Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and it is no wonder that so many people want to visit. If you are thinking of flying to Hawaii, you’ll need to know what airlines fly there.
There are a few different airlines that offer flights to Hawaii, including American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines. American Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines all offer direct flights to Hawaii from various cities in the continental United States, while Hawaiian Airlines offers both direct and indirect flights.
The cost of a flight to Hawaii varies depending on the airline you choose and the time of year you fly. Generally speaking, flights to Hawaii are more expensive during the peak season (from December to March), while they are cheaper during the off-season. In addition to commercial flights, private charters are also available.
- Airports in Hawaii
- Some Cities With Direct Connection to Honolulu
- Airlines With Direct Flights
- Some Airlines With Indirect Flights
- Hawaii Inter-Island Flights
- Things To Consider When Flying To Hawaii
- What to Expect on a Flight to Hawaii
- Private Charters To Hawaii
- Connecting From Foreign Countries
- Flying To and Landing On An Island Vs Mainland
- FAQs About Flying To Hawaii
- Final Thoughts About Flying to Hawaii
Airports in Hawaii
There are five airports in Hawaii:
- Honolulu International Airport in Oahu
- Kahului Airport in Maui
- Hilo Airport on Big Island
- Lihue Airport in Kauai
- Kona Airport on Big Island
Most of the major airlines offer flights into both airports, although some only fly into one or the other.
The most popular part of Hawaii for tourists is the island of Oahu, which is home to Honolulu International Airport. If you are looking to visit other parts of the state, you may want to consider flying into Kahului Airport on Maui or Lihue Airport on Kauai.
Honolulu Airport boasts two lounges for Hawaiian airlines. First-class passengers should use the Hawaiian Airlines Premier Club lounge.
Some Cities With Direct Connection to Honolulu
Below, you’ll find the cities with direct connection to the city of Honolulu:
- San Diego (SAN): Alaska, Hawaiian, and Southwest
- San Jose (SJC): Alaska, Hawaiian, and Southwest
- San Francisco (SFO): Alaska, Hawaiian, Sun Country, and United
- Portland (PDX): Alaska and Hawaiian
- Seattle (SEA): Alaska, Delta, and Hawaiian
- Charlotte (CLT): American
- Chicago (ORD): American and United
- Atlanta (ATL): Delta
- Salt Lake City (SLC): Delta
- Minneapolis (MSP): Delta
- Boston (BOS): Hawaiian
- Las Vegas (LAS): Hawaiian
- New York (JFK): Hawaiian
- Washington (IAD): United
- Denver (DEN): United
- Houston (IAH): United
Airlines With Direct Flights
Here are the airlines who provide direct flights to Hawaii.
Hawaiian Airlines
Flying on Hawaiian Airlines is quite a unique experience. Not only do they have one of the best inflight meals in the business, but they also offer a unique in-flight entertainment system. Hawaiian Airlines flies to 18 destinations in Hawaii, including eight airports on the island of Oahu.
The airline offers both First Class and Business Class tickets with a flatbed seat design. In addition to operating between locations on the continental United States, this airline also serves Asia and Oceania.
American Airlines
American Airlines offers direct flights to Hawaii from ten different cities on the mainland, making it one of the most popular airlines for flying to the Aloha state. They operate a fleet of Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, which offer lie-flat seats in business class.
The first-class cabin on this plane doesn’t have a flatbed but does offer more legroom and other amenities.
Delta
Delta Airlines offers direct flights to Hawaii from 16 different cities on the mainland. Their fleet of aircraft includes the Boeing 767-400ER, which features a lie-flat seat in business class.
United Airlines
United Airlines offers direct flights to Hawaii from 12 different cities on the mainland, making it the third most popular airline for flying to Hawaii. They operate a fleet of Boeing 777-200ER and 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, both of which offer a lie-flat seat in business class.
Alaska Airlines
Hawaii is one of the most popular destinations for Alaska Airlines. They offer direct flights from seven cities on the mainland, making it a great option if you’re looking to avoid a layover. The airline is known for its excellent customer service and generous baggage allowance. The shortest route on this airline is from Los Angeles to Kahului, which is just over five hours.
Southwest Airlines
This airline offers flights between the various Hawaiian islands. From a variety of U.S. cities, including Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, and Long Beach, CA, you may fly to Honolulu, Maui, and Kona.
Sun Country Airlines
This airline offers direct flights to Hawaii from Minneapolis, MN.
ANA Airlines
If you are in Japan and plan to go to Hawaii, book a direct flight with ANA Airlines to Honolulu. The airline offers a variety of fares to choose from, but Economy Class is the only option with a stopover. The carrier has excellent customer service, ample legroom, and reclining seats.
Qantas Airlines
If you’re looking for a great deal on a flight to Hawaii, Qantas Airlines is a good option. The airline offers direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Honolulu, with Economy Class fares starting at just $799 AUD. Qantas is also known for its luxurious first-class cabins and is the safest airline in the world due to its impeccable safety record.
Some Airlines With Indirect Flights
Here are some of the airlines with indirect flights to Hawaii.
Air Canada
This airline offers flights to Hawaii with a stop in Vancouver, BC. The stopover in Vancouver is about 2.5 hours long, and Air Canada offers a shuttle service between the airport and the city center.
The airline also offers a business class product that features a lie-flat seat.
British Airways
This airline offers flights to Hawaii with a stop in Los Angeles, CA.
The stopover in Los Angeles is about five hours long, and British Airways offers a shuttle service between the airport and the city center.
The airline also offers a business class product that features a lie-flat seat.
Fiji Airways
This airline offers flights to Hawaii with a stop in Nadi, Fiji. The stopover in Fiji is about nine hours long, and this airline offers a free stopover in Fiji for passengers flying to Hawaii.
The airline also offers a business class product that features a lie-flat seat.
Korean Air
This airline offers flights to Hawaii with a stop in Seoul, South Korea. The stopover in Seoul is about 11 hours long, and this airline offers a free stopover in Seoul for passengers flying to Hawaii.
Hawaii Inter-Island Flights
If you’re looking to island-hop while in Hawaii, there are a few airlines that offer intra-island flights. Island Air and Makani Kai Air both offer service between the various Hawaiian islands, with prices starting at just $39 one-way.
You can still book with Hawaiian Airlines for travel between the islands. In addition, Southwest Airlines offers flights between the islands and often has deals with Maui and Big Island.
You can also use helicopters to travel between the islands, but this can be quite expensive.
Things To Consider When Flying To Hawaii
When booking a flight to Hawaii, there are some things to keep in mind:
- The distance between the mainland and Hawaii is vast, so most flights include a stopover.
- The amount of time it takes to fly to Hawaii can vary greatly depending on the airline and the aircraft type.
- Not all airlines offer a first-class or business-class service on their flights to Hawaii.
- The cost of a flight to Hawaii can vary greatly depending on the time of year and the airline you choose.
- Most flights to Hawaii arrive in Honolulu, which is located on the island of Oahu. If you’re looking to visit other islands, you’ll need to take a connecting flight.
- If you’re looking to visit the Big Island, Kauai, Maui, or Lanai, you’ll need to book a flight with Hawaiian Airlines, as they are the only airline that offers direct flights between the mainland and these islands.
- The only direct flight between Asia and Hawaii is from Japan.
- There are no direct flights from Europe, Africa, or South America to Hawaii.
- It’s the non-continental U.S, so the time-zone difference can be a bit confusing. Hawaii is on Hawaii Standard time and does not observe Daylight Savings Time. Hawaii Standard Time is ten hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), or GMT-10.
- When booking a flight to Hawaii, the first thing you need to decide is which island you want to visit.
What to Expect on a Flight to Hawaii
If you’re flying to Hawaii, you can expect a pretty long flight. The average flight time from the mainland United States is around five hours.
You’ll likely be flying into one of the two main airports in Hawaii: Honolulu International Airport or Kahului Airport. Both airports are serviced by a variety of major airlines, so you should have no trouble finding a flight that fits your schedule.
Private Charters To Hawaii
It’s also worth noting that you can take a private plane to Hawaii if you have the budget for it. Private charters can be quite expensive, but they may be worth it for those looking for a more luxurious experience or traveling in a big group.
How To Find a Private Charter to Hawaii
There are a number of websites that offer charters, and you can usually find good deals if you book well in advance.
Based on results, it can cost $35,000 ( from San Diego) to $100,000 ( from New York) to charter a plane to Hawaii.
Some charter plane sources include:
Connecting From Foreign Countries
There are a few things to keep in mind when flying to Hawaii, such as the fact that there are no direct flights from Europe, Africa, or South America. You can fly directly from Australia and Japan.
Flying To and Landing On An Island Vs Mainland
Flying to and landing on an island can be more difficult than flying to a mainland destination, but most people find it to be a relatively easy process. For one thing, the runways on many islands are shorter than those on the mainland, so pilots have to be careful not to overshoot the runway. Just remember that moving around between cities/islands within Hawaii will not be as easy as the mainland.
Sometimes, visibility can be a challenge when landing on an island due to the higher humidity and surrounding mountains.
Volcanoes
Volcanoes in Hawaii may also be of concern to some passengers. While volcano eruptions can affect plane engines, most of the volcanoes in Hawaii are not currently active. Many airlines have updated their safety procedures for flying over volcanoes.
Crashes
There have been a few crashes involving aircraft landing on Hawaiian islands, but they’re relatively rare. In general, the safety record of Hawaii’s airports is quite good.
FAQs About Flying To Hawaii
Below are some of the frequently asked questions about flying to the state of Hawaii.
1. What Is The Closest State To Hawaii?
The closest state to Hawaii is California, which is about 2,000 miles away.
2. Are There Any Direct Flights From Europe Or Asia To Hawaii?
At the moment, there are no direct flights from Europe to Hawaii. However, there are a number of direct flights from various cities in the continental United States.
3. What Is The Most Popular Part Of Hawaii To Visit?
The most popular part of Hawaii for tourists is the island of Oahu. However, many people also visit Maui and Kauai.
4. What Is The Cheapest Time To Fly To Hawaii?
The cheapest time to fly to Hawaii is generally during the off-season (from April to November). However, flights can be expensive during the peak season (from December to March).
5. What Are The Main Airports In Hawaii?
The main airports in Hawaii are Honolulu International Airport, Kahului Airport, and Lihue Airport.
Final Thoughts About Flying to Hawaii
Overall, flying to Hawaii is a great experience. The islands are beautiful, and there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach vacation or an adventure-filled trip, Hawaii is sure to please.
You have a range of airlines to choose from, such as Hawaiian Airlines, Delta Airlines, American Airlines, and United Airlines. Look into localized flight options when you feel like bouncing between islands.
Hopefully, this article has helped you to understand what airlines fly to Hawaii and what to expect when flying there. So, what are you waiting for? Book your flight today!
More about our TFVG Author
A seasoned traveller, Dad, and avid sports tourist, James foundered The Family Vacation Guide to share his expert vacation experiences- especially when it comes to being a travelling family man.
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