Timing Southwest's Hawaii Flight Sale

[DaveNV]

Speculation question: Does anybody know if Southwest will have a longer timeframe for booking airfare to Hawaii than they do for their Mainland flight schedule? I like to book my Hawaii airfare as far out as possible (330 days?) to maximize options. If Southwest follows their short timeframe calendar for booking Hawaii flights, that's going to require serious scheduling adjustments.

Dave

 

[Caligirlfrtx]

So excited! plus I just earned my companion fare!!!

 

[PigsDad]

Speculation question: Does anybody know if Southwest will have a longer timeframe for booking airfare to Hawaii than they do for their Mainland flight schedule? I like to book my Hawaii airfare as far out as possible (330 days?) to maximize options. If Southwest follows their short timeframe calendar for booking Hawaii flights, that's going to require serious scheduling adjustments.

As of Jan 31, 2019, they are booking out through October 1, 2019. Shorter timeframe than the majors, but not exactly what I would classify as "short timeframe". Southwest is all about operational efficiency, so I can't see them adding the complexity to their booking system of having different booking windows based on location. Think about the complexity that would be created to book a connecting flight from, say, Denver, where the initial leg from Denver to California was outside the normal booking window, but the CA to HI leg is inside the window.

They didn't extend it when they started flying international, so I can't see them extending it for Hawaii.

Kurt

 

[BDMX2]

Fun to watch the footage of the test flight arrival! https://www.khon2.com/amp/news/loca...errer=https://www.google.com&amp_tf=From %1$s

 

[DaveNV]

As of Jan 31, 2019, they are booking out through October 1, 2019. Shorter timeframe than the majors, but not exactly what I would classify as "short timeframe". Southwest is all about operational efficiency, so I can't see them adding the complexity to their booking system of having different booking windows based on location. Think about the complexity that would be created to book a connecting flight from, say, Denver, where the initial leg from Denver to California was outside the normal booking window, but the CA to HI leg is inside the window.

They didn't extend it when they started flying international, so I can't see them extending it for Hawaii.

Kurt

Ok, thanks. Those are certainly good points. But 9 months out is still shorter than the 11 available with other carriers. I hadn’t considered the connections side of things. Flying from the West Coast direct to Hawaii for me is usually a one flight thing.

Dave

 

[rickandcindy23]

The great thing about Southwest is every seat can be FREE with points, as long as you have enough points, and we have not paid for a single seat in at least six years. I guess all of the timeshare maintenance fees are paying off. We have been known to pay for the kids' flights as well with points. The credit card is great and pays for itself each year. The fee is worth the points you get added to your account, so it's not a waste to have the card and pay each year.

 

[BDMX2]

The great thing about Southwest is every seat can be FREE with points, as long as you have enough points, and we have not paid for a single seat in at least six years. I guess all of the timeshare maintenance fees are paying off. We have been known to pay for the kids' flights as well with points. The credit card is great and pays for itself each year. The fee is worth the points you get added to your account, so it's not a waste to have the card and pay each year.

And that's why I'm waiting with baited breath for our late June/early July trip...we have lots of points and companion pass for 2019. It is literally worth $5000 - $6000 to me!

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Another good sign: SWA HNL Gates are complete.

https://www.jeffsetter.com/southwest-air-gates-at-hnl-gates-are-complete/

 

[dougp26364]

I read an article this week that Tuesday they completed the CA to Hawaii ETOPS qualifying flight and then on Weds completed a flight from Honolulu to Dallas. So they're getting very close. If they can avoid delays with any additional government shut downs they estimate they can start selling tickets as early as the end of this month and begin flights sometime in March.

Still, we decided not to wait. Flights to the islands are expensive enough I'm only willing to pay them every other year. Since we're going to Maui this year, we went ahead and made other plans for 2020 (we're not last minute planners obviously). I am anxious to see their pricing and, who knows, if they're cheap enough from our home airport, I suppose I could always cancel our current plans and we could start looking at the islands as a more frequent vacation destination.

I'm not really holding my breath on prices being so low we'll be able to think about going every year. For the most part, SWA's compares favorably with the other major players in the market but, pricing isn't always that much lower and sometimes their routing is a little chaotic for us. We prefer them for their bags-fly-free policy and we MUCH prefer their boarding process when compared to the gate-lice anxiety packed adventure on other airlines but, Hawaii flights have always been cost prohibitive from our smallish airport so every other year is more likely. The difference will be it's more likely every other year on SWA's instead of on UAL.

If we lived out west instead of in the Midwest I'm sure we'd be much more excited about SWA's entry into Hawaii.

 

[Tucsonadventurer]

I read an article this week that Tuesday they completed the CA to Hawaii ETOPS qualifying flight and then on Weds completed a flight from Honolulu to Dallas. So they're getting very close. If they can avoid delays with any additional government shut downs they estimate they can start selling tickets as early as the end of this month and begin flights sometime in March.

Still, we decided not to wait. Flights to the islands are expensive enough I'm only willing to pay them every other year. Since we're going to Maui this year, we went ahead and made other plans for 2020 (we're not last minute planners obviously). I am anxious to see their pricing and, who knows, if they're cheap enough from our home airport, I suppose I could always cancel our current plans and we could start looking at the islands as a more frequent vacation destination.

I'm not really holding my breath on prices being so low we'll be able to think about going every year. For the most part, SWA's compares favorably with the other major players in the market but, pricing isn't always that much lower and sometimes their routing is a little chaotic for us. We prefer them for their bags-fly-free policy and we MUCH prefer their boarding process when compared to the gate-lice anxiety packed adventure on other airlines but, Hawaii flights have always been cost prohibitive from our smallish airport so every other year is more likely. The difference will be it's more likely every other year on SWA's instead of on UAL.

If we lived out west instead of in the Midwest I'm sure we'd be much more excited about SWA's entry into Hawaii.

We read last week that they didn't include bids for pilots on their flight bid for March so they are missing that piece. Maybe April.

 

[BDMX2]

Oh boy, I SOOOO would like to believe this rumor from Beat of Hawaii:
Hawaii Valentine’s Day | Could Southwest Have A Sweet Surprise?
https://beatofhawaii.com/hawaii-valentines-day-could-southwest-have-the-sweet-surprise/

 

[pspercy]

Will they keep 3-3 seating with no assigned seats?

 

[controller1]

Will they keep 3-3 seating with no assigned seats?

I can't imagine Southwest is going to change their business model. They didn't change it when they started serving international destinations.

 

[jehb2]

...and then on Weds completed a flight from Honolulu to Dallas.

And that's why I'm waiting with baited breath for our late June/early July trip.

Wow! I feel silly but this is pretty exciting. I already have my tickets, but I need to buy my sister’s.

 

[rickandcindy23]

https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-new-fees-next-year/

Southwest is probably going to offer a business class with 2-2 seating for Hawaii and other long flights. That is what the above article is about.

 

[mark201235]

Oh boy, I SOOOO would like to believe this rumor from Beat of Hawaii:
Hawaii Valentine’s Day | Could Southwest Have A Sweet Surprise?
https://beatofhawaii.com/hawaii-valentines-day-could-southwest-have-the-sweet-surprise/

We have flights booked to Aruba for mid August (companion pass), and are waiting for an RCI match to an OGS. If a match doesn't happen by the time Southwest opens for Hawaii bookings, I'm gonna cancel the Aruba flights and book to Hawaii. Not a bad problem to have and one of the main reasons we fly Southwest. Easy (and free unless higher fare of course) to cancel flights and rebook.

Mark

 

[PigsDad]

https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-new-fees-next-year/

Southwest is probably going to offer a business class with 2-2 seating for Hawaii and other long flights. That is what the above article is about.

Just to clarify: Southwest has said nothing or done nothing to indicate they would offer a 2-2 seating or first / business class seat. This idea was just the rambling thoughts of "Helane Becker, an airline analyst", according to the article.

I wouldn't hold my breath...

Kurt

 

[BDMX2]

https://beatofhawaii.com/southwest-hawaii-airline-update/
More drumming up excitement!

 

[BDMX2]

Since I may just be *mildly* obsessing over this...looks like a flight from OAK to HNL should be taking off any second now: https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA8725/history/20190214/1900Z/KOAK/PHNL

Found the info here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/trav...-test-more-hawaii-tests-scheduled/2869014002/

OK, I really should be working!

 

[rickandcindy23]

I keep waiting for the big announcement myself, but not for me, for my daughter and her family because they have yet to take their kids to Hawaii, and this southwest announcement might just be the ticket. Get it? Yes, I really do crack myself up.

 

[DaveNV]

this southwest announcement might just be the ticket. Get it? Yes, I really do crack myself up.

You get a boarding pass on this one.

Dave

 

[rickandcindy23]

You get a boarding pass on this one.

Dave

Yes, that's true. I keep waiting for the announcement, so I am just such a nerd. I wouldn't fly SW to Hawaii with no first class, and according to Kurt (Pigsdad), there will be no such thing as business class. I shouldn't read all of those Points Guy bloviators.

 

[TheHolleys87]

I’m watching eagerly too. Our son and DiL are “booked” to use one of our Kona Coast weeks in December, and they most certainly could use a reduction in airfare for their family of five!

 

[Luanne]

I’m watching eagerly too. Our son and DiL are “booked” to use one of our Kona Coast weeks in December, and they most certainly could use a reduction in airfare for their family of five!

Southwest is only booking out to September at this time so your family has a bit of time.

 

[rickandcindy23]

So no announcement yesterday, on LUV day. Well, I was so sure it would be announced on 2/14.