Planning a trip to Hawaii involves more than just booking a flight. From selecting the right airline to understanding interisland travel, every detail contributes to making your journey enjoyable. With several airlines offering diverse services and amenities, you can start experiencing the island vibe even before you land.

Airlines and Routes

Several airlines offer round-trip flights to Hawaii from major U.S. cities. Southwest Airlines launched their Hawaii routes in 2019, primarily departing from West Coast cities. They've also expanded with flights from Las Vegas and Phoenix. Travel time runs between five and six hours. Southwest's fares often include perks like up to two free checked bags and no change fees.

United Airlines provides extensive service to Hawaii from nearly every corner of the continental U.S. Flights depart from cities including Denver, Chicago, and Newark, feeding into Hawaiian destinations such as Honolulu, Kahului (Maui), Kona, and Lihue (Kauai).

Hawaiian Airlines offers direct flights from various U.S. mainland cities, including Boston (BOS), New York (JFK), and Orlando (MCO) to their primary hubs in Honolulu, Kahului, Kona, Hilo, and Lihue. They provide a distinctive island touch, including Hawaiian-inspired meals and the option to book lie-flat business class suites.

Flight durations to Hawaii typically range from five to six hours for West Coast departures, while East Coast flights extend to around eleven to twelve hours, usually including a stopover.

Southwest's interisland flights allow for easy exploration of multiple islands, with routes like Kahului to Kona or Lihue to Honolulu taking under an hour.

Onboard Amenities

  • Hawaiian Airlines: Meals inspired by island flavors and access to in-flight entertainment on personal devices
  • United: Meal options and Wi-Fi
  • Southwest: Free streaming of movies and TV shows (passengers need their own fully charged devices)

For a more luxurious experience, Hawaiian Airlines' business class comes with lie-flat seats and direct aisle access. United sometimes offers similar upgrades on routes featuring their A330-900neo aircraft with Delta One suites.

Collage of airline logos and route maps for flights to Hawaii

Budgeting and Booking

Securing affordable round-trip tickets to Hawaii requires flexibility and strategic planning. Airlines often have fluctuating prices based on demand, and adjusting your travel dates by a few days can lead to significant savings.

Southwest's Low Fare Calendar allows you to scan an entire month of fares, making it easy to find the lowest ticket prices. Flying mid-week can often result in cheaper flights compared to weekend departures.

Travel alerts from services like Thrifty Traveler Premium notify you of flash sales and unadvertised deals, allowing you to take advantage of exceptional fares quickly.

Leveraging Rewards

  • The Southwest Companion Pass allows you to bring a companion for free (excluding taxes and fees) whenever you fly. To qualify, you need to earn 135,000 Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year.
  • Credit card rewards, especially from cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or The Platinum Card® from American Express, provide valuable points that can be transferred to airline partners for booking award flights.
"The cheapest times to fly to Hawaii are typically during the low tourist seasons – January and February, or September through November."

Booking three to six months ahead of your planned travel date is generally advisable to monitor fare patterns and lock in lower prices.

Consider booking one-way tickets on different airlines if it helps reduce costs. This mix-and-match approach can be particularly effective when airlines have fare wars or different sales at varying times.

Flying to Hawaii is about more than reaching your destination. It's an opportunity to begin your adventure with comfort and convenience, setting the tone for an unforgettable vacation.

  1. U.S. Department of Transportation. Aviation Consumer Protection. Air Travel Consumer Report. 2022.
  2. Hawaii Tourism Authority. Annual Visitor Research Report. 2021.
  3. Smith J. The Economics of Airline Pricing. Journal of Air Transport Management. 2020;85:101789.