Southwest to HNL

[davetteb]

We have reservations at Aulani in April coming from the East Coast. I am planning to book Southwest when it opens later this month. I'm trying to look at all the many options connecting on the west coast (most likely Nashville) to be able to make a decision and book when it opens. Does anyone have experience with this and suggestions as to the best options each way? It seems I may have to book HNL to west coast and then west coast to BNA. Trying to narrow down the best routes to compare. Thanks for any advice and input.

 

[Budzooka]

We have reservations at Aulani in April coming from the East Coast. I am planning to book Southwest when it opens later this month. I'm trying to look at all the many options connecting on the west coast (most likely Nashville) to be able to make a decision and book when it opens. Does anyone have experience with this and suggestions as to the best options each way? It seems I may have to book HNL to west coast and then west coast to BNA. Trying to narrow down the best routes to compare. Thanks for any advice and input.

We flew Southwest to HNL from Dallas in July and it was great. We were fortunate to be able to get both legs in the same day on the way back, as you lose a good chunk of the day with that time change. Most of their connections are on the West coast, as we stopped in Phoenix on the way there and San Diego on the return flight.

Also, I was really pleased with the bigger SWA planes. I wasn’t looking forward to being crammed in a SWA plane for 5 hours, but it was much roomier. It’s not business class and they don’t serve meals, but much nicer than expected.

 

[happymommy]

Where are you originating on the East Coast? We go to Oahu from the DC/Baltimore area at least every 2 years (own at the Marriott Ko Olina, but have been several times before buying there too). As much as we fly SWA, we’ve never found them to offer anything from here that would 1) save any money, and 2) be comfortable for that long in the air. We’ve flown through DFW, ATL, MSP, and a couple other connections. We only will take a flight with one connection, and next trip we’re flying the Dulles to HNL nonstop on United in first class, which will cut down on travel time allowing us to arrive earlier in the afternoon.

Are you set on SWA? Some other carriers offer things like adult drinks and meals (at least for purchase). Just wanted to throw that out there.

 

[LoveMickey]

I would agree with previous poster. We just return from Hawaii using Delta. We travelled from Albany NY to Atlanta to HNL and returned the same route. It was a very long flight to and from Atlanta to HNL. I was very glad we were able to fly first class. I don't know how I would have managed with SWA.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I'd look for a wide body jet for any Hawaiian flight. I disagree with others as I don't think "air time" is a big deal. We've done BOS to HNL direct, which is about 12 hours, and my wife was 8 months pregnant at the time. We also had two kids. It was fine because we were in a big plane and paid for the bulkhead seat. Tons of room to stretch out, stand up, etc. Plus they served full hot meals.

Better to be on a big jet for 10 hours than two little jets for 6 hours each.

 

[davetteb]

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm not set on Southwest, although I have enough points to pay for at least one of our tickets. But right now other carries are 2-3x Southwest fares, so that makes it pretty compelling. We will most likely fly out of Nashville and plan to only change planes once. No direct flights from here to HNL.

 

[herrmannpt]

We flew SW in June from Indy to Honolulu. We stopped over in San Diego. Worked out great for us because we got to visit with family that live in LA who drove down to stay a couple of nights in a hotel with us. Also a great way to make the time change more bearable because you get used to west coast time before changing another 3 hours in Hawaii. We had a layover in Vegas getting to San Diego, so it was a lot of flights, but we had enough points to cover 4 round trip tickets (thanks to the Pandemic for making the fares so crazy low when we booked). Couldn’t pass it up! Flights were all fine and free luggage. We love Southwest!

 

[Tink3815]

We have flown non stop from JFK to HNL on Hawaiian Air. Long trip but not bad getting it all done at once. We have done Southwest a few times , but it's a 2 day process with an overnight stay usually in Oakland or San Diego at an airport hotel. My husband would rather do that than the long haul.

 

[Budzooka]

We flew SW in June from Indy to Honolulu. We stopped over in San Diego. Worked out great for us because we got to visit with family that live in LA who drove down to stay a couple of nights in a hotel with us. Also a great way to make the time change more bearable because you get used to west coast time before changing another 3 hours in Hawaii. We had a layover in Vegas getting to San Diego, so it was a lot of flights, but we had enough points to cover 4 round trip tickets (thanks to the Pandemic for making the fares so crazy low when we booked). Couldn’t pass it up! Flights were all fine and free luggage. We love Southwest!

My wife was not excited about flying SWA, but we have a companion pass and boatloads of SWA points. Free is free. After the flight, she was pleasantly surprised and would do it again.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The big challenge with Southwest is you're likely to have to overnight to connect each way due to their schedules. The time and hotel really influence the economics of the fare.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

The big challenge with Southwest is you're likely to have to overnight to connect each way due to their schedules. The time and hotel really influence the economics of the fare.

I prefer the overnight when coming back East, especially with children.

 

[Willow1213]

The big challenge with Southwest is you're likely to have to overnight to connect each way due to their schedules. The time and hotel really influence the economics of the fare.

We are coming from Dallas, home of SW, so flights to the West Coast are abundant. Waiting for the schedule expansion to book for the Spring.

Looking at the current schedule, I can see 6+ flights a day to HNL with connections through various west coast locations (LAS, PHX, OAK, LAX). We are hoping to have SW Companion Pass for the trip, which makes it significantly more economical.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

We are coming from Dallas, home of SW, so flights to the West Coast are abundant. Waiting for the schedule expansion to book for the Spring.

Looking at the current schedule, I can see 6+ flights a day to HNL with connections through various west coast locations (LAS, PHX, OAK, LAX). We are hoping to have SW Companion Pass for the trip, which makes it significantly more economical.

From the East Coast/ET it may be more of a challenge. I haven't looked at the flights from BNA, but I know some of the midwest you end up having to transfer even to get to the west coast.

 

[dbtex83]

We are coming from Dallas, home of SW, so flights to the West Coast are abundant. Waiting for the schedule expansion to book for the Spring.

We are flying to HNL this fall, also from Dallas, and while we hoped to use Southwest, we found the schedules just didn't work for us. We wanted to maximize our arrival and departure days as much as possible, and since Southwest does not fly overnight return flights, we would have to leave first thing on the departure day. We also found that their HNL arrival flights just don't depart early enough from the west coast, most land in the afternoon or evening.

So instead we're flying out the evening before to the west coast on Southwest and taking an early Hawaiian flight to get there mid-morning. Then flying an Alaska overnight flight on the return.

 

[cgattis]

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm not set on Southwest, although I have enough points to pay for at least one of our tickets. But right now other carries are 2-3x Southwest fares, so that makes it pretty compelling. We will most likely fly out of Nashville and plan to only change planes once. No direct flights from here to HNL.

Yeah, we always fly out of BNA too, but the gymnastics required to use SW to Hawaii just ruled it out for me. We like Delta through SLC, just FYI. SLC is just an easy airport to maneuver and it has lots of food options for its size. I personally agree with @CaptainAmerica about liking a longer leg, but my family does not for various reasons. Those flights are also usually much more expensive.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I personally agree with @CaptainAmerica about liking a longer leg, but my family does not for various reasons. Those flights are also usually much more expensive.

Not from the Northeast for me. BOS to LAX plus LAX to HNL usually costs about the same as BOS to HNL direct. The one advantage you gain with two legs is the ability to mix and match airlines. On our next trip, we got a great rate from Alaska Airlines for HNL to LAX, and then LAX to BOS will be on United.

 

[cgattis]

Not from the Northeast for me. BOS to LAX plus LAX to HNL usually costs about the same as BOS to HNL direct. The one advantage you gain with two legs is the ability to mix and match airlines. On our next trip, we got a great rate from Alaska Airlines for HNL to LAX, and then LAX to BOS will be on United.

Unfortunately from BNA it’s almost always true. Maybe not from ATL, though, so OP might check there, depending on where they actually live.

 

[Budzooka]

We are coming from Dallas, home of SW, so flights to the West Coast are abundant. Waiting for the schedule expansion to book for the Spring.

Looking at the current schedule, I can see 6+ flights a day to HNL with connections through various west coast locations (LAS, PHX, OAK, LAX). We are hoping to have SW Companion Pass for the trip, which makes it significantly more economical.

Agreed. Was very pleased with options out of Dallas and ability to not have an overnight flight. SWA’s Rapid Rewards program is the best in the business and while I don’t love not being able to select a seat ahead of time, I almost exclusively fly SWA because of the flexibility with their points. Was very glad when they started flying to HNL and even happier after I experienced it!

 

[denecarter]

At one point, wasn’t Dallas on Southwest’s list for future direct flights to HNL?

 

[3kidz4dis]

We have flown non stop from JFK to HNL on Hawaiian Air. Long trip but not bad getting it all done at once. We have done Southwest a few times , but it's a 2 day process with an overnight stay usually in Oakland or San Diego at an airport hotel. My husband would rather do that than the long haul.

Tink..how are the logistics of JFK itself? We live about 4 hours from JFK (central PA) and this is the only non stop in the area from Hawaiian Air? We will be coming off the red eye on 4th of July and then driving the 4 hours home. Is JFK a nightmare?