Southwest Airlines says ‘aloha’
Get on board with its new Hawaii flights. Travel,
Southwest Airlines has finally announced details on its Hawaii flights, with tickets on sale Monday and the first flight taking off March 17.
The initial flights will be between Oakland, California, and Honolulu, with additional flights from Oakland and flights from San Jose added in April and May. Tickets are available on Southwest’s website for the new routes.
Here’s what to know about the new Hawaii flights from the nation’s largest domestic airline:
You can’t necessarily get there from here
The airline is initially offering nonstop flights from only two California cities: Oakland and San Jose. It has said San Diego and Sacramento will also get flights. The airline is selling tickets to Hawaii from other cities, including Phoenix and Denver, with connections in Oakland. But if you want to fly Southwest to Hawaii from more far-flung cities, you’ll probably have to buy separate tickets.
Yes, you’ll spend 51⁄2 hours in a Boeing 737
There are no assigned seats or the option of upgrading to cushy premium seats. Southwest has one class: economy. Southwest is not the only airline using the workhorse jet instead of a widebody plane. Alaska Airlines uses a Boeing 737 on its flights from the West Coast to Hawaii.
Want a better seat?
Southwest offers two options for priority boarding: EarlyBird Check-In, which is $25 per person on Hawaii flights, or Upgraded Boarding, which likely will be $50 each way at the gate, when available.
You don’t have to pack light
Southwest’s trademark two-free-checked-bags policy will apply. Don’t stuff them silly though. Overweight bag fees of $75 each way kick in if a bag weighs more than 50 pounds.
Surfboards don’t fly free
Southwest charges $75 each way for surfboards. Boogie boards and knee boards can be checked as one of the two free checked bags.
Find a pet sitter
Southwest will not allow pets on flights to and from Hawaii, unless it’s a service animal or an emotional support cat or dog. It has a similar policy on international flights.
Don’t expect mahi mahi for your in-flight meal
Southwest doesn’t serve meals and isn’t changing that policy on flights to Hawaii. The airline said it will offer a free snack bag.
Bottom line: Eat before your flight and pack some snacks.
Want to toast your trip?
Southwest is adding tropical beverage options, including Minute Maid pineapple orange juice, Blue Chair Bay coconut spiced rum and Kona Longboard Island Lager to its Hawaii menu. The OJ is free; the alcoholic drinks aren’t.
In-flight Wi-Fi is $8, the standard for all Southwest flights
You don’t need to pay for Wi-Fi, though, if you want to stay in touch through instant messaging.
Free Live TV and on-demand movies are available.
You can watch on your phone, laptop, tablet or other devices. But make sure you bring an external charger or battery pack. Unlike many airlines, Southwest does not offer in-seat power outlets.