We first learned of Southwest Airlines plans to expand their route network into Hawaii back in 2017. In early 2018 we learned where in Hawaii they would fly to and out of what US mainland airports.
Then, earlier this year, the longest government shutdown in US history delayed the launch of Southwest service to Hawaii.
As was first seen on Reddit, the wait is over and as of today (3/4/19), Southwest flights to Hawaii are now bookable! Southwest Airlines will begin service to Hawaii from two cities in California. Further, the budget-friendly airline will run flights between the Hawaiian islands it’s targeting.
Thrifty Tip: For more information and to book these fares, visit Southwest's dedicated site for their Hawaii service.
Details on the New Southwest Routes
As of Monday, flights are now available for sale for as low as $49 one way. The details of the new routes are as follows:
Oakland, California to Honolulu, Hawaii (OAK-HNL) – Service on this route will start on March 17, though the inaugural flight appears to already be sold out. Per the low fare calendar pictured below, you can already find flights on this route for as low as $49 one way.
San Jose, California to Honolulu, Hawaii (SJC-HNL) – Service on this route will start on May 5. Per the low fare calendar pictured below, you can find flights on this route for as low as $49 one way.
Oakland, California to Maui, Hawaii (OAK-OGG) – Service on this route will start on April 7. Per the low fare calendar pictured below, you can find flights on this route for as low as $49 one way.
San Jose, California to Maui, Hawaii (SJC-OGG) – Service on this route will start on May 5. Per the low fare calendar pictured below, you can find flights on this route for as low as $49 one way.
Southwest will also launch inter-island service starting on April 28 as well. The details of these routes are as follows.
Honolulu, Hawaii to Maui, Hawaii (HNL-OGG) – Service on this route will start on April 28. Per the low fare calendar pictured below, you can find flights on this route for as low as $29.
Honolulu, Hawaii to Maui, Hawaii (HNL-OGG) – Service on this route will start on May 12. Per the low fare calendar pictured below, you can find flights on this route for as low as $29 one way.
Our Analysis
Southwest's entry into the Hawaiian market will bring some much-needed competition and lower prices to one of the United States’ hottest tourist destinations.
The airline originally told Skift that service to Hawaii will begin from Oakland (OAK), Sacramento (SMF), San Jose (SJC) and San Diego (SAN). It remains unclear if and when service will launch out of San Diego (SAN) and Sacramento (SMF).
Southwest will eventually fly the brand new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on these Hawaii flights, as they have a greater range to make the overwater flight. However, the airline will start off their service with some older Boeing 737-800s.
Introductory Fares are Insanely Cheap
We expected Southwest to offer low fares when they finally made the announcement of their Hawaii service. However, none of us expected prices to be this cheap. Fares start at just $49 or less than 2,000 Rapid Rewards points each way. If you want to take advantage of these prices I would book ASAP! There is no telling how long they will be offered and my guess is they will sell out quickly at these rates.
Keep in mind, Southwest Airlines is a 1:1 transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards. Chase Ultimate Rewards can be earned from credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Further, the co-branded Southwest credit cards are also a solid option for earning Southwest Rapid Rewards points and a great way to earn the Southwest Companion Pass. If you already have a companion pass, getting to Hawaii for this cheap and bringing your companion with you for only the cost of taxes and fees is insanity.
Bottom Line
This is huge news for travelers interested in Hawaii. The announcement has been a long time coming and Southwest is really going to put pressure on other airlines to bring their pricing down. For more information, visit Southwest's dedicated site for their Hawaii service.
Looks like prices have already shot up!
Lots of demand this morning since Southwest announced. We didn’t expect the $49 fares to last long. Crazy cheap.