The Guide to Southwest Airlines Hawaii Flights

True to its identify, Southwest will fly you to essentially the most southwestern state within the U.S. The low-cost air service launched flights to Hawaii from the West Coast in 2019, and repair to the tropical island state has solely expanded since then.

Whether or not you’re a snowbird searching for Hawaii’s seemingly everlasting summer time, or the youngsters are out of faculty and also you want trip plans, you’re in luck: Southwest flies to Hawaii year-round.

Right here’s what it is advisable to find out about Southwest Airways’ Hawaii flights.

Southwest serves 5 airports in Hawaii:

• Hilo (ITO), island of Hawaii.

• Kona (KOA), island of Hawaii.

Southwest flies nonstop to Hawaii out of the next California airports:

Flight instances differ primarily based on the route, however are likely to run between 5 and 6 hours.

You don’t want to select only one island to fly to; Southwest presents interisland flights, so you may simply skip from the quaint city of Hilo to the bustling nightlife of Honolulu in beneath an hour.

Listed below are some pattern Southwest interisland routes, and their common flight instances:

• Kahului to Kona: 40 minutes.

• Lihue to Honolulu: 42 minutes.

• Honolulu to Hilo: 58 minutes.

Because the five-to-six-hour flight between California and Hawaii is greater than double the typical Southwest flight size, anticipate some modifications to service.

Whereas meals and beverage service has been quickly decreased as a result of coronavirus, flights in pre-pandemic instances between California and Hawaii entailed drink service and a complimentary snack field, with alcoholic drinks out there for a further price.

Drinks: A typical Southwest flight features a complimentary nonalcoholic drink. However on flights to Hawaii, you’ll even have the selection to sip Minute Maid Pineapple Orange Juice Mix. Alcoholic drinks are additionally out there for buy. Along with the same old beers, wines and spirits, Southwest brings the tropical vibes with the choice to buy a Kona Longboard Island Lager or a Blue Chair Bay Coconut Spiced Rum for a further $7 every.

Snacks: The snacks get a tropical enhance too. Many people are aware of the small bag of snacks (suppose pretzels, peanuts or a snack combine) typical of Southwest flights. And whereas service has been altered due to the coronavirus, flights to Hawaii normally function a full snack field consisting of an assortment of prepackaged objects (comparable to Welch’s Island Fruits fruit snacks).

On all Southwest flights, films and TV reveals are free to stream, and there are even some dwell TV channels — simply convey your individual system. There aren’t any seatback screens, so that you’ll need to stream films and reveals from your individual telephone, pill or laptop computer.

To entry leisure out of your system, open www.southwestwifi.com and navigate to the Inflight Leisure & Connectivity tab to begin streaming.

Southwest-provided leisure is free to stream on-line. However just about every little thing else you need to entry by way of Wi-Fi will price you — albeit not very a lot. All different web entry could be bought for $8 a day per system on Wi-Fi-enabled plane.

Southwest flights usually don’t seem in third-party journey companies and flight aggregators like Expedia, Orbitz or Google Flights. So in case you’re utilizing these instruments to seek for flights to Hawaii, don’t be dismayed if no Southwest flights present up. As a substitute, go on to Southwest’s web site to e-book.

Determining the best way to e-book Southwest flights to Hawaii is straightforward in case you’re already aware of the platform. As regular, you may e-book your flights utilizing money or Fast Rewards factors.

Regardless of which forex you utilize to e-book, Southwest fares to Hawaii can differ primarily based on the place you are departing from, what island you are touring to and your journey dates. Listed below are some suggestions for guaranteeing you get the perfect deal in your flight.

The bottom fares usually aren’t out there on the weekends, so weekday departures will likely be your finest guess for saving cash. Even the identical flight someday aside could possibly be a massively completely different worth.

Use the Southwest Low Fare Calendar on the desktop web site to see a month-to-month view of all airfares. This gained’t make it easier to if there’s a particular date it is advisable to fly, however in case you could be versatile about whenever you journey, you can generally save a whole lot of {dollars}.

On this instance, you can save $60 per ticket in some instances by flying out the identical day of the week, however per week aside.

Wanting on the return flights, say you supposed to depart on Sunday, Aug. 8. Return airfare is a whopping $409 a technique. But it surely’s simply $279 to return the subsequent day. If you could find an affordable resort room or room rental for one further night time (or slide your journey dates to accommodate), then you can truly get monetary savings by opting to fly residence someday later given the $130 worth distinction per ticket.

The Southwest Companion Go is actually a buy-one-get-one-free cross that lets you fly a companion of your alternative for almost free everytime you fly. Simply pay the taxes and costs (typically solely $5.60 every manner for home flights) and add your companion to your itinerary, and they’ll be a part of you to Hawaii.

Particularly if you end up having to e-book a kind of $400 one-way flights, holding the Companion Go might theoretically prevent $800 in your Hawaii journey alone, relying on the unique airfare.

Whereas incomes the Southwest Companion Go is usually a problem, it may be price pursuing if you already know a Hawaii journey is in your journey horizon. To qualify for a conventional Companion Go, you will must do one of many following:

• Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar 12 months.

• Earn 125,000 Fast Rewards factors in a calendar 12 months. Qualifying factors embrace those who you earn by income flights booked by way of Southwest, those who you earn on Southwest bank cards and base factors you earn from Fast Rewards companions.

You might need to take into account making use of for one among Southwest’s bank cards, because the welcome supply may help you get an honest portion of the best way to Companion Go possession.

Outdoors of Southwest, fares from the West Coast to Oahu might simply run $600 spherical journey. However as low-cost competitor Southwest entered the market, different airways lowered their costs to stay aggressive. Use instruments to store for flights (we suggest Google Flights). Whereas Southwest airfare costs don’t seem in Google Flights, many different main airways do. You might examine Southwest airfares first, however examine what the competitors has on the market too.

In reality, shortly after Southwest introduced service to Hawaii, Hawaiian Airways started providing low-cost principal cabin fundamental fares. However in contrast to Hawaiian’s fundamental fare, Southwest flights embrace perks that would nonetheless internet extra in financial savings, comparable to as much as two free checked baggage, no change charges and extra.

Southwest bank cards may help you rapidly rack up Fast Rewards factors to your spending; plus, in case you meet the welcome supply necessities, you will get an enormous windfall of factors directly.

Southwest presents a number of methods that can assist you rack up factors towards free flights on purchases. Bank card choices embrace:

• Southwest Fast Rewards® Plus Credit score Card: Earn 40,000 factors after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months. Plus, earn 3X factors on eating, together with takeout and eligible supply providers, for the primary 12 months.

• Southwest Fast Rewards® Premier Credit score Card: Earn 40,000 factors after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months. Plus, earn 3X factors on eating, together with takeout and eligible supply providers, for the primary 12 months.

Past incomes factors to make use of towards extra flights, Southwest bank cards include different advantages that can enhance any flight — however particularly one to Hawaii. Listed below are a number of standouts:

Maintain the Southwest Fast Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card, and also you’ll obtain 4 upgraded boardings per 12 months, when out there.

First off, given how lengthy the flight to Hawaii is, you don’t need to get caught within the center seat for 5 hours. However secondly, even in case you examine in early sufficient to nab a B group over the dreaded C, you continue to might find yourself with a center seat. That’s as a result of the Southwest boarding course of permits households with a toddler age 6 or youthful to board as a part of household boarding, which happens earlier than the B group.

Given Hawaii’s reputation as a household trip vacation spot, there doubtless will likely be extra households boarding than your common Southwest flight. Even when these individuals had been assigned C group, they’ll board forward of you with a tot in tow, leaving you with the center seat in entrance of the lavatory.

Don’t tempt destiny on this one; pull out your Southwest Fast Rewards® Precedence Credit score Card and use your upgraded boarding credit score.

Possibly you’re headed to Hawaii to make the most of distant work otherwise you simply have to be linked throughout your flight. Don’t miss a minute, even on the airplane, due to Southwest’s in-flight Wi-Fi. It usually prices $8 per day, per system, however is free for A-Listing Most popular Members. When you don’t have Southwest elite standing, you too can get free Wi-Fi in case you maintain the Southwest Fast Rewards® Efficiency Enterprise Credit score Card, which presents 365 $8 credit per 12 months.

On flights to Hawaii, many of the regular insurance policies nonetheless apply, although there are some minor modifications particular to Hawaii.

Change coverage: As is the case with all Southwest flights, tickets to Hawaii could be modified with no charges. That mentioned, in case you’re altering to a dearer flight, then the fare distinction might apply.

Pet restrictions: So far as animals go, solely absolutely educated service canine aiding prospects with disabilities are permitted on flights between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii. Even nonetheless, these animals should adjust to Hawaii’s import necessities, comparable to proof of a present rabies vaccination. They’re additionally topic to any State of Hawaii Quarantine Program charges.

Moreover, plan on flying into Honolulu Worldwide Airport in case you’re bringing a service animal in your Hawaii journey, as that airport is the one level of entry for canine getting into Hawaii until a legitimate Neighbor Island Inspection Allow has been issued by the Hawaii Division of Agriculture.

Baggage restrictions: Not solely are you able to not convey your pet, however you most likely can’t convey your pet plant. Per U.S. Division of Agriculture rules, sure vegetation, plant merchandise, animals and animal merchandise usually are not permitted on flights to Hawaii. That’s the U.S. authorities’s rule — not Southwest’s.

Upon your return, there are some souvenirs you may’t take together with you again to California, or wherever your ultimate vacation spot could also be. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Well being Inspection Service prohibits or restricts bringing many sorts of agricultural merchandise from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland, together with most contemporary vegatables and fruits and sure sorts of vegetation and flowers.

Listed below are some widespread objects from Hawaii not allowed into the U.S. mainland or Alaska:

• Most contemporary vegatables and fruits.

• Berries of any sort, together with contemporary espresso berries.

• Citrus or citrus-related flowers and leaves, and no jade vine or Mauna Loa.

• Soil, together with any vegetation in soil.

Nonetheless, listed here are some widespread objects from Hawaii which are allowed into the U.S. mainland or Alaska:

• Seaside sand and seashells.

• Processed vegatables and fruits, comparable to dried fruit.

• Recent flowers, leis and foliage (besides no citrus or citrus-related flowers and leaves, and no jade vine or Mauna Loa).

So that you’re prepared to leap on a Southwest flight to Hawaii — however now you’re struggling to select an island vacation spot. Every Hawaiian island is exclusive, so decide one which fits your trip type. The entire islands supply stunning seashores, wonderful snorkeling and breathtaking hikes.

There are a complete of eight principal islands within the Hawaiian archipelago, although solely six are accessible to vacationers. Of these, Southwest flies to 4 islands. Listed below are some variations:

1. Oahu: You’ll fly into Honolulu. Head to this cosmopolitan capital metropolis if you would like not simply the seashores, but in addition to expertise historic websites like Pearl Harbor and Iolani Palace, which is the one official state residence of royalty within the U.S. Plus you will have a extra lively nightlife and social scene in contrast with the opposite islands.

2. Maui: Upon touchdown in Kahului, you’ll doubtless drive off to a resort, the place you may calm down on lengthy stretches of golden sand seashore. Main resort areas embrace Kaanapali and Wailea. After you’ve recovered from the flight, take a waterfall-lined automotive journey referred to as the Highway to Hana — simply beware in case you’re susceptible to automotive illness.

3. Hawaii: The Huge Island, because it’s generally referred to, is the place you go to see the volcano Kilauea, which is a part of Hawaii Volcanoes Nationwide Park. True to its identify, the island is huge — which implies Southwest operates flights out of two separate airports. Hilo is on the east aspect of the island, whereas Kona is on the west.

4. Kauai: This island is known as the Backyard Island, a becoming identify as you’ll discover lush tropical foliage and the gorgeous Napali Coast, finest seen by boat or helicopter tour. To go to Kauai by way of Southwest, you’ll fly into Lihue.

You need a journey bank card that prioritizes what’s vital to you. Listed below are our picks for the finest journey bank cards of 2021, together with these finest for: