Where Does Southwest Fly In Hawaii? A Detailed Overview

If you’re looking to jet off to a Hawaiian island paradise on Southwest, you’ve likely wondered – where exactly does Southwest fly in Hawaii? Luckily, Southwest offers flights to the state’s most popular destinations.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Southwest currently flies to 4 Hawaiian islands – Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. They offer service to Honolulu, Kahului, Lihue, and Kona airports from several Southwest hubs in California and Nevada.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Southwest’s Hawaiian routes. You’ll find details on the specific airports served, routes offered, our top tips for finding cheap Southwest flights to Hawaii, and what to expect during island-hopping adventures on Southwest.

Southwest’s Airport Destinations in Hawaii

Honolulu/Oahu (HNL)

Southwest offers multiple daily flights between Honolulu International Airport (HNL) on Oahu and many mainland US destinations. As Hawaii’s busiest airport, HNL serves as Southwest’s main hub in the islands with service to cities like Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, and more.

Kahului/Maui (OGG)

Kahului Airport (OGG) on Maui also sees extensive Southwest service. Southwest offers around 15 daily departures from OGG to mainland destinations such as Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose, San Diego, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles.

Southwest is one of the most popular and affordable ways for tourists to fly directly to Maui.

Lihue/Kauai (LIH)

At Lihue Airport (LIH) on scenic Kauai, Southwest runs multiple flights per day to Oakland and Sacramento in California. While not a huge number of routes, these flights make getting to magical Kauai much easier for West Coast travelers.

Kona/Hawaii Island (KOA)

On Hawaii Island, Southwest lands at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA). From the Kona airport, Southwest offers direct flights to Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.

With Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines also serving KOA, competition helps keep fares relatively low.

Mainland Airport Hubs Offering Hawaii Service

Several major mainland airport hubs offer nonstop flights to popular Hawaiian destinations. These airports make it convenient for travelers across the country to access the Aloha State without lengthy layovers or additional connections.

Los Angeles (LAX)

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) provides the most nonstop flights to Hawaii from the mainland. As one of the busiest airports in the world, LAX offers direct service to Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island on major carriers such as American Airlines, Delta, United, Alaska, and Hawaiian Airlines.

The flight time from LAX to Honolulu is about 5 1/2 hours.

San Francisco (SFO)

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is another major west coast hub with frequent nonstop flights to popular Hawaiian islands. United, Alaska, and Hawaiian Airlines all operate direct SFO to Honolulu routes. Flights to Maui and Kauai are also available from San Francisco.

The flying time to Honolulu is about 5 1/4 hours.

Seattle (SEA)

Alaska Airlines, with its large Seattle hub, offers nonstop Boeing 737 flights to Honolulu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. The flight duration from Seattle to Hawaii is about 5 1/2 hours, similar to the travel time from Los Angeles.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport provides a convenient option for Hawaii-bound travelers in the Pacific Northwest.

Portland (PDX)

Another airport option for Northwest residents is Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon. Alaska Airlines provides daily nonstop routes from PDX to the four major Hawaiian islands – Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii Island. Flight time from Portland to Honolulu is approximately 6 hours.

Phoenix (PHX)

In the Southwest U.S., Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) has emerged as a popular connecting hub for Hawaii flights. American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Southwest Airlines all operate nonstops from PHX to Honolulu, with a few also serving Maui and Kauai.

Flight duration is about 6 hours to reach Oahu.

Denver (DEN)

Denver International Airport (DEN) provides the primary Hawaii flight access point for travelers across the central and southern Rockies. Both United Airlines and Southwest Airlines offer regular nonstop DEN to Honolulu routes. Denver is about 8 hours from Hawaii by air.

Dallas (DFW)

In Texas, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) gives residents across the South convenient access to Hawaiian vacations. American Airlines provides daily nonstop service from its DFW hub to both Honolulu and Maui. Flight time from Dallas to Hawaii is approximately 8 hours.

Southwest Inter-Island Routes

Southwest offers flights between the four major Hawaiian islands of O’ahu, Maui, Kaua’i, and Hawai’i Island (also known as the Big Island). This allows travelers convenience in visiting multiple islands on one trip without having to go through an additional mainland hub airport.

O’ahu to Maui

Southwest has frequent daily flights between Honolulu on O’ahu and both Kahului and Kapalua airports on Maui. This route is very popular with tourists who want to split their vacation time between the two islands that offer distinctly different experiences.

O’ahu to Kaua’i

There are regular nonstop flights from Honolulu to Līhuʻe airport on Kaua’i on Southwest. With its lush landscapes and renowned beaches, Kaua’i is a dream destination for nature lovers. The quick inter-island hop makes it easy to pair with some time on bustling O’ahu.

O’ahu to Hawai’i Island

Southwest has routes connecting Honolulu with both Kona and Hilo airports on Hawai’i Island. As the largest Hawaiian island with 11 different climate zones, there is much to see and do here. Travelers can explore its volcano landscapes before wrapping up their journey on O’ahu.

Maui to Other Islands

In addition to flights between Maui and O’ahu, Southwest also offers direct routes between Maui’s Kahului Airport and Līhuʻe on Kaua’i as well as Kona on Hawai’i Island. Travelers can conveniently fly into one Maui airport and out of the other without having to double back.

Kaua’i and Hawai’i Island Connections

While Southwest does not currently operate any inter-island flights solely between Kaua’i and Hawai’i Island, travelers can connect through O’ahu or Maui. This allows the convenience of visiting all four major islands on one trip if desired.

With Southwest’s Hawai’i inter-island presence continuing to expand, staying flexible is key. Their routes open up many possibilities for island-hopping adventures across this Pacific archipelago!

Tips for Finding Cheap Southwest Flights to Hawaii

Scoring a good deal on airfare to Hawaii can make your vacation dreams come true without breaking the bank. Here are some savvy tips for finding cheap Southwest flights to the Hawaiian Islands.

Book Early

Booking your Southwest flight to Hawaii as early as possible often results in the lowest fares. Prices generally go up closer to the travel date as seats fill up. Aim to book at least 2-3 months in advance if you want the best deals.

Be Flexible on Travel Dates

Flying midweek instead of peak weekend dates can yield big savings. Southwest’s lowest fares are usually found on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Consider arriving and departing on less popular days if you have flexibility.

Use Southwest Sales and Promos

Sign up for Southwest email alerts to stay on top of weekly sales and exclusive promo code offers. Flash sales often include Hawaii routes, resulting in deeply discounted airfare if you act fast.

Fly From Secondary Airports

Rather than departing from major hubs like San Francisco and Los Angeles, look for flights from Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento or Long Beach. The savings from alternative airports can be substantial.

Checkout Southwest Vacation Packages

Scoring airfare and hotel bundles via Southwest Vacations can equate to major savings compared to booking separately. Packages often include perks like free checked bags, rental car discounts and resort credits.

Use Credit Card Points

Rack up Southwest Rapid Rewards points with a co-branded credit card, then cash them in to cover some or all of your Hawaii flight costs. Just beware of blackout dates and other redemption restrictions.

Monitor Prices with Hopper

Instead of checking Southwest’s site daily, use the Hopper app or website to track Hawaii route pricing. They’ll notify you when fares drop and predict whether prices are likely to go up or down.

With the right timing and some strategic planning, finding an affordable Southwest flight to paradise is totally doable. Happy Hawaii trip planning!

What to Expect When Island Hopping on Southwest

Island hopping between the Hawaiian islands on Southwest Airlines is an exciting and convenient way to see more of the Aloha State. Here’s what to expect when traveling interisland on Southwest:

Short Flights

Southwest serves the 4 major Hawaiian islands of O’ahu, Maui, Kaua’i, and the Big Island. Flights between the islands are quite short, ranging from about 30 minutes between O’ahu and Maui, to under an hour between the furthest islands.

Open Seating

Southwest doesn’t assign seats, instead offering open/unassigned seating. The boarding process is by group number, with early check-in and Southwest credit card holders boarding earlier. While each flight will be different, seats do fill up fast especially if flying during peak times.

Free Checked Bags

One great perk of flying Southwest interisland is that you get 2 free checked bags per person. This allows you to easily pack everything you need and not worry about baggage fees.

Inflight Service

You can purchase food and drinks during the short island hopper flights. There is a limited selection of snacks, drinks and alcoholic beverages available on board.

Affordable Fares

Southwest offers low introductory fares for flights between the islands. However these cheap fares sell out quickly. Prices fluctuate often and increase as the travel dates approach. Being flexible with your dates and monitoring fares can score you good deals.

Using points from the Southwest credit cards can also help lower costs.

Easy Connections

If flying from the mainland, Southwest offers smooth connections to interisland flights through their Honolulu hub. Luggage is automatically transferred to your next flight. Just grab your boarding pass for the next leg of your island-hopping trip.

Island hopping with Southwest makes exploring Hawaii’s stunning islands easy and affordable. With their friendly service, comfortable planes, and convenient perks like open seating and free checked bags, Southwest is a great option for interisland travel in Hawaii.

Conclusion

We hope this guide has helped answer your question – where does Southwest fly in Hawaii? As you’ve seen, Southwest serves Hawaii’s most popular islands from key mainland hubs.

By knowing Southwest’s route map and snagging deals with our insider tips, you’ll be set to jet off an affordable Hawaiian vacation sooner than you think. Get ready for relaxing beach days, stunning scenery, and island-hopping adventures on Southwest.

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