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If you’re looking to book a flight to Hawaii, you probably want to know which airlines offer service to the tropical islands. With over 10 major carriers providing daily nonstop flights from mainland airports, you have plenty of options.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about booking a flight to Hawaii, including a full list of airlines, routes, and tips for finding the best fares.
Major Airlines That Fly to Hawaii
Hawaiian Airlines
As Hawaii’s largest and longest-serving airline, Hawaiian Airlines offers the most nonstop flights between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland. It provides service from Honolulu to more cities in North America, Asia and the South Pacific than any other airline.
Destinations include major hubs like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Las Vegas, Phoenix and New York City.
In 2021, Hawaiian Airlines carried over 7.6 million passengers on their way to exploring the Hawaiian Islands. The airline operates a fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft for short hops between the islands or long-haul jaunts to places like Boston and Tokyo.
Alaska Airlines
As the fifth largest U.S. airline, Alaska Airlines offers many direct flights to Hawaii from its hubs on the West Coast, including Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and San Diego. It flies to Honolulu, Maui, Kona and Lihue multiple times per day.
In addition to its own wide-reaching route network, Alaska Airlines is affiliated with regional carrier Horizon Air. Between the two airlines, they serve over 120 destinations across North America with a fleet of fuel-efficient Boeing and Embraer jets.
American Airlines
American Airlines provides extensive service to Hawaii from its domestic hubs like Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, Phoenix and Charlotte. It offers 15+ daily flights between west coast cities like Los Angeles and Honolulu.
As one of the largest airlines in the world, American has invested heavily in upgrading its fleet. It now boasts hundreds of narrow-body jets like the fuel-efficient Airbus A321neo and Boeing 737 MAX to whisk travelers away to Hawaiian paradise.
Delta Air Lines
With flights reaching six continents, Delta offers ample ways for global travelers to access the Hawaiian Islands. Popular routes connect Honolulu with Atlanta, Minneapolis, Los Angeles and other major airports.
Delta operates a varied fleet of Airbus, Boeing and McDonnell Douglas aircraft. Incoming visitors to Hawaii will enjoy the airline’s award-winning service, premium cabin options and extensive in-flight entertainment.
United Airlines
As part of the Star Alliance network, United Airlines provides excellent connectivity from across North America and around the world to Hawaiian hotspots like Honolulu and Maui.
United serves Hawaii from its hubs in Houston, Denver, Chicago, Washington D.C., Newark and San Francisco. It offers premium Polaris business class on flights to/from Hawaii on select wide-body jets like the Boeing 777-300ER.
Southwest Airlines
The popular low-cost carrier Southwest entered the Hawaii market in early 2019. It now provides numerous daily flights to the four main islands from key west coast cities.
Southwest’s service to Hawaii has proved popular thanks to its affordable fares, renowned hospitality and growing route network. The airline uses fuel-efficient, ETOPS-certified Boeing 737s jets for islands hopping.
Secondary Carriers That Service Hawaii
JetBlue
JetBlue is a low-cost airline that offers nonstop flights to Hawaii from several major US airports. JetBlue flies to Honolulu on Oahu from New York (JFK), Boston, Long Beach, and San Francisco. It’s one of the few airlines that provides a direct connection from the East Coast to Hawaii.
JetBlue is popular with travelers thanks to its spacious seating, free in-flight entertainment, snacks, and friendly service. Fares are typically cheaper than legacy carriers.
Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines is an ultra-low-cost carrier with seasonal nonstop flights to Honolulu from Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and San Diego. Frontier is best known for having some of the cheapest airfares to Hawaii.
However, travelers should be prepared for extra fees for seat assignments, carry-on bags, snacks, etc. Frontier mainly operates Airbus A320 aircraft with a 3×3 economy configuration, so seats can feel cramped on long flights to Hawaii.
But if getting to Hawaii on a tight budget is the priority, Frontier delivers great value.
Sun Country Airlines
Sun Country Airlines offers seasonal nonstop flights to Honolulu from Minneapolis/St. Paul and Dallas-Fort Worth. Sun Country differentiates itself with a casual, Minnesota-nice inflight experience featuring complimentary cocktails and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.
Their fleet consists of comfortable Boeing 737-800 aircraft with standard economy legroom. For an enjoyable flight and competitive pricing, Sun Country is a nice option for getting to Hawaii from the Midwest.
Allegiant Air
Known primarily for flying vacaction routes, Allegiant Air provides nonstop flights to Honolulu a few times weekly from Las Vegas, Phoenix/Mesa, Los Angeles, Eugene, Spokane, and Bellingham. Allegiant offers cheap base airfares and focuses on leisure travelers rather than business people.
The bare-bones service comes with fees for advance seat assignments, carry-on and checked bags, and refreshments. But frequent promotions can make for excellent deals on flights to Hawaii if you travel light and don’t mind sacrificing some conveniences.
Mainland Departure Airports for Hawaii Flights
Los Angeles (LAX)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is one of the most popular and busiest airports on the U.S. West Coast. Over 70 million passengers pass through LAX every year. It’s location in Southern California makes it a convenient choice for Hawaii-bound travelers departing from the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
LAX offers daily nonstop flights to Hawaii’s four main islands – Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii. Major airlines operating Hawaii service from LAX include Delta, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
Flight times average about 5-5.5 hours from LAX to Honolulu and 6-6.5 hours from LAX to the other Hawaiian islands.
San Francisco (SFO)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) handles over 50 million passengers annually and serves as a popular departure point for flights from Northern California to Hawaii.
SFO has nonstop flights to Honolulu and Maui. Carriers providing Hawaii service from San Francisco include United Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. Occasional seasonal service may be offered to Kauai and the Big Island.
Expect flight durations of about 5-5.5 hours from SFO to Honolulu on Oahu or about 6 hours from SFO to Maui.
Seattle (SEA)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) serves the Puget Sound region and handled nearly 58 million passengers in 2022. Its northern location provides a convenient option for Hawaii-bound travelers from Washington state and adjoining areas.
SEA has regular nonstop routes to Honolulu on Oahu, Maui and Kauai. Airlines flying to Hawaii from Seattle include Alaska Airlines, Delta and Hawaiian Airlines. Seasonal nonstops may be available to Hawaii Island.
Plan on flight times of approximately 5.5 hours to Honolulu, 6 hours to Maui and 6.5 hours to Kauai from Seattle.
San Diego (SAN)
Conveniently located near downtown San Diego, San Diego International Airport (SAN) served over 25 million passengers in 2022. It provides a good departure point for Southern California residents traveling to Hawaii.
SAN has regular nonstop routes to Honolulu on Oahu and seasonal service to Maui. Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines both fly to Hawaii from San Diego.
Flight durations average around 5.5 hours to reach Honolulu.
Portland (PDX)
Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon handles more than 20 million passengers yearly. Its location in the Pacific Northwest makes it a handy option for Hawaii travelers from Oregon, Southern Washington and Northern California.
PDX offers regular nonstop service from Portland to Honolulu, Maui and Kauai on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. Occasional seasonal flights may be available to Hawaii Island as well.
Flight durations average around 6 hours to reach Hawaiian destinations from PDX.
Phoenix (PHX)
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) accommodated over 50 million travelers in 2022. Its location in the Southwest makes it an option for Hawaii-bound flights from Arizona and nearby areas.
PHX provides year-round nonstop routes to Honolulu and Maui on American Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. Seasonal nonstops may be offered to Kauai and Hawaii Island as well.
Plan on roughly 5.5-6 hour flight times from Phoenix to reach the Hawaiian islands.
Tips for Booking Cheap Flights
Be Flexible With Travel Dates
Being flexible with your travel dates is one of the best ways to score a deal on flights to Hawaii. Airlines often have sales around less popular travel times, so avoiding peak holiday periods like Christmas and spring break can lead to big savings.
The early fall and winter months tend to have lower fares, with the exception of Thanksgiving week. Flying midweek also leads to cheaper prices in many cases. Don’t be afraid to check fares for dates a week before or after your ideal travel window.
That small change can make a big difference in airfare.
Fly Midweek
Flying to Hawaii midweek instead of over a weekend is another great strategy for finding flight deals. According to the airline booking site Hopper, tickets for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday departures average around 10-15% cheaper than flights leaving on a Friday or Saturday. There are simply fewer business travelers during the work week, so airlines discount seats to fill planes.
The savings might not be drastic, but saving $50-100 per ticket adds up fast, especially for a family. So if your schedule allows, depart for Hawaii on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. You’ll beat the weekend rush at the airport too!
Look for Sales and Discounts
It never hurts to search for flight sales and discounts when booking travel to Hawaii. Airlines like Hawaiian, Alaska, and United often run Hawaii flight deals, especially during slower seasons. Sign up for email alerts from your favorite carriers to stay on top of the latest fares.
Third party booking sites like Expedia also feature Hawaii flight promotions quite regularly. And check travel deal sites like Travelzoo which highlight discounted fares being offered for destinations like Maui and Honolulu. You might luck out and find an airfare steal!
Some additional money-saving tips are to take red-eye flights which tend to be cheaper, and check nearby airports for better fares. For example, flying into Oakland instead of San Francisco could provide major savings even after calculating ground transportation to Hawaii’s Bay Area airports.
Conclusion
With frequent daily nonstop flights from major mainland hubs, getting to Hawaii is easier than ever. Whether you prefer flying Hawaiian Airlines for award-winning service or want the lowest base fare on Southwest, you’ll have multiple airline options.
By being flexible with your travel dates and keeping an eye out for sales, you can often score a great deal on airfare. Now that you know which carriers fly to the Hawaiian islands, use this list to search for the best fares and start planning your island getaway!
