How Much Is It for a Flight to Hawaii

Does Southwest fly to Hawaii? Yes — true to its name, Southwest will fly you to the most southwestern state in the U.S.

The low-cost air carrier launched flights to Hawaii from the West Coast in 2019, and service to the tropical island state has only expanded since then, including new routes from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix as of June 2021.

Whether you're a snowbird seeking Hawaii's seemingly eternal summer, or the kids are out of school and you need vacation plans, you're in luck: Southwest flies to Hawaii year-round.

Here's what you need to know about Southwest Airlines' Hawaii flights.

Where Southwest flies in Hawaii

Southwest serves five airports in Hawaii:

Hilo (ITO), island of Hawaii.
Honolulu (HNL), Oahu.
Kahului (OGG), Maui.
Kona (KOA), island of Hawaii.
Lihue (LIH), Kauai.

Getting to Hawaii from the U.S. mainland on Southwest

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

Long Beach (LGB).
Los Angeles (LAX).
Oakland (OAK).
Sacramento (SMF).
San Diego (SAN).
San Jose (SJC).

Outside of California, Southwest also offers flights to Hawaii from:

Las Vegas (LAS).
Phoenix (PHX).

Flight times vary based on the route, but tend to run between five and six hours.

Southwest interisland flights in Hawaii

You don't need to pick just one island to fly to; Southwest offers interisland flights, so you can easily skip from the quaint town of Hilo to the bustling nightlife of Honolulu in under an hour.

Here are some sample Southwest interisland routes, and their average flight times:

Kahului to Kona: 40 minutes.
Lihue to Honolulu: 42 minutes.
Honolulu to Hilo: 58 minutes.

What the flight is like

Since the five-to-six-hour flight to Hawaii is more than double the average Southwest flight length, expect some changes to service.

While food and beverage service has been temporarily reduced due to the coronavirus, flights in pre-pandemic times from the mainland toaHawaii entailed drink service and a complimentary snack box, with alcoholic beverages available for an additional cost.

In-flight refreshments

Drinks: A typical Southwest flight includes a complimentary nonalcoholic drink. But on flights to Hawaii, you'll also have the choice to sip Minute Maid Pineapple Orange Juice Blend. Alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase. In addition to the usual beers, wines and spirits, Southwest brings the tropical vibes with the option to purchase a Kona Longboard Island Lager or a Blue Chair Bay Coconut Spiced Rum for an additional $7 each.

Snacks: The snacks get a tropical boost too. Many of us are familiar with the small bag of snacks (think pretzels, peanuts or a snack mix) typical of Southwest flights. And while service has been altered because of the coronavirus, flights to Hawaii usually feature a full snack box consisting of an assortment of prepackaged items (such as Welch's Island Fruits fruit snacks).

In-flight entertainment

On all Southwest flights, movies and TV shows are free to stream, and there are even some live TV channels — just bring your own device. There aren't any seatback screens, so you'll have to stream movies and shows from your own phone, tablet or laptop.

To access entertainment from your device, open www.southwestwifi.com and navigate to the Inflight Entertainment & Connectivity tab to start streaming.

In-flight Wi-Fi

Southwest-provided entertainment is free to stream online. But pretty much everything else you want to access via Wi-Fi will cost you — albeit not very much. All other internet access can be purchased for $8 a day per device on Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft.

Nerdy tip: If you bring your own electronics, hopefully your battery is strong. Southwest planes are sorely lacking in one area: seatback chargers. Southwest doesn't have standard or USB plugs on board, so charge up before boarding or consider packing a portable charger.

How to score a deal for cheap Southwest flights to Hawaii

Southwest flights generally don't appear in third-party travel agencies and flight aggregators like Expedia, Orbitz or Google Flights. So if you're using those tools to search for flights to Hawaii, don't be dismayed if no Southwest flights show up. Instead, go directly to Southwest's website to book.

Figuring out how to book Southwest flights to Hawaii is easy if you're already familiar with the platform. As usual, you can book your flights using cash or Rapid Rewards points .

No matter which currency you use to book, Southwest fares to Hawaii can vary based on where you're departing from, what island you're traveling to and your travel dates. Here are some tips for ensuring you get the best deal on your flight.

Be flexible about travel dates using the Southwest Low Fare Calendar

The lowest fares generally aren't available on the weekends, so weekday departures will be your best bet for saving money. Even the same flight one day apart could be a massively different price.

Use the Southwest Low Fare Calendar on the desktop site to see a monthly view of all airfares. This won't help you if there's a specific date you need to fly, but if you can be flexible about when you travel, you could sometimes save hundreds of dollars.

In this example, you could save $60 per ticket in some cases by flying out the same day of the week, but a week apart.

Looking at the return flights, say you intended to depart on Sunday, Aug. 8. Return airfare is a whopping $409 one way. But it's just $279 to return the next day. If you can find a cheap hotel room or room rental for one extra night (or slide your trip dates to accommodate), then you could actually save money by opting to fly home one day later given the $130 price difference per ticket.

Earn the Southwest Companion Pass

The Southwest Companion Pass is essentially a buy-one-get-one-free pass that enables you to fly a companion of your choice for nearly free whenever you fly. Just pay the taxes and fees (often only $5.60 each way for domestic flights) and add your companion to your itinerary, and they will join you to Hawaii.

Especially if you find yourself having to book one of those $400 one-way flights, holding the Companion Pass could theoretically save you $800 on your Hawaii trip alone, depending on the original airfare.

While earning the Southwest Companion Pass can be a challenge, it might be worth pursuing if you know a Hawaii trip is on your travel horizon. To qualify for a traditional Companion Pass, you'll need to do one of the following:

Fly 100 qualifying one-way flights in a calendar year.
Earn 125,000 Rapid Rewards points in a calendar year. Qualifying points include those that you earn through revenue flights booked via Southwest, those that you earn on Southwest credit cards and base points you earn from Rapid Rewards partners.

You may want to consider applying for one of Southwest's credit cards, as the welcome offer can help you get a decent portion of the way to Companion Pass ownership.

Look beyond Southwest

Outside of Southwest, fares from the West Coast to Oahu could easily run $600 round trip. But as low-cost competitor Southwest entered the market, other airlines lowered their prices to remain competitive. Use tools to shop for flights (we recommend Google Flights). While Southwest airfare prices don't appear in Google Flights, many other major airlines do. You may check Southwest airfares first, but check what the competition has for sale too.

In fact, shortly after Southwest announced service to Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines began offering low-cost main cabin basic fares . But unlike Hawaiian's basic fare, Southwest flights include perks that could still net more in savings, such as up to two free checked bags, no change fees and more.

Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards to help get you to Hawaii

Southwest credit cards can help you quickly rack up Rapid Rewards points for your spending; plus, if you meet the welcome offer requirements, you can get a huge windfall of points at once.

Southwest offers several ways to help you rack up points toward free flights on purchases. Credit card options include:

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card : Earn up to 100,000 bonus points. Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 50,000 more bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card : Earn up to 100,000 bonus points. Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 50,000 more bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card : Earn up to 100,000 bonus points. Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 50,000 more bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months.

Beyond earning points to use toward more flights, Southwest credit cards come with other benefits that will improve any flight — but especially one to Hawaii. Here are a few standouts:

4 upgraded boardings per year with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Hold the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card , and you'll receive four upgraded boardings per year, when available.

First off, given how long the flight to Hawaii is, you don't want to get stuck in the middle seat for five hours. But secondly, even if you check in early enough to nab a B group over the dreaded C, you still could end up with a middle seat. That's because the Southwest boarding process allows families with a child age 6 or younger to board as part of family boarding, which occurs before the B group.

Given Hawaii's popularity as a family vacation destination, there likely will be more families boarding than your average Southwest flight. Even if those people were assigned C group, they'll board ahead of you with a tot in tow, leaving you with the middle seat in front of the bathroom.

Don't tempt fate on this one; pull out your Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card and use your upgraded boarding credit.

Free Wi-Fi with the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

Maybe you're headed to Hawaii to take advantage of remote work or you just need to be connected during your flight. Don't miss a minute, even on the plane, thanks to Southwest's in-flight Wi-Fi. It normally costs $8 per day, per device, but is free for A-List Preferred Members. If you don't have Southwest elite status , you can also get free Wi-Fi if you hold the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card , which offers 365 $8 credits per year.

Important policies to be aware of

On flights to Hawaii, most of the usual policies still apply, though there are some minor changes specific to Hawaii.

Change policy: As is the case with all Southwest flights, tickets to Hawaii can be changed with no fees. That said, if you're changing to a more expensive flight, then the fare difference may apply.

Pet restrictions: As far as animals go, only fully trained service dogs assisting customers with disabilities are permitted on flights between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii. Even still, those animals must comply with Hawaii's import requirements, such as proof of a current rabies vaccination. They're also subject to any State of Hawaii Quarantine Program fees.

Additionally, plan on flying into Honolulu International Airport if you're bringing a service animal on your Hawaii trip, as that airport is the only point of entry for dogs entering Hawaii unless a valid Neighbor Island Inspection Permit has been issued by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.

Luggage restrictions: Not only can you not bring your pet, but you probably can't bring your pet plant. Per U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations, certain plants, plant products, animals and animal products are not permitted on flights to Hawaii. That's the U.S. government's rule — not Southwest's.

Upon your return, there are some souvenirs you can't take along with you back to California, or wherever your final destination may be. The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service prohibits or restricts bringing many types of agricultural products from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland, including most fresh fruits and vegetables and certain types of plants and flowers.

Here are some common items from Hawaii not allowed into the U.S. mainland or Alaska:

Most fresh fruits and vegetables.
Berries of any kind, including fresh coffee berries.
Cactus plants.
Citrus or citrus-related flowers and leaves, and no jade vine or Mauna Loa.
Live insects.
Soil, including any plants in soil.
Sugarcane.

However, here are some common items from Hawaii that are allowed into the U.S. mainland or Alaska:

Beach sand and seashells.
Coconuts.
Coffee.
Processed fruits and vegetables, such as dried fruit.
Fresh pineapple.
Fresh flowers, leis and foliage (except no citrus or citrus-related flowers and leaves, and no jade vine or Mauna Loa).

Which Hawaiian island should you choose?

So you're ready to jump on a Southwest flight to Hawaii — but now you're struggling to pick an island destination. Each Hawaiian island is unique, so pick one that suits your vacation style. All of the islands offer beautiful beaches, excellent snorkeling and breathtaking hikes.

There are a total of eight main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, though only six are accessible to tourists. Of those, Southwest flies to four islands. Here are some differences:

Oahu: You'll fly into Honolulu. Head to this cosmopolitan capital city if you want not just the beaches, but also to experience historical sites like Pearl Harbor and Iolani Palace, which is the only official state residence of royalty in the U.S. Plus you'll have a more active nightlife and social scene compared with the other islands.
Maui: Upon landing in Kahului, you'll likely drive off to a resort, where you can relax on long stretches of golden sand beach. Major resort areas include Kaanapali and Wailea . After you've recovered from the flight, take a waterfall-lined car trip called the Road to Hana — just beware if you're prone to car sickness.
Hawaii: The Big Island, as it's commonly referred to, is where you go to see the volcano Kilauea, which is part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. True to its name, the island is big — which means Southwest operates flights out of two separate airports. Hilo is on the east side of the island, while Kona is on the west.
Kauai: This island is referred to as the Garden Island, a fitting name as you'll find lush tropical foliage and the beautiful Napali Coast, best viewed by boat or helicopter tour. To visit Kauai via Southwest, you'll fly into Lihue.

Frequently asked questions

Where does Southwest fly in Hawaii?

Southwest currently flies to five airports in Hawaii:

Hilo (ITO), island of Hawaii.
Honolulu (HNL), Oahu.
Kahului (OGG), Maui.
Kona (KOA), island of Hawaii.
Lihue (LIH), Kauai.

Does Southwest fly to Maui?

Yes, Southwest flies to Kahului Airport (OGG) in Maui. Kahului is the second-busiest airport in the state of Hawaii.

How much are flights to Hawaii on Southwest?

Southwest airfare costs vary based on factors including distance and demand. But if you can take advantage of a fare sale, we've spotted flights between California and Hawaii for as low as $99, and interisland flights at just $29.

What time of year does Southwest fly to Hawaii?

Southwest flies to Hawaii year-round. While the wettest months in Hawaii are from November to March, average temperatures are consistently warm, as the average daytime summer temperature at sea level is 85 degrees Fahrenheit, while the average daytime winter temperature is 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can I bring food on Southwest Airlines flights to Hawaii?

In general, yes. Southwest allows you to bring your own food on board. Given that flights from Hawaii to California are more than five hours, you'll want a little something to munch on during your trip (and airplane snacks probably won't cut it).

That said, the USDA may restrict the types of food you can bring on board, given that many fresh fruits and vegetables are prohibited from being brought from Hawaii back onto the U.S. mainland. Here are some common items you cannot bring from Hawaii back onto your Southwest flight:

Most fresh fruits and vegetables.
Berries, including fresh coffee berries.
Sugarcane.

Most edible souvenirs can be transported back (and consumed in flight). Some common items you might bring back from Hawaii that are legal to transport include:

Fresh pineapple.
Coffee.
Coconut.
Commercially canned or processed foods, including processed fruits and vegetables (like dried fruit).

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what's important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2021 , including those best for:

How Much Is It for a Flight to Hawaii

Source: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/southwest-airlines-hawaii-flights

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