Hawaiin Airlines

http://www.hawaiianair.com/

Types of Travelers

Business Travlers

4/5

Good business service from US to Hawaii. Regular business-class fare promotions.

Family Traveler

4/5

One of the better choices for flying to the islands.

Backpacker
Adventure Traveler

5/5

Good service to Hawaii and also between islands

Student
Budget Traveler

3/5

Fares to Hawaii are generally expensive compared to other domestic destinations

Elderly
Disabled Traveler

3/5

Standard accessibility on flights from mainland.

Long Term Traveler

3/5

Limited service outside of the islands

Novice Traveler

5/5

User-friendly airline

Introduction

Hawaiian Airlines is the 11th largest carrier in the US. As its name suggests, the airline mainly flies to the islands of Hawaii from the US. It also has international service to Japan, Korea, Australia and the Philippines. Hawaiian is known for its punctuality. It has had the best cancellation and delay record of any major airline in the United States. The airline also operates island-hopping flights for those who wish to travel between the different islands of Hawaii.

The airline started in the late 1920s as Inter-Island Airways. At that time, its fleet was made up of airplanes. It operated flights between Hawaii’s islands. The name was changed to Hawaiian Airlines in 1941. The airline has grown with the increase in airplane technology. It originally flew only from California but has expanded to include international routes and flights to other Western American cities over the past 15 years. The airline has never had a fatal accident.

Ratings

Important Factors 4/5

Average Delay

Less than 4 minutes

Cancelled Flights
(average per month)

Near 0% according to FlightStats

Customer Satisfaction Rating

3 star airline according to Skytrax

Types of Aircraft

Airbus A330, A350, Boeing 717, 767

General 4/5

Number of Domestic Flights (Daily)

117 between islands, variable international service and flights to the mainland (depending on season)

Number of International Flights (Daily)

Size of Fleet

34 (soon to expand to 49)

Major Airports and Destinations Served

Honolulu, Maui, LAX, San Jose, Tokyo, Kona, Hilo, Seattle, Phoenix

Location of Hub

Honolulu, Maui

Countries Served

US, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Tahiti, and Korea

Number of Routes

Most Popular Routes

Chicago Midway to Las Vegas McCarran, Phoenix Sky Harbor to Denver

In-Flight 4/5

Which Routes offer Meal Service?

Flights from the mainland and international flights have complimentary meals

Food Quality

In-flight Menu

n/a

Average Leg Room

30-33 inches

Types of In-flight Entertainment

Largest planes (flying from the mainland) offer complimentary movies and music.

Baggage 2/5

Baggage Fees

$25 for Mainland to Island flights, $10 for inter-island flights, free for international flights

Number of Bags Allowed

Weight Limits and Restrictions

50 lbs

Web Site 4/5

Online Check-in

Possible and popular for domestic flights

Web Site Usability

4/5

Special Needs 2/5

Handicap Accessibility

Standard accessibility

Pets

$175, $35 for inter-island flights.

Special Offers /Partners 3/5

Airline Alliance Membership

No alliance membership, but miles sharing with major carriers is possible

Hotel Partners

Vacation packages available, and the airline has partnerships with most major hotel, resort and car rental chains

Competing Airlines

Alaska Airlines, Continental, Delta, and United

Strengths

Cheap fares
Free baggage checking
Many domestic destinations
Easy online check-in

Weaknesses

Domestic service only
No extras available (business class)
Not part of airline alliance (limited miles-earning potential)
No assigned seats

Frequent Flier Program and Airport Lounges

Southwest does not have airport lounges. It has the Rapid Rewards Program that awards one point for each one-way trip. Thus, passengers receive two points for a round trip. Fliers who earn 16 points in any two year period get a free flight. There are fewer restrictions on Southwest than on other airlines when it comes to redeeming rewards.

Conclusion

Southwest is a popular, budget-friendly airline that offers service nationwide. It often flies into secondary airports, such as Chicago Midway and Dallas Love’s Field, but serves most major cities in the US. It is a no-frills carrier without any extras, but it offers practical features like free baggage checking and a user-friendly web site. Among fliers who choose airlines based on price, Southwest is one of the country’s best. Its user-friendliness is another plus, though the no-frills nature of the Southwest experience is not for people who need to be pampered in any way during a flight.