got worse and worse.
Great article with very pertinent information. I’m glad I signed up.
Trying to get home-leaving Hilo tonight on United. The fight to LA isn’t an issue (yet?). Original final leg from Chi to Mke was cancelled for weather. 20 minutes later got note the LA to Chi leg was cancelled due to Covid. Rebook=LA to Newark to MKE, potentially arriving home around midnight Sat/Sun. Fingers crossed weather doesn’t interfere more! Great tip on booking direct w/ airline- not the itinerary I’d prefer, but United rep was great yesterday. Happy New Year all!
Praying, keeping my fingers and toes crossed. I have been waiting for my husband to join me since October and he is set to fly from Ontario, CA to Honolulu and then to Hilo on January 1st on Hawaiian Airlines.
On Kauai and Hawaiian canceled flight to HNL late last night. As usual they process all the Elite coach upgrades and them cancel saying no space. For those if us with medical disability requiring room to accommodate knees that hardly bend it us a nighmare and as usual phones and website packed up. I will be waiting in a wheelchair at check in if you are passing. Every year they do it, just change the excuse. I wish Aloha were still in operation.
Aloha BOH Bro’s
Last morning at GW on Maui before heading to the airport. It was a very nice stay, but I’m ready to go home.
On this trip we stayed close to the resort only venturing off to enjoy Mama’s and Monkey Pod. Got plenty of beach, boogie boarding and relaxation time.
Other than minimum Mask wearing, no different from home, felt everything was about the same as any trip to Maui.
Most patient wife in the world says we’re returning next year.
Aloha Maui and BOH Bro’s
Like so many others we too have had some horrible experiences. On the last leg of a flight from NZ. The pilot came before all the passengers and said, sorry the flight is canceled your on your own, that at 2 AM. Ended up buying a ticket from another airline. For us Alaska has been the very ugliest. While I’ve found United to be decent. They have purchased us a room for the night and booked us on a flight for the next day. Size does matter. If you fly you be hit in the nose now and than. SW next.
Why was Alaska the ugliest? What happened with them?
The 6th time we tried to return to TX from Maui in April – July 2020, was the charm. We wanted to fly OGG – DFW – AUS but AA stopped their 2 DFW – OGG daily flights. We would book then get rerouted to a 3 or 4 leg flight. We finally flew OGG – HNL on 7/4 with HA. We boarded an AA102 a 787 scheduled to DFW. We were given transportation, meal ad hotel vouchers. On 7/5 there was AA102D and 102. We changed from 3 leg reroute to 102D via HNL ticket agent that was the delayed plane. Est 30% load.
Wow! Just returned from Maui Friday and after reading BOH realized we were lucky to get home on time. Appreciate your straight scoop on this issue.
Twenty-nine years ago on our 1st trip to the Islands (with 3 kids) with ATA out of SFO we were delayed 12 hours due to mechanical issues. (Faulty fuel pump). The new one flown out from Chicago was also faulty so a 2nd one was sent.
We were given food vouchers and sent a coupon to use for an additional flight for only $100 to be used within a year.
I’ve read the employees are using their PTO before they get fired. If it is true its a protest they are trying to change the mandate before they lose their jobs.
Or they can get vaccinated like a responsible person
SOuthwest needs to come clean with its loyal travel customers. The reasons cited were not true. The pilots stayed home to protest the covid mandate by dec 1! I have a trip scheduled for december and I will be really upset if they pull this off again. They cancelled thousands of flights nationwide. They must be honest with their intentions, and take on the responsibilities for their clients!
Yet another reason not to fly southwest
Did you read the above BOH article? It looks like SWA is doing pretty darn good.
Our first trip to the Islands had four of us flying ATA to Honolulu, then Aloha round trip to the Big Island. Aloha announced it was going out of business & gracefully went under 3 days after our return to Honolulu.
ATA was a disaster from the get go. Primary GPS went out and we diverted to Oakland for 11 hours. They gave us voucher for a free flight. Then ATA shut down with no warning leaving everyone stranded. I paid for new flights on Continental. Credit Card refunded ATA charges.
Mahalo for your coverage on this topic. We are booked with Southwest for a trip to BI in January. In an instance like these is there any kind of insurance coverage that would cover costs of staying an extra night in a hotel and meals, etc? Seems like there are many loopholes for the airlines but none for the passengers. Any advice would be appreciated.
Hi Denney.
Good point. Thanks for mentioning it. That should be easy. Just be sure to carefully read the policy clauses related to trip delay/interruption, etc. We’d suggest buying it from a trip insurance provider directly rather than through an airline, as you will find infinitely more options.
Aloha.
Booking any flights,rooms, activities without insurance or knowing cancelation policies is extremely important.
Checked the SWA LAX-HNL flights over this past weekend and they were not cancelled. Fingers Crossed for the upcoming trip. Thanks for the heads up to use flight aware. It’s already downloaded now onto my iPhone with flight alerts set!
Hi Alfred.
Thanks. Have a good trip to the mainland.
Aloha.
We were once delayed at LAX enroute to Honolulu. There were two flights that morning, one leaving at 8 and the other at 9. Both planes were there since the night prior. We were on the second flight of the day. The first flight out, had a mechanical problem. Part not available at LAX. Had to get the part from Seattle. Hawaiian let the first flight passengers take our plan. We had to wait for the part to come and be installed. We left 6 hours later, but Hawaiian 🌺 provided us all meal vouchers.
Vaccination w Southwest employees don’t go into effect till December 8th, so wouldn’t be involved in these cancellations.
When we were in Kona in 2019 when southwest first started flying to Hawaii. The six of us were stranded on our trip out to Honolulu. We had to rebook for over $600 and pay for bags on Hawaiian airlines to fly the less than an hour to HNL. southwest gave of each a $100 in travel funds. As I paid for my younger daughter and her boyfriend. That left me out the $ and they never used the travel funds.
[Banned].
When flights were cancelled by SW in June, we received a $250 voucher. Good for a year. Unexpected but welcomed. Because flights were rebooked for a day later, we rented a car and drove to the next airport where our layover was. 6 hours away. Still made it before next flight took .
My daughter recently had a connecting flight from Las Vegas to California. The connecting flight was canceled while she was enroute to Las Vegas. The response, “too bad, so sorry.” She eventually got a 30% refund on the ticket (30 days later after several calls). However, because the next flight out of Las Vegas on the original airline wasn’t leaving for 2 more days, she had to book a hotel room and a flight to CA with another airline the next day So, she lost money on the whole deal.
Several years ago we had a flight from LAX to HNL delayed by 12 hours. We were traveling with a one year old baby and American Airlines did us right. They gave us a hotel room and food vouchers. We got back to the airport for the flight and others from our flight were sleeping on the floor of the airport. We were sad for them but It would have been a nightmare doing that with our one year old (and my aging parents)