Airline Profile: Hawaiian Airlines

The Facts:

Analysis:

6 Things You Need To Know About Hawaiian Airlines

• Hawaiian has a subsidiary – ‘Ohana by Hawaiian that operates ATR 42s on some intra Hawaiian operations.
• Hawaiian’s 717s are only used on intra Hawaii flights (no other airplanes are used on intra Hawaiian flights besides the ATR 42). They feature slimline seats in economy class and a full business class cabin.
• Hawaiian took delivery of their first Airbus A321neos in 2017. It operates them on routes from Hawaii to the West Coast of the US. Personal on-demand entertainment is not available on those aircraft, although personal device entertainment is available. These aircraft replaced their aging Boeing 767s, which they retired completely in 2019.
• Airbus A330-200s with flatbed seats in business class are used on most long-haul flights and on some flights to the west coast of the US. For a full list, see the link here.
• Hawaiian Airlines plans to take delivery of Boeing 787-9s starting in 2021. It plans to take delivery of a total of ten of them, and will use them on some of their long-haul flights. Hawaiian Airlines revealed which busienss class seat they would be using, which will feature closed suites and double beds in a 1-2-1 configuration.
• Hawaiian now operates two destinations to the east coast of the United States. They have been operating their flights to New York JFK for many years, although recently they began operating a flight from Honolulu to Boston. Obviously, both of these flights use their flagship, the Airbus A330 which have flatbed seats in business class.

Travel Classes:

Economy Class:

Economy class features personal on-demand entertainment (seat back screens) on all Airbus A330s. On A321s, economy class features personal device entertainment, and on 717s, no form of in-flight entertainment is available for passengers. Economy class is in a 2-4-2 configuration on the A330, in a 3-3 configuration on the A321, and in a 2-3 configuration on the 717. Free hot meals are available to economy class passengers on all non-intra-island flights. The first checked bag costs $25 for economy passengers while the second costs $35. There is a special zone in economy class called Extra Comfort. With Extra Comfort tickets, one gets seats with extra legroom, power outlets, priority boarding, and amenity kits on international flights.

Premium Cabin:

Premium cabin (on all other airlines known as business class) is featured on all aircraft. On all 717s, A321s, business class features recliner seats in a 2-2 configuration while on retrofitted A330s, it features flat-bed seats in a 2-2-2 configuration. Passengers on all non-intra island flights receive warm premium meals. On all international, Boston, and New York flights, passengers receive amenity kits and premium bedding while on all flights less than eight hours, amenity kits are not available although business class passengers do receive a smaller pillow and blanket. Also, passengers have access to the Plumeria Lounge located at Honolulu International Airport and partner lounges at other airports. First and second bags are for free for all business class passengers.

In 2016, Hawaiian Airlines introduced a new business class seat that I find looks a little bit…awkward. While it is in a 2-2-2 configuration, the cabin is very open, there is no built-in IFE (so you get iPads), and the footrest seems to be in a very unusual position. The cabin looks very Hawaiian (you’ll see in the picture below), and it is a considerable upgrade over Hawaiian’s previous generation business class that had recliner seats (the new configuration has flatbed seats). For long-haul flights, the seat is not up to international standards, although it is more than enough on flights to the west coast of the US.

Have you ever flown on Hawaiian Airlines? Share about your experience below!