As the year 2022 comes to a close, make a perfect start to your new year with a Hawaii vacation. Hawaii is a paradise on earth with picture-perfect pristine beaches, untouched natural beauty, and a sizzling volcanic landscape. The US state of Hawaii presents a unique vibe that instantly calms your mind and leaves you aching more. Some world-class airlines serve this incredible archipelago with regularly scheduled flights. Make a relaxing start to your vacation by finding out in advance the best airline to fly to Hawaii.
Before jumping into the details of the best airline to fly to Hawaii , let’s take a quick overview of the state.
Also Read: What To Prepare Before Going To Hawaii?
Situated around 2000 miles from the US mainland, Hawaii is the 11-least populous state in the US. Yet, several airlines offer easy access to this incredible state from cities in North America. Hawaii hosts several airports to allow easier access and greater movement for visitors from all over the world. The primary and glamorous port of entry for the Hawaiian territory is Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL). It serves the city and county of Honolulu’s capital city and is the main hub for Hawaiian Airlines.
Other aerial gateways include Kahului Airport, Hilo International Airport, Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, Lihue Airport, etc.
Six best airlines to fly to Hawaii
1. Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines, the largest commercial air operator in Hawaii, is undoubtedly the best airline to fly to the archipelago state. It embodies Hawaiian flying style, top-notch reliability, and impeccable safety record. It is Hawaii’s longest-serving carrier that started its operations 93 years ago on October 6, 1929.
Hawaiian Airlines is based at Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and maintains a secondary hub at Kahului Airport. Take a vacation feeling with you onboard Hawaiian Airlines‘ mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing jets.
No carrier connects Hawaii to extensive North American cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Austin, Boston, Las Vegas, etc. than Hawaiian Airlines. Hawaiian Airlines will cover your needs if you are an Asian-Pacific traveler looking for direct, non-stop international flights to Hawaii. Apart from the US mainland cities, the carrier offers Hawaii flying experience out of cities in South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, etc. Even if you are a Hawaii resident, you can easily fly between islands with nearly 150 daily flights the carrier offers.
Some of the top reasons to choose Hawaiian Airlines
- Largest and longest-standing Hawaiian carrier with near-century flight history
- Squeaky clean accident record without a single hull loss
- On-time performance, top-notch reliability
- Low flight cancellation rates and baggage handling issues
- The wider geographical coverage from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the US mainland, etc.
- Excellent onboard Hawaiian hospitality
Note: Hawaiian Airlines doesn’t provide wireless internet connectivity on all flights. However, the carrier has sought to offer seamless and free Wi-Fi on its transatlantic fleet in partnership with Starlink.
2. Delta Air Lines
The Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is the other best airline to fly to Hawaii. It offers regularly scheduled flights to four key Hawaiian Islands, including Honolulu, Kahului, Kona, and Lihue. Delta connects four Hawaiian airports to seven US mainland cities using various fleets such as A330-900s, A330-300s, Boeing 767-400ERs, etc.
Delta gives customers more choices for travel and an opportunity to connect with the great outdoors in Hawaii. Book your Honolulu getaway with Delta from US airports in Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, JFK, Salt Lake City, and Seattle/Tacoma. If you are looking for a family vacation, take Delta’s direct flights to Maui Island, available from Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Delta is the sole carrier operating daily direct non-stop flights on the Atlanta- Maui route using Airbus A330-300s.
Starting in winter 2022, elite travelers can choose Delta’s Premium Select fare option to enjoy a first-class experience aboard select Hawaii flights. This elite fare includes spacious adjustable seats, premium amenities kits, and an excellent culinary experience. The new Delta Premium Select offering is available on the Atlanta-Maui, New York-Honolulu, and Salt Lake City-Maui routes.
Top reasons to select Delta for flights to Hawaii
- Availability of premium seats on select domestic flights to/from Hawaii
- Daily non-stop service from the contiguous US
- Wi-Fi access to guests onboard Hawaiian flights
- Low rate of cancellation, delays, and denied boarding
- On-time performance, so you won’t miss out on holiday activities
3. United Airlines
United Airlines is another preferred choice for travelers to Hawaii’s preeminent tropical destination getaway. With more than 6,800 seats daily, this Chicago-based carrier ferries the largest number of travelers to the island paradise. It offers the highest non-stop Hawaii services from eight departure points on the US west and East coasts.
You can easily catch one of the United’s flights to enjoy the island life in Hawaii. The carrier operates direct flights to all five key Hawaii airports from Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Orange County, San Francisco, and Washington Dulles.
Which plane does United Airlines fly to Hawaii? Depending on the routes, the carrier operates domestic flights to Aloha state using aircraft like Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 767-300s, etc.
United Airlines doesn’t offer inter-island service, but its passengers can still reap the benefit. As per agreement with Hawaiian Airlines, United passengers can gain MileagePlus points on select inter-island flights on Hawaiian Airlines and redeem miles for flights.
What makes United the best airline to fly to Hawaii?
- An extensive route network covering the main islands of Hawaii
- Most non-stop flights to Hawaii of all American carriers
- Ability to redeem or earn miles on inter-island flights
Note: United Airlines lags behind Hawaiian Airlines and Delta regarding passenger baggage handling.
4. Alaska Airlines
Ranking fourth on the list, Alaska Airlines enjoys huge popularity in Hawaii flights. The Seattle-headquartered carrier enables travelers to access everything the big and small islands of Hawaii have to offer. You can reach the incredible natural islands through Alaska’s direct flights to Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Island of Hawaii.
Alaska Airlines offers affordable fares, comfort, convenience, and friendly service on Hawaii flights. The carrier flies to the archipelago state from Anchorage, Los Angeles, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle.
Your Hawaii vacation starts when you onboard Alaska Airlines’ planes equipped with modern IFE systems and charging ports. Stream 500+ free movies and TV shows to your gadget to get yourself entertained on air. Alaska Airlines is a go-to airline for those looking for affordable flying options to Hawaii. You can make advance seat reservations to ensure you stay close to your loved ones the whole flight.
Strong selling points of Alaska Airlines
- Affordable fares
- Good safety record
- Excellent reliability and passenger comfort
- Maximum on-time flights, minimal delays
5. American Airlines
The world’s largest carrier, American Airlines (AA), is a niche player in the Hawaii market with daily flights from various airports. Book your Hawaiian getaway with American Airlines from any of these mainland US cities–Los Angeles (LAX), Phoenix (PHX), Philadelphia (PHL), Dallas (DFW), Chicago (ORD), and Charlotte (CLT).
American Airlines flights to Hawaiian can be summarized as follows:
- Honolulu flights: Los Angeles, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Dallas, Chicago, and Charlotte
- Kahului flights: Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, Chicago, Charlotte, and Philadelphia
- Lihue flights: Los Angeles, Phoenix, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Austin
- Kona flights: Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas, Chicago, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City
The Dallas, Fort Worth-based carrier forays into Hawaii using Airbus A321neo, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 737, etc. All American Airlines flights to Hawaii feature inflight Wi-Fi service to stay in touch with the world below.
What makes American Airlines the best airline to fly to Hawaii?
- Plenty of flight connectivity options from its multiple hubs
- Onboard Wi-Fi connectivity, delivering a quality experience
- Use of modern fleet, some of which feature first-class products
- Opportunity to earn points on codeshare flights with Hawaiian Airlines
Note: American Airlines has a low customer ranking on baggage handling, flight delays, and denied boarding
6. Southwest Airlines
Vacation to Hawaii doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive. Escape the everyday 9-5 grind to enjoy outdoor excursions in Hawaii. Worried about a sky-high price tag? Southwest Airlines has your travel needs covered with cheap airfare offerings. The low-cost giant is one of the best airlines to fly to Hawaii without busting your budget.
Southwest Airlines has a strong presence in Hawaii, with regular flights to Honolulu, Kahului, Kailua-Kona, Hilo, and Lihue. The carrier operates this domestic service from all-important west coast cities like Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, San Jose, etc.
All Southwest’s Hawaii flights are performed by fuel-efficient and modern Boeing 737-800 and Max aircraft. These jets ensure passenger comfort throughout the flight with extra space, free movies/TV, and onboard Wi-Fi at just 8 dollars.
The unique advantage of Southwest Airlines is that it offers low interisland fares to ensure an unmatched Hawaii on-island experience. Choose Southwest’s interisland flights to enjoy the island life without breaking the bank.
