Southwest flight to Hawaii

[uop1497]

I would like to know if anyone here has flew Southwest to Hawaii recently. If so, can you please share your experience . I am debating whether to book our Maui flight with Southwest or with Alaska . Does your flight depart and arrive on time in both ways. Any problem you encounter during your trip with Southwest. Please advise and thank you.

 

[jackio]

In October we flew Southwest to HNL nonstop from LAX and nonstop back to LAS. We had no problems either way and both flights were on time.

 

[10spro]

I can't speak to Southwest, but you may want to check on Alaska before deciding. We used to always fly SJC-OGG direct on Alaska. Twice now they have changed our itinerary to fly us through SEA or LAX first, probably because they hub there, but it added several hours to the direct flight that now has a stop. Since then, we have switched to Hawaiian, because there are generally more options. I'd think with Southwest you would also have more options in case of cancellation. Maybe with COVID slowing down it won't be as much of an issue on Alaska, and we may go back to them at some point, just suggesting you check it out before deciding on Alaska as an option, or depending on where you depart, SEA or LAX may work for you.

 

[b2bailey]

I flew one of the first Southwest flights to Hawaii.
I purchased the auto-check -in option to be sure I wasn't stuck in middle seat.
On the other hand, a ticket booked with points found me in a middle seat. And the man next to me suffered a seizure enroute.
Which goes to show you never can tell.

 

[Luanne]

Not recent, but our daughter flew to Maui from San Jose two years ago. No problems. She will be flying Southwest again this month, again San Jose to Maui.

If you have to make changes, or cancel, with Southwest it's very easy and you really don't lose anything. If you book with miles/points they go back into your account. If you paid they funds go into a travel bank.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I would love to fly SW with a little grandkid in the seat between us, or I would like to buy the middle seat; otherwise, we fly first class. The people who sit on the aisle next to us are almost always crowding whomever sits in the middle seat. I don't like touching butt cheeks with strangers. Just sayin'. My butt is not the one hanging over the allotted seat space, not anymore, anyway.

And SW doesn't have an option to book that middle seat. If they did, I would do it. I have called about it after people said something about how I could book the seat. I have miles in Sapphire Reserve and use them for Hawaii. Rick is very fond of flying first class and deserves it with his back problems.

 

[Luanne]

When dh and I fly Southwest we opt for Early Bird and sometimes I can move us up to the first 15 positions (due to my credit card). We like to sit in the Exit row seats since they have more leg room, and on most of their planes one of the exit rows only has two seats. That's the best.

 

[Thunder Up]

We flew Southwest in January-February from OKC-PHX-OGG; OGG-KOA; KOA-LIH; LIH-LAS; and LAS-OKC. I am A-list preferred and my wife flys as my companion. The flights all left on time and arrived on time. None of the flights were 100% full; none our flights had anyone sitting in the middle sest in the row we sat in - usually the emergency exit row—extra leg room; SW only served snacks, so I would recommend purchasing some food before the flight; the outbound flight times were the best we have Had in a long time; left OKC about 7:30 am; arrive OGG at about 1:30 pm.

Hope this helps. Happy travels.

 

[uop1497]

Thank you ALL for your inputs.

We decide to go with Southwest for our flight. There is only 2 nonstop flight per day, one in morning and the other in the early afternoon. We choose the early flight for both ways.

I thought SW's seating will be first come first serve. Am I wrong? Last time we flew with SW (to Las Vegas), we board the plane with the first group, due to DH has mobility issue. For 5 hours flight, does SW has the same policy for people with mobility problem to board first. And passenger can sits anywhere they choose Or must I pay for the Early Bird to get our seat number ahead of time.

 

[Luanne]

We flew Southwest in January-February from OKC-PHX-OGG; OGG-KOA; KOA-LIH; LIH-LAS; and LAS-OKC. I am A-list preferred and my wife flys as my companion. The flights all left on time and arrived on time. None of the flights were 100% full; none our flights had anyone sitting in the middle sest in the row we sat in - usually the emergency exit row—extra leg room; SW only served snacks, so I would recommend purchasing some food before the flight; the outbound flight times were the best we have Had in a long time; left OKC about 7:30 am; arrive OGG at about 1:30 pm.

Hope this helps. Happy travels.

We always bring a meal on board when flying to Hawaii no matter what airline we fly. We find the choices for purchase on the plane are usually pretty limited (and expensive).

 

[Luanne]

Thank you ALL for your inputs.

We decide to go with Southwest for our flight. There is only 2 nonstop flight per day, one in morning and the other in the early afternoon. We choose the early flight for both ways.

I thought SW's seating will be first come first serve. Am I wrong? Last time we flew with SW (to Las Vegas), we board the plane with the first group, due to DH has mobility issue. For 5 hours flight, does SW has the same policy for people with mobility problem to board first. And passenger can sits anywhere they choose Or must I pay for the Early Bird to get our seat number ahead of time.

SW boards by number. When you check in you are assigned your boarding number. Starts with the A group 1 through 50, then B 1 through 50, then C 1 through 50. If you purchase Early Bird you are checked in automatically, earlier than if you waited to check in yourself. Early Bird will usually get you into the A group. The first 15 spots are their Select (or maybe it's called something else). Those cost more. I get 4 per year as a part of my Chase SW credit card. I pay for the seats, then get an automatic refund.

I came back to post that I completely missed the part about the mobility issue.

 

[Pathways]

For 5 hours flight, does SW has the same policy for people with mobility problem to board first. And passenger can sits anywhere they choose

Yes. You must check in with the gate agent to get your 'special' boarding pass to board first. You may NOT sit anywhere you choose. Those boarding first due to mobility issues may not sit in an exit row, but may sit anywhere else.

 

[uop1497]

Yes. You must check in with the gate agent to get your 'special' boarding pass to board first. You may NOT sit anywhere you choose. Those boarding first due to mobility issues may not sit in an exit row, but may sit anywhere else.

You are correct, with wheel chair assistance request on file, I can not do online check in myself.

SW boards by number. When you check in you are assigned your boarding number. Starts with the A group 1 through 50, then B 1 through 50, then C 1 through 50. If you purchase Early Bird you are checked in automatically, earlier than if you waited to check in yourself. Early Bird will usually get you into the A group. The first 15 spots are their Select (or maybe it's called something else). Those cost more. I get 4 per year as a part of my Chase SW credit card. I pay for the seats, then get an automatic refund.

Thanks for details about passenger boarding. If SW does has the same policy for people with limited mobility, I hope that, we can board with group A again when we fly .

 

[Blues]

You are correct, with wheel chair assistance request on file, I can not do online check in myself.

Thanks for details about passenger boarding. If SW does has the same policy for people with limited mobility, I hope that, we can board with group A again when we fly .

The person needing wheelchair assistance, plus one additional person to act as "helper", can get a pre-board pass. Pre-board is the first to get on the plane, ahead of group A. As noted, you may not sit in an exit row, but can pick any other seats.

 

[BingoBangoBongo]

If you buy Early Bird it will assign your boarding position 36 hours before departure but you still need to check in to get your boarding pass. Buying Early Bird does not guarantee you an A 1-60 position because other passengers might have priority before EB and anyone who purchased EB before you will also be assigned a boarding number. If you don’t purchase EB you should plan on checking in right at 24 hours prior to departure. I bought EB last week for the first time last week a few days before departure to use a credit card refund that was going to expire and ended up with a B24 position on the first leg and an A36 on the second. The crazy thing is we still got an exit row with the B24 position. Even stranger was the last person to board had to take an exit row seat as that was the only seat left on a full flight. Personally I think if you can check in right at 24 hours you can get your preferred seat type ie window/aisle. The airline loves the extra revenue.

 

[Pathways]

You are correct, with wheel chair assistance request on file,

he person needing wheelchair assistance, plus one additional person to act as "helper", can get a pre-board pass

For full clarification for others, the need for a wheelchair is NOT required to qualify for SW pre board. It is anyone who needs 'extra time or assistance in boarding' .

It is up to the discretion of the gate agent. I have a 20ish family member has a propensity to be injured and require a boot and crutches. (all very legit). She has always approached the gate agent and received a pre board pass.